My Sagas & Vikings tour to West Iceland is the perfect trip for lovers of the Icelandic sagas, elf-lore, Norse mythology, or the Viking Age. Traveling by van and on foot, we explore glaciers, hotsprings, volcanoes, lavafields, bird cliffs, waterfalls, farmsteads, forests, and beaches in the part of Iceland once ruled by saga-master Snorri Sturluson, author of the Edda, Heimskringla, and Egil's Saga. We visit museums and saga sites, including a reconstructed Viking house, the birthplace of Gudrid the Far-Traveler, Snorri Sturluson's hot tub, the home of Viking poet Egil Skallagrimsson, and a famous elf rock, and bathe at a nearby hotspring spa. Our pace is relaxed, with an emphasis on being out in nature. Each day's excursion is set in context through excerpts from my books.

We return each night to the cozy Hestaland Guesthouse, run by Gudmar Petursson and Christina Guzik, to enjoy gourmet meals based on local fish and lamb. After lively discussions of the Icelandic sagas, Iceland’s first settlers, the Viking expeditions to America, how Norse mythology has shaped modern culture, how Iceland’s elves can save the Earth, and more, we might take a dip in the hot tub or, perhaps, walk in the midnight sun to a nearby pond to watch the birds. Note that most days do include a 1- to 2-hour hike, often through rough and rugged terrain, no matter the weather. It's Iceland, after all! Non-hikers can walk as far as they like and return to wait in the van. Also, while this tour is not a horse trek, we are based on a horse farm run by a famous Icelandic horse trainer and riding instructor. All guests will meet the Icelandic horse and learn why “a good horse has no color.” The more adventurous among us can enjoy horseback riding lessons with Gudmar and short trail rides out from the farm.

Sagas & Vikings is offered one week per year, usually in early June, and is limited to 12 guests. For a sample itinerary, click here. To book your spot for 2025, send a message to Gudmar and Christina at info@hestaland.net. For more information, or to be put on a mailing list for future tours, contact me directly at nancymariebrown@gmail.com.

"A big thank-you for such a wonderful trip. It really was a great combination of history, visiting sites, riding, and hiking. The depth of your knowledge and the crafting of such a memorable experience is admirable! After years of reading so much northern-placed literature and then physically visiting some of the places I've read about--it's quite a 'buzz.' I certainly felt a 'deep vibration' of sorts while out in some of those more remote places."—Kimberly, 2023

"Hestaland was the perfect place to stay, with good food, comfortable surroundings, great scenery, friendly animals, and delightful staff. Iceland itself is a very special place, and I was constantly taken with surprises and unexpected observations. I would certainly recommend this trip to almost anyone!"—Pat, 2022

"Not too rugged, and you can opt out of the most strenuous walks and still have plenty to occupy you. It's not the typical tourist trip: Nancy Marie Brown is a wealth of information not only on the history but also on current Iceland."—Tracy, 2018

"Nancy, thank you so much for guiding the best trip I’ve ever been on. I miss the wide expanse, the green fields, and those mountains. And of course, the horses. I understand your love for this country and its history. It is a special place."—Sandy, 2017

"This was such an amazing place! 'Going to Iceland' has become the idea that soothes when life gets rough. I did not anticipate that the trip would resonate so much."—Elisabeth, 2017