Itinerary - Extensions - Horses and required riding level
Guiding - Accommodation - Dates and rates - More infos / booking

Saturday: Europe - Reykjavík
Transfer from Keflavík Airport to a guesthouse in Reykjavík. We invite you to a Welcome Meeting including traditional Icelandic soup. Receive details of your tour and meet your fellow riders.

Sunday: Reykjavík – Stóri-Kálfalækur – Grímsstaðir
Morning transfer to Stóri-Kálfalækur Farm, where horses and staff are waiting for us. After an introduction to the Icelandic horse and its special gaits we start our ride into the mountains through fertile farmlands and along good riding tracks to Grímsstaðir Farm with its proud history dating back to medieval times. Overnight at Stóri-Kálfalækur in made up beds, Showers and a hot tub on site.

Monday: Grímsstaðir – Hítarhólmur
The ride today leads through multi-coloured mountains and along low bushy hillsides. Hítardalur is a geological paradise. Vast lava fields, soft tracks through ashes and the high palagonite (tuff) mountains give you the impression of taking a ride on the moon! We leave the horses at the Hítarhólmur mountain and drive back to Stóri-Kálfalækur, where the hot tub is waiting.

Tuesday: Hítarhólmur – Kolviðarnes – Laugagerði
We continue our ride through this mystical volcanic valley. We stop at the sheep gathering place Hítardalsrétt and if you take a good look you can see the troll woman Hít who was turned into stone returning late from a date. We proceed west across Hítará River and travel trough an area well known as the hideout of Iceland’s most famous outlaw, Grettir. At Kolviðarnes Farm we leave the horses and spend the night at Laugagerði Schoolhouse where a swimming pool heated with geothermal water awaits us.

Wednesday: Laugagerði Schoolhouse – Traðir – Hof
After rejoining the horses we start our beach ride on Löngufjörur, the famous horse trail on the seashores of the Snæfellsnes peninsula. View majestic Snæfellsjökull Glacier ahead of you and feel the horses’ excitement and take part in their joy on this extraordinary trail released by the tide. Our horses spend the night at Traðir Farm while we stay at Hof Farm with a geothermal hot tub on site.

Optional (available with an extra charge):
Drive along the coast towards the romantic fishing villages of Arnastapi and Hellnar. Here we are right underneath magical Mt. Snæfellsjökull. Visit the Information center of the Snæfellsnes National Park and learn about its mysterious powers. View beautiful bird cliffs along the shore, shaped by powerful waves. Meet giant Bárður Snæfellsás and hear about historic celebrities like the far travelled Guðríður Þorbjarnadóttir and mass murderer Axlar Björn! (Price per person: ISK 3.000)

Thursday: Hof – Traðir – Kolviðarnes – Stóri-Kálfalækur
Another day´s ride on the yellow coloured, sandy beach. Direction changes and we head back towards mighty Eldborgarhraun lava field. An unique experience for everyone with lava-fields and mountains on one side of the trail and the Atlantic Ocean on the other. We leave the horses at Kolviðarnes Farm and drive to Stóri-Kálfalækur, where we spend the last two nights.

Friday: Kolviðarnes – Stóri-Kálfalækur Farm
Last day on the beach and yet a new experience. The sand turns black as we follow the outline of Eldborgarhraun lava field. Imagine the black lava still on the move on your way back to dry land. The ride ends at Stóri-Kálfalækur Farm, where we enjoy Ólöf’s farewell dinner.

Saturday: Stóri-Kálfalækur – Reykjavík
Transfer back to Reykjavík for an overnight stay in a guesthouse. Approx. arrival in Reykjavík at 11:00.

Sunday: Reykjavík – Europe
Transfer by bus to Keflavík Airport in time for the flight back home.



Please note that the beach ride is determined by the tide. Therefore the riding can start at any hour of the day and even last into the night. Don't worry though, the nights are bright at this time of the year.

Tack The tack used for Icelandic horses is slightly different then the tack ordinarily used for other breeds. The saddle is built close to a dressage saddle and has a relatively flat seat. Saddles come with plain or quilted seats. On longer rides a crupper helps keeping the saddle in place. Riding style used on Icelandic horses is close to English riding style, but stirrups are worn long. Bits used are mostly simple snaffles. Bridles have a detachable noseband and clip on reins. Recommended riding level This popular tour is ideal for families and those who do not have the required riding experience for our other riding trails in Iceland. Still riding days can be long so you should be in good physical condition and have a basic knowledge of horsemanship. Also, you must be comfortable and in control at the walk, moderate length trots (tölt) and short canters. Minimum age : 09 years, with the requested riding abilities and accompanied by an adult. See our special information sheet on Icelandic Rides.

The ride is supervised by a team of professionals of the trail ride in Iceland that perfectly knows the Icelandic horses and the specificity of the country.

Accommodation
In Reykjavik, you will be accommodated in guesthouses in rooms with shared facilities. 2 to 4 riders share a room.
On the ride, accomodation are mostly in mountains cabins and guesthouse and offer simple accommodations in sleeping bags. Sometimes, the whole group stays together in one room.
Indoor WC, warm showers and/or hot pools are available at most locations.
European plugs are used in Iceland so you don't need any adapter.

Meals
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 in advance. All riders make their own packed lunch from the breakfast table : sandwich, cheese, fruits ...
In Reykjavik, lunch and dinner are not include but generfruitsally there are lots of restaurant available near the accomodation.

- the trail ride with 3-4 horses per rider
- full board (except at Hafnarfjordur - Reykjavik, breakfast)
- english-speaking equestrian guide
- the financial guarantee of the deposits you send to Randocheval

- flights to Reykjavik
- tips
- drinks
- meals at Reykjavik
- the organisation of a possible tour through another region before or after the trail ride (consult us)
- any other prestation
- insurrance (cancellation, luggage, repatriation). You can subscribe to these insurrances only if you are an european resident. If you live outside European Union, please check with your local insurrance company.

From 10 to 20 riders. Given the fact that we always move with a substantial herd of horses in freedom (on average 50 to 60 horses) in immense areas, a more substantial group than in our other destinations is not a handicap at all.

The rigour of the Icelandic climate, which has formed the immense spaces that you cover, only allows the trail rides from June to September.

However this period is really ideal seeing that the sun shines during the best part of the day.

Formalities
Contact your embassy. For European people, the Identity card is enought.

Vaccination - health
No specific vaccinations. Don't forget your repatriation insurance.
We recommand to be update of usual vaccination, and especially tetanus.
Riding gear (riding boots, riding trousers, jackets, hats, gloves, etc.) needs to be washed (40°C), dry cleaned or disinfected before arriving in Iceland.
Saddles, bridles and other leather gear may not be brought into the country.

See our special information sheet on Icelandic Rides.