Thingvellir and Around Lake Thingvallavatn

After an early lunch, we follow the old route from Hveragerdi to Hellisheidi. After reaching the moor, we continue to the Hengill volcano along the Kristnitökuhraun lava field. This lava came from the eruption of Hengill in the year 1000, the same year Iceland officially became Christian. The old folktales say that the eruption was the revenge of the old gods Thór, Ódinn and Freyr. 

We continue on the track between lava and hills down to Kolvidarhóll, where people have stopped to rest for hundreds of years. We spend the night at the farm Vellir.

Riding time and distance: 21 km, 4 hrs.

We continue North below the Húsmúli and Hengill mountains. We dismount and lead the horses through a narrow cleft to Marardalur (Valley of Horses). We ride through Dyrfjöll (Door-Mountains), and when we reach the mountaintop we have a view over Lake Thingvallavatn. 

The track continues along the lake past Hestvik to the farm Heidarbær. After that, we see the sights at the old Althing (Icelandic Parliament). From here, it is not far from Skógarhólar, where we spend the night. Iceland’s big national horse competition was held at Skógarhólar until 1978.

Riding time and distance: 38 km, 6-7 hrs.

Today we ride across the Thingvellir National Park. From Gjábakki we have an exceptional view over the park. We can see Lake Thingvallavatn, the largest lake in Iceland. This is also the area where the North American and European crustal plates meet. We cross Lyngdalsheidi Moor, where we stop at the Laugardalshellir caves. From Laugardalsvöllum we go back to Lyngdalsheidi Moor, and we finish the day’s ride at the cottage Kringlumýri.

Riding time and distance: 30 km, 6-7 hrs.

From Kringlumýri we continue along soft riding paths called Drift. Here we have a nice view over Lake Thingvallavatn. We will pass the water power station Ljósafossvirkjun, built in 1937, one of the first water power stations in Iceland. The ride continues along the south side of the lake to the farm Villingarvatn, from where horses and guests are driven back to the farm, Vellir.

Riding time and distance: 15 km, 3-4 hrs.

We first ride along the slopes of Reykjafjall mountain and continue on nice riding trails surrounding the small village Hveragerði. The path then takes us through a green forest to a colorful geothermal valley with hot springs, an area which expanded dramatically during an earthquake in 2008. 

On our way towards the green hills surrounding the volcano Hengill we have good opportunity to try the “tölt”, the special gait of the Icelandic horse. The horses then take us on a leisurely pace following narrow trails up into the valley Reykjadalur. On the way, we encounter the captivating Djúpagilsfoss waterfall and several hot springs before arriving at the Reykjadalur valley. Here, a warm stream invites us to enjoy a soothing bath. As we journey back down the valley, we're treated to captivating panoramas, including the village of Hveragerði, picturesque farmland, and even the possibility of spotting the Westman Islands along the coastline, if the weather permits. 

We continue along the mountain slopes again back to our farm Vellir where the tour ends. After some refreshments, the bus takes us back to Reykjavík at about 16:30.

Riding time and distance: 19 km, 5 -6 hrs.