The Ultimate Hekla – Riding and Exploring in Iceland

The Great Circle Day: After breakfast at your hotel in Reykjavik make your way to the BSI bus station in Reykjavik where the outfitter will meet you at 10AM to go by car on the classic Golden Circle tour. Drive to Thingvellir National Park where the fissure zone of the mid-Atlantic Ridge can be seen. This is also one of the most important historic places in Iceland. Next visit Gullfoss waterfall and the geyser and hot springs area around Geysir on your way to the farm for Dinner and overnight.

The Big Ride Day: After breakfast and preparing a picnic lunch, meet up with the horses and ride out along the calm river Ranga with a mountain view all around, including the volcano Hekla. Stop for a picnic next to old traditional sheep houses before continuing through farmlands and seeing the historic lava sheep-fold Landrettir. Today’s destination is a neighbor’s farm where we will leave the horses overnight and return by car to Austvadsholt for dinner and overnight. 4-5 hours of riding.

From the Cave to the Mountain: Return to the neighbor’s farm after breakfast, collect the horses and ride for 2 hours to the farm of Hellar where we will visit the largest man-made cave in Iceland. Following a picnic, take the car to explore the farms of Hekla. Hike up the mountain Bjolfell with a magnificent view of the volcano Hekla and the farmland where we have been riding. Stop in the little town of Hella on the way back and enjoy a dip in the local swimming pool, a perfect way to relax at the end of the day. Dinner and overnight at the farm.

Completing our Circle: Return to Hellar and pick up the horses to ride back home over large meadows, stopping along the way for our traditional picnic. After a 4 hour ride, say good-bye to the horses. Enjoy the last group dinner together and spend a relaxing evening to talk about the events of the past days.

From the Farm to the Beach: After breakfast, we’ll prepare a picnic lunch and then drive to Vik, the southernmost village in Iceland which is famous for its black volcanic beaches and coastline with basalt boulders. We’ll hike around the area and have lunch on the beach, weather permitting. After enjoying the area around Vik drive in the direction of Reykjavik with views of Eyjafjallajokull and Vestmanneyjar volcanos on the way. Arrive at your chosen hotel in Reykjavak late afternoon.