RIDE ACROSS BLACK SANDY BEACHES IN THE NORTH OF ICELAND WITH A HERD OF LOOSE HORSES
OVERVIEW
Spend four days riding across North Iceland, from the family farms of Vatnsdalur Valley out along the wild Vatnsnes peninsula and back again.
Ride five days across North Iceland, from the family farms of Vatnsdalur Valley out along the wild Vatnsnes peninsula and back again. Tölt along black sand beaches, ford rivers, and cross the shimmering waters of Lake Hóp.
Stay each night on a working farm, steeped in saga history, where seals bask along the shore and the stories run as deep as the landscape. Wild, remote and unmistakably Icelandic — this is North Iceland at its most alive.
LET’S RIDE
TRIP HIGHLIGHTS
Tölt along black sand beaches on the wild Vatnsnes peninsula
Cross the shimmering waters of Lake Hóp
Ride past Hvítserkur — the basalt sea troll turned to stone
Spot seals basking along the Vatnsnes shoreline
Visit Viking-age fortresses
Ride with the herd of loose horses
Farmhouse accommodation with outdoor hot tub
Exclusive Black Saddle Safari
OVERVIEW
RIDE GUIDE
Duration: 4 Nights / 5 Days
Cost: From €2,070 pp sharing
Operator: Islandshestar
Where: Reykjavik, Iceland
When: 05 - 09 June 2027
Riders: 16
Riding Level: Advanced. You must be able to control your horse at gallop and keep them in control while cantering in a group of horses.
Weight Limit: Maximum of 95kg/210lbs
Time in the saddle: 3 to 8 hours a day
Horses: Icelandic Horses. There is no other breed allowed in Iceland!
HORSES
Icelandic horses are around 13.2 hands average but stout and strong, capable of carrying large and heavy people over rough distances at a brisk rate.
The horses are usually in snaffle bits - loose rings with snap-on, one-piece reins. English-type saddles are used with the Icelandic style of saddle seen as somewhat of a cross between a dressage and an endurance saddle.
The horses have all been bred and trained on site by the family and are very much part of the family.
ACCOMMODATION
This is an adventure ride with simple, farmhouse accommodation.
You’ll send all four nights at Hvammur farm.
Hvammur farm is situated in the beautiful Vatnsdalur Valley which is so full of the old Sagas and has the famous salmon fishing river Vatnsdalsá running down the middle. The farmhouse was renovated 4 years ago and has a hot tub in the garden with a view over the river.
The farmhouse has six rooms with a mix of 2 - 4 beds per room.
GET IN TOUCH
Fill in an obligation free rider form by clicking “book now” and we will be in touch!
WHAT'S INCLUDED
All meals and soft drinks, horses, accommodation, transfers to and from the bus stop to Reykjavik are included.
WHAT’S EXCLUDED
The price does not include international flights, travel insurance, accommodation in Reykjavik and airport transfers.
This is a dry ride and alcoholic drinks are not included though you are welcome to bring your own.
GETTING THERE
The meeting point is 8:30am at the BSI bus station: 101 Reykjavík, Iceland. You will likely need to arrive the day before and spend a night in Reykjavik.
At the end of the ride you will be dropped back to the BSI bus station at around 12:30pm.
WHAT TO PACK
Refer to our FAQ for what to pack on a horse riding holiday.
We will send confirmed riders a full packing list.
Icelandic horses are not vaccinated and you must be very careful when bringing used clothing and riding gear onto the island. Please refer to this helpful guide to learn more about how you can protect the horses.
This gear guide has recommendations for helpful clothing and gadgets for riding holidays.
Should you wish to dress like a local for your ride, we are happy to recommend places in Iceland to buy knit sweaters and riding clothing developed especially for the Icelandic climate.
Iceland uses the standard Europlug socket with two round prongs. For these plugs, you can use adapter types “C” or “F”.
MEALS
Meals are simple with hearty dinners. For breakfast you’ll have access to milk, yhogurt, cereals, bread, cheeses, jams, coffee and tea.
Lunch is a picnic made of a generous selection of breads, meats, salmon, spreads, fruits, yhogurt, cookies, chocolates and nuts. You will pack your own lunch at the breakfast table and hold your lunchbox in your saddle bags or pack into the car if the car can access the lunch spot. You will have hot coffee, tea and cake at lunch too.
Dinner is a hot meal with meat or fish, vegetables and fruit and a desert. Homemade and very wholesome and delicious, the amount of food is substantial. You certainly won’t feel hungry at any point on this trip!
Vegetarians are welcome.
Alcohol is not provided but you are welcome to bring your own. There is a duty free as you exit the airport.
INTERNET
Consider yourself ‘unplugged’ while on trail. Cell-phone reception is intermittent at best while you are riding. There is Wi-Fi at Hvammur Farm.
PRICES + AVAILABILITY
05 - 09 June 2027
€2,070 per person sharing.
There is no option to reserve your own room on this safari.
Fill in an obligation free Rider Form and we will get back to you with availability.
Bookings are confirmed on receipt of a 30% deposit. The balance is due 90 days before departure.
ICELAND
The currency is Icelandic Króna. Cards are readily taken in all shops.
Time Zone: GMT
Climate: Please pack for all weather including warm over trousers and a waterproof lined jacket or bring a warm fleece Riding in the mountains you might come across a lot or rain, hail or even snow - even in the summer time! The average temperature in June / July between 9C and 15C.
Iceland has one month of summer in July and the shoulder months of June and August also make for great riding. It is possible to ride all year around by wearing highly insulated jumpsuits.
TRAIL OF HOPE ITINERARY
Please be prepared that the following itinerary may change throughout the week if your ride is threatened by bad weather.
Submit a rider form to request availability.
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Pick up at 08:30 at BSÍ bus station.
Please be ready in your riding clothes. Transfer by bus from Reykjavík to Hvammur Farm, where we meet horses and guides. We start our ride through Vatnsdalur valley. This beautiful valley is the setting of the Vatnsdæla-Saga. Our ride ends at Sveinsstaðir Farm and we return to Hvammur Farm for our overnight stay. (Approx. 14 km)
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We leave Sveinsstaðir Farm and ride alongside the lagoon Hóp. The black sand at the beach is ideal for riding tölt, the special gait of the Icelandic horse. This trail along the shore gives us an idea of the beautiful lagoon we are going to cross tomorrow. We ride along the banks of Víðidalsá River and cross over it.
We take a break at Stóra-Borg for lunch and drive to Borgarvirki, a fascinating fortress from the Viking ages.
Then we continue our ride to the sheep pen Þverárétt. It is used by local farmers to sort the sheep in the autumn.
Before returning to the guesthouse we take another excursion to the shore where we see Hvítserkur, a basalt rock formation, nesting place to many seabirds. This area is home to large numbers of seals and hopefully, we see many of them resting and playing on the beach. We spend the night again at Hammur Farm. (Approx. 30 km)
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Today we explore the beauty of the Vatnsnes peninsula and follow black dunes on Sigríðarstaðasandur towards the North-Atlantic.
We have our lunch break on top of the ridge Nesbjörg where we enjoy the great view. Today we cross the lagoon Lake Hóp and follow a safe trail through the water on our way to Thingeyrar Farm, once the site of a monastery founded in the 12th century. For sure this day is one of the highlights of this ride. Relax in the outdoor hot tub at Hvammur Farm before a hearty dinner. (Approx. 40 km)
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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 safe 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 great farewell dinner. (Approx. 25 km)
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It is time to say goodbye to our guides and drive back to Reykjavík. Approx. arrival at 12:30 in Reykjavík BSÍ.
PRICES & AVAILABILITY
We have just one departure. This is a Black Saddle exclusive ride for up to 16 riders.
05 - 09 June 2027 | BLACK SADDLE EXCLUSIVE RIDE
If you would like to join us the first step is to fill in an obligation free Rider Form and we will come back to you with availability.
HOW TO BOOK
Your saddle is secured with a 30% deposit. The balance is due 90 days before the ride.
Cancellation Terms
If you need to cancel we will try to replace you and return your funds to you less bank fees and an administration fee of €250 per rider. If we can't find a replacement for you the following cancellation policy will apply:
30% deposits are non-refundable
90 – 0 days in advance 100% of the full amount is forfeited.
