Iceland: horseback riding and hiking in northern Iceland

There are so many active adventures to be had in Iceland. Knowing that, I still wasn’t certain how much activity would be available during the start of Iceland’s winter, so I booked a trip there with a close friend as part of a yoga retreat in October 2017.  The idea was to have a guaranteed workout in the mornings and an opportunity to explore the history, culture, and scenery of the area in the afternoons. Although my travel partner Rebecca and I loved our time there and have booked additional international yoga retreats since then, we both agreed we got plenty of activity without the yoga. The yoga was just a fantastic way to start the day, especially the first morning after a long day of travel!

We went to Iceland to experience its natural beauty, not for the nightlife and shops. With that in mind, we only spent a day in Reykjavik, the nation’s capital, located in southwestern Iceland. Although we didn’t spend much time there, Reykjavik can be an excellent starting point. 101 Hotel is a great hotel in the capital. 

Akureyri:

Our destination was Akureyri in northern Iceland, and the trip organizer, One Yoga Global, set us up in affordable, basic shared apartments in the center of town. Part of what we loved about our trip was residing among the locals! You don’t have to attend their yoga retreat to utilize the shared apartment or the top-notch tour guide. Our guide Andres (owner of a local yoga studio and owner of the apartments) was memorable. He kept us away from the big touristy crowds and had access to some beautiful waterfalls on private land. To acquire his guide services, research apartment rentals, learn more about the area, or book a yoga retreat, check out: https://icelandyogaretreat.com/iceland-information/

Worth Checking Out:

For more of an upscale, once-in-a-lifetime experience in Northern Iceland, check out Deplar Farm. Situated in an often snow-packed valley in the country’s isolated far north, the 13-room converted sheep farm has become renowned as one of the most exclusive heli-skiing retreats on earth.

If you want to check out Southwest Iceland, look into the Ion Adventure Hotel, which sits in stilts above the lava-strewn Thingvellir National Park.

Don’t Miss:

• Schedule a ride on an Icelandic horse. I moved my horse into the famous fifth gait, the tolt. The tolt is a smooth and rhythmical gait that can be performed at slow or fast speeds and is unique to Icelandic horses.
• Thor’s valley
• Mid-Atlantic Ridge or Reykjahlio
• Goðafoss Waterfall or any of the major waterfalls 
• Myvatn Nature Baths, Krauma Geothermal Springs (hour north of Reykjavik), or Blue Lagoon. Now open is the Retreat at Blue Lagoon Iceland (it wasn’t open when we were there).

If you Have Time:

• Hrisey Island for a much slower pace of life and solitude. Great place to take a half-day meditative hike. 
• Reykjadalur, the Valley of Steam, is a beautiful geothermal region (pack duckboots – it’s muddy!)
• Saubaejarkirkja, one of 6 turf churches in Iceland

If a cruise is more your style, check out Azamara and hit up Greenland while you are at it! Keep in mind that most of the cruises are in the summer which decreases your odds of seeing the Northern Lights. I’m grateful we were able to see them on our trip because it is definitely not guaranteed. One of my fellow travelers on the retreat, Mark Brodie, is a photojournalist and took the attached Northern Lights photo. 

Torfhus Retreat in Selfoss is also worth checking out if you’re looking for a secluded place to just unwind. It contains traditional residences featuring living turf roofs, stone and reclaimed wooden walls that blend into the beautiful landscape.

Current list of direct flights from U.S. Cities: https://www.isavia.is/en/keflavik-airport/flight-schedule/airlines-and-destinations

Next Trip To Iceland:

We did not have the opportunity to go on any excursions with Kristjan Petur Vilhelmsson, but several friends in the travel industry have and raved about him. Apparently, he is also a wonderful guide and an AMAZING photographer. He can book up to 8-9 months in advance. Easy on the eyes and a true Viking! You can find him on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram.

This country has so much to offer, from adventure, to natural beauty, to culture and cuisine. Just not the wine – the wine was terrible, but we enjoyed the local beer! I’m so grateful I’m able to relay my experience through writing instead of talking, as the local pronunciations were a struggle for me!