Tour 11 – Krýsuvík and the Blue Lagoon
Beaches, Green Meadows and Steaming Moonscape
This tour offers magnificent views, first over South Iceland and glaciers, then over Reykjanes, Reykjavík, and all the way to Snæfellsnes. We begin at Vellir and follow one of Iceland’s largest rivers, Ölfusá, down to the coast, before we return to the farm Vellir. The following day we start from the beautiful and mythic Strandarkirkja Church. From Strandarkirkja the tour continues on the beach on our way to Krýsuvík, a colourful hot spring area, which contrasts sharply with the sand and the lava fields of the area. One evening we visit the Blue Lagoon, where we have the opportunity to relax in the soothing geothermal waters.
Two adults and a 12 yrs old had a horseholiday with Eldhestar that exceeded all expectations. Horses were well kept, happy and lively, guides were super nice and food (we even had our own cook!) tasty and plenty. I believe that the whole group of 10 had a great time. No place for a beginner, but as an ex-horsegirl with a very little riding during the last (15…) yrs I managed quite well. It might have been even more fun with some practice before the trip. The 12 year old horsegirl managed perfectly, but she has plenty of experience and more importantly she isn’t the whining sort of a child. I fell in love with the islandic horse and I will be back for sure!
Duration
5 days – 4 nights – 4 days on horse back.
Availability & Price
see overview at the end of the page
Riding distance
Around 100 km or around 20 – 40 km (4-7 hours) per day.
Included
English speaking guide, riding and safety equipment and transfer from/to Reykjavik.
Accommodation in Guesthouse Eldhestar (2 nights) and sleeping bag accommodations (2 nights) with full board. Entrance to the Blue Lagoon. Please note that dinner on the last day is not included.
What to bring
Good shoes, comfortable pants (riding pants not necessary), gloves and a buff is recommended and if you want to bring a camera, please bring a small waist bag as backpacks cannot be taken on horseback. Bring your swimsuit and towel! See more detailed information here.
Notes
Please note that this tour includes some stretches requiring participants to walk and lead the horses!
DAY BY DAY
Day 1: Arrival
The tour starts in the evening. Tour members who arrive the same day to Iceland should take the Flybus from the airport to the ending bus station BSÍ in Reykjavík. We will greet you at the bus station or at your hotel/ guesthouse in Reykjavik between 17:30- 18:00 and drive you to our farm Vellir near Hveragerði. There you will be lodged at our Guesthouse Eldhestar. We will get to know each other during dinner at our Hotel. The day will end with a detailed description of the tour.
Day 2: Vellir – Vellir
We start the day by getting to know the horses in the paddock. After lunch, we ride from Vellir over green meadows in the bird sanctuary Ölfusforir. We ride across sand and water over part of the Ölfusá River delta. From there we return to the farm Vellir, where both the horses and the participants will spend the night.
Riding time and distance: 17 km – 4-5 hrs.
Day 3: Selvogur – Krýsuvík
The tour starts from Strandarkirkja Church in Selvogur. The horses and our guests will be driven over there in the morning. Strandarkirkja Church, which is right by the shore, has its own special history. We continue along the beach and then up near the mountains. We ride between the contrasts of mountains, lava and the ocean. We pass the green Lake Kleifarvatn and reach Krýsuvík, with its hot springs and mountains draped in rich colours. After leaving the horses in Krýsuvík, we will drive to Isólfsskáli, a cosy house right by the shore that will be our home for the next two nights. In the evening, we will drive you to the famous Blue Lagoon, only 20 minutes drive
Riding time and distance: 25 km, 8 hrs.
Day 4: Krýsuvík – Ísólfsskáli
We start our day by driving back to Krýsuvík where the horses wait for us. We start out by visiting the geothermal area Seltún with all its magnificant colours and mudpools. After walking with the horses over the mountain Sveifluháls, we come down on the other side where we meet the road to Vigdisarvellir, a green oasis between the mountains, once owned by three farms. From there we follow the old road between lava fields down to the coast and Ísólfsskáli, where we spend the night together with the horses.
Riding time and distance: 25 km, 5 hrs.
Day 5: Ísólfsskáli – Krýsuvíkurberg- Krýsuvík
The last day is a mixture of everything characterising the tour. We start by the shore and ride up the mountains. The old path goes between lava and green spots before we climb up the mountain and get a beautiful view over the southwest part of Iceland. We follow the road and take a detour towards Krýsuvíkurberg, where we can enjoy our lunch on a high cliff by the shore with many seabirds around us. Afterwards, we return with our horses to Krýsuvík where the Eldhestar bus is waiting for us to drive back to Reykjavik (arrival around 17:00).
Riding time and distance: 20 km, 4 hrs.
GALLERY
