BEYOND KJÖLUR 2025 – NEW ROUTE!

As hinted by its name, this 8-riding-day tour offers even more than the legendary Kjölur route itself. Since the Viking era, Kjölur has been a popular trail to travel on horseback across the highland desert. Our new long tour, designed for riders eager to explore new angles on Iceland’s interior, will take you through less trodden landscapes. We’ll start by Lake Hóp in the Northern part of the country, pass two glaciers, explore remote valleys to the East of Mt Búrfell, and finally reach grazing fields in the South.

We invite you to join us on this fantastic tour! Click here for details.

Today’s ride promises to be unforgettable. We’ll cross the lagoon-like Lake Hóp – a dream adventure for many Icelanders. The lake is saline, due to its low elevation and the tidal influence. We’ll ford it at Vaðhvammur by Myrkubjörg, heading towards the spectacular sands of Þingeyrar. The water’s depth will make it a splashy, joyful experience for the horses. A word to the wise: rubber boots might come in handy!

Just when you’ve recovered from the thrill of fording Lake Hóp, along comes Húnavatn. Here, the salmon river Vatnsdalsá flows into the lake from the south, so keep an eye out for fish darting towards the estuary right in front of us. It’s a proper moment of nature in action – everybody, quite literally, in their element!

From the shores of Lake Húnavatn, we’ll head inland, with flat landscapes stretching out to the left and mountain silhouettes rising to the right. The trail eventually leads us past the wavy waters of Lake Svínavatn and into the broad Svínadalur valley. Here, we will stay for the night at a settlement bordering Iceland’s vast, uninhabited interior.

Many hours in the saddles for us today. Turning away from the settlements of the North, we bravely enter the Central Highlands – notorious back in time for roaming outlaws, elves and evil spirits. This is an opportunity to experience the country’s interior like the early settlers did: on horseback, with the wilderness all around.

Our shelter on is beautifully located, on the Western shore of a gigantic lake Blöndulón. Watching the vast expanse of water, take a moment to fathom its origin. Built as a reservoir for a power plant, it’s a striking reminder of human ingenuity in the middle of nature’s untouched grandeur.

As we head further south, the volcanic terrain gets rougher, and the horses will need to stay sharp to keep their footing. We’ll pass Mt Sandkulufell and Mt Helgufell, cross a few streams, and eventually reach our next wilderness cabin. Seeing the shelter at a distance, while approaching it with the herd, stirs emotions of gratitude and awe at the thought that there used to be none in the entire area at the Viking times.

Our day begins with river crossings – Kulukvísl, Seyðisá, and later Hvannavatnakvísl – against the breathtaking backdrop of Langjökull and Hofsjökull glaciers.

Nestled between these icy giants lies Hveravellir, a geothermal oasis that feels almost miraculous to those who arrive on horseback rather than by car. But while Hveravellir is a natural wonder, it has also become a hotspot for mass tourism. So, we’ll skip staying there overnight. For the same reason, we won’t take the shortcut through Kjalhraun’s lava fields, either. Instead, we’ll take the longer, quieter route to another hut.

Today we will begin the ride towards the rhyolite Kerlingafjöll mountain range, which frames the Kjölur area in the East. But the trail will soon lead us back South, into broad valleys seen by few, mostly just free-roaming sheep and horsemen who search for those during yearly
round-ups. In fact, lately also by researchers on quest for the Holy Grail.

A peaceful day lies ahead – sticking to the motto “less crowded, more rewarding” throughout. Following the Grjóta river downstream, the landscape grows greener with every step. The striking Búrfell mountain will be our steady signpost, from the moment its peak comes into view until we get close enough for it to vanish from sight. At the foot of Mt Búrfell lies our wilderness hut for tonight – perfect for swapping stories with fellow riders.

Our trail out of the highlands leads us through the valley of Tungufellsdalur, all the way to the first settlement. Here, the horses will enjoy a week off in a field. For our final night, we will drive to the countryside. We’ll stay in a simple yet cosy guesthouse, complete with made-up beds, a hot tub, and a festive dinner to round off the adventure.