Autumn Colours and Northern Lights

RIDING THROUGH THE GOLDEN AUTUMN

This riding tour provides the opportunity to experience the variety and beauty of the Icelandic nature in autumn. In the end of August, the Icelandic summer is coming to an end. The days in September shorten, introducing a wide range of autumnal colours and the famous Northern Lights. We ride through dreamy valleys where flocks of cackling geese are resting for their journey to the south. Riding up to the mountains we meet some sheep, which have spent a couple of wonderful months in liberty. Now it is time to bring them back to their home fields as winter starts to knock on the door. Six days of intensive contact with the Icelandic horse, Icelandic natural beauties and culture is expecting you.

DETAILED TOUR DESCRIPTION (2025):

Day 1

Our guests are picked up in Akureyri in the late afternoon. A 30 minutes’ drive will bring us to the farmhouse Grýtubakki. On the way you may admire the beautiful view over the fjord Eyjafjörður. After dinner details about the next days will be provided. Overnight stay at Grýtubakki.

 

Day 2

After breakfast we catch the horses and saddle up for a ride up to the entrance of the peninsula Fjörður and around mountain Höfði. We enjoy the breathtaking view over Eyjafjörður, the longest fjord in Iceland. Maybe we are lucky and see some whales. They have been spotted in the fjord until October. We are approximately 4 hours in saddle.

Back at the farm, coffee and cakes are served.

Dinner and overnight stay at Grýtubakki.

  

 

Day 3

 

In the morning we will go for a whale watching trip from Grenivík.

 

After coffee we ride towards the fishing village Grenivik and from there along the coast Látrarströnd. We ride above steep cliffs, through luxurious meadows, clear brooks and impressive valleys. We have our break close to the ruins of the farmhouse Svínarnes, which are witnesses of bygone times. In this area the young horses of the farmers are spending the summer, but soon they will turn back to their home meadows as the intensive autumn colours are early signs of the coming winter. We take the same way back to the farm.

After four hours in the saddle we will reach Grýtubakki again. Dinner and overnight stay at Grýtubakki.

  

 

Day 4

After breakfast, we ride into the valley of the river Fnjóská. On both sides of the river there are mountains up to 1000 metres height. We ride along the southern side of the valley, by murmuring brooks, mossy hills and through little forests coloured by the autumn. Cackling geese are sitting in flocks at the bank of the river, preparing themselves for their journey to the south. They are going to spend the winter in warmer areas but are coming back to Iceland in spring when the sun starts to shine for longer hours again. After our lunch break in this valley we turn back to Grýtubakki.

After coffee we will drive to the famous waterfall Goðafoss, which has played an important role during the Christianisation of Iceland. This waterfall is one of the most beautiful ones in Iceland. Dinner and overnight stay at Grýtubakki.

  

 

Day 5

Today we will ride up to the mountains. Our destination is the mountain hut Gil at the end of the valley Trölladalur. From the highest point at Leirðalsheiði we have a fantastic view over the fjord Hvalvatnsfjörður and the open polar sea. After dinner, there is time to go for a walk under the stars and hopefully see some of the dancing northern lights. A wonderful experience far away from civilisation and all the electric lights of the cities. Dinner and overnight stay at the mountain hut Gil.

  

 

Day 6

After breakfast, we saddle up again and leave this beautiful place to ride home to our farmhouse Grýtubakki. On the way we will see some of the many thousands of sheep that have spent the summer months here up in the mountains. They are on their way back home, knowing that soon everything will be covered by snow. Like the day before we ride for about four to five hours.

Coffee and cakes are waiting for us at Grýtubakki. A last dinner and overnight stay at Grytubakki.

   

 

Day 7

After breakfast, we drive our guests back to Akureyri.