IH-17 Horse Drive
Day by day itinerary
Sunday: Reykjavík – Hvammur – Vatnsdalur
Transfer by bus from Reykjavík to Hvammur Farm, where we meet horses and guides. After having gathered up the horses we start our ride through Vatnsdalur. This beautiful valley is the setting of the Vatnsdæla-Saga. We ride past the historical farm Hof and cross the river Vatnsdalsá on our way to Saurbær Farm, where we leave the horses and return to Hvammur Farm for our overnight stay. (20 km)
Monday: Saurbær – Grímstunguheiði – Saurbær
This will be our longest day when we ascend towards the highland plateau Grímstunguheiði and drive the horses into their summer pastures. We enjoy a good picnic lunch and coffee at a mountain shelter before we return to Saurbær where our horses spend the night. On our way down from the highland pastures we see mighty Alkugil gorge with picturesque waterfalls tumbling down over rock formations. (35 km)
Tuesday: Saurbær – Vatnsdalshólar – Thingeyrar – Hvammur
Enjoying good riding paths we ride north on the west side of the valley towards Thingeyrar Farm, a place of great history with a beautiful church. We follow the banks of Vatnsdalsá River and cross the river a couple of times. Vatnsdalshólar are considered to be uncountable small hills which formed after an enormous landslide. The horses spend the night at Thingeyrar Farm and we return to Hvammur Farm for the night. (30 km)
Wednesday: Hvammur - Thingeyrar – Hvammur
We start the day with a visit to historic Thingeyrar Church. This is our last day of riding and we bring the horses back to Hvammur Farm. We cross Lake Húnavatn on a save trail in the water and enjoy the excitement of the horses once they have returned to the black sand on dry land. We ride on the eastern side of Vatnsdalur valley, past Hvammsfoss waterfall, surrounded by impressive basalt columns. Celebrate the successful return in the evening with a great barbeque feast in the barn – “Icelandic style”. (25 km)
Thursday: Hvammur – Kjölur Highland Route – Reykjavík
We drive over the Kjölur Highland Route back to Reykjavík. The bus takes you through the rugged wilderness of the highland. Be amazed by natural hot water pool at Hveravellir - enjoy a dip? View the majestic glaciers Hofsjökull and Langjökull, and powerful Gullfoss waterfall, before reaching the well known Geysir. Return to Reykjavik at approx. 18:30.