8 Day Intensive Horse Riding with Breathtaking Trails in Western Region, Iceland

Facilities

As you will mostly ride along the wide beaches of Iceland's most beautiful horse riding area, Löngufjörur, you have to plan the rides according to times of low tide. This means that there will be the occasional free morning or afternoon which you can use for some sightseeing in the area. Depending on the weather and other circumstances, you can see rocks with nesting birds, gorges, caves, or especially beautiful beaches or you can go on a trip on a fishing boat.

For those who are interested, Lýsuhóll can give you insight into the breeding and training of the horses. You might also get the chance to see them roaming freely in the mountains and to study their natural behavior. You will spend up to six hours a day on horseback, tölting or trotting most of the way. Therefore, you need to have a good basic riding experience.

Itinerary

Day 1: Welcome to Lýsuhóll

You will be picked up at BSÍ Reykjavík Bus Station at 18:00, drive to Lýsuhóll and have dinner. During the evening meal, you can get to know each other and talk about the details of the upcoming tour. Then, you will go for a short ride to get an impression which horses fit which rider.

Day 2

You will begin the tour with a ride along the mountains and over a lava field. If you are lucky, you can meet some of the horses which are roaming freely during the summer. You will then go along the beach to Búðir. There, you take a break at a little wooden church which lies beautifully in a landscape of golden sand and black lava. The way home takes you along the beach, passing a seal colony, and crossing a few small rivers.

Day 3

This day's ride leads you to pass the beautiful little lakes, through a river, and on broad golden beaches to the farm Stakkhamar. The horses will spend the night there while you drive back to Lýsuhóll.

Day 4

You keep on exploring the wide beaches of Löngufjörur which is a lot of fun for both horses and riders. Your destination is Skógarnes where the horses will find another nice place for the night.

Day 5

You will enjoy another day in an area you can only access by boat or, when the tide is low, on the horseback. The scenery is ever changing and fascinating. The horses spend the night at a farm called Stóra-Hraun with hundreds of rabbits for company.

Day 6

You turn to the west to start your way back home. While you took the scenic routes to reach all the most beautiful spots, you take the direct way now. The glacier Snæfellsjökull always in plain view. You will then ride back to Stakkhamar.

Day 7

The time has come to say goodbye to the horses, but only after another day of enjoying their special characters and gaits. The route takes you to the golden beaches and back home along the lakes and mountains. At home, Jóhanna will have a special Icelandic evening feast for you and you will spend the last evening sitting and chatting about all the exciting things that happened during the tour.

Day 8

After breakfast, you will be taken back to BSÍ Reykjavík Bus Station from Lýsuhóll. You leave at around 10:00 in the morning so everybody should be at BSÍ Reykjavík Bus Station before 13:00. If you are planning a longer stay in Iceland, Lýsuhóll can arrange further accommodation for you.

Note

For the interest of the participants, Lýsuhóll reserves the right to change the order of the program due to the situation of the tide and weather.

Riding ability

You spend up to six hours on horseback per day, riding over various kinds of landscapes, crossing rivers, and rocks. Lýsuhóll recommends you have a solid riding experience and is in a good health. The horses are very reliable and have an especially good character. They are very friendly, enduring, and willing to please. They will make this tour a very special Icelandic experience for you.

Riding gear

Please note that used riding gear and boots / shoes have to be disinfected prior to arrival in Iceland. Due to the isolation on this island, the horses are not immune to many imported diseases. Used leather equipment like boots, bridles, saddles etc. may not be brought into the country. Please help Lýsuhóll to protect the horses.

The horses

Lýsuhóll has a lot of well-trained horses for the riding tours and shorter rides, most of the younger ones are bred on Lýsuhóll. They are very friendly and willing to go, tölt well, and have a lot of stamina. They make every ride a great experience for the guests. Of course, the horses are in the center of attention on Lýsuhóll.

You will ride through Búðir, Stakkhamar, Löngufjörur, and Skógarnes in Iceland. The tours will cover the amazingly beautiful landscape with mountains, sea, sandy beaches, lakes, lava fields, and last but not least the magically fascinating glacier Snæfellsjökull.

The horse farm Lýsuhóll is located in Western Iceland on the south coast of the Snæfellsnes peninsula, which many Iceland experts consider to be the most beautiful part of the country. A huge variety of landscapes characterize the area and the glacier Snæfellsjökull with its almost magical attraction gives it a very special charm.

Nearby places

• Geothermal swimming pool - 5 minutes' walk

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You will be served full board meals, including breakfast, packed lunch, and warm evening meal. Vegetarian meals are also available.

You can go swimming in a geothermal pool with two hot tubs located five minutes' walk from the farm.

• 6 days of horseback riding (up to 6 hours per day)
• Short sight-seeing trips in the area
• Services of an experienced English-speaking guide
• Waterproof overcoats, helmets, saddles, and bridles
• Transfer from and to BSÍ Reykjavík Bus Station
• Breakfasts, packed lunches, and warm evening meals
• 7 nights' accommodation

• Riding clothes (except helmets and rain gear)

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• 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 on arrival.