Tour 11 – Krýsuvík & Volcanic Valleys
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 towards Krýsuvík, a colourful hot spring area, which contrasts sharply with the sand and the lava fields of the area. We ride along mountain lakes, through stone deserts and between tectonic plates.
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 at Eldhestar Guesthouse, (2-4 beds per shared room with shared facilities)
Full board (breakfast, lunchbox: sandwich & cookies, coffee/tea & home-baked cake, 3-course dinner). 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.
Riding time and distance: 25 km, 8 hrs.
Day 4: Grænavatn - Krýsuvikurkirkja
We start the ride at lake Grænavatn – a small lake famous for its flourescent turqoise color due to its high level of sulphur – and ride through the geothermal active area of Seltún. From there we climb a small mountain and find the trail of Stapartindar, a hidden gem on the south coast. Our ride takes us along mountainlake Arnarvatn, through a stonedesert valley and between tectonic ridges – the unknown extension of the tectonic plates in thingvellir. At the end of the day we round Mount Mælifell and follow excellent tölting paths to Krýsuvikurkirkja – probably the smallest church in Iceland!
Riding time and distance: 25 km, 5.5 hrs.
Day 5: Kolviðarhóll - Maradalur
We start the day at Kolviðarhóll and ride North along the slopes of Húsmúli and Hengill mountains. We reach Engidalur valley and continue along a narrow path. We dismount and lead the horses through a narrow cleft to the beautiful, hidden Marardalur. – The Valley of Horses – Marardalur has been one of our most popular stops on our trip around the Volcano Hengill Area. The valley is surrounded by special formed cliff walls, but the bottom is flat and grassy. We often talk about the hidden valley. Previously, the Valley of Horses was used as a storage site for cattle. A unique place to visit, beautiful views and very good riding trails.
Riding time and distance: 15 km, 4-5 hrs.
GALLERY
