Snæfellsnes tour

HORSEBACK RIDING TOUR IN SNÆFELLSNES PENINSULA

The Snæfellsjökull National Park is where you find one of Iceland´s most beautiful and emblematic sights – the glacier-covered cone volcano Snæfellsjökull. The mystery and spiritual aura of this still active volcano were made famous through Jules Verne’s novel Journey to the Centre of the Earth. Many of the great Sagas are located in this very area. Today the remote beauty and rich bird life draw visitors from all over the world. The peninsula itself is often called “Iceland in a nutshell” because of its diversity of landscape.

Experiencing “tölt”, the unique extra gait of the Icelandic Horse, is made easy for you on this tour when we follow good riding tracks. The long stretches of smooth sandy beaches make this tour a delight for both horses and riders.

This tour takes us through a landscape of extensive lava fields, crater and ash from ancient eruptions in Hítardalur valley. We also enjoy wide-open stretches of light-coloured sand at Löngufjörur beach, where only the tide sets a limit to the freedom of horse and man. The impressive 50-meter deep crater Eldborg is a distinctive landmark, where the light sand turns black once you reach its lava field. On our last riding day we follow the edge of the lava flow along the shore before returning to Stóri-Kálfalækur Farm.

Part of this tour can be booked as a 4-day tour/4 riding days – see our tour Beach and Mountain Ride or as a 3 day tour/2 riding days – see our tour Löngufjörur Beach Ride

ACCOMMODATIONMade up beds in shared rooms during the ride. Accommodation before and after the ride are to be arranged individually.
NOTE : Knee-high rubber boots are recommended for the beach ride!

WHAT IS INCLUDED

Bus transfer from Reykjavík to the farm
During the ride full board is provided. Our menu consists of a large breakfast and traditional Icelandic meals (fish or lamb). Vegetarian meals are available if requested when booking. All riders make their own packed lunch from the breakfast table.
Alcoholic beverages are not included in the tour price and are hard to get in the highlands. They can be bought at a reasonable price in the Duty-Free Store at Keflavik Airport upon arrival.
Rainwear, water bottle, saddle bag, riding helmet.

ATTENTION
Individual travel insurance is not included in the tour price. We encourage clients to obtain relevant travel insurance before visiting Iceland.
Flight to and from Iceland is not included
Bring bags rather than hard cover suitcases
Pack light because transport space is limited.

Day by Day itinerary

1. Day 1.  Reykjavík – Hraunholt
   Pick up at BSÍ Bus station in Reykjavik at 18:00 where our Islandshesta bus will transfer you and your fellow riders to Hraunholt Farm, where horses and the family at Hraunholt are waiting for us. After a lovely introductory meal where we get to know each other, we relax and rest so we are well prepared for the adventure ahead of us. Overnight at Hraunholt.
2. Day 2. Hraunholt – Kolviðarnes
   After an introduction to the Icelandic horse and its special gaits, we start our ride from Hraunholt and ride through fertile farmlands with lava on both sides. We cross the river Haffjarðará on our way to Kolviðarnes where our ride ends today. Over night at Hraunholt. Riding distance: approx. 25km.NB: Next three days we ride on Löngufjörur beach where timings depend on the tide. In some cases, we need to start the ride very early in the morning or in the afternoon.
3. Day 3. Kolviðarnes – TraðirAfter rejoining the horses, we start our beach ride on Löngufjörur, the famous horse trail on the seashorses of the Snæfellsnes peninsula. View majestic Snæfellsjökull Glacier ahead of you and feel the horses excitement and take part in the joy on this extraordinary trail released by the tide.  Over night at Hraunholt.Riding distance: approx. 35km.
4. Day 4. Traðir – KolviðarnesAnother days ride on the yellow-colored, sandy beach, the same directions as the day before a unique experience for everyone with lava-fields and mountains on one side of the trail and the Atlantic Ocean on the other. We leave the horses at Traðir Farm and we spend the night at Hraunholt Farm.Riding distance: approx. 35 km
5. Day 5. Kolviðarnes – Hausthúsahringur – KolviðarnesWe leave the herd at Kolviðarnes and go out and play, enjoying another brisk ride on the beach with fantastic views of the ocean, the mountains and the majestic Snæfellsnes Glacier. The horses stay at Kolviðarnes and we drive back to Hraunholt.Riding distance: approx. 18 km.
6. Day 6. Kolviðarnes – HraunholtWe take all the horses with us and ride into the mountains and lava, on our way back to Hraunholt. We ride through fertile farmlands and along good riding tracks over the river Haffjarðará and travel through an area well known as the hideout of Iceland‘s most famous outlaw, Grettir. Overnight at Hraunholt.Riding distance: approx. 25 km.
7. Day 7. Hraunholt – Rauðaneslaug – HraunholtOn the last day, we choose our best horses and continue riding in an amazing landscape surrounded by lava, mountains, rivers, and lakes. We ride to Rauðaneslaug where we can have a bath in the Rauðaneslaug swimming pool. We will then ride our last part of the tour before we enjoy the farewell dinner at Hraunholt.Riding distance: approx. 22 km.
8. Day 8. Hraunholt – Reykjavík
   Transfer back to BSÍ bus station in Reykjavík. Approx. Arrival 11:30– We reserve the right to alter the itinerary if necessary –

Accommodation

Hraunholt farm

A cozy farmhouse in the Snæfellsnes peninsula.

Useful informations

Here you can book your Flybus ticket to and from Reykjavík. The Flybus departs from Keflavík airport 35-40 minutes after each arrival. Busses are located right outside the terminal building. Book my ticket

Liability:
We reserves the right to alter routes, itineraries or timetables without prior notice, should the necessity arise. No liability is accepted for loss or expenses due to delays or changes of arrival or departures of flights or other services, injury, sickness, accident, strikes, damage, negligence, weather, wars or other causes outside the control of our partners. All such losses and expenses are the personal liability of the traveler. The estimated duration of tours as indicated by km or timing can change according to road or weather conditions.

For more information please see also our Frequent Asked Questions

Tour highlights

Hraunholt Farm

A cozy farmhouse in the Snæfellsnes peninsula

Haffjarðará

https://is.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haffjarðará

ranks among the top salmon rivers of Iceland in an outstanding landscape of lava-fields covered on moss and birds

Kolviðarnes

https://www.west.is/is/stadur/ferdaleidir/velkomin-a-snaefellsnes

has a building and a farm in Snæfellsnes located near the river Haffjarðará and the famous beach Löngufjörur

Snæfellsjökull Glacier

still active volcano and glacier-covered cone. The name translates to snow mountain glacier and became famous with Jules Verne’s novel Journey to the Centre of the Earth