Black lava sand fields and bright rhyolite mountains color this riding trip through southern Iceland's most spectacular panoramic views. Seeing enormous glaciers, watching Mt Hekla, Iceland's most active volcano, and stopping at hot water streams that invite you for a dip, this is a tour of Iceland as a geological wonderland. With a chance to really experience the Icelandic Horse!

Up into the mountains, across mighty glacial rivers and through the lava fields of Skaftáreldar, which were created in the devastating eruption of 1783. Landmannalaugur will awaken you to the amazing power of fire and ice, and show how they've shaped Iceland's landscape. Also included in this tour is a visit to the beautiful Gullfoss waterfall and the world famous Geysir. This tour is unusual in offering accommodations that are a bit higher in creature comforts that many highland tours - there are showers or a hot tub most ever night!

Day 0:
Leave the US

from Boston, New York, or Minneapolis, (Orlando and San Francisco may require leaving a bit earlier) on an overnight flight with an early morning arrival at Keflavik Airport in Iceland

Day 1:
Welcome to Iceland !

Riders will arrive at Keflavik International Airport and then take the Flybus shuttle to the BSI bus terminal in Reykjavik. Luggage can be left here, you can get some breakfast, and then set out to explore a bit of Iceland’s capital city. Around 5:30 PM, the outfitter will pick up riders at the BSI bus terminal, and take them to their farm in Hveragerdi, about an hour outside of the capital, where they can check into the comfortable country hotel. The tour group meets over dinner and are given details of the tour ahead.

Day 2:
Hveragerdi - Einhyrningur

After breakfast, riders will hop in the car for a drive to the farm Eyvindarmúli where you’ll meet horses and guides and get started on the riding tour. You’ll head east past Fljotshlid, known from Njál's Saga, then crossing the river Grímsá and to the mountain Einhyrningur. This horn shaped mountain is known for resembling a horn on the head of a troll. You’ll spend the night in a mountain hut, after riding 25 km, 5 hours.

Day 3:
Einhyrningur - Hvanngil

There are soft roads to ride along early in the day, with view to the north of Tindfjallajökull Glacier. Your horses will take you through the Markarfljót River and to Emstrur. From there, the horses know the old way, called Fjallabaksleid Sydri, where sand, lava, glacier and high majestic mountains greet you. After crossing Kaldalófsá River, you’ll come to Hvanngil, a newly built mountain hut with bathrooms and showers. 30 km, 6 hours.

Day 4:
Hvanngil - Lambaskardshólar

From Hvanngil the route goes over a 30-km-long sand plain Mælifellssandur. It’s a very Icelandic view - on one side, there is Mýrdalsjökull Glacier and, on the other, the Icelandic highland. You’ll cross the powerful Hólmsá River and follow a mountain road to the valley Álftavatnskrókur and on to Ófærudalur Valley , with its unusual lava landscape, shaped in a volcano eruption 1100 years ago. The horses will take you across Sydri Ófærá before coming to the hut (with shower) at Lambaskardshólar for the night. 45 km, 9 hours.

Day 5:
Lambaskardshólar - Landmannalaugar

On our way to Landmannalaugar, there’s a visit to Eldgjá, which is a unique 40-km-long volcano crater, You’ll see the Ófærufoss Fall, known from the famous Icelandic movie "The Raven Flies" The way winds along soft paths over Herdubreidarháls to the Jökuldalir Valleys, and then into Landmannalaugar where you can soak in one of Iceland’s largest natural hot springs. 35 km, 7 hrs.

Day 6:
Landmannalaugar - Landmannahellir

A day to ride through Landmannalaugar. The mountains around the hot springs are extraordinary, multi colored, changing with the light and very beautiful. You’ll end up your day, after lots of great riding and vistas, at the cabin at Landmannahellir. 35 km, 7 hrs

Day 7:
Landmannahellir - Hvanngil

Today you’ll ride up along Pokahryggir to Reykjadalir, where there are more hot springs and beautiful colors. You’ll cross back across Markarfljót, where the river is shallowest. Then it’s over more mountains and through valleys north and east of Laufafell, through Álftavatnsskard to Lake Áltfavatn. The night is spent at the cabin at Hvanngil. 50 km, 9-10 hrs.

Day 8:
Hvanngil - Fljotshlid - Reykjavik

On this last day, you’ll ride near the same area as the first day, but farther south to the area of Fljotshlid, known from the Saga of Burning Njál. When you get to the Grímsá River, you’ll say good-bye to the horses, and be taken into Reykjavik by car, where you’ll have a last night in a comfortable hotel room. Often riders all go out for dinner together, but it’s not included in the price. 25 km, 4-5 hrs.

Day 9 :
Farewell to Iceland

You’ll have a long morning to relax, explore Iceland’s capital city, visit geothermal swimming pools, cafes, museums and shops, before taking the bus to Keflavik Airport in time for your flight back home.

Download a PDF of the itinerary of the Landmannalaugur tour

There are 3 departures of Landmannalaugar tour in the summer of 2008, and they start in Iceland on Saturday, running through the next Sunday.

July 9 - 17

July 19 - 27

Aug 5 - 13

Price*:
In 2009 the fully inclusive price for the 9 day Landmannalaugur tour is $4178 per person/double occupancy. (pp/do). Price includes round trip airfare, including fuel surcharge and taxes, from Boston, New York, Minneapolis, or Orlando (ask about prices from Toronto, Halifax and Europe), all airport transfers, the flight from Reykjavik to Akureyri , and meals on the tour.

Not included in the above price: lunch on your arrival and departure days, and any additional travel you choose while in Iceland. Additional fuel charges added after March 1 '08 wiill also be extra.

While accommodations on this tour are traditionally Icelandic, most of the mountain huts and cabins offer hot tubs or natural-warm water showers, so you can relax in relative comfort at the end of your riding day. These rustic accommodations often have some rooms for 2-4 travelers, as well as one big sleeping room. Your outfitter will provide a sleeping bag with liner and mattress. Huts will have shared bathroom facilities. While not fancy, the accommodations are a bit more comfy than many used on other wilderness tours. You’ll stay in a guesthouse in Reykjavik on your first night in Iceland, and we’ve upgraded our riders to a downtown hotel for the last night of the tour back in Reykjavik.

The Landmannalaugur tour is a very popular wilderness ride. Riders should be in good physical condition, and ready for long days of riding, but prepared for an unforgettable view of Iceland‘s heartland.

Dates don't work? Because we work with several different outfitters, we can often suggest similar tours; if the one you've chosen occurs at a time that doesn't quite fit your travel schedule. Give us a call to discuss