About us
Hekluhestar -the horses of Hekla - was established in 1981 by Jon Benediktsson and Nicole Chéné at Austvadsholt.
In the summer of 1980 Jon and Nicole, at that time traditional farmers, decided to take a short vacation into the highland on horseback to spend a few relaxing days, enjoying the unspoiled nature. The trip was pleasant, but also eventful because they just made it home before Mt. Hekla erupted!
Returning home they developed their idea to offer more people the opportunity to travel into the wilderness with the quiet and friendly Icelandic horses. This was a original idea, as at that time there were no organized horse riding tours into the highlands. With his years of experience as a farmer, collecting sheep and going fishing in the Veidivotn area, Jon has been able to share his knowledge by taking the tours through the most beautiful and dramatic scenery around Mt. Hekla.
For twenty five years the small family company has guided many groups of people coming from all over the world through the rugged area of Hekla. Now Jón and Nicole´s daughter Anita is continuing the family tradition, and is taking over the leading of the tours in which she has been involved every year since she was a little child.
The farm and the horses Austvadsholt farm, the heart of Hekluhestar, is located in a vast open area 100 km. east of Reykjavik in the vicinity of the volcano Mt. Hekla. At this working farm, the main activity is the breeding and training of Icelandic horses.
Most of the horses used by Hekluhestar are born, bred and trained at Austvadsholt. Guests are encouraged to share in this close relationship with all the horses, which is one of the key ingredients in making the Hekluhestar tour so special.
The Icelandic horse itself is uniquely well adapted to the varied and dramatic volcanic terrain. The horse has two additional gaits, the “tölt” and “pace”, compared to other horse breeds. These extra gaits allow the horses to make comfortable, fast yet sure-footed progress over long distances in both the fertile valleys and the rugged hilltops.
The highland tours
The participants of the tours travel off main traffic roads on horseback. They are lead by two very experienced guides who know all the historical paths and trails of the highlands. Al luggage, food and necessary equipment is transported by a 4x4 vehicle between the stopovers. Accommodation is provided in well-kept mountain huts.
According to the old tradition of Icelandic horse travelling in Iceland it is usual to take some extra horses along so that one can change mounts if and when necessary which makes the ride even more fun. To ensure a friendly atmosphere each group may not exceed 12-15 persons.
Two fixed programs are offered
Hekluhestar is fully licensed tour operator from
the Ministry of Communications of Iceland
You can contact us in English or French
| 
.gif)
