Northern Lights Trail

4 Days  |  From £980pp

Iceland ( Best airport: Reykjavik)

Visit a remote winter wonderland with a cosy hotel stay and the chance to witness the Northern Lights in the night sky. Spent three days riding the willing Icelandic horses on volcanic mountain slopes before relaxing in thermal swimming pools and watching the snow fall from the outdoor hot tub. The Icelandic winter is an incredibly special time to visit this region. This trail also includes a half day excursion by bus to take in the waterfalls, geysers and hot springs scattered across southern Iceland.

The Riding

Ride one of the friendly and willing Icelandic horses through snowy, mountain paths. Every rider gets the chance to try 2 or 3 different horses each day. This trail involves riding for around 4 hours per day.

In Iceland you’ll ride mostly in the tölt, a comfortable, smooth gait somewhere between trot and canter. Participants must be able to mount a (small) horse with little assistance and hard hats are mandatory.

Level of Riding and Fitness

In Iceland you’ll ride mostly in the tölt, a comfortable, smooth gait somewhere between trot and canter. Participants must be able to mount a horse with little assistance and be happy riding at walk, trot and canter. The weight limit is 95kg.

Guides and Group Size

You’ll be accompanied by professional guides who will show you the ropes with the Icelandic horses and help you to get used to their special gait, tölt. There can be up to 20 riders in your group.

The Horses

During this holiday you will be riding Icelandic horses. This native breed is known to be tough, robust and hardworking, ideal mounts for the challenging terrain and changing weather. The horses are home-bred and live in a large herd roaming vast expanses. All the horses are ridden in simple, Icelandic style tack. The saddles are built close to a dressage saddle, with a relatively flat seat. The riding style is very close to English riding, but stirrups are worn longer.

Tack and Riding Equipment

All the horses are ridden in simple, Icelandic style tack. The saddles are built close to a dressage saddle, with a relatively flat seat. The riding style is very close to English riding, but stirrups are worn longer.

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Accommodation and Dining

Accommodation during the trail is at one of the cosy countryside hotels in the south of Iceland, close to your host’s farm. There are double, twin and family rooms available, all are spacious, warm and light-filled. All the hotels have an onsite restaurant and traditional hot tubs to relax in at the end of the day. Rooms are fitted with luxurious Hästens beds, offering unrivalled comfort.

Full board is included starting with dinner on arrival day and ending with lunch on the last riding day. Dinner is traditional Icelandic home cooking, stews and casseroles are common and ingredients are locally sourced with an emphasis on fresh produce. Lunch is either a picnic packed in your saddle bags or the cook meets the group. Allergies or special dietary requirements can be catered for with advance notice.

Get a free Northern Lights Trail mini-brochure in PDF format.

Itinerary

Northern Lights Trail

4 days / 3 nights / 3 days riding
£980pp

Single supplement £210 (payable unless a sharer is found)

An Icelandic Lodging Tax applies to these trails and is payable on site. The costs is 666,-ISK per room per night which is approximately £5 per night.

Flights & Airport transfers

Do not book flights until you have received the Booking confirmation email from saddletravel.com.

Please arrange to arrive at Reykjavik Airport on the first day by 15.30. You will be collected from the meeting point in Reykjavik at 17.30.
Please book your departure flights on the last day after 19.30 or add an extra night in Reykjavik.

Price Includes
  • 3 days riding
  • Bus excursion to the Golden Circle
  • 3 nights accommodation in shared rooms
  • Meals from dinner on day 1 to lunch on day 4
  • Tea, coffee, water
  • Luggage transport
  • Return transfer from Reykjavik to the farm
Price Excludes
  • Airport transfers
  • International flights
  • Alcoholic drinks
  • Icelandic Lodging Tax (666,-ISK per room per night payable on site, around £5 in GBP)