About

Varmahlíð is a small service center in Skagafjörður, North Iceland, located at the intersection of Routes 1 and 75. Despite its small population (~140), it serves as an important regional hub for the surrounding agricultural valley. Skagafjörður is Iceland's premier horse breeding region, known for producing some of the country's finest Icelandic horses. The valley is home to hundreds of horse farms, and Varmahlíð is the center for horse-related tourism. Multiple tour operators offer riding tours ranging from one hour to multi-day treks across highland trails. The town is also the main base for whitewater rafting on Vestari-Jökulsá (West Glacial River), which flows through dramatic canyons and offers Class II-IV rapids. Rafting tours operate during summer months. Varmahlíð has accommodation, restaurants, fuel, supermarket, and information center. Nearby attractions include Glaumbær turf farm museum, Víðimýri turf church, and Hólar historical site. The annual Skagafjörður Country Festival is held in the valley each summer, celebrating rural Icelandic culture with music, horse shows, and local food.

📖 Story

Skagafjörður valley is to Icelandic horses what Kentucky is to thoroughbreds — this is the heartland of Iceland's beloved breed. Varmahlíð sits at the center of it all, surrounded by horse farms that have bred purebred Icelandic horses for generations. The town is small (population 140), but it serves as the hub for horse riding tours, horse shows, and equestrian culture. It's also the starting point for whitewater rafting on the glacial Vestari-Jökulsá river — one of Iceland's premier rafting destinations.

Key Facts