Thorsmork Riding Tour

This tour is unusual in that it is a short tour, BUT, the riders on this tour go along with a herd of loose horse that serve as remounts during the 4 days of riding. This is the tradition in Iceland; the horses are always fresh and willing because they know they're not going to be ridden for the whole day. The experience of riding along with this herd of loose horses may be one of the greatest riding experiences many of us will know!
Whether you’ve ridden for years or are just learning your way around horses, the broad valleys, steep canyons and raging rivers of Thórsmörk are marvelous places to enjoy the Icelandic horse in Iceland’s nature. The Thórsmörk tour has always been popular with Horses North riders. It takes riders through one of the loveliest spots in a beautiful country - a large wooded valley, sacred, considered the "Woods of Thor," which has been dedicated to this God since ancient times. Worth a visit by anyone traveling to Iceland, it’s particularly fascinating to ride into this area on horseback.

Do you want to experience Iceland without riding horses? Look at these -

Guided coach Tours

Self guided Driving Touring

Day 0:
Iceland here we come!

Travelers from North America leave for Iceland 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. You can check your bags, grab some breakfast, and then set out explore a bit of Iceland’s capital city. Around 5:30 PM, the outfitter will pick you up at the BSI bus terminal, and take you to their farm, about an hour outside the capital. The tour group meets over dinner and is given details of the tour ahead. Horses North clients are upgraded to a night in the comfortable Hotel Eldhestar.

Day 2:
Hveragerði - Skálakot After breakfast, riders are taken south to the outfitters farm, Skálakot to meet the horses and begin riding. The first day’s ride goes to the delta of the Markarfljót river, where seals are often seen, and then the route turns inland, where the view of mountains and glaciers await. You’ll spend the night in the guesthouse on the outfitters farm, with showers and shared bathrooms. 22 km, 4 hours

Day 3:
Skálakot - ThórsmörkIt’s a day for great sights starting with Paradise Cave, famous during outlaw times. Then there is a walk behind the waterfall at Seljalandsfoss which rises some 70 meters high. Next, a ride up the valley along the river Markarfljót, known from Njals saga. The first glacier in sight is Eyjafjallajökull, which produces many little rivers, and culminates in the glacial torrent called Krossa. Now, you’ve arrived at Thórsmörk national park, wild and beautiful, and held dear by Icelanders. The next two nights are spent in a mountain hut here, with a sauna showers and a small hot pool. 40 km - 6-7 hrs

Day 4:
ThórsmörkThe whole day is spent riding through this huge national park. Thórsmörk offers unforgettable scenery, with its broad valleys, real forests, plenty of canyons, caves and waterfalls. The highlight is a ride into the deep green canyon Stakkholtsgja, which feels like the heart of Thórsmörk. Where else can you ride in the shadow of three glaciers - Eyjafjallajökull, Tindafjallajökull and Mydalsjokull 25 km 5 hrs

Day 5:
Thórsmörk - HeimalandThe last day gets started with more riding through Thórsmörk. Then it’s time to ride back through the fine broad valleys approaching Thórsmörk and over the moors of Hamragardaheidi. Around 2 PM you’ll leave the horses, go back to the farm After saying good-bye to the horses, riders head back to Reykjavik where you’ll be dropped at your hotel (another upgrade for Horses North clients). Often riders all go out to one of Reykjavik’s many good restaurants for a last dinner together, (but it’s not included in the price!). 25 km 5 hrs

Day 6:
Home again!The tour officially ends this morning after breakfast. You can continue exploring Iceland or, if your trip is over you can take the Flybus shuttle out to the airport later in the day. (You could take a bus that will give you a few hours visit to the Blue Lagoon on the trip to the airport).

Meals on riding tours will be family style with lots of typical Icelandic cuisine which features fish, dairy products, lamb, and potatoes. Vegetarians can be accommodated with advance notice. We’ll send you a gear list that provides tips for packing, as well as info on converting money and electricity, weather advice (no guarantees, though) and other useful stuff. aditionally Icelandic. On your first night you are upgraded to the Eldhestar Hotel in a very comfortable room. On the tour you’ll need a sleeping bag and you’ll stay in farm guesthouses, mountain huts and cabins, which 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. What they lack in creature comforts they make up for in impressive scenery. Your last night, in Reykjavik, is also upgraded.

Dates:
The Thórsmörk Riding Tour runs 9 times in 2011. Below are travel dates --and it’s easy to add a couple days on either end, if you want to see a bit more Iceland. Your arrival day in Iceland is always a transfer day, which allows you to rest from the short night of sleep on the flight, before you start riding on the second day. Below are travel dates for the tour and prices per person, double occupancy. Single supplement prices available upon request.

Download a PDF of the itinerary of thie Thorsmork Riding Tour

Dates:
The Thórsmörk Riding Tour runs 9 times in 2012. Below are travel dates--and it’s easy to add a couple days on either end, if you want to see a bit more Iceland. Your first day in Iceland is always a transfer day, which allows you to rest from the short night of sleep on the flight, before you start riding on the second day. Below are travel dates for the tour and prices per person, double occupancy. Single supplement prices available upon request.

Please note that the price is subject to revision until you book your tour by making a deposit.

Start	End	Price (US$)
Tue, May 29-	Mon, June 4	$2986
Tues, Jun 12-	Mon, June 18	3077
Wed, June 20-	Tue, June 26	3077
Mon, July 2-	Sun, July 8	3077
Thurs, July 26-	Wed, Aug 1	3077
Tues, Aug 14-	Mon, Aug 20	3077
Sat, Aug 25-	Fri, Aug 31	3077
Tues, Sept 4-	Mon, Sept 10	2986
Tue, Sept 11-	Mon, Sept 17	2986

Ask for single rates on upgrades on the pre- and post-tour (included) nights.

Price
The price includes round trip airfare, including fuel surcharge and departure taxes from Boston, New York, Minneapolis, Denver, and Washington Dulles International Airport - ask about prices from Seattle, Toronto, Halifax and Europe. Price also includes all transfers while in Iceland, hotel accommodations with private bath, tv, internet connection for pre- and post-ride nights, breakfast on departure day, sleeping bag accommodations during the ride in mountain huts and guest houses with shared facilities, all meals during the ride, as well as safety helmets and rain gear.

Not included in the price are travel insurance, breakfast and lunch on your arrival day, dinner on your last riding day back in Reykjavik, lunch and dinner on the day of departure and the cost of any additional travel.

Accommodations during the ride are traditionally Icelandic. You’ll need a sleeping bag , for which the outfitter will provide a good mattress, and you’ll stay in farm guesthouses, mountain huts and cabins, which 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, many will have showers. What they lack in creature comforts they make up for in impressive scenery. On your last night in Reykjavik you’ll be upgraded to a hotel for a bit of post-ride comfort.