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Your hosts, Sigurður (Siggi) and Ólöf have been training horses and riding on Snaefellsnes for over 20 years, and they convey the sense that the ride goes through their big back yard. Their farmhouse - Stóri-Kálfalækur - will be your base for much of the ride, with a couple of nights in other guesthouses along the trail. Hot pots provide a nice ending to most days rides!!
Friday:
Travelers from North America leave for Iceland on an overnight flight with an early morning arrival at Keflavik Airport in Iceland.
Saturday:
Welcome to Iceland
After arrival at Keflavik International Airport you will be taken to Reykjavik where you you’ll check into your guesthouse, and have some time to explore Iceland’s capital city. Then at the outfitters Riding Center, you will get meet your fellow riders, as well have a traditional meal of Icelandic soup.
Sunday:
Stóri-Kálfalækur – Grímsstaðir
After breakfast, you’ll go north and west to Stóri-Kálfalækur Farm, and meet your guides and horses. You’ll get a helmet, raingear and saddle, and have an introduction to the special qualities of the Icelandic horse. You’ll put this into action, with a ride through green valleys, and over mountains to Grímsstaðir Farm with its proud history dating back to medieval times. The horses will stay here, while riders return to Stóri-Kálfalækur where a hot tub beckons! (30 km)
Monday:
Grímsstaðir – Hítarhólmur
You’ll ride through multicolored mountains to the geologic paradise low . Hítardalur. Here you’ll go on riding trails through a lunar landscape of vast lava fields, with volcanic ashes which has a lot of saga history in it as well. The horses will spend the night at Hítarhólmur mountain while riders return to Stóri-Kálfalækur, (30 km)
Tuesday:
Hítarhólmur – Kolviðarnes – Laugagerði Schoolhouse
The morning continues through the mystical volcanic valley with a stop at the sheep round up corral Hítardalsrétt - where you may also glimpse Hít, the troll woman who was turned into stone returning late from a date. (it’s a long story!) Then you’ll cross the Hítará River and through an area known as a shelter for out of Iceland’s most famous outlaw, Grettir, before arriving at Kolviðarnes Farm. The horses stay here, and riders have sleeping bag accommodations at Laugagerði Schoolhouse, which has a warm geothermal swimming pool! (45 km)
Wednesday:
Laugagerði – Traðir – Hof Farm
Today’s the day -- hit the beach! You’ll start your ride on Löngufjörur, the famous horse trail on the golden sands of Snæfellsnes peninsula. Under the watchful eye of Snæfellsjökull Glacier, you’ll be able to feel the horses’ excitement as they carry you swiftly along this extraordinary trail!! The horses spend the night at Traðir Farm while riders stay at Hof Farm with a geothermal hot tub on site. (40 km)
In the evening there’s an optional excursion to Arnastapi and Hellnar, which are at the base of Mt Snaefellsjokull. You can learn more about the natural, supernatural and cultural history of this special area at the Visitors Center for Snæfellsnes National Park. Cost per person for this outing is ISK 3500.
Thursday:
Hof – Traðir – Kolviðarnes – Stóri-Kálfalækur
You’ll have another full day´s ride on the beautiful yellow sands of Snaefellsness today. Then you’ll turn and head back towards mighty Eldborgarhraun lava field. You’ll ride with lava-fields and mountains on one side of the trail and the Atlantic Ocean on the other - a pretty unique day on horseback! You’ll return to Stóri-Kálfalækur, for the last two nights. (40 km)
Friday:
Kolviðarnes – Stóri-Kálfalækur
Another ride on the beach but you’ll see the sand turn from yellow to black as ride along the outline of Eldborgarhraun lava field. The black lava feels as if it were still on the move as you ride back to dry land. The ride ends at Stóri-Kálfalækur Farm, with Ólöf’s farewell dinner. (30 km)
Saturday:
Stóri-Kálfalækur – Reykjavík – Keflavík Airport
After breakfast, you can say good-by to the guides and horses and head back to Reykjavík where you’ll arrive about 11:00 AM. You’ll be dropped at the BSI bus terminal where you’ll catch the Flybus shuttle back to Keflavik Airport in time for the return flight home. (Or we’ll be happy to add a couple more days to explore Reykajvik and Iceland if you’d like!)
Download a PDF of the itinerary of the Snaefellsnes tour
Travel Dates
The Snaefellsness Ride runs only 4 times in the summer of 2010. The tour starts on Saturdays in Iceland. It runs from Saturday to Sunday --and it’s easy to add a couple days on either end, if you want to see a bit more Iceland.
Travel dates
June 18 - June 26
June 25 -July 3
June 30 - Aug7
Aug 6 - Aug 14
Price*
The price for this Snaefellsness Tour is $3441 per person double occupancy.
*Price includes round trip airfare, including fuel surcharge and departure taxes from Boston, New York, Minneapolis, -Ask about prices from Washington-Dulles, Toronto, Halifax and Europe. Add $110 per person from Seattle. The price also includes all airport transfers, and 7 nights in farm and guesthouse accommodations with shared bath. During the ride you have all meals, from dinner on the first day to breakfast on the last day. Not included are travel insurance, lunch on arrival or departure day, any extra time in Iceland before or after the ride.
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