TYPOLOGIES

SHEEP ROUND UP – TUNGNARÉTTIR

DIFFICULTY

Medium

MIN. AGE

12 years

1,595 €

Amazing Experience

If you want to experience something authentic this is the tour for you! As participants, you are joining an annual tradition and not a customized riding tour. Being amongst the farming community and lending a helping hand in this age-old tradition of the autumn round-up is as close as you can get to the heart and soul of this nation.

DURATION

5 nights & 4 riding days

RIDING SKILLS

Intermediate riders

DEPARTURES

Dates 2021: 8-12 September 2021

ACCOMMODATION

Made up beds at Skálinn, Myrkholti and sleepingbag arrangement at Fremstaver

WHAT IS INCLUDED

Bus transfer from Reykjavík to the farm.

During the ride full board is provided. Our menu consists of a large breakfast and traditional Icelandic meals (fish or lamb). Vegetarian meals are available on request when booking. All riders make their own packed lunch from the breakfast table.

Alcoholic beverages are not included in the tour price.

Rainwear, water bottle, saddle bag, riding helmet.

ATTENTION

Individual travel insurance is not included in the tour price. We encourage clients to obtain relevant travel insurance before visiting Iceland.

Flight to and from Iceland is not included

Please bring your own sleeping bag with you on the tour

Day 1

Reykjavík – Myrkholt

Pick up in Reykjavík. Arrival to Myrkholt farm where we settle in, meet our guides and fellow travelers before having refreshments during the evening.

Day 2

Myrkholt – Fremstaver

We will start by visiting the stables, meet the horses and gear up for the first part of the ride. We ride with a free running herd of horses towards the highlands and experience Icelandic wilderness at its best, with magnificent mountain peaks and Langjökull glacier in all its glory. We stop for a short break with the herd on the highland right next to Sandá river where we change horses. We now head towards Mt. Bláfell (1160 m. above sea level) to our overnight cabin, Fremstaver, which is our destination for the day. There we spend the night while our horses feed on hey in the paddock adjacent to the cabin.

Day 3

Fremstaver – Myrkholt

After breakfast, we saddle the horses and say our goodbyes to this peaceful place in the highlands of Iceland. We ride with our herd south-west towards Ásbrandsá river. We cross the river into Haukadalsheiði, a black desert of stones and sand. Riding through the desert we start going down the highlands and into a polar-opposite; a green, bushy and unique forest.

The trails are soft and the views are impressive into Haukadalur, where we look over the entire Geysir hot-spring area and the Árnessýsla county. We head down through Haukadalsskógur forest, the biggest of its kind in Iceland, and towards the Geysir area. There we unsaddle and leave our horses in a paddock in one of the most well-known geological hotspots in the world, where we visit the world-famous geysers Geysir (the one and only!) and Strokkur.

After this adventure, we saddle our horses and head back to the Myrkholt farm where we rest overnight in the lovely Skálinn – our home for the remainder of the tour

Day 4

Myrkholt- Myrkholt

After breakfast, we ride from Myrkholt to Hvítá (the white) river. We ride along the Hvítárgljúfur canyon, towards the Gullfoss waterfall, there we will rest our horses while taking in the views of this massive waterfall. But on we go! Into the saddle again to ride towards the farmers that have spent the previous week in the highlands rounding up about 6000 sheep. The sheep have roamed the highlands freely during the summer but are now back into “civilization” for the winter.

We join these mountain-men and women back to Myrkholt for lunch and then head back out to on our horses towards Tungnaréttir-gathering, which stands by Tungnafljót river and the waterfall Faxi. It is here where the thousands of sheep are sorted and will be placed with their rightful owner tomorrow morning.

After socializing with the team and seeing Tungnaréttir-gathering we head back to Myrkholt for our overnight rest. A good night’s sleep is important as we head back out to Tungnaréttir-gathering early in the morning. Exciting day ahead!

Day 5

Myrkholt – Tungnaréttir

We wake up early and head out to Tungnaréttir-gathering event, where we are greeted by the locals and their families, their horses and their sheep. They invite us to take part in the gathering and the celebrations which continue on throughout the day.

After the event, we head back to Myrkholt where we feast on a traditional Icelandic meat-soup and spend our last evening together.

Day 6

Myrkholt – Reykjavík

All good things must come to an end. Here we say our goodbyes to our hosts, farmers, and horses. After breakfast, a bus will pick you up and drive you to Reykjavík.

Terms & Conditions:
If you book the tour through the website the full amount is requested. Íshestar requests a confirmation payment upon booking of a minimum of 30% of the tour price. When the confirmation payment is received the seat is secure. The remaining balance is due 6 weeks before the tour departs.
Children under 12 years receive a 25% discount on our multi-day tours.

Liability:
Íshestar reserves the right to alter routes, itineraries or timetables without prior notice, should the necessity arise. No liability is accepted for loss or expenses due to delays or changes of arrival or departures of flights or other services, injury, sickness, accident, strikes, damage, negligence, weather, wars or other causes outside the control of Íshestar. All such losses and expenses are the personal liability of the traveler. The estimated duration of tours as indicated by km or timing can change according to road or weather conditions.

For more information please see also our Frequent Asked Questions and/or contact us at ishestar@ishestar.is

Myrkholt

Myrkholt is located just between Gullfoss waterfall and the hot spring Geysir. Very nice farm and guesthouse.

  • Number of rooms:  8
  • Number of beds:  32
  • Outdoor jacuzzi:  No
  • Number of showers:  8
  • GSM connection:  Yes
  • WiFi: Yes
  • Made up beds: Yes
  • Number of WC:  4

Fremstaver

Fremstaver is a cozy hut on the south slopes of the mountain Bláfell. The cabin is situated in beautiful surroundings that offer many sight-seeing possibilities. Climbing the mountain Bláfell is a long but rewarding walk. The top offers views wide and far on a good day.

  • Number of rooms:  1
  • Number of beds:  25
  • Outdoor jacuzzi:  no
  • Number of showers: 0
  • GSM connection: yes
  • WiFi: no
  • Made up beds:
  • Number of WC: 2

Tour Map