Day 1: Entering the Highlands: Fell – Einhyrningur (ca. 25 km)
Abholung in Reykjavik morgens (gegen 9:00)
Pick-up at your hotel in Reykjavik between 08.15 and 09.00. We travel by private coach to the Southern part of Iceland to the cabin Fell where we will find our horses and which will be our point of departure. We start our ride alongside the mighty Markarfljót River. We follow on its Western banks through majestic scenery with the Highlands towering ahead of us. Our path leads us up to the slopes of Mt. Einhyrningur, to our cabin Bólstaður where we spend the first night. Enjoy the great view of Eyjafjallajökull Glacier and Thorsmörk Nature Park.
Tag 2: Passing the Peaks: Einhyrningur – Mosar – Hungurfit (ca. 30 km)
Wir reiten durch das malerische Emstrur-Gebiet nach Mosar. Dieses üppige Weidegebiet im Hochland gefällt unseren Pferden und wir verbringen dort einige Zeit, bevor wir zur neuen und gemütlichen Hungurfit-Hütte nördlich des Tindfjallajökull, dem kleinsten Gletscher Islands, weiterreiten. Er ist leicht an seinen beiden symmetrischen Gipfeln Ýmir und Ýma zu erkennen, die beide über 1400 Meter hoch sind. Hier gibt es eine warme Dusche und eine großartige Aussicht auf den Gletscher Mýrdalsjökull, in dem sich der berüchtigte Katla-Krater verbirgt.
Tag 3: Through the Steamy Valley: Hungurfit – Landmannahellir Mt. Cabin (ca. 45 km)
Wir setzen unseren Ritt ins Gebirge fort, vorbei am markanten Tafelberg Laufafell, durch eine schwarze Lavawüste. Unser Ritt führt uns vorbei an den schwarzen Obsidian-Lavafeldern von Hrafntinnusker und durch das faszinierende Reykjadalur-Tal mit seinen heißen Quellen, kleinen Geysiren und bunten Bergen. Wir beenden diesen Reittag in der traditionellen Schafzuchtstation Landmannahellir, wo wir die nächsten zwei Nächte verbringen.
Day 4: The Kaleidoscope of Iceland´s colours: (car transfer to) Landmannalaugar – Landmannahellir (ca. 40 km)
Today we ride into to the famous Landmannalaugar, with its natural hot pool, surrounded by colourful mountains and lava from 1480. We spend the morning there with the opportunity to hike or take a dip in the pool or to go on the special ride further into Jökugil Canyon. For this ride we need to leave the herd behind while we venture further to explore. You will be riding through an area of outstanding beauty without the crowds from the Landmannalaugar area. After that de-tour we embark with our herd on the scenic ride returning to Landmannahellir. The colours change from the blue-yellow-reddish of the rhyolite mountain ranges of Landmannalaugar to the greenish black lava fields and unreal dots of blue lakes in between. We cross rivers and lakes and pass through an obsidian field before arriving back in Landmannahellir. This day will be without a doubt, one of the highlights of this tour.
We leave the horses but will not spend the night here, instead drive back to the more remote and serene cabin Landmannahellir.
Day 5: On the road to Nowhere:– Landmannalaugar to Lambaskarðshólar (ca. 40 km)
A long exciting day lies in front of us. We ride with our herd Southwards through the mountains until we reach the remote area of the Laki eruptions. We ride past the Eldgjá Canyon when everything turns green again, crossing rivers until we enter the Southern part of the Fjallabak Nature Reserve.
Day 6: Fire and Ice: Lambaskarðshólar (55 km)-Mosar
The longest day of our tour lies ahead of us. We pick up the herd in Landmannalaugar again. Our ride will take us North East, between Mýrdalsjökull and Torfajökull Glacier. We follow the Fjallabak Trail across Mælifellssandur, a black sand desert named after the prominent cone shaped volcano Mælifell that rises above the black sand and provides great contrast with it’s moss green slopes. We ride around it and turn North through the Álftavatnskrókur grazing area and past Lake Álftavatn and we cross several small glacier fed rivers on our way to the cabin. Before reaching the cabin, we have to pass Ófæragíl, a narrow canyon where the horses have to pass through one by one. We end our ride at Lambaskarðshólar cabin, close to River Skaftá. After this long riding day, the hot showers at the cabin will be highly appreciated (55 km).
Day 7: Where the wild sheep roam: Around Mosar (ca. 25-35 km):
Wir lassen die Herde zurück und reiten auf eigenen Pferden weiter, um diese wunderbare Gegend weiter zu erkunden. Wir reiten in das wunderschöne Botnar-Tal und halten an einer Höhle, die in früheren Zeiten den Bauern als Unterschlupf beim Einsammeln ihrer Schafe diente. Der Höhepunkt dieses Tages wird der Blick in die beeindruckende Markafljotsglúfur sein, eine 200 Meter tiefe Schlucht. Bevor wir uns auf den Rückweg zur Hütte machen, halten wir auf einem Hügel und genießen einen großartigen 360-Grad-Blick über das südliche Hochland, einschließlich des Mýrdalsjökull-Gletschers und des berüchtigten Katla-Kraters.
Day 8: Winding down: Mosar - Fljotshlid
Our last riding day leads us down the slopes of Tindfjallajökull with amazig views of Markafljot River and the Eyjafjallaökull. This is the perfect day to wind down and let all the impressions from the trip sink in. Departure to Reykjavik in the evening.