Active Pursuits in Skagafjordur

Horseback Riding

The three farms below offer lessons and short rides as well as multi-day adventures for all ability levels. In September, you can participate in round-ups, retrieving sheep and horses that have run wild in the highlands all summer; all-night parties follow. Dates are posted at www.northwest.is.

Flugumýri (tel. 453-8814; www.flugumyri.com), on Route 76, 3km (2 miles) off the Ring Road, presents exhibitions for groups, showing off the talents of the Icelandic horse; call ahead, and, if an exhibition is scheduled, you can sign up for 2,000kr ($32/£16) per person, including coffee and cake.

Hestasport (tel. 453-8383; www.riding.is), a respected outfit just outside Varmahlíð, has several good route options including the Hólar area, the Kjölur route through the interior to Gullfoss and Geysir, and local sheep round-ups.

Lýtingsstaðir (tel. 453-8064; www.lythorse.com), on Route 752, 20km (12 miles) south of Varmahlíð, has a good range of highland tours, including horse and sheep round-ups, and an economical overnight package that includes two meals and a short ride.

River Rafting

The rivers feeding Skagafjörður provide the best river-rafting in North Iceland. The Eystri-Jökulsá has difficult class III and IV+ rapids, while the Vestari-Jökulsá has easier class II rapids, as well as a cliff-jumping ledge and a hot spring for making cocoa.

Activity Tours (tel. 453-8383; www.rafting.is), affiliated with the horse tour company Hestasport, is the best operator. They also offer super-tame trips on the Blanda River (ages 6 and up), and an exciting 3-day adventure down the Eystri-Jökulsá, starting deep within the desert interior. The Eystri-Jökulsá trip lasts 6 to 7 hours and costs around 8,500kr ($136/£68) all-inclusive, with a minimum age of 18. The Vestari-Jökulsá trip lasts 4 to 5 hours and costs about 5,500kr ($88/£44), minimum age 12. Trips run from May to early October.