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.

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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.

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.

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Gallery

Itinerary

Day 1 You will be met by your hosts at the BSI bus station or at your hotel/ guesthouse in Reykjavik between 17:30- 18:00 and will transfer to the farm Vellir in Hveragerði. Get to know your fellow guests and hosts over dinner and finish the day with a briefing on the upcoming trail before settling into your accommodation.

Day 2 After breakfast, head to the stables where you’ll be met by your guide. Once everyone is happy riding in the paddock you’ll head out for a four hour ride beside the meadows surrounding the farm, a good opportunity to get familiar with the special gait of the Icelandic horse, the tölt. Follow the river Gljúfurá, heading towards the volcanic mountains and enjoy spectacular views of the diverse landscape between the ocean and the volcano Hengill. Back at the farm, warm up with a light lunch before riding for another hour. After riding, head to the thermal swimming pool in Hveragarði where you can relax in the soothing, warm geothermal water, relax in the steam sauna or take a swim in the comfortably warm outdoor pool. Afterwards, coffee and home baked cake will be served at the hotel. If the forecast is favorable, and the sky is clear, look out for the lights at the farm or go on a hunt for the best viewing point for this natural phenomenon.

Days 3 Start the day riding on the trails along the slopes of Reykjafjall Mountain and along forested paths. You’ll pass by many hot springs in the colorful geothermal area know as the Gufudalur valley. The route continues along the volcanic hills interspersed with wide plains. You’ll stop close to the stables for some refreshments before riding back to the farm for lunch. After lunch we saddle our horses again for the afternoon ride; following the river Gljúfurá until you reach the mighty glacial river Ölfusá. From there, we have a view of the river and, if the weather allows, the famous Hekla and Eyjafjallajökull volcanoes. Upon your return to the farm, dinner will be served before more Northern Lights spotting.

Day 4 Today’s ride takes you through meadows, lava fields and even across a small river. On the way, enjoy the scenery of volcanic mountains and farmland, passing several farms. After the ride, check out of your room and warm up with a light lunch and hot drink before being 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 of Gullfoss and Thingvellir National Park. The Geysir geothermal area boasts spouting springs, including Strokkur, the most active geyser in Iceland. At Gullfoss, stand next to the breathtaking 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 before returning to Reykjavík around 18:00. This tour is dependent on weather and Northern Lights sightings are not guaranteed.