Horse riding, relaxing and Northern Lights Watching
This tour includes half day tours and a day tour on horseback, relaxing in thermal pools and sightseeing to the most famous natural sights in South Iceland. After the morning ride you warm up at lunch with soup and coffee at our comfortable hotel before you continue the program with riding, bathing in Hveragerðis excellent thermal swimming pool or sightseeing. On the last day you will take part in a excursion to the beautiful Gullfoss waterfall, the hot springs at Geysir and Thingvellir national park. When the sky is clear and the Aurora Borealis forecast promising, you can just walk outside to observe the stunning phenomena.
Day 1: Evening arrival
The tour begins in the evening. Guests who arrive in Iceland on the same day take the aiport shuttle “Flybus” (Reykjavik Excursions) from the airport to Reykjavík (BSÍ bus terminal). We will pick you up at BSÍ or at your hotel / guesthouse between 17.30 and 18.00 and drive to Eldhestar’s farm Vellir near to the village of Hveragerði (ca. 40 minutes driving), where you will be staying either at Hotel Eldhestar or at Guesthouse Eldhestar (according to your booking). An information letter with a detailed description of the following days will be offered upon arrival. The day ends with dinner at Hotel Eldhestar.
Day 2 – Meadows, Mountains & Winter Warmth
After breakfast, your guide meets you for a short introduction in the stable. The guide will provide the necessary riding equipment (riding helmet, warm overall or rain gear) and start with a short riding demonstration before you get to know the horses during a few rounds in the paddock. Today we ride 4-4.5 hours, starting with the tour Meadows and Mountains. We ride on soft trails along the meadows surrounding our farm, a good opportunity to get familiar with the special gait of the Icelandic horse, the “tölt”. We then follow the river Gljúfurá, head towards the volcanic mountains and ride on an old route along the slopes of the mountain Reykjafjall. Our reliable horses take you up and down the trail, while you enjoy nice views of the diverse landscape between the ocean and the volcano Hengill. Back at the farm we warm up with light lunch before we choose horses for the afternoon program Winter Warmth. We spend another hour on horseback before driving to the thermal swimming pool in Hveragarði to soften up in soothing, warm geothermal water, relax in the steam sauna or take a swim in the comfortably warm outdoor pool. Imagine sitting in a steamy hot tub as a light snowfall turns the grass around you white. Afterwards, coffee and home baked cake will be served in the cozy environment of the hotel. We check the Northern Lights forecast and get some useful information about this natural phenomena. If the forecast is favorable, and the sky is clear, we look out for the lights at the farm or go on a hunt!
Day 3 – Horses, Hot Springs & Soft River Banks
Today we experience a variety of amazing nature. We start the day with the tour Horses & Hot Springs, riding on excellent trails along the slopes of Reykjafjall Mountain and through a green forest. We pass by many hot springs in the colorful geothermal area Gufudalur valley. This area is situated just above the village of Hveragerði and expanded dramatically during the big South Iceland earthquake in 2008. The path continues along the volcanic hills above the village, which is known for its beautiful location between the green mountains of volcano Hengill and wide plains. We stop close to the stable area for some refreshments and learn more about the Icelandic horse before riding back to our farm for lunch. After lunch we saddle our horses again for the afternoon ride, Soft River Banks, following the river Gljúfurá to an old cemetery and further down to the soft river banks of the mighty glacial river Ölfusá. From there, we have a view of the river and if the weather allows the famous volcanoes Hekla and Eyjafjallajökull. Upon your return to the farm, dinner will be served.
Day 4 – The Heritage Tour & The Golden Circle
On the final day you will ride The Heritage Tour in the morning. This tour takes us on nice trails through meadows, lava fields and a small river. On our way, we enjoy the nice scenery of volcanic mountains and farmland, passing several farms which give us an idea of how agriculture has developed in the last decades. After the riding and checking out of your room we warm up with light lunch and coffee or tea. Then you will be picked up to visit the three most impressive natural sights in South Iceland along the “Golden Circle”: The famous Geysir geothermal area, the “golden waterfall” Gullfoss and Thingvellir National Park. The Geysir geothermal area boasts spouting springs, including Strokkur, the most active geyser in Iceland. At Gullfoss you are given the opportunity to stand next to the amazing waterfall, watching enormous quantities of water tumble violently into a deep canyon. You also spend time encountering a cross-section of Iceland’s natural wonders and geological phenomena at Thingvellir National Park, an area of historical and geological significance. You will be back in Reykjavík around 18:00.
