“Ride through summer solstice”
6 Day Under The Mystique Midnight Sun Horse Riding Holiday in Northwestern Region, Iceland
Bjarnastaðir Farm, Kerlingaskógur, Northwestern Region, Iceland
Summer Solstice Horse Riding Holiday Iceland
On this unique holiday, you will let the midnight sun guide your path. You will start your ride in the afternoon and ride until past midnight. The midnight sun is nowhere brighter than where you will be riding in the northernmost part of Iceland.
Key Information
- Rider Weight Limit: 242 pounds / 110 kilograms
- Tack Type: English tack, but stirrups are worn long
- Horse Breed: Icelandic horse
Highlights
- 5 riding days
- Ride through Melrakkaslétta plains or on a quite isolated path
- Trip to the northernmost part of Iceland, Raufarhöfn
- Witness the indescribable beauty of Iceland under the midnight sun
- 3 to 4 horses per person
- Local guidance
- 5 nights accommodation
- Daily meals
Skill level
- Advanced
Styles
5 days with instruction
Group size: Maximum of 20 participants
Airport transfer included:
Húsavík Airport
Airport transfer included:
Reykjavík Airport
Accommodation
Facilities
- Hot tub / Jacuzzi
Bjarnastaðir Farm, home of Halldór Olgeirsson and Elín Maríusdóttir is situated in the low bushy area of Kerlingaskógur, close to the glacial river Jökulsá á Fjöllum and Dettifoss Waterfall. You will enjoy a great view over the Fjord Öxarfjörður and the famous Lake Skjálftavatn which suddenly appeared overnight after a strong earthquake 28 years ago. Halldór and Elín, breeders of both horses and sheep, will welcome you with open arms and their warmth and hospitality are indeed second to none.
- Number of beds: 18
- Outdoor jacuzzi: Yes
- Number of showers: two
- GSM connection: Yes
- Wi-Fi: Yes
Program
You will be riding exactly when the summer solstice occurs on June 21 when Iceland has the longest day of the year. On that day, you will have the unique opportunity to see the sunshine through all three pillars of the Arctic Henge in Raufarhöfn. This is a newly built monument for the island's Pagan worshippers. This part of Iceland is inhabited by only a few people, most of them living in little fishing villages along the coast.
There is a lot of diversity in this program starting with riding a few days on the beach. The Peninsula of Melrakkaslétta, which stretches almost to the Arctic Circle, is a paradise for birdwatchers and people with geological interest. Here, you are right on top of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge where the North American and Eurasian plates drift apart. From mid-June to mid-July, this area is “home” to the Midnight Sun which sends its golden light over the deep fjords of North Iceland.
Hosts for this holiday are Halldór and Elín with their family from Bjarnastaðir Farm, known to many Icelanders for their excellent breeding of horses. Halldór is a respected member of his community and among other things, he is a “mountain king” when the time calls for gathering up the sheep in autumn.
Daily itinerary
Day 1: Reykjavík - Húsavík - Bjarnastaðir - Katastaðir
The meeting place is at Reykjavík Domestic Airport at 11:20 a.m. You will fly to Akureyri and drive to Bjarnastaðir farm. Please bring your passport or other identification for your domestic flight. At Bjarnastaðir Farm, you meet up with the guides and horses. After dinner and a short introduction to the Icelandic horse and its special gaits, you start the ride. You will ride throughout Öxafjörður Fjord along the coast to Katastaðir where you leave the horses and drive to Bjarnastaðir farm where you sleep in made-up beds.
- Distance: 33 kilometers
Day 2: Katastaðir - Sigurðarstaðir
On this day, you ride on the beach from Katastaðir to Sigurðarstaðir. This path where you will be riding is quite isolated and it is not likely that you will meet a soul on your way. You will witness the blazing midnight sun on the northern coastline and hear nothing but the sound of the hoofbeat clicking on the ground, the waves of the ocean, and birds quiring in the night. After this amazing peaceful ride in the night, you will drive to Bjarnastaðir to rest.
- Distance: 28 kilometers
Day 3: Sigurðarstaðir - Raufarhöfn
You will continue your journey on the beach to the northernmost part of Iceland the small village of Raufarhöfn. Most of the 250 inhabitants of this small village live off traditional fishing. On the way, you will witness rich birdlife along the coast and get to witness this beautiful place which has the longest days and shortest nights in Iceland because of its position.
- Distance: 24 kilometers
Day 4: Melrakkaslétta - Katastaðir
On this day, you will head back over the soft tracks of the Melrakkaslétta plains. Melrakkaslétta is known for its rich birdlife, many lakes to fish in, and its unique beauty over the Summer Solstice. Its name comes from the arctic fox and if you look closely you might even see one stealing eggs from a bird's nest. You will leave the horses at Katastaðir and get a good sleep at Bjarnastaðir farm.
- Distance: 35 kilometers
Day 5: Katastaðir - Bjarnastaðir
Summer solstice occurs on this day. You will be at Raufarhöfn town to witness the longest day and shortest night in Iceland. You will have the unique opportunity to see the sunshine through all three pillars of the Arctic Henge in Raufarhöfn. You ride back with the majestic mountains on the east leading the way to Bjarnastaðir farm. Ride through the Kvíar slope which is about 165 meters above sea level and witness the indescribable beauty of the northernmost parts of Iceland when the midnight sun shines over you.
- Distance: 38 kilometers
Day 6: Sightseeing ásbirgi - Akureyri - Reykjavík
Here, you will say goodbye to horses and drive to Húsavík airport to catch the flight to Reykjavik. On the way, you will drive to Ásbyrgi Canyon, one of the wonders of nature, a horseshoe-shaped canyon. The old saga says that the god Odin from northern mythology rode his giant horse Sleipnir who stepped down on the ground and formed this shoe print.
Note: Íslandshestar reserves the right to alter the itinerary if necessary.
Tack type
The tack used for Icelandic horses is slightly different than the tack ordinarily used for other breeds. The saddle is built close to a dressage saddle and has a relatively flat seat. Saddles come with plain or quilted seats. On longer rides, a crupper helps keep the saddle in place. The riding style used on Icelandic horses is close to the English riding style, but stirrups are worn long. The bits used are mostly simple snaffles. Bridles have a detachable noseband and clip-on reins.
Location
The holiday will take place in the Northwestern Region, Iceland.
Húsavík
Húsavík is a town in north Iceland with around 2300 inhabitants. It is around 10 kilometers from the domestic airport in Húsavík. The town is famous for whale-watching tours.
Öxafjörður Fjord
Öxafjörður Fjord is a broad fjörd in northeast Iceland located right on top of the Mid-Atlantic ridge.
Raufarhöfn
Most of the 250 inhabitants of this small village live in traditional fishing. It is the most northern village of Iceland’s mainland and where the Arctic Henge is located.
Melrakkaslétta plains
Melrakkaslétta plains could translate Arctic Fox Field. It is inhabited by few with most of them living in little fishing villages along the coast. It has a highly versatile geography ranging from mountains up to 400 meters above sea level to cliffs, valleys, tundra, and lakes full of trout. It is a real bird heaven with the largest migrations in spring and autumn and home to both Syberian driftwood and seals.
Arctic Henge
Located in Raufarhöfn the Arctic henge is a sundial that plays skilfully with shadow, light, time, and precise location. It has four pillars with openings in the four main directions affecting the appearance of the sun's rays during the days and seasons. Inside the Henge, there are 68 dwarfs mentioned in the famous prose Edda that have been assigned roles by Óðinn.
Kvíar
Kvíar is a slope that is about 165 meters above sea level with a beautiful view.
Ásbyrgi Canyon
Ásbyrgi Canyon is one of the wonders of nature, a horseshoe-shaped canyon. The old saga says that the god Odin from northern mythology rode his giant horse Sleipnir who stepped down on the ground and formed this shoeprint.
Food
During the ride, full board is provided and included in the price. The 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 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.
The following meals are included:
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
The following dietary requirement(s) are served and/or catered for:
- Regular (typically includes meat and fish)
- Other dietary requirements on request
If you have special dietary requirements it's a good idea to communicate it to the organiser when making a reservation
Things to do (optional)
Íslandshestar offers optional sightseeing tours and activities on some of the rides. These are mentioned in the itinerary and should be paid for in cash on the spot.
What's included
- Horse riding program
- 5 nights accommodation
- Full-board meals
- Flight from Reykjavík to Akureyri
- Bus transfer from Reykjavík to the farm
- Rainwear, water bottle, saddle bag, and riding helmet
- 3 - 4 horses per person
- Local guidance
- 11% VAT
What's not included
- Airfare
- Airport transfers
- Alcoholic beverages
- Travel insurance
How to get there
Recommended Airports
HZK
Húsavík Airport
118 km
Transfer included
KEF
Keflavík International Airport
209 km
Transfer not provided
RKV
Reykjavík Airport
174 km
Transfer included
Arrival by airplane
Please book your flight to arrive at Reykjavík Airport (RKV). The meeting point is at Flugfélagið Ernir in the airport at 12:45 p.m. You will then fly to Húsavík Airport (HZK) together as a group. Transfer from Húsavík Airport (HZK) is included. Íslandshestar will pick you up from the airport. A bus will drive everyone to the farm.
Airport: Húsavík Airport
Airport transfer included: Húsavík Airport
No additional charges. You can request this in the next step.
Airport: Reykjavík Airport
Airport transfer included: Reykjavík Airport
No additional charges. You can request this in the next step.
Cancellation Policy
- A reservation requires a deposit of 14% of the total price.
- The deposit is non-refundable, if the booking is cancelled.
- The rest of the payment should be paid 30 days before arrival.
For this organizer you can guarantee your booking through BookHorseRidingHolidays.com. All major credit cards supported.
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