Landmannalaugar – Mt. Hekla

The ride

On this exciting tour, we see the mountain Hekla towering over the region and every day we see evidence of its numerous devastating eruptions throughout the ages.

When we ride

Along the trail

13 highlights on the route – scroll sideways to follow it.

Þjórsá

A glacier river with its source in Hofsjökull. It is longest river in Iceland around 230 km

Eyjafjallajökull

Glacier is located in south Iceland. Under its small ice cap rests a caldera of an active volcano that famously erupted in 2010. Despite its relatively small eruption it caused a massive air traffic disturbance in Europe for a week

Hekla volcano

Mount Hekla often titled the “Queen of Iceland” is a highly active fissure vent and a stratovolcano in South Iceland. Its numerous and frequent eruptions have produced a massive amount of lava and a big coverage of tephra layers. In the middle ages it was referred to as the Gateway to hell by Europeans

Sandá

A river that runs beside Þjórsá and a good salmon river. The name translates sand river

Þjórsárdalur

The valley takes its name from the river Þjórsá. It is rather flat and marked from Hekla’s numerous eruptions both with fields of lava and tephra. Famous sites of interest are The common wealth farm, Stöng, the waterfall Háfoss 122 m, the waterfall Hjálparfoss and Vegghamrar

Mt. Dímon

Around 200m high located in the forest Skriðufellskógur surrounded by birch and spruce forest

Stöng

The ruins of a medieval farmhouse excavated in 1939. In 1104, Mt Hekla erupted for the first time in the recorded history of Iceland. The eruption destroyed at least 20 farms in the valley Thjórsárdalur, among them the farm Stöng

Gjáin

A mystical canyon with lots of small waterfalls and famous setting for Games of Thrones

Hólaskógur

The cozy cabin Hostel with a beautiful view of volcano Hekla. It is located near Háifoss waterfall, Gjáin and Hjálparfoss waterfall

Lambaskarð

Mountain passage

Sauðleysuvatn

Is an unusually deep lake in a walking distance to Landmannahellir. It is not accessible by car

Landmannahellir

A cave that was formerly a well known resting place for travellers of Landmannaleið and farmers rounding up their sheep. Later the mountain hut next to it was built

Landmannalaugar

Breathtaking landscape and geology. Famous for its colourful rhyolite mountains, natural hot pool to bathe in and lava field from 1480. There are plenty of short and long interesting hiking trails with breathtaking scenery. The beginning of the famous hiking trail Laugavegur that ends in Þórsmörk or Skógar

Day by day

1. DAY1

   Reykjavík – Kálfhóll

   Pick up at BSÍ Bus station in Reykjavik at 18:00, where our bus will transfer you and your fellow riders to Kálfhóll farm where horses and staff are waiting for us. After a lovely introductory meal where we get to know each other, we relax and rest so we are well prepared for the adventure ahead of us.

2. DAY2

   Kálfhóll – Glacier river Thjórsá – Réttarholt≈ 20 km

   We ride on fantastic riding paths along the mighty glacial river Þjórsá, with views of the glacier Eyjafjallajökull and the volcano Hekla. We leave the horses at Sandlækjarmýri field and drive to Réttarholt. This day is the perfect start to get to know your horse and the Icelandic way of trail riding in a relaxed atmosphere. We stay at Kálfhóll and relax in the hot tub outdoors. (approximately 20 km)

3. DAY3

   Réttarholt – Mountain hut Hólaskógur≈ 35 km

   Today we ride along the lovely river Sandá through the National Forest Skriðufellskógur into the beautiful and famous valley of Thjórsárdalur. The volcano Hekla towers over the vast lavender-blue lupine fields along the sandy tracks. We stop at Stöng, the ruins of a medieval farmhouse excavated in 1939. In 1104, Mt Hekla erupted for the first time in the recorded history of Iceland. The eruption destroyed at least 20 farms in the valley Thjórsárdalur, among them the farm Stöng. After a short stop at Gjáin, a mystical canyon with lots of small waterfalls and famous setting for Games of Thrones, we head for the cozy mountain hut Hólaskógur with a prime view of Volcano Hekla. (approximately 35 km)

What’s included

• Bus transfer from Reykjavík to the farm.
• During the ride full board is provided. Our 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 tour 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.
• Rainwear, water bottle, saddle bag, riding helmet.

Where you stay

Shared rooms in mountain cabins and sleeping bags – Accommodation after the ride are to be arranged individually.

Good to know

What riders say