[TRAVEL] See Iceland On Volcano Horses

Iceland is one of the world’s great natural action sports centres and a land of stunning natural scenery with its volcanic landscape crowned by glaciers and punctuated by stunning waterfalls and spouting geysers.

It’s no surprise that the country has seen double-digit tourism growth in recent years, and the opportunities just keep growing. Icelandair recently added Aberdeen to its route list to capital Reykjavik, joining Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester, Birmingham and Glasgow airports. Several other airlines also offer direct flights, including WOW air from Bristol and Edinburgh.

Akureyri, Iceland‘s second city and the gateway to Iceland‘s north, has built a particularly strong reputation in recent years for the wide range of activities there, many showcased in the country’s Winter Games, now a major annual fixture at the start of spring. The games feature everything from dog sledding and horse riding to surfing just offshore, as it’s a great location for that too.

Akureyri was recently chosen by a panel of editors at Lonely Planet as THE number one destination of choice in Europe in their annual top 10 (from the many thousands of possibilities across the continent). Perhaps that shouldn’t be a surprise as its location surrounded by mountains and located along a long fjord is particularly stunning.

But one of the best ways to see Iceland’s many wonders is the way people originally got around on this island which still has very few roads, especially ones with a solid surface: on the back of an Icelandic pony. There are several pony riding operations and one of the biggest and best is Eldhestar, located in the heart of Iceland’s south-western countryside along Road No. 1, only half an hour’s drive from Reykjavík in a spectacular location between volcanic mountains, rivers and the ocean (not that there are many locations in Iceland that aren’t spectacular). They’ve been organising pony treks from here for three decades.

The area around the Hengill volcano with its beautiful valleys, hot springs and the chance to bath in natural warm water is the origin of the Eldhestar name which means “Volcano Horses” in Icelandic. “You’ll get to know an Iceland you may not have seen before – the Iceland of 100 or 1,000 years ago – endless meadows, rushing glacial streams, hidden valleys, dormant volcanoes, and high mountains,” an Eldhestar spokesperson says. The farm offers itineraries that range from one or two hours to several days to suit riders of all ages and abilities and works with the Hotel Eldhestar to provide meals and accommodation. Children as young as age five can be catered for on the short tours, and most tours are conducted in English.

One of the most exciting is the week-long trek to Krýsuvík and the Blue Lagoon for experienced riders which covers around 100km on horseback over four days in the saddle. Along with rivers and beaches, the trip involves a dip in the famous geothermal waters of the Blue Lagoon.

This trip has departures on 24 June and 17 August 17 in 2016, and there are many others to choose from. eldhestar.is

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