Back to the Roots

Back to the Roots

This five-day riding tour offers an immersive experience in the remote and varied landscapes of North Iceland. Based at the farmhouse Grýtubakki for the first two days, riders are spending hours on horseback, crossing rivers and exploring green valleys in Látraströnd and Fnjóskárdalur. The adventure culminates in a three-day ride to Þönglabakki, a secluded spot tucked away in the fjord of Þorgeirsfjörður. We will retrace the historic trails we first rode in 1985, offering a nostalgic return to the roots of our earliest adventures. Here, we will spend two peaceful nights in a cozy mountain hut, surrounded by fjord air and the soothing silence of untouched nature. A great adventure for medium to experienced riders and our beloved returning guests. This ride is without a free-running herd.

Day 1 - Arrival

In the late afternoon (mostly between 4 pm and 6 pm), we will pick you up from Akureyri and bring you to our farm Grýtubakki. There, you will be lodged at our little guesthouses with a shared bathroom. We will get to know each other during dinner and end the day with a detailed description of the tour.

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 over an old bridge and continue riding into the valley, which is rather narrow but offers a big variety of different landscapes. We ride along the southern side of the valley, by murmuring brooks, mossy hills and through little forests. After our lunch break at a 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 go to the swimming pool in Grenivík.

Dinner and overnight at Grýtubakki farmhouse.

Day 3

Today we will go for a five to six hour day ride out to the coast Látrastönd. We ride above steep cliffs, across clear brooks and through wonderful green valleys. We spend our lunch break 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 a chance to see some whales or even a few of the shy seals living there.

Dinner and overnight at Grýtubakki farmhouse.

Day 4
This is the first day of our 3 – day tour which takes you on horseback through the peaceful and remote landscapes of Þorgeirsfjörður. We travel with one pack horse, carrying supplies for the journey. We ride from Grýtubakki out towards the coast, heading into the quiet valley of Þorgeirsfjörður. We ride through a deserted countryside populated with around 3.000 sheep and who knows how many elves and trolls. Names like Trölladalur – valley of the trolls and Álfaborgir – cities of the elves remind us of the existence of these invisible beings. They have chosen some of the best places for their homes. The pace is steady as we follow open trails, moving with our horses towards the old farm Þönglabakki, where we spend two nights in a simple mountain hut.

Day 5:
This day is dedicated to exploring the area. We ride to the abandoned farms Botn and Hóll, passing through green meadows and low hills that once supported isolated farm life. We continue to Þorgeirshöfði, the cape that marks the mouth of the fjord, with wide views over the ocean and surrounding mountains. The ride is relaxed, allowing time to take in the history and stillness of the area. Dinner and overnight in Þönglabakki mountain hut.

Day 6:
We pack up and ride back to Grýtubakki, following a similar route through the valley, with the pack horse in tow and the sea now behind us. In the late afternoon, we go to Grenivík for swimming. It is good to relax your muscles after 5 days of riding. Dinner and overnight stay at Grýtubakki.

Day 7 – Departure

After our breakfast, we will drive you back to Akureyri.