We have been offering horseback riding at our farm since the year 2000. Personal service, personal atmosphere, experienced guides, excellent riding horses and maintained equipment ensure a high-quality experience. We are authorized by the Icelandic tourist board.
Our tours are operated from June until September and suit experienced riders. We offer various and special themed tours for small groups with excellent service and a private atmosphere. Our years of experience, warm hospitality, qualified guidance, excellent riding horses and properly maintained riding equipment make the difference.
Description
Best seller for many years.
Experience the unique time of the bright midsummer nights!
Highlights
Included
What to bring
Please note
It is advisable to have your own personal insurance when joining the riding tour.
This tour is undertaken at the participant’s own risk.
Riders must wear riding helmets.
Your riding clothes and boots must be new or disinfected before you arrive.
Riding gloves must be new
For this riding tour it is necessary to have good/intermediate riding experience
This tour requires a minimum of 4 participants.
Unforeseen things and extremely bad weather conditions force us every now and then to change itineraries.
We reserve the right to do this for your safety and maximum enjoyment of your holiday.
Program
Monday
We pick up guests around 02:30 pm at the bus station in Varmahlíð.
Followed by a first meeting, a cup of coffee and a short ride where the guides introduce you to the Icelandic way of riding.
Dinner and accommodation at Lýtingsstaðir.
Tuesday
We saddle up after breakfast and go for an approximately 5 hour tour.
We follow the river Svartá, cross grazing land, explore an Icelandic forest and stop at an old turf house for a picnic.
Back on the farm we enjoy home made cake and coffee.
After dinner we drive to the seaside, along the western coast shore of Skagafjörður and walk to the beautiful bay Glerhallavík.
Afterwards we will take a bath in the natural hot pool Grettislaug while listening to the old saga of Grettir, the famous outlaw.
We hope for good weather to enjoy the unforgettable midsummer night hours.
We drive back to Lýtingsstaðir.
Wednesday
We leave for a two-day ride into the highlands.
We ride up the mountain Goðdalafjall.
It is like entering the top of the world when the view over the glaciers opens just in front of us.
We cross a various landscape with rocks, stones, lava and heather (6-7 hours).
We arrive at the cozy mountain cabin Hraunlækur where we spend the evening with a tasty dinner and a walk down to the canyon of the glacial river Vestari Jökulsá.
On our way back to the cabin we will follow a clear spring river with pretty small waterfalls where the water streams down moos covered cascades.
We will end the evening with some singing or storytelling while the midnight sun shines through the panoramic windows of the cabin and will have a good sleep.
Thursday
After a rich breakfast we pack our luggage, saddle the horses and ride back to Lýtingsstaðir.
We will have a marvelous view over Skagafjörður when we ride down from the “top of the world” into our valley (5-6 hour ride).
The horses head home in a fast tölt.
Dinner and accommodation at Lýtingsstaðir.
Friday
We will go for a short ride to visit a farmers art gallery on the next farm.
This is an excellent opportunity for buying a local souvenir or just to admire the work our neighbor is producing from her own products.
Afterwards we will take the bus to the valley Austurdalur.
After passing through the last inhabited farm we drive along the deep and wood covered canyon of the river Jökulsá Austari.
We stop on a deserted farm and go for a walk while listening to stories about the people and their life in this valley a long time ago.
We will find a nice place to stop for a picnic.
Back on the farm we relax with a cup of coffee.
After our last dinner (a barbeque) we saddle the horses and go for a midnight ride which will complete the great day and a fantastic riding week.
Accommodation at Lýtingsstaðir.
Saturday
The tour ends after breakfast.
We drive all guests back to the bus station in Varmahlíð.
We recommend to take the bus over the highland track Kjölur with stops at Hveravellir, Gullfoss and Geysir.
Description
This week combines riding in beautiful landscapes and excellent guided sightseeing tours, giving you the opportunity to experience Skagafjörður in the North of Iceland in a unique way.
Highlights
Included
What to bring
Please note
It is advisable to have your own personal insurance when joining the riding tour.
This tour is undertaken at the participant’s own risk.
Riders must wear riding helmets.
Your riding clothes and boots must be new or disinfected before you arrive.
Riding gloves must be new
For this riding tour it is necessary to have good/intermediate riding experience
This tour requires a minimum of 4 participants.
Unforeseen things and extremely bad weather conditions force us every now and then to change itineraries.
We reserve the right to do this for your safety and maximum enjoyment of your holiday.
Program
Monday
We pick up guests around 02:30 pm at the bus station in Varmahlíð.
Followed by a first meeting, a cup of coffee and a short ride where the guides introduce you to the Icelandic way of riding.
Dinner and accommodation at Lýtingsstaðir.
Tuesday
We saddle up after breakfast and go for an approximately 5 hour tour.
We follow the river Svartá, cross grazing land, explore an Icelandic forest and stop at an old turf house for a picnic.
On the way back we stop at a farmers art gallery and see how our artistic neighbour uses her own farm products.
Back on the farm we enjoy home made cake and coffee.
After dinner we give you a guided tour through our turf house museum The Old Stable.
Accommodation at Lýtingsstaðir.
Wednesday
Today we go on an interesting sightseeing tour through Skagafjörður.
We drive along the delta, visit Hólar, with its cathedral and the University and the small turf church at Gröf.
Afterwards we go to the small fishing village Hofsós with its impressive basalt columns, colorful houses and a small but beautiful harbor.
We end the tour with a short visit of Sauðárkrókur, the „capital“ of the fjord and drive back to Lýtingsstaðir.
We take a short ride after dinner and enjoy the summer evening.
Accommodation at Lýtingsstaðir.
Thursday
We start our two-day ride into the beautiful valley Vesturdalur.
We ride along the glacial river Vestari Jökulsá and stop on one of Iceland’s oldest stone corrals, which is still in use.
We reach the deserted farm Þórljótsstaðir where we stay for the night in a simple equipped but cozy mountain cabin.
The ride lasts about 6 -7 hours.
The surroundings are beautiful and invite for walks while the horses graze just around us.
An old turf house is just beside the cabin and tells stories from past times.
It is worth to go for a short walk to the canyon just below the cabin and look at the pretty waterfall.
Dinner and accommodation in the mountain cabin.
Friday
After a relaxing night and a good breakfast we saddle our horses again and ride back to Lýtingsstaðir, enjoying the landscape and the tölt of our horses which head home in a fast speed (ca 5-6 hours).
The hot tube on the farm welcomes the tired riders.
After dinner we can take an evening walk to the herd with our stallion, his mares and the young foals.
Saturday
We will go for a sightseeing tour this morning into the magnificent valley Austurdalur with deep canyons formed by glacial rivers.
We take a walk on a deserted farm and listen to stories about a time past.
We will have picnic with us and find a nice place for having a lunch break.
Back at the farm we will saddle up for a last ride (ca. 3 hours) and enjoy the last fast tölt on our marvellous horses.
We will spend the evening with a delicious farewell barbeque talking about the past days full of new experiences.
Sunday
The tour ends after breakfast.
We say goodbye and drive all guests back to the bus station in Varmahlíð.
We recommend to take the bus over the highland track Kjölur with stops at Hveravellir, Gullfoss and Geysir.
Description
Discover the beautiful valley Austurdalur with its stunning landscape.
Listen to the remarkable stories about the people in the valley many years ago and feel their ongoing presence.
Highlights
Included
What to bring
Please note
It is advisable to have your own personal insurance when joining the riding tour.
This tour is undertaken at the participant’s own risk.
Riders must wear riding helmets.
Your riding clothes and boots must be new or disinfected before you arrive.
Riding gloves must be new
For this riding tour it is necessary to have good/intermediate riding experience
This tour requires a minimum of 4 participants.
Unforeseen things and extremely bad weather conditions force us every now and then to change itineraries.
We reserve the right to do this for your safety and maximum enjoyment of your holiday.
Program
Monday
We pick up guests around 02:30 pm at the bus station in Varmahlíð.
Followed by a first meeting, a cup of coffee and a short ride where the guides introduce you to the Icelandic way of riding.
Dinner and accommodation at Lýtingsstaðir.
Tuesday
We ride with two horses each into the valley Austurdalur (ca. 4 hours).
The ride takes us alongside two glacial rivers, Austari and Vestari Jökulsá.
We stop at hot springs just beside the cold glacial river for a lunch break.
We follow the track uphill enjoying panoramic views over Skagafjörður and reach the farm Bústaðir, the last inhabited farm in the valley, where we leave the horses.
We drive back to our farm, enjoy some delicious cake and can take a walk to the herd with stallion, mares and foals.
After dinner we give you a guided tour through our turf house museum The Old Stable.
Accommodation at Lýtingsstaðir.
Wednesday
We drive back to the horses, saddle up and start our 7-8 hour tour.
We ride beside the beautiful canyon of the river Austari Jökulsá, cross the glacial river by bridge and continue our way to the abandoned mountain church Ábær.
We rest here for a while to enjoy the spirit of this lonely but impressive place before we go on further into the valley on soft riding paths.
We stop at a crystal clear stream, take a break and soak the stunning landscape into us.
We turn around and ride in the shadow of the high mountains back to the horse’s night rest place.
Transfer back to our farm, dinner and accommodation at Lýtingsstaðir.
Thursday
Today we will ride to the abandoned farm Merkigil.
From there it is a short way to the breathtaking canyon of Merkigil.
We have to walk with our horses down to the bottom of the canyon where we will find a nice place to rest and have lunch.
We turn back, walk up the canyon again and relax for a while.
This kind of canoeing is an unforgettable adventure.
We ride in fast tölt once more along the canyon and reach the night rest place after 6-7 hours full of impressions.
We drive back to our farm.
Dinner and accommodation at Lýtingsstaðir.
Friday
We drive back to the horses, saddle them and leave the valley.
We enjoy once more the spectacular view over Skagafjörður while the horses head home in their comfortable tölt.
We cross wide grazing land and reach Lýtingsstaðir after an approximately 4 hour tour.
Back at Lýtingsstaðir we have some coffee and cakes, enjoy the hot pot, can take a walk to an art gallery on the next farm or just relax and let the impressions sink.
We spent the last evening together while we review our days in the wonderful Austurdalur valley.
Dinner and accommodation at Lýtingsstaðir.
Saturday
The tour ends after breakfast.
We drive all guests back to the bus station in Varmahlíð.
We recommend to take the bus over the highland track Kjölur with stops at Hveravellir, Gullfoss and Geysir.
Description
This tour is one of the highlights of our riding tour season, comprises some great rides and possibility to ride excellent horses through a magnificent landscape while listening to stories about Iceland and the Icelanders.
Highlights
Included
What to bring
Please note
It is advisable to have your own personal insurance when joining the riding tour.
This tour is undertaken at the participant’s own risk.
Riders must wear riding helmets.
Your riding clothes and boots must be new or disinfected before you arrive.
Riding gloves must be new
For this riding tour it is necessary to have good/intermediate riding experience
This tour requires a minimum of 4 participants.
Unforeseen things and extremely bad weather conditions force us every now and then to change itineraries.
We reserve the right to do this for your safety and maximum enjoyment of your holiday.
Program
Monday
We pick up guests around 02:30 pm at the bus station in Varmahlíð.
Followed by a first meeting, a cup of coffee and a short ride where the guides introduce you to the Icelandic way of riding.
Dinner and accommodation at Lýtingsstaðir.
Tuesday
We saddle up after breakfast and go for an approximately 5 hour tour.
We will follow a mountain track into the valley Gilhagadalur along a picturesque and crystal clear stream.
We meet free roaming sheep and maybe horses too.
We take a lunch break on a peaceful place in the valley with volcanic rocks.
We turn back and enjoy the fantastic view over our valley while riding down the steep mountain track.
Back on the farm we enjoy home made cake and coffee.
After dinner we give you a guided tour through our turf house museum The Old Stable.
Accommodation at Lýtingsstaðir.
Wednesday
We start a three-day ride into the beautiful valley Vesturdalur.
We ride along the glacial river Vestari Jökulsá and stop on Iceland’s oldest stone corral, which is still in use.
After we pass the last inhabited farm we ride along the river Fossá, in a remarkable canyon with many waterfalls.
Basalt rocks and small hills were elves live are on our way after we leave the civilization.
We reach the abandoned farm Þórljótsstaðir where we stay for two nights in a simple equipped but cozy mountain hut.
The ride lasts about 6 -7 hours.
The surroundings are beautiful and invite for walks while the horses graze just around us.
An old turf house is just beside the hut and tells stories from past times.
We will spend an unforgettable time here.
Dinner and accommodation in the mountain cabin.
Thursday
After breakfast we saddle the horses and ride further into the valley.
We follow the deep Fossá canyon through the most remarkable landscape of Skagafjörður.
At the end of the valley we will reach a place called Klaustur.
The story tells that a monastery has been here about 1000 years ago.
Maybe it was just a place where an eremite lived but anyway we will understand why people wanted to settled here for some time.
High cliffs surround the place and give it a very special atmosphere.
We will rest here for a while and enjoy the silence and peace.
Time does not matter today! We ride back to the cabin.
We spend the evening together, take a walk to the canyon, sing or just relax and let todays impressions sink.
Dinner and accommodation in the mountain cabin.
Friday
After a relaxing night and a good breakfast we saddle our horses again and ride back to Lýtingsstaðir, enjoying the landscape and the tölt of our horses which head home in a fast speed (ca 5-6 hours).
A delicious cake, a hot shower and the hot pot welcome us back at Lýtingsstaðir.
We enjoy a barbecue and spend the last evening together talking about the past days full of impressions.
Accommodation at Lýtingsstaðir.
Saturday
The tour ends after breakfast.
We drive all guests back to the bus station in Varmahlíð.
We recommend to take the bus over the highland track Kjölur with stops at Hveravellir, Gullfoss and Geysir.
Description
Discover some unique spots in Skagafjörður off the beaten track!
Highlights
Included
What to bring
Please note
It is advisable to have your own personal insurance when joining the riding tour.
This tour is undertaken at the participant’s own risk.
Riders must wear riding helmets.
Your riding clothes and boots must be new or disinfected before you arrive.
Riding gloves must be new
For this riding tour it is necessary to have good/intermediate riding experience
This tour requires a minimum of 4 participants.
Unforeseen things and extremely bad weather conditions force us every now and then to change itineraries.
We reserve the right to do this for your safety and maximum enjoyment of your holiday.
Program
Monday
We pick up guests around 02:30 pm at the bus station in Varmahlíð.
Followed by a first meeting, a cup of coffee and a short ride where the guides introduce you to the Icelandic way of riding.
Dinner and accommodation at Lýtingsstaðir.
Tuesday
We saddle up after breakfast and go for an approximately 5 hour tour.
We follow the river Svartá, cross grazing land, explore an Icelandic forest and stop at an old turf house for a picnic.
Back on the farm we enjoy home made cake and coffee.
After dinner we give you a guided tour through our turf house museum The Old Stable.
Accommodation at Lýtingsstaðir.
Wednesday
We leave for a two-day ride into the highlands.
We ride up the mountain Goðdalafjall.
It is like entering the top of the world when the view over the glaciers opens just in front of us.
We cross various landscapes with rocks, stones, lava and heather (6-7 hours).
We arrive at the cozy mountain cabin Hraunlækur where we spend the evening with a tasty dinner and a walk down to the canyon of the glacial river Vestari Jökulsá.
On our way back to the cabin we will follow a clear spring river with pretty small waterfalls where the water streams down moos covered cascades.
We will end the evening with some singing or storytelling while the midnight sun shines through the panoramic windows of the cabin and will have a good sleep.
Thursday
After a rich breakfast we pack our luggage, saddle the horses and ride back to Lýtingsstaðir.
We will have a marvelous view over Skagafjörður when we ride down from the “top of the world” into our valley (5-6 hour ride).
The horses head home in a fast tölt.
Dinner and accommodation at Lýtingsstaðir.
Friday
We will give the horses a rest during the day and start with a visit to a farmers art gallery on a farm next to us.
This is an excellent opportunity for buying a local souvenir or just to admire the work our neighbor is producing from her own products.
Afterwards we will take the bus and do some sightseeing around Skagafjörður. Highlights will be the canyons Bolugil og Kotágil, where we take some short walks to explore them. We will also stop at an historical place which importance dates back to the 13th century.
After our last dinner (a barbeque) we saddle the horses and go for an evening ride which will complete the great day and a fantastic riding week.
Accommodation at Lýtingsstaðir.
Saturday
The tour ends after breakfast.
We say goodbye and drive all guests back to the bus station in Varmahlíð.
We recommend to take the bus over the highland track Kjölur with stops at Hveravellir, Gullfoss and Geysir.
Description
This week combines riding in beautiful landscapes and excellent guided sightseeing tours, giving you the opportunity to experience Skagafjörður in the North of Iceland in a unique way.
Highlights
Included
What to bring
Please note
It is advisable to have your own personal insurance when joining the riding tour.
This tour is undertaken at the participant’s own risk.
Riders must wear riding helmets.
Your riding clothes and boots must be new or disinfected before you arrive.
Riding gloves must be new
For this riding tour it is necessary to have good/intermediate riding experience
This tour requires a minimum of 4 participants.
Unforeseen things and extremely bad weather conditions force us every now and then to change itineraries.
We reserve the right to do this for your safety and maximum enjoyment of your holiday.
Program
Monday
We pick up guests around 02:30 pm at the bus station in Varmahlíð.
Followed by a first meeting, a cup of coffee and a short ride where the guides introduce you to the Icelandic way of riding.
Dinner and accommodation at Lýtingsstaðir.
Tuesday
We saddle up after breakfast and go for an approximately 5 hour tour.
We follow the river Svartá, cross grazing land, explore an Icelandic forest and stop at an old turf house for a picnic.
On the way back we stop at a farmers art gallery and see how our artistic neighbour uses her own farm products.
Back on the farm we enjoy home made cake and coffee.
After dinner we give you a guided tour through our turf house museum The Old Stable.
Accommodation at Lýtingsstaðir.
Wednesday
Today we go on an interesting sightseeing tour through Skagafjörður.
We drive along the delta, visit Hólar, with its cathedral and the University and the small turf church at Gröf.
Afterwards we go to the small fishing village Hofsós with its impressive basalt columns, colorful houses and a small but beautiful harbor.
We end the tour with a short visit of Sauðárkrókur, the „capital“ of the fjord and drive back to Lýtingsstaðir.
We take a short ride after dinner and enjoy the summer evening.
Accommodation at Lýtingsstaðir.
Thursday
We start our two-day ride into the beautiful valley Vesturdalur.
We ride along the glacial river Vestari Jökulsá and stop on one of Iceland’s oldest stone corrals, which is still in use.
We reach the deserted farm Þórljótsstaðir where we stay for the night in a simple equipped but cozy mountain cabin.
The ride lasts about 6 -7 hours.
The surroundings are beautiful and invite for walks while the horses graze just around us.
An old turf house is just beside the cabin and tells stories from past times.
It is worth to go for a short walk to the canyon just below the cabin and look at the pretty waterfall.
Dinner and accommodation in the mountain cabin.
Friday
After a relaxing night and a good breakfast we saddle our horses again and ride back to Lýtingsstaðir, enjoying the landscape and the tölt of our horses which head home in a fast speed (ca 5-6 hours).
The hot tube on the farm welcomes the tired riders.
After dinner we can take an evening walk to the herd with our stallion, his mares and the young foals.
Saturday
We will go for a sightseeing tour this morning into the magnificent valley Austurdalur with deep canyons formed by glacial rivers.
We take a walk on a deserted farm and listen to stories about a time past.
We will have picnic with us and find a nice place for having a lunch break.
Back at the farm we will saddle up for a last ride (ca. 3 hours) and enjoy the last fast tölt on our marvellous horses.
We will spend the evening with a delicious farewell barbeque talking about the past days full of new experiences.
Sunday
The tour ends after breakfast.
We say goodbye and drive all guests back to the bus station in Varmahlíð.
We recommend to take the bus over the highland track Kjölur with stops at Hveravellir, Gullfoss and Geysir.
Description
The busy summer time is over.
The nights are getting dark again and silence touches the nature.
The horses are still in a very good condition and many riding path’s wait to be used. Relax and enjoy the quiet days at the end of the summer.
Go for shorter and longer rides and experience the way of Icelandic life.
A well-chosen sightseeing and activity program completes your holidays.
Highlights
Included
What to bring
Please note
It is advisable to have your own personal insurance when joining the riding tour.
This tour is undertaken at the participant’s own risk.
Riders must wear riding helmets.
Your riding clothes and boots must be new or disinfected before you arrive.
Riding gloves must be new
For this riding tour it is necessary to have good/intermediate riding experience
This tour requires a minimum of 4 participants.
Unforeseen things and extremely bad weather conditions force us every now and then to change itineraries.
We reserve the right to do this for your safety and maximum enjoyment of your holiday.
Program
Monday
We welcome our guests at the bus station in Varmahlíð and transfer them to Lýtingsstaðir followed by a first meeting, a cup of coffee and a short ride where the guides introduce you to the Icelandic way of riding.
Dinner and accommodation.
Tuesday
We saddle the horses after breakfast.
Our ride lasts about 3 hours.
We ride to a small forest in the neighbourhood and rest beside an old and broken turfhouse.
We enjoy a fast tolt along the river Svartá on the way back home and have a lunch break.
Afterwards we visit the beautiful waterfall Reykjafoss and have a look at the natural hot spring just above the waterfall.
We drive back to the farm and relax.
After dinner we give you a guided tour through our turf house museum The Old Stable.
Wednesday
We leave for a ca. 5 hour ride after breakfast and ride further into our valley.
We ride up a steep mountain and enter the beautiful valley Gilhagidalur.
We will take a rest at the crystal clear river Gjúfrá and enjoy our saddle bag picnic.
Here we turn around and ride down the steep mountain track with a view over whole Skagafjörður.
Back at the farm we can enjoy home made pastry with a cup of tea or coffee and relax take a dip in the hot pot or a walk around the farm.
Thursday
Today we go on an interesting sightseeing tour through Skagafjörður.
We drive along the delta, visit Hólar, with its cathedral and the university and stop at the small turf church at Gröf.
Afterwards we go to discover the small fishing village Hofsós with its impressive basalt columns, colorful houses and a small but beautiful harbor.
We end the tour with a bath in one of Iceland’s best swimming pools and drive back to Lýtingsstaðir.
Friday
We saddle the horses after breakfast and ride over wide grazing land where we will meet free roaming sheep and horses.
After this „cross country“ ride we follow the road back to Lýtingsstaðir.
The ride lasts 3-4 hours and if the weather is good we can take a picnic with us.
Later on we go and visit the Gallery Rúnalist on the neighbour farm Stórhóll.
The artist Sigrún will introduce us to her work with natural materials such as wool, leather and fish leather.
We end the day with a delicious barbeque and spend the last evening together talking about the past days full of new experiences.
Saturday
The tour ends after breakfast.
We drive all guests back to the bus station in Varmahlíð.
We recommend to take the bus over the highland track Kjölur with stops at Hveravellir, Gullfoss and Geysir.
Description
It's a unique experience to take part in a traditional sheep round up in Iceland.
It is difficult to find an adventure to compare with it.
You will be among Icelandic farmers and experience the old tradition of collecting sheep in the highlands.
Sheep round up will involve riding with a couple of horses over rough terrain in not very comfortable weather conditions.
On the main round up day you will sit many hours in the saddle but also walk with your horses.
That’s why you should have a proper and healthy condition.
Beside the hard work you will begin to feel and understand the farmers joy when hundreds of sheep stream down the mountains.
You will also experience the strength and patience of the Icelandic horse!
Highlights
Included
What to bring
Please note
It is advisable to have your own personal insurance when joining the riding tour.
This tour is undertaken at the participant’s own risk.
Riders must wear riding helmets.
Your riding clothes and boots must be new or disinfected before you arrive.
Riding gloves must be new
For this riding tour it is necessary to have good/intermediate riding experience
This tour requires a minimum of 4 participants.
Unforeseen things and extremely bad weather conditions force us every now and then to change itineraries.
We reserve the right to do this for your safety and maximum enjoyment of your holiday.
Program
Tuesday
We welcome our guests at the bus station in Varmahlíð and transfer them to Lýtingsstaðir followed by a first meeting, a cup of coffee and a short ride where the guides introduce you to the Icelandic way of riding.
Dinner and accommodation.
Wednesday
Depending on the weather we will go for two shorter or one long ride and practice riding with a hand horse (we will pony our second horse during the round up) and try to learn the “sheep round up science”.
Thursday
We leave the farm and ride through the beautiful valley Gilhagidalur into the uninhabited highlands.
The interior of Iceland will welcome us with a great view.
Every guest is riding with two horses.
While riding one the other horse has to be lead as a hand horse.
The ride will take about 6 hours.
We meet other farmers in the highlands and leave the horses over night at the lake Aðalmansvatn.
We drive back to Lýtingsstaðir for dinner and accommodation.
Friday
We leave the farm very early in the morning, drive to our horses and saddle up.
Everyone will be given a place in the chain of farmers.
We will round up sheep on a wide area until noon.
The sheep are collected at a fence and driven down the valley Mælifellsdalur afterwards.
This will take several hours.
We bring the herd of ca. 800-1.500 sheep into the corral Mælifellsrétt.
It is a great experience to see the sheep streaming down the valley like a flood.
We will be exhausted at the end of the day and happy to come back to the farm at night time.
The round up has often last for 10-12 hours and depends on many unpredictable things like weather and the sheep behaviour!
Dinner and accommodation on Lýtingsstaðir.
Saturday
We will drive early in the morning to the main corral Stafnsrétt located in the next valley.
Here we can watch and even help to sort hundreds of sheep.
We will meet the farmers we have been helping the day before and maybe exchange some news like the locals.
When we return to the farm in the afternoon we will go for a last ride and spend the evening together with sharing the experiences and happenings of the past days.
Sunday
The tour ends after breakfast.
We say goodbye and drive all guests back to the bus station in Varmahlíð.
Depending on seasonal conditions it might still be possible to take the bus over the Kjölur track with stops at Hveravellir, Gullfoss and Geysir.
Description
The annual horse roundups are the highlight for all horse lovers.
We give you the possibility to take part in it!
At this time of the year the weather can already be quite cold and tough and the horses have started to put on a thick winter coat.
That's why we have chosen a program that comprises short riding days combined with a variety of activities.
Highlights
Included
What to bring
Please note
It is advisable to have your own personal insurance when joining the riding tour.
This tour is undertaken at the participant’s own risk.
Riders must wear riding helmets.
Your riding clothes and boots must be new or disinfected before you arrive.
Riding gloves must be new
For this riding tour it is necessary to have good/intermediate riding experience
This tour requires a minimum of 4 participants.
Unforeseen things and extremely bad weather conditions force us every now and then to change itineraries.
We reserve the right to do this for your safety and maximum enjoyment of your holiday.
Program
Tuesday
We pick up guests around 02:30 pm at the bus station in Varmahlíð.
Followed by a first meeting, a cup of coffee and a short ride where the guides introduce you to the Icelandic way of riding.
Dinner and accommodation at Lýtingsstaðir.
Wednesday
We saddle up after breakfast and go for an approximately 3 hour riding tour.
We will explore a small Icelandic forest, rest at an old turfhouse and enjoy the view.
Back on the farm we will have a light lunch.
Afterwards we´ll go on a guided tour by bus to discover the inner part of our valley and maybe take an exciting walk into a canyon.
Dinner and accommodation at Lýtingsstaðir.
Thursday
Today we practice to round up horses by gathering the Lýtingsstaðir stud.
We enjoy the panoramic view and look out for the stud.
We will drive them home and it will be an unforgettable experience to see the herd running in front of us.
We will have time to look at the horses down at the farm after lunch.
After the horses have left again to their highland pasture we´ll enjoy coffee and homemade pastry and get a guided tour through our turf house museum The Old Stable.
We can also take a dip in the hot pot or just relax.
Dinner and accommodation at Lýtingsstaðir.
Friday
After breakfast we go for a ride along the Svartá river banks on our superb horses to get more experience for the following day.
Our horses will be picked up after lunch and transferred to next days meeting point.
We spent a relaxing afternoon on the farm and have an early dinner.
After dinner we'll drive you to Sauðárkrókur where we join an exciting riding show in the local riding hall Svaðastaðir.
It is a tradition that awards are given this night and fast shows and flying pace shows take place.
Enjoy the horsy atmosphere in the hall!
Transfer back at the end of the show to Lýtingsstaðir.
Saturday
We have an early breakfast and drive to our horses.
We get ready and ride to the official meeting point.
Together with the farmers we ride into the valley Kolbeinsdalur and round up about 500- 600 horses.
This is an unforgettable adventure and we will have a great time and a fast ride in a breathtaking landscape.
At noon the horses will be driven from Kolbeinsdalur down the mountains into Hjaltadalur to the corral Laufskálarétt.
The farmers will sort their horses here during the next hours.
These hours are full of Icelandic passion, music and festive atmosphere and we are right in the middle of this fantastic event.
Our riding horses will be picked up with a trailer and transferred back home and we go back to Lýtingsstaðir with lasting impressions of horses, people and the Icelandic way of life.
Farewell dinner and accommodation at Lýtingsstaðir.
Sunday
The tour ends after breakfast.
We say goodbye and drive all guests back to the bus station in Varmahlíð.
We offer short riding tours on beautiful trails, in small groups and away from any traffic. A qualified guide accompanies all tours. We have horses suited to beginners as well as experienced riders. Winter rides can last 1-2 hours, depending on weather conditions. We also provide helmets, rain gear, and winter overalls. Flexible departures, just drop us a line or phone us to ask for availability!
Reservations are always recommended!
Our offer “Ride & discover” suits families and small groups of friends that want to plan their holidays more individually. This program combines riding and free time for own activities. You need to rent a car to be flexible. You will spend the week in one of our cottages (self-catering only) and take part in a daily riding program. The difficulty level is *-** stars, so it also suits less experienced participants.
This is our best option for a short stay on the farm, and available all year around.
It includes a accommodation in one of our beautiful cozy cottages and a 2-hour riding tour.
Price for 2 participants: ISK 32.000.
We offer accommodation in three wooden cottages for self-catering. Enjoy midsummer nights out on the deck or let dancing Northern Lights take your breath away. Take a ride or a walk, watch horses and sheep, explore the surroundings and enjoy the many activities Skagafjörður has to offer.
Available all year around.
Make more out of your stay between November 1st and March 31st and let us offer you a package that can include:
Inspired by the history of our farm, we built The Old Stable in the traditional and authentic way from turf. It's a unique masterpiece of Icelandic craftsmanship. Our exhibition in the turf house tells the story of how horses were kept in the past and how the history of people and horses in Iceland are closely intertwined.
A must do: Step inside The Old Stable and turn your visit into an immersive experience with our audio guide which is available in English, German, French, Icelandic and soon Italian. The tour takes about 30 minutes. Suits from age 6.
Open daily from May to October 8:30 AM - 6:30 PM.
Other times of the year on request, i.e. we open for you when we are at home (which is most of the days).
We offer different guided tours and programs on our farm.
You can also choose from a variety of fully guided tours in our comfortable jeep through Skagafjörður and the North of Iceland. Check it out!
We offer a presentation about the Icelandic horse through the centuries, including the visit of The Old Stable.
Do you want to hug a horse? This kind of visit is part of the cooperation The Icelandic Farm Animals with our neighbors Sölvanes and Stórhóll. Each farm presents an Icelandic farm animal. You can meet the Icelandic sheep in Sölvanes and the Icelandic goat in Stórhóll. Lýtingsstaðir presents the Icelandic horse.
We will introduce you to our farm and the horse breed, you can hug a horse or take a selfie with one. You will then visit The Old Stable with our audio guide to learn a bit more.
We are an Icelandic-German family and love to share our passion for Iceland and its wonderful horses with our guests. That’s why we run our horse farm with love, soul and ambition.
We have around 100 horses on the farm and about the same amount of sheep. Our cat Putzi is the queen of the house and the three dogs Skutla, Blíða & Sómi help out with the work around the horses and sheep and keep their presence in the office (keeping the office managers feet warm during the winter time).
Lýtingsstaðir is a horse breeding farm, located in Skagafjörður/North Iceland, which is also called “the cradle of the Icelandic horse”. The farm is close to the prominent mountain Mælifellshnjúkur on the road 752. The farm has an interesting history which dates back to the Age of the Settlement. Our farm has been open to tourists since the year 2000.
Distances:
The road between Varmahlíð and Lýtingsstaðir is completely paved!
Many helping hands are needed on a farm like ours, especially during the summer season. Every year young women come to assist us on the farm, with horses and guests. Would you like to join the team? Drop us a line to ask for more information! Applications for 2021 will be taken until 31st December 2020.
