Godafoss - Myvatn Circle Tour Northern Iceland's Sights 2005 8 Days Farm Guest Houses, mountain huts & cabins Sleeping bags Riding in the North

Northern Iceland, from the broad fjord called Ejyafjordur on valley trails and crossing rivers and brooks to reach Lake Myvatn, an area with so many interesting goings - on, that you wonder if you can take it all in! This 8 day tour has some real riding, so we suggest it to experienced and fit travelers - but it's well worth the effort!

Saturday: After and early arrival at Keflavik International Airport, the Flybus shuttle will take riders into the Reykjavik airport, for a dramatic 45 minute flight to Akureyri, the "capital" of northern Iceland. Here the folks from Polar Hestar will pick up riders, for a short drive to their farmhouse Grytubakki for a great home-cooked dinner and a good night's sleep.

Sunday: After breakfast, riders will meet the horses, and ride along the Fnjoska River - Iceland's longest freshwater river - to the farmhouse Birkihild. The real adventure is learning to move a herd of freely running horses, in the Icelandic tradition. This herd will provide riders with fresh horses throughout the ride and they become true companions. Back to Grytubakki for dinner and sleep.

Monday: Eat breakfast, saddle-up, and off for a ride along Ljosavatnskard towards the waterfall of the gods - Godafoss, where it's said that Thorgeir the LawSpeaker propelled Icelands conversion to Christianity by tossing in his pagan idols, in the year 1000. The afternoon's ride along the River Skjalfandafljot is quite spectacular, as it flows through the valley and over the Bardardalshraun lava field, which probably flowed from the area north of Vatnajokull 7,000 years ago. You will be heading into Bardardalur, where the night is spent at the Hotel Kidagil.

Tuesday: This day takes riders deeper into Bardadalur valley, and also into Engidalur. The highest viewpoint of the ride is here, and with luck and clear weather, it may be possible to see Herdubreid,the queen of Iceland's mountains in the distance:. The night will be spent at the farmhouse Stong (with a hot pool for relaxing!) and the evening will bring a chance to see some of beauties of Lake Myvatn.

Wednesday: On this day the ride is along Myvatnsheidi to the valley of smoke - Reykjadalur. On your right you will have a fantastic view of the Myvatn area. The ride takes you to the little village of Laugar, near where you will stay overnight at Breidimyri. In the evening you will visit the famous waterfall, Godafoss, which is nearby.

Thursday: Today's ride is through the woods in Vatnshlid, with its wonderful view over the valley Reykjadalur, and the lake Vestmannsvatn. Over the heath at Fljotsheidi there is a great ride along the river Skjalfandafjlot and through the forest at Fellskogur, passing two waterfalls, Ullarfoss and Barnafoss. The horses are left at the farmhouse Birkihlid and you will be returned to the farmhouse at Grytubakki.

Friday: The last day of riding starts along the shores of Lake Ljosavatn, then crosses the River Fnjoska, to the farmhouse Draflastadir, where the horses are changed. Then back along the river, and through little forests, and the circle is closed, as riders arrive back at Grytubakki.

Saturday: After breakfast riders will be taken back to Akureyri, where they fly back to Reykjavik and home, or perhaps on to further explorations in Iceland.

Download a PDF of the itinerary of this tour

Accomodations during the Godafoss tour are traditionally Icelandic, as used by farmers and friends when they go out to round up their animals in the fall. Your outfitter will provide a mattress, and you'll need to bring a sleeping bag. You'll stay in farmhouses, mountain huts and cabins, which are all warm and clean. Typically there are several beds per room, and in huts there may be one big sleeping room. Most will have shared bathroom facilities.

While all Horses North riders may choose flexible travel dates to and from Iceland, you'll need to leave the US no later than the night before the tour starts in Iceland, while Europeans can leave the morning the tour starts.