This tour is an ideal opportunity for
everyone who wants to enjoy a comfortable
ride in different types of landscape. We
ride through unspoiled 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 the rider and his
mount. There is plenty of time to enjoy the
unique gait “tölt” while exploring nature
and the history of this outstanding area.
We start the ride at the farm Hvammur,
crossing Vatnsdalsá River on our way to
Thingeyrar Farm, once the site of a
monastery founded in the 12th century. We
visit Borgarvirki, an impressive fortress
made out of basalt strata. It is a thrilling
experience riding in water on our way across
the lagoon called Lake Hóp, accompanied by a
herd of free running horses ahead of us. A
visit to a seal colony on the North-Atlantic
coast is something you do not want to miss.
On our last riding day we help our hosts to
bring the horses back to the farm where they
are set free in the green meadows.Another
highlight on this tour is the bus trip back
to Reykjavík following the highland route of
Kjölur. We drive between two glaciers and
enjoy bathing in the natural hot pool at
Hveravellir. We also visit the Geysir Hot
Spring area and the majestic waterfall
Gullfoss.
Accommodation during the ride in 2 - 4
bed units at the Hvammur Farm, where a warm
outdoor tub awaits us after a whole day in
the saddle.
Day 1 Saturday:
Arrival
Early morning arrival in Iceland at Keflavik
Airport, transfer to Reykjavik where the day
is open to explore.
Day 2 Sunday:
Reykjavík – Hvammur – Vatnsdalur –
Thingeyrar
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 3 Monday:
Hvammur - Thingeyrar – Hóp – Borgarvirki
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 but an
unforgettable experience. On dry land we
visit Borgarvirki, a fascinating fortress
from the Viking ages. We stay at Hammur
Farm. (40 km)
Day 4 Tuesday:
Vatnsnes – Hvítserkur – Hóp – Thingeyrar -
Hvammur
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 5 Wednesday:
Hvammur - Thingeyrar – Hvammur
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 6 Thursday:
Hvammur – Kjölur Highland Route – Reykjavík
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 approximately 1830.
Day 7 Friday:
Departure
An optional visit the Blue Lagoon can be
arranged en route the airport for your
return flight home. |
