jhubbel

To any and all who have done the long horse treks in Iceland during the July and August time frames, I am already booked for two of them back to back up the northeast. Am an advanced rider, and been in touch with my guides for more than two years. What I'd love to hear from this group is about the kinds of clothing you took. I tend towards very cold, so if you've done this, and have suggestions based on being out and experiencing Iceland's weather, kindly advise. I have all the gear available, prefer not to overpack. Down, wool, all are going. I also have riding boots that double as mucking boots. What did you take? Mine have not been worn, nor my helmet, they are waiting for Iceland.

Other advice would be loved for a 10 day trip from Reykjavik up the Ring Road and back down. Bit of a rush but didn't want to come to Iceland and not do it. Hotels are already booked (at least a year in advance, I was warned) but if anyone has something special to recommend, kindly say so.

What I love: riding, kayaking, adventure, hiking, anything that gets the blood going.

My biggest challenge that I need help with: FOOD. I do NOT eat fish, red meat, bread, crackers, cake or cookies. I eat fruit, vegetables, milk products like yogurt, lots of eggs. Fish turns my stomach big time. How bad is this going to be in Iceland? Should I be taking a separate suitcase of KIND bars? It's happened before!

Something else to keep in mind, please kindly. I'm a journalist and author. I really do not like or wish to visit touristy places. I love to duck into out of the way places, find a couple of pieces of fruit and a carton of yogurt and someone local and go get lost for a day or two. If there are too many people at a place I will keep going. I will have my own car (rented already) and it is not suited for deep inner country travels. I can hire someone for that.

That said, I will be leaving on July 19th, and hope to hear from the many trusted folks on here who've done this already. Riders in particular, if you encountered rain/snow/wet/ what did you take for your breeches? Was wind constant? That kind of thing. So very helpful.

Thanks again to all.

jhubbel

Hello?

Dianedancer

TTT

GreenDragon

I wish I could help - I'll beat you to Iceland by just two days for my first trip there. We'll be doing the Ring Road, as well, in 16 days. No long treks for us - we're beginner riders, and my husband's health (and my cowardice!) keeps us from more of the adventurous stuff. We are all set - rental car, B&Bs, etc. It looks to be about 50 degrees every day, 45 at night on average, but winds are high, and the sun is often blocked by clouds. Be prepared for that - which means layers

It sounds like you have your trip well under control. Perhaps we'll see you on the Ring Road!

jhubbel

Thanks ever so much, Dragon. I'm in the final packing process and there are two wind jackets in the bags! Lots of layers. I start the RR on 10 August.

Research on the food turned up many suggestions to BYO where possible due to high costs, so backpack is indeed full of KIND bars and dried fruit and chocolate. And a good water bottle for refills. Iceland offers a kind of skim milk yogurt that sounds utterly yummy, and it sounds like oranges and apples are going to be available.

Lysuholl, which is not far off the Ring Road, offers day rides, from what I've researched, and I'm joining them for a day and night en route back to Reykjavik. So many good options for riding.

I have a buff and a fleece hat for the wind as well, and my outfit recommend a fly net for the helmet. That led me to spend about twelve bucks for an over the hat mosquito net- something that wished I'd had in New Zealand years ago while hiking in South Island. They are tiny and super light, Coughlan's makes one for about a third of that. If you're doing any hiking in the forests it's something to consider.

Thanks kindly for writing. Journey well and perhaps we will cross paths, you never know!

GreenDragon

Journey well and safe!

jhubbel

Thanks. Only got a week left and I can't wait. It's been raining hard for days here in Colorado- of all places- so I guess I'm well prepared...

GreenDragon

If you are interested, I could post my own itinerary. I've done LOTS of research on places to visit. I am not as active, and my husband even less so (Lyme disease) but we've come across lots of cool hidden gems in our research.

8 days until I leave. I'm excited!

We're doing the Ring Road, counter-clockwise. Here is a wish-list of all the things we WANT to see in rough order of our trip. I know we won't get to see them all!

Bridge between two continents (Sandvik)
Hallgrímskirkja Church
Öskjuhlíð (pagan temple being built)
Harpa Concert Hall
Grotta Island lighthouse and hot pool
Alafoss
Penis Museum
Fossatun waterfall
Deildartunguhver - Most powerful hot spring in Europe
Snorrastofa - Snorri Sturluson's home and museum/folk park, medieval studies
Hraunfossar and Barnafoss - lavafield waterfalls
Glymur Waterfall - tallest in Iceland
Þingvellir National Park - First Parliament (930) (Hound and Arya's journey/Brienne's battle)
Almannagja continental rift
Öxarárfoss
Peningagja (coin fissure)
Bruarfoss
Geysir - the original geyser, geothermal hot springs at Haukadalur (nearby Strokkur erupts every few minutes)
Gullfoss double waterfall
Kerid Crater
Hjalparfoss/Þjórsardalur, Stöng Commonwealth farm
Gjáin canyon, Háifoss, Granni Waterfall
Landmannalaugar
Mount Hekla
Þórsmörk National park
Mount Eyjafjallajokull
Valahnjúkur cliffs
Seljalandsfoss - can walk behind
Gljúfrafoss
Seljavallalaug hot pool
Skógafoss - often rainbows
Glacier Walk?
Cape Dyrhólaey - ocean cliffs (puffins!)
Þakgil, Roof Canyon (Game of Thrones set)
Höfðabrekka (Frostfangs Mountains)
Reynisfjara Black sand beach - basalt columns, caves
Reynisdrangar sea stacks/cave/puffins
Fjaðrárgljúfur mossy canyon
Núpsstaður turf-roof church
Kirkjubæjarklaustur
Foss in Síðu/Dverghamrar Cliffs (home of hidden people)
Hofskirkja in Öræfi Church
Fjallsárlón Glacier Lake
Jokulsarlon - floating iceburg lake (used in James Bond and Tomb Raiders film)
Vatnajökull National Park
Svartifoss - Black Waterfall - hexagons (near Skaftafell Visitor Centre)
Skaftafell - colored mountains
Höfn
Hengifoss and Litlanesfoss (basaltic pillars) and Lagarfljótsormurinn
Namaskard Pass - bubbling mudpots/solfataras and fumaroles
Myvatn nature baths
Dimmuborgir lava field (Mance Rayder's Wildling Camp)
Stóragjá lava cave - bathing
Grjótagjá (thermal spring for Jon and Ygritte)
Skútustaðagígar Pseudo Craters
Dettifoss/Jokulsargljufur Canyon (Opening scene of Prometheus/most powerful waterfall in Europe)
Selfoss (1/2 mile downstream from Dettifoss)
Hafragilsfoss Waterfall
Asbyrgi Canyon
Hljodhaklettar (basalt column caves)
Vesturdalur Valley
Voladalstorfa/Tjörneshöfn (puffins)
Godafoss
Aldeyjarfoss
GG2 Big Whale Safari & Puffins from Husavik (http://www.gentlegiants.is/tours-and...-whale-safari/)
Siglufjörður
Trollaskagi Mountains
Hofsós - Palina's Flower Kitchen in Lonkot Bucolic Resort for lunch and infinity pool
Flugumyri/Skagafjörður Transportation Museum/Glaumbaer Farm - quaint photos
Ketubjorg cliffs/waterfall
Kalfshamarsvik basalt columns
Hvítserkur  Rock Formations
Borgarvirki Basalt Fortress
Osar - Seals and Hvitserkur monolith
Gerduberg basalt columns
Icelandic Sorcery and Witchcraft Museum
Drangsnes hot springs
Ísafjörður
Bolungarvík
Ósvör Maritime Museum
Old smithy museum - Þingeyri
Dýrafjörður
Kaldbakur Mountain
Arnarfjörður fjord
Dynjandi Waterfall
Eiríkstaðir (Erik the Viking's home) - Stora-Vatnshorn
Grábrók Crater
Paradísarlaut Hollow/Glanni Waterfall
Borgarnes - Settlement Center/Borganes Museum
Hellisgerði Lava Park
Hafnarberg Sea Cliffs
Reykjanestá coastal rocks
Gunnuhver Geothermal Areas
Brimketill (lavarock formation west of Grindavik)
Krýsuvík thermal area
Krýsuvíkurberg Cliffs
Eldvorp Ehf (10km long crater row)
Horseback riding
Lake Grænavatn - green water
Kleifarvatn (lake between sveifluhals and Vatnshlid)
Hafnarfjörður Elf Garden
Víkingaheimar Museum
Mount Keilir

jhubbel

My goodness! You're going to be busy!!

My first three weeks I'll be buried in the woods, and the countryside on horseback. That leaves about ten days' traveling from Reykjavik to Ayureki and back again. Because of the short time frame, I may have to skip some of the sights to make my hotels in some situations, but while I am at those hotels I've got time to wander in the area. I've got a guide book, and will be doing kayaking trips and adventures locally.

My primary love is horses, so the rides will probably take in some fabulous sites along the way. The rest I hope will unfold as I explore. Have a wonderful trip!

annhig

Iceland offers a kind of skim milk yogurt that sounds utterly yummy, and it sounds like oranges and apples are going to be available. >>

the stuff to look for is Skyr and by the look of your dietary requirements you'll be eating a lot of it; we took 2 cucumbers to Iceland with us and were glad of them. They do have cheese, eggs and chicken, and if you are lucky some fresh veg though that seemed to be in short supply when we were there a few years ago - perhaps things have improved in that department.

i know that you say that you are going to be in the sticks for a lot of the time, but if you are desperate, the place to head for is the nearest petrol station - the vast majority have cafes and/or sell food.

I can't help with the packing except to say to take layers - you need to be prepared for almost every eventuality.

Good luck!