Tour 7 – Volcano Contrasts - Winterprogram

Tour members arrive at Keflavík Airport, Iceland and take the Flybus from Keflavík to Reykjavík (BSÍ Bus terminal). You will be greeted by representatives of Eldhestar between 17:30 and 18:00, who will arrange further transportation to the farm Vellir in the neighbourhood of Hveragerði. After check-in, dinner will be served at Hotel Eldhestar.

On this day tour, we discover the beautiful landscape opening up between the volcanic mountains and the Atlantic ocean in southern Iceland. We begin the tour on nice riding trails along our meadows which are  ideal for trying the special gait of the Icelandic horse, tölt.  We then follow the river Gljúfurá to an old cemetery close to the mighty glacial river Ölusá, where we enjoy the panoramic view of the river delta and the famous volcanos Hekla and Eyjafjallajökull, weather permitting. A grassy path takes us further down to the soft, black lava sand on the river banks and through shallow water to the green island Lambey. We come back for the lunch break to Hotel Eldhestar before continuing through farmland towards mount Ingólfsfjall, a table mountain named after the first settler of Iceland, Ingólfur Arnarson. An old Viking path takes us along the mountain Reykjafjall, where both sheep and horses graze in the summer. On the way back to our farm Vellir we have a nice view over the surrounding area and the village of Hveragerði. Awaiting us back at our farm are coffee and home-baked cake. You will have the opportunity to relax in the hotel´s hot tubs before dinner.

We first ride up a hill on excellent riding trails, along the slopes of the mountain Reykjafjall and through a green forest, a rare sight in Iceland. We then pass many hot springs in the impressive, colorful geothermal area situated just above the village of Hveragerði, a small town also known as the “hot spring capital of the world”. This area expanded dramatically during an earthquake in 2008 and is constantly changing. The path continues along the volcanic hills above the village, which is also known for its beautiful location between the volcano Hengill and the wide plains of the southern lowlands. We have a nice view of Varmá river, called the “warm river” as geothermal water flows through it, and green valleys with rising steam in the distance. After lunch back at the farm we head out one last time 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. Nice riding trails give a good opportunity to experience the “tölt”. At the end of the tour you are invited for coffee and home-baked cake before our bus takes you back to Reykjavik around 16.15 (arrival around 17.00).