Rettir are open to everyone. Rettir is the Icelandic sheep round-up, and it takes place all over the country from early September to mid-October.
Whether visitors can attend at all
Visit Iceland describes the rettir as a way to learn how to catch a sheep and manoeuvre it into the right corral. Children can take an active part in the rettir and help. The rettir are open to everyone.
Finding out where and when
Rettir takes place all over the country from early September to mid-October. An Icelandic calendar of all the rettir in Iceland is published each year.
The municipal council governs each fjallskil district. Where more than one municipality forms a single district, those municipalities must agree on its governance.
Each fjallskil district board is responsible for a fjallskilasamthykkt. The fjallskilasamthykkt sets the district's outer boundaries, its division into sections, the rights and duties attached to use of the mountain commons and the shared summer grazing land, the fjallskil, and the gathering of home lands in spring and autumn.
A fjallskilasamthykkt takes effect only once the minister has confirmed it.
What is going on around you
During the rettir, watch for sheep running around, herders on horses, and other tourists photographing the flocks. Visit Iceland tells travellers to keep their eye on the road, especially during the time of the sheep round-ups.
How the sorting works, so you can stay out of the way
When the collected flock reaches the valley, it is herded into sorting pens made up of one central pen and many spokes that belong to certain farms. The central pen holds sheep from different farms, which then have to be sorted.
Sheep at the sorting pens are identified by their earmarks. The spokes belong to certain farms, while the central pen holds sheep from different farms before sorting takes place.
The party afterwards
Rettarball is the name of the party held after the rettir, with live music. Everybody is invited to the rettarball.
Weather on the day
Weather and road conditions in Iceland differ from what most visitors are used to and can change fast. Use the Weather tool to help plan your trip.
Getting there and back
Road conditions and closures for Iceland are published by the Icelandic Road and Coastal Administration. Route 1, the Ring Road, is fully paved and is maintained in every season and all weather conditions. Use the Road Conditions to help plan your trip.
Comparing tours for the same season
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