Hot Springs, Rivers and Broad Meadows
This is a two-day tour in the diverse area around our farm. We stay the night at Hótel Eldhestar, a nearby hotel or at Guesthouse Eldhestar and discover the striking contrasts of Icelandic nature on horseback. It gives you a taste of both the magnificent landscape and good riding terrain. In summer, we also have an opportunity to bathe in geothermal water. Bring swimsuit and towel!
Day 1: Arrival
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.
Riding day 1: Below the Mountains
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. On our way, we have good chances of seeing various kinds of birds living in the wetlands of the nearby bird sanctuary. We stop for a lunch break out in nature 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.
Riding day 2: The Hot Springs Tour Reykjadalur Valley – Vistas and Volcanos
This day tour offers spectacular views featuring the variety of the magnificent Icelandic nature. We ride through lava fields towards the green hills surrounding the volcano Hengill. The horses then take us up on narrow trails into the valley Reykjadalur, passing the beautiful waterfall Djúpagilsfoss and many hot springs. In Reykjadalur we will have the opportunity to take a relaxing bath in a warm stream. On our down the valley, we enjoy fascinating panoramas over the surroundings, the village Hveragerði and the farmland all the way down to the coastline, where we might see the Westman Islands, weather permitting. We continue on excellent riding trails surrounding Hveragerði and through the colourful geothermal Gufudalur valley with hot springs, an area which expanded dramatically during an earthquake in 2008. The path then takes us through a green forest and along the slopes of Reykjafjall mountain back to the farm, where coffee and home-baked cake are waiting for us. Bring your swimsuit and a towel. After that our bus will bring you back to Reykjavik, arrival around 17.30.
