Arnarfell Trail

Detailed Daily Itinerary:

Day 1: Arrival and pick-up 

Pick-up at BSÍ bus center at 9:00, bus transfer to Ásólfsstaðir farm, where we get refreshments/lunch pack, before mounting the horses. We ride up to valley Þjórsárdalur, that was blooming farmland in the early settlement. But our most active volcano Hekla had her say in the matter, with many great eruptions and a huge amount of ashes; years 1104, 1300 and 1693 we had such big eruptions, and the last farmers left the valley in the last one mentioned. The archeologist has been studying the valley for 150 years, and we will stop at an excavated chieftain’s farm called Stöng, where we can get some idea of how the settlers of Iceland lived. We ride up to Hólaskógur guest-hut (showers and water toilets), leave the herd there and our mounts take us up to waterfall Háifoss for a sight to be remembered, and then down again. 32 km .. 5-6 hours. 

Day 2: The paths take us eastward from the luxury at Hólaskógur, up Sandafell mountain to witness a big lagoon for the electric power plant Sultartangi, that is built underground in the south end of Sandafell. We are headed to the local sheep summerland, where the little lambs grow into delicious steaks. We pass a big stone, sitting alone in the grassy field, .. a story coming up on location. We end the day at Glúfurleit mountain hut, which is built like other huts we visit, to service farmers gathering sheep from the mountains in the autumn. It is primitive, however, there are flushing toilets, but no showers. 27 km .. 5-6 hours. 

Day 3: Today is waterfall day. Paths drawn on the map are the paths the herd will take but we will leave them to see three waterfalls in the mighty Þjórsá river. This means more walking on and off the horses, but really worth the ‘trouble’. Gljúfurleitarfoss, Dynkur, and Kjálkaversfoss are the names of the waterfalls. We see the first two in the forenoon, leaving the herd with the staff. At Dalsá river we meet the herd and staff to lunch and prepare for the afternoon and the third waterfall. We’ll reach the destination; mountain hut Bjarnalækjarbotnar, (no showers, water-free toilets) in a day that looks short and easy on the map, later than expected, but happy and feeling privileged. We are out of tourist tracks, and even not that many Icelanders live to see these sights. Don’t forget your cameras. 20 km .. 7-8 hours. 

Day 4: Ahead lies the black desert Fjórðungssandur, which the horses love, and like to speed on. It is a fun ride unless it’s dry and windy, then goggles would be nice. With mighty mountain cluster Kerlingarfjöll on the left, great river Þjórsá on the right and the bright glacier Hofsjökull ahead, we should find our way to mountain hut Tjarnarver, (no showers, water-free toilets) where we spend two nights. 27 km .. 5-6 hours. 

Day 5: Today we will be on the top of the world. A long riding day with all kinds of possible paths; wetland, swamps, glacial river crossing (with pits hazard), superb tölting paths and glorious views in all directions, birdlife, plants, and flowers, you name it. Adventure of your lives ends in the primitive Tjarnarver hut again (no showers, water-free toilets). 50+ km .. 9-10 hours. 

Day 6: From Tjarnarver we ride west a bit until turning north/right to the pass between Kerlingarfjöll and Hofsjökull. A sandy/rocky terrain makes the day feel long. We get to ride close to the icefield though when we make our way towards the beautiful geothermal area of Kerlingarfjöll Mountains. This is a fascinating place with plenty of hot water, steaming mud pools and small geysers, surrounded by colorful mountains and glaciers. Here we can bathe, if not in the showers at the cabin, then taking a dip in the warm water old drilling hole a 10-15 minute walk from the cabin. The beauty of Kerlingarfjöll catches the eye, multi-colored mountains all around, some with snow-capped hats, and steam clouds rising to be one with the skies. 45 km .. 8-9 hours. 

Day 7: From Ásgarður we take the paths to another primitive mountain hut called Leppistungur (no showers, water-free toilets). The terrain still mountain-ish but the paths are good for tölting. Langjökull fills up the scene in the north, and Bláfell mountain guards the west; Kerlingarfjöll still to our left, all day. The hut is located on banks of river Kerlingará, running in a small canyon close to the hut. 27 km .. 5-6 hours. 

Day 8: Today we ride south into more grassy heath terrain, and we’ll probably see some sheep along the way. Good paths and a fun ride, rather easy one I’d say. Our hut Helgaskáli, (no showers, water-free toilets), stands beneath a rather low Geldingafell mountain, an ideal climb for mountaineers, I guess. Close by there runs river Stóra-Laxá, who will be our traveling partner tomorrow. 30 km .. 5-6 hours. 

Day 9: Still riding south we soon reach the canyon of Stóra-Laxá river. It is amazing, deep and long, surely a reason to remember the camera. Downhill is the keyword today, riding from the mountain to the farmers’ countryside. The river will accompany us all day long until we take the saddles of our horses the last time on this tour. Accommodation is a nice, cozy guesthouse of Syðra-Langholt, with water toilets, warm showers, a hot tub, and a dining barn. 45 km 7-8 hours.

Departure Day: Breakfast at 9:00 and a bus to BSÍ at 10:00 .. will be in Reykjavík 11:00-ish 

Tour Route

**We reserve the right to change tour route as necessary.