Ring around the Midnightsun

MYSTIC MOMENTS WHEN THE SUN NEVER SETS

The fragrance of early spring, bright nights and the awakening nature are characteristics of this tour, which consists of several rides and sightseeing by bus. You will experience the days around the midnight sun visiting the famous turf houses of Laufás and the amazing area around the breathtaking lake Mývatn. A midnight ride is a highlight of the week at this special time of the year when the sun hardly sets.

 

DETAILED TOUR DESCRIPTION (2024):

Day 1

Our guests are picked up in Akureyri in the late afternoon. A thirty minutes’ drive will bring us to the farmhouse Grýtubakki. After dinner details about the following days will be provided. Overnight stay at Grýtubakki.

 

Day 2

After breakfast, we saddle our horses for the first riding excursion, which takes us into the valley of Fnjóská, the longest freshwater river in Iceland. We cross the river on an old bridge and continue riding into the valley. The valley is rather narrow but offers a big variety of different landscapes. On the way we enjoy the rushing water and watch the numberless birds being very busy with taking care of their young ones.

After our lunch break at some beautiful place in the valley we will turn back to Grýtubakki where we have coffee and cakes. Our riding time today is about four to five hours. After coffee we drive to the well-known turf houses of Laufás, which provide an interesting inside into the life of Icelandic people in past times. Dinner and overnight stay at Grýtubakki.

  

 

Day 3

After breakfast, we ride towards the longest fjord of Iceland, Eyjafjörður. Riding along the river Gljúfurá we reach the hill Höfði, a remnant of the ice age, which we will circuit on our four-hour ride. We enjoy amazing views from different perspectives and during our breaks we look out for whales. The fjord Eyjafjörður is one of the best places to spot whales in Iceland, in particular the huge humpback whales, harbour porpoises, minke whales and northern bottlenose whales. On our way we also see Hrísey, the second biggest island of Iceland, which gave the fjord its name: The fjord of the island.

After our coffee break at Grýtubakki we saddle the horses once again and enjoy a short ride in the vicinity of the farm. We will be 1 1/2 to 2 hours in the saddle. Dinner and overnight stay at Grýtubakki.

   

 

Day 4

Today we will go for a four to five hours lasting day ride out to the coast Látrastönd. We ride above steep cliffs, across clear brooks and through wonderful green valleys. Our lunch break we spend close to the ruins of the old farmhouse Svínarnes. Inhabited until the middle of the last century, they are witnesses of former life. We enjoy the amazing view to the island Hrísey, over the fjord Eyjafjörður and the open sea. Maybe we get another chance to see some whales or even a few of the shy seals living there.

After coffee at Grýtubakki we drive to the swimming pool of Grenivík. Enjoying the warm water, we have a wonderful view over the fjord and the surrounding mountains. Dinner and overnight stay at Grýtubakki.

 

 

Day 5

Our today´s destination is the famous area of the lake Mývatn. We visit the pseudo craters of Skútustaðir, the bizarre lava formations of Dimmuborgir and the bubbling mud pools of Námaskarð. On the way back home, we will have a look at the historical waterfall Goðafoss, which played an important role during Christianisation of Iceland around the year 1000.

After dinner at Grýtubakki, we saddle our horses and go for a two to three-hour ride in the surroundings of our farm. Around midnight we will find a beautiful place to enjoy the midsummer night in company of our horses. Overnight stay at Grýtubakki.

  

 

Day 6

Today we will ride up to the mountains and into the wild valley Fjörður. Fjörður is a mysterious and deserted countryside. Only about 4000 sheep spend the summertime here every year, together with the trolls and elves. Names like Trölladalur, the valley of the trolls, and Álfaborgir, the cities of the elves, remind us of the existence of these invisible beings. From the rise of Leirdalsheiði, we have a wonderful view over the fjord Eyjafjörður, the fishing village Grenivík and the surrounding farms. We ride through lush green valleys, along rushing rivers and over stony paths. Extinct volcanoes, silent glaciers and hidden waterfalls accompany us on our ride. In the late afternoon, after about four to five hours in the saddle, we will arrive at Grýtubakki again.

After coffee, there is time to go for a walk in the surroundings of our farm and say goodbye. Dinner and overnight stay at Grýtubakki.

  

 

Day 7

After breakfast we will bring our guests back to Akureyri.