This ancient trail across Iceland takes riders through some of the most fascinating and extreme contrasts in this varied land. From the soft green paths of the south, to the sand plains between Vatnajokull and Hofsjokull glaciers, past the geographical center of the country, the Sprengisandur trail much of what is so spectacular about this country. It's a rough ride, for experienced riders with stamina, but offers a memorable adventure through Europe's last large wilderness. 8 days, 7 nights, 6 days on horseback. 330 kilometers!

Day 1: Welcome to Iceland! Tour members arrive at Keflavik airport, and take the Flybus to the Hotel Loftlieder, where you can check luggage, have breakfast and set out to see some of the nation's capital. But be back at the Hotel by 5:30 in the afternoon, as that's when the outfitter will pick you up and take you to their farm, in Hverdagerdi, about 45 minutes from Reykjavik. Over dinner that evening, the riders will get to know each other and tour details will be explained. You'll be accommodated in the farm's new hotel and probably be ready for a good night's sleep!

Day 2: Hveragerdi - Fellsmúli - Hólaskógur From Hveragerdi, you'll be driven to the farm Fellsmúli near the Mt. Hekla volcano where the riding tour starts. You'll follow soft paths through a birch forest to the old farm Skarfanes. On your way to Tröllkonuhlaup you'll pass the waterfall Thjófafoss, (waterfall of the Thieves) and then ride over the sand to the hut Hólaskógur to spend the night. 50-60 km, 9 hrs.

Day 3: Hólaskógur - Hrauneyjafoss You'll continue northeast of the Thjórsá River, Iceland's longest river. The landscape changes steadily into wilderness. You'll spend the night at Hrauneyjar, near a hydroelectric plant. 35 km, 7 hrs

Day 4: Hrauneyjafoss - Versalir Today you'll ride from Hrauneyjafoss Falls to Versalir, a resting place at the beginning of Sprengisandur. On this route the scenery includes many mountains and the glaciers Vatnajökull and Hofsjökull. 50-60 km, 9 hrs.

Day 5: Versalir - Nýi Dalur This day is also long, about 60 km. The landscape is similar to that of Day 4, but you will ride between glaciers. To the east you can see Mt. Arnarfell, a green mountain in the middle of Iceland, just before entering Sprengisandur. You'll pass the dwellings of some of the most famous Icelandic outlaws such as Fjalla-Eyvindur and then spend the night in a big mountain hut in Nýi-Dalur. 60 km, 10 hrs.

Day 6: Nýi-Dalur - Laugafell After leaving Nýi Dalur, you'll enjoy riding on large sand dunes. There are spectacular views as the landscape of North Iceland begins to open up, leaving the three biggest glaciers in Iceland behind. The night will be spent in a Laugafell mountain hut where you can relax in a hot pot. 45 km 9 hrs.

Day 7: Laugafell -Halldórsstadir in Eyjafjördur You'll head north from Laugafell to Eyjafjördur Fjörd, where the green natural surroundings, lush with bushes and some woods, start to dominate the landscape.There is a most beautiful view over Eyjafjördur and Akureyri. The tour ends at the Halldórsstadir Farm in Eyjafjördur. From there you'll be taken to Akureyri Airport for the flight back to Reykjavik, arriving there around 4:30 p.m., after a short day of 35 km, 6 hrs.Horses North Riders will enjoy a hotel room with down quilts, and private bath. Often riders will go out to one of Reykjaviks many fine restaurants for a last night together - but it's not included in the price.

Day 8: farewell...perhaps After breakfast the tour officially ends. Travelers returning home will have a few hours to shop, visit museums, or tack shops before the bus returns to Keflavik airport for flights back home. Those lucky enough to be exploring more of Iceland can get underway.

Download a PDF of the itinerary of this tour

This Sprengisandur tour will be run twice in 2004. The first dates are when the tour starts in Iceland. While travel dates are flexible, riders must leave the US no later than the night before the tour starts, while Europeans can leave home the morning of the first day.The fully inclusive 2004 price for this 8-day tour is $3175 per person.

Dates:

Thur-Thur 8-July to 15-July

Sat - Sat 17-July to 24-July

The fully inclusive price includes round trip airfare on Icelandair from New York, Boston or Baltimore, (Minneapolis is $75 extra) all transfers while in Iceland, sleeping bag accommodations all nights, in guesthouses, mountain huts and farm houses, all meals while on the riding tour, all raingear, safety helmets and tack for the horse tour. It does NOT include US departure taxes, breakfast and lunch on day of arrival, lunch on day of departure, restaurant dinner on last night of the tour, and the cost of any additional travel.

We package the Sprengisandure tour with everything you'll need - from Hotel rooms the first and last nights as well as round trip airfare on Icelandair from New York, Boston or Baltimore, (Minneapolis is $75 extra) all transfers while in Iceland, everything you'll need for the riding tour, including sleeping bag accommodations in guesthouses, mountain huts and farm houses, all meals while on the riding tour, all raingear, safety helmets and tack for the horse tour. It does NOT include US departure taxes, breakfast and lunch on day of arrival, lunch on day of departure, restaurant dinner on last night of the tour, and the cost of any additional travel. 

Accomodations on the Sprengisandur tour are typically Icelandic. You will stay at a country hotel the first night, then in cabins and mountain huts during the riding tour and in a hotel or guesthouse with private baths for the last night in Reykjavik. For the riding tour you will need to bring a sleeping bag, and the outfitter will provide mattresses. The cabins and mountain huts in which you'll be staying are all warm and clean. Typically there are several beds per room, and in huts there may be one big sleeping room. Most will have shared bathroom facilities.

We can arrange your travel dates to give you any extra time you might want, either before or after a riding tour, so that you can explore Iceland. We can even extend your trip to mainland Europe easily and inexpensively.

Visit our sister site www.icelandadventure.com for some more information on Iceland and touring and photos