Trail of Hope 2010
5 days / 4 nights, Reykjavik - Hvammur -Vatnsdalur - Lake Hóp -Hvammsfoss - Kjölur Highland Route - Geysir - Gullfoss - Reykjavik | This riding tour is an ideal opportunity for everyone who wants to enjoy a comfortable ride in different types of landscapes. You get to ride through untouched nature and get an excellent insight into Icelandic history when listening to stories from the Saga ages. Riding the horses on smooth sandy grounds is a joy for both the rider and his mount. You have plenty of time to enjoy the special gait tölt while exploring nature and the history of this unique area.
Narrow Vatnsdalur Valley is home to our hosts for this tour Haukur and his German wife Sonja. You start your ride at their farm Hvammur, crossing Laxá River on your way to Thingeyrar Farm, once the site of a monastery founded in the 12th century. Visit Borgarvirki, an impressive fortress made out of basalt strata. Experience the adventure of riding in water on your way across the lagoon called Lake Hóp, while driving a herd of free running horses ahead of you. A visit to a seal colony on the North-Atlantic coast is something you do not want to miss. On your last day of riding you help your hosts bring the horses back to the farm to release them again into green meadows. Your bus trip back to Reykjavík following Kjölur Highland Route is another highlight of this tour. Drive between two glaciers, enjoy a bathe at the natural hot pool in Hveravellir, and visit the Geysir Hot Spring area and mighty waterfall Gullfoss. Accommodation during the ride is shared, in made up beds, for two to four people per room. Most nights are spent at the farm of your hosts in Hvammur, where a warm outdoor tub offers relaxation after your day in the saddle. One night of the tour you will spend at a different location.
| Departure | Sundays: June 20th July 11th, 15th August 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd |
| Price | $1,705 per person in double room |
| Included | 4 nights accommodation in shared rooms Scandinavian breakfast buffet daily Hotel taxes and service fees During the ride full board is included, along with water and coffee/tea 4 x Dinners, from day 1 Lunch packs (riders make their own from breakfast table) Full guidance, English and Scandinavian speaking Use of saddle bags, rain wear, riding helmet and sleeping bag (when necessary) |
| Not Included | Airfare & airport taxes Airport transfers Gratuities Personal insurance / personal items Alcoholic beverages $25 Service fee |
| Please Note | Difficulty: Strong intermediate riders (three horses) Accommodation: 2 - 4 bed units Accommodation before and after the ride to be arranged individually (not included) Group size: Max. 16 guests Meeting place: Reykjavík. We recommend ending your tour with a stay at the Northern Light Inn, ideally nestled into the lava fields at the Blue Lagoon. Visit the Blue Lagoon in the evening and/or the following morning prior to your afternoon departure from the Keflavik Airport. Our partners in Iceland have been a leading, fully licensed tour operator for almost 25 years. The tours introduce the traditional way of traveling in Iceland and support nature, culture and the economy of each district we cover. They were rewarded with the Environmental Award by the Icelandic Tourist Board in 2001 and is a Green Globe Affiliate. Knee-high rubber boots are recommended for this ride. |
| Tour Options | Additional nights in Reykjavik Additional sight seeing Blue Lagoon with transfer to Keflavik Airport East Greenland Excursion, 1 - 3 days Extending your stay in Reykjavik We offer an extensive range for 2, 3 and 4 star accommodation in Iceland's capital city and a wide range of Iceland excursions throughout the country. |
Day 1 Sun REYKJAVIK - HVAMMUR- VATNSDALUR (D) Transfer by bus from Reykjavík to Hvammur Farm, where we meet horses and guides. We start our ride through Vatnsdalur Valley. This beautiful valley is the setting of the Vatnsdæla-Saga. We ride along the banks of River Vatnsdalsá before crossing over to the western side of the valley. Our ride ends at Thingeyrar Farm, a place of history, and we return to Hvammur Farm for our overnight stay. (25 km)
Day 2 Mon HVAMMUR - THINGEYRAR - HOP - BORGARVIRKI (B, L, D) We start riding on Thingeyrasandur sandbar and towards Lake Hóp. Feel the excitement of the horses as they reach the open plain. Our trail leads us right across Lake Hóp, Iceland's fifth biggest lake, on a safe track across the water. Very easy and unforgettable experience. On dry land we visit Borgarvirki, a fascinating fortress from the Viking ages. We stay at Hotel Hóp, a countryside hotel, with excellent facilities for riders and their horses. (40 km)
Day 3 Tue HOP - VATNSNES - THINGEYRAR -HVAMMUR (B, L, D) Today we explore the beauty of the Vatnsnes Peninsula and follow black dunes on Sigríðarstaðasandur towards the North. Just off shore we see Hvítserkur, a basalt rock formation, nesting place to many seabirds. This area is home to large numbers of seals and hopefully we see many of them resting and playing on the beach. We cross Lake Hóp for the second time and follow a different route on our way back to Thingeyrar Farm. Enjoy bathing in geothermal water at a local swimming pool before a hearty dinner at Hvammur Farm, where we stay overnight. (30 km)
Day 4 Wed HVAMMUR -THINGEYRAR (B, L, D) This is our last day of riding and we bring the horses back to Hvammur Farm. We follow good riding tracks, ideal for the special gait of the Icelandic horse, tölt. This time we ride on the eastern side of Vatnsdalur Valley, past Hvammsfoss waterfall, surrounded by impressive basalt columns. We celebrate the successful return in the evening during a feast in the barn. (25 km)
Day 5 Thu KJÖLUR HIGHLAND - GULLFOSS - GEYSIR - REYKJAVIK (B, L) It is time to say good bye to our guides and we drive on the scheduled bus over Kjölur Highland Road back to Reykjavík. The bus takes you through the rugged wilderness of the Icelandic highland. Be amazed by natural hot water pools at Hveravellir and enjoy a dip into one of them. View the majestic glaciers Hofsjökull and Langjökull, and powerful Gullfoss Waterfall, before reaching the well known Geysir area. Return to Reykjavik at approx. 19:00.
Part of this tour can be booked as a 3-day-tour (3 riding days)