Day by day itinerary 

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Day 1 – Welcome to Fljótshlíð

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Your adventure begins with a meet and greet at your accommodation in Reykjavík. From there, we drive approximately 90 minutes to Barkarstaðir in Fljótshlíð, an area closely connected to the famous Saga of Burnt Njáll.

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At the farm, you will meet your horses and get comfortable in the saddle. Your hosts will introduce you to the Icelandic horse and its unique gait, the tölt, before heading out for your first ride through the beautiful countryside surrounding the farm.

The area offers magnificent views towards two glaciers, and your local farmer and horse breeder will guide you along some of his favourite trails and hidden spots. After the ride, we leave the horses at the farm and drive to our accommodation, where we will stay for the next three nights.

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Day 2 – Riding Through the Fljótshlíð Farming Area

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After breakfast, we return to the farm, saddle our horses and say goodbye to our host before continuing deeper into the Fljótshlíð countryside.

Today’s ride takes us through rolling green farmland surrounded by mountains and glacier views. The area plays an important role in the Saga of Burnt Njáll and is connected to some of Iceland’s best-known Viking-age stories.

According to the saga, the Viking Gunnar of Hlíðarendi was ordered to leave Iceland but changed his mind after looking back across his beautiful homeland. Inspired by the green hills and magnificent views, he decided to remain despite the dangers that awaited him.

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At the end of the day, we leave the horses at a nearby farm and return to our accommodation for a relaxing evening.

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Day 3 – Abandoned Farms, Mountains & Hidden Caves

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Today we leave the main trails behind and explore some of the more remote landscapes of the region.

We ride through dramatic countryside with views across mountains, lava fields, rivers and canyons. Along the way, we pass an abandoned farm and visit a fascinating man-made cave that was once used as a sheepfold.

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The ride continues into the hills south of Foss, where hidden waterfalls and rugged landscapes await. We also visit a small cave known as the Thieves’ Cave before continuing through this peaceful and rarely visited part of South Iceland.

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Day 4 – Highland Feeling & Mt. Hekla

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After a hearty breakfast, we reunite with our horses for our final full day in the saddle.

We ride along Heklubraut, where, weather permitting, we enjoy impressive views of Mt. Hekla, one of Iceland’s most famous volcanoes. The surrounding landscape gives a wonderful taste of the Icelandic Highlands, with wide-open spaces, volcanic scenery and endless views.

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We stop along the way for a picnic lunch before continuing along ancient Viking trails through old lava fields, colourful lupine-covered landscapes, gravel tracks and soft grassy paths.

Our journey ends in the fields of Gunnarsholt, where we say goodbye to our horses after several unforgettable days together. From there, we drive back to Reykjavík, bringing our riding adventure through historic South Iceland to an end

Exploring Iceland reserves the right to alter routes, itineraries or timetables should the necessity arise. The estimated duration of tours as indicated by km or timing can change according to road or weather conditions.