Iceland’s Thórsmörk – The World of Contrasts

Thórsmörk - The World of Contrasts – Glaciers, Volcanos, Waterfalls and Sagas

Day 1: Arrival

The tour starts in the evening. Tour members who arrive the same day to Iceland should take the Flybus from the airport to the final bus station BSÍ in Reykjavík. We will greet you at the bus station or at your hotel/ guesthouse in Reykjavik between 17:30- 18:00 and drive you to our farm Vellir near the village Hveragerði. There you will be lodged at our guesthouse. We will get to know each other during dinner at our Hotel Eldhestar. The day will end with a detailed description of the tour.

Day 2: Hveragerdi – Torfastaðir

We take the bus to the farm Torfastaðir in Fljótslhlíð, South Iceland, where the tour begins, and get to know the horses. On the first day, we ride from Torfastaðir to the river Markarfljót, crossing wide plains along the old river banks with views of hills, mountains and glaciers. After reaching the striking rock Dímon, which is well known from the Saga of Njáll, we cross the old bridge over the river Markarfljót and end the farm Stóru-Mörk / Ásgarður, where we stay overnight.
Riding time and distance: 22-25 km – 4 hours.

Day 3: Stóra-Mörk – Thórsmörk

Today we ride from the farm Stóra-Mörk towards the valley Thórsmörk. We follow the river Markarfljót (known from the Saga of Njáll) along the slopes of the famous glacier and volcano Eyjafjallajökull, riding on the soft ground covered by the ash of the volcano’s eruption in 2010, which has changed the landscape in this area considerably. During our ride into the valley we cross several rivers and ride along the banks of the torrential glacial river Krossá, before we reach the beautiful nature reserve Thórsmörk, which is named after the old Nordic god Thór. The picturesque valley is framed by glaciers on three sides, Eyjafjallajökull, Tindafjallajökull and Mýrdalsjökull. We stay overnight at the mountain hut Básar in Thórsmörk. In the evening we get the opportunity to enjoy the spectacular landscape of the broad valley with surprisingly rich vegetation, birch woods, canyons and lava formations shaped by rivers and volcanos.
Riding time and distance: 25 km – 5-6 hours.

Day 4: Thórsmörk – Stóra-Mörk

The day begins with a visit of the “Elves Church”, a distinctive volcanic formation, followed by a visit of the enormous canyon Stakkholtsgjá, an unforgettable experience. We follow the riding trail of the day before out of the valley, ride over the green heathlands Hamragarðaheiði and then back to the path again through the valley of the river Markarfljót until we reach the farm Stóra-Mörk / Ásgarður, where we stay overnight.
Riding time and distance: 30 km, 6 hours.

Day 5: Stóra-Mörk – Torfastaðir

On our last day, we first ride on good riding trails in the surroundings of the river Markarfljót and then follow an old road through the nice landscape along the green hills of Fljótshlíð. On our way back to the farm Torfastaðir we ride past the farm Hlíðarendi, where one of the most famous Vikings, Gunnar of Hlíðarendi, lived and died, according to the Saga of Njáll. Around 15:00 we drive back to our farm Vellir and after a short stop at the farm the bus takes you to Reykjavik, where the tour ends (around 17:30).

The accommodation on this night is not included, please advise if you would like for us to make a hotel reservation for you in Reykjavik, or let us know where you plan to stay.
Riding time and distance: 25 km, 4-5 hours.

*** Please note that hotel and dinner on the last evening is not included.

Summary:

4 nights – 5 days on horseback – 90 km. Riding distance per day: 20 – 35 km (4-6,5 hours).
Accommodation at guesthouse Eldhestar (1 night) in shared rooms and sleeping bag accommodation in farmhouses and a simple mountain hut (3 nights in shared rooms), full board.