The north of Iceland: Skagafjörður, Akureyri and the Icelandic horse
The north of Iceland has the midnight sun, and the horses are at home.
What Visit Iceland says about the north, how warm and cold it gets in Akureyri and which questions to put to a stable in Skagafjörður.
The landscape
According to Visit Iceland, the north of Iceland consists of long valleys and peninsulas between which lie mountains, lava fields and smooth, river-shaped hills. The coast is deeply indented, sometimes green, sometimes bare, and near the Arctic Circle the midnight sun is omnipresent in summer. According to Visit Iceland Akureyri is the second-largest town of the country, in the longest fjord, the mild Eyjafjörður, with wooden houses from the late 19th century. Visit Iceland calls Dettifoss the most powerful waterfall in Europe; it and the Ásbyrgi canyon lie in the northern part of Vatnajökull National Park and are not riding routes.
The horses
One provider describes Skagafjörður as an area with wide valleys, glacier rivers and a deep horse tradition. Providers there name private rides, a Viking ride and a ride for experienced riders that names all five gaits; one provider writes that his horses are not bothered by frozen ground and snow in winter. According to the International Federation of Icelandic Horse Associations FEIF, the Icelandic horse masters tölt and pace besides walk, trot and canter. Near Akureyri one provider names a farm at Gásir with a view of sea, mountains and fjord.
The weather
For Akureyri NOAA daily values are available, own means 1991 to 2020. The mean daily maximum is 2.6 degrees in January, 15.1 degrees in July and 14.8 degrees in August; the night minimum falls to -4.2 degrees in February (night minima usable only for January to July, rain not usable). Summer is therefore cool, winter lies around freezing. Reykjavík for comparison: January 1.9 degrees daily maximum (WMO, 1961 to 1990).
Questions for the provider
- Where is the meeting point, and how far is it from Akureyri or Varmahlíð?
- Is there tölt, and can I stay at a walk?
- What level is required, and is there a weight limit in kilograms?
- Do you ride in winter, and under which conditions not?
- Which clothing is provided, what should I bring?
- How many guests and how many guides are there?
- Until when is cancellation free?
What we could not confirm
No rain values for the north. The statements on Skagafjörður are provider statements, not an authority source.
Sources (read on 11 and 12 October 2026)
- Visit Iceland, North Iceland, visiticeland.com/the-regions/the-north/. Tourism portal, named only as a statement of the page.
- FEIF, Icelandic horse, feif.org.
- NOAA NCEI, GHCN-Daily, station Akureyri (IC000004063), own means 1991 to 2020; WMO, World Weather Information Service, Reykjavík (189), retrieved on 12 October 2026.
- Statements on Skagafjörður and winter: providers’ descriptions, as of 11 October 2026.
- Offers: Viator pool and GetYourGuide hand cards, as of 11 October 2026.