The Wonderful wild west of iceland
Untouched nature and viking saga
Dates 2019
July 1 – 7 (Route South: Bjargshóll – Svarfhóll)
July 31 - August 6 (Return Route North: Svarfhóll – Bjargshóll)
July 1 – 7 (Route South: Bjargshóll – Svarfhóll)
July 31 - August 6 (Return Route North: Svarfhóll – Bjargshóll)
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This wonderful tour with a herd of free running spare horses takes you into the wilderness of West Iceland, a place known for its charming deep valleys, incredible mountain views and a rich Saga history. During this ride you will ride up in the mountains but also along the sea shore and on the beach, giving this tour a wonderful diversity of landscape. The daily rides from 4-8 hours in the saddle are only for experienced riders who a happy to ride in faster speed over uneven terrain. This is a small group tour with only 12 guests which gives the tour a wonderful personal feeling.
Our partners are both experienced mountaineers and horse breeders and have received tremendous praise from our guests for their wonderful soft tölting horses. Herdís, our guide speaks fluent English and German and has a deep knowledge of the rich literature and history of the area. All of the horses you are going to ride come from Eggert´s own breeding and he and Herdís train them themselves, meaning that they know each and everyone from birth. So look forward to experiencing Iceland in the most authentic way possible! |
Type: Multi - days tour with a free running herd of spare horses
Operated by: A trusted partner of Exploring Iceland Duration: 7 days / 6 nights/6 riding days – daily rides of approx. 4- 8 hours in the saddle Level of expertise required: Experienced riders only in good physical shape Area: West Iceland Accommodation: Shared accommodation in rooms with shared facilities in farm houses, guesthouses and hostels. Made up beds and a hot pot is waiting for the guests every night! Accommodation in Reykjavik on the last night is not included but can be arranged. Meals: Full board consisting of breakfast, picnic lunch and hot dinner. Max: Small group of max. 12 guests Guide: German and English speaking Group: International Maximum Weight: 110 kg Price 2019: ISK 290.000.- Currency converter: https://www.landsbankinn.com/markets/exchange-rates/ More information and bookings via info@exploringiceland.is |
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Day by day itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Iceland – Meeting with other guests at Guesthouse in Keflavík. Individual arrival in Iceland. A free shuttlebus brings all guests to a Bed & Breakfast Guesthouse in Keflavík where they meet the group. The evening is spend individually, go for a stroll, check out the restaurant right next door and most of all meet and chat with your new friends! Day 2: Transfer to Hrútafjörður in North Iceland – Introductory Ride Breakfast with the guides in the morning and bus transfer to the North where you will check into a cozy hostel. The hostel has hot pots heated with geothermal water right by the sea shore! So with a little luck you can spot seals and occassionaly a small whale or porpoise while enjoying a hot bath underneath the open sky! Our first ride is to get acqainted with the horses, the Icelandic Tack and of course the beautiful soft tölt – the main travelling gait of the Icelandic Horse. We ride on remote tracks and learn a lot about the Icelandic Horse, its past and modern significance for the Icelandic people. Dinner with the group and preparations for tomorrow when we ride with the herd! Day 3: Bjargshóll – Staður After breakfast we set out from farm Bjargshóll over remote mountain plateaus and endless green meadows where only sheep and wild geese roam towards Staður, a small place close to the sea. Back for dinner and overnight to our lovely hostel and hot pot. Day 4: Staður – Haukadalsskarð – Giljaland After breakfast we check out at our seaside hostel and pack our bags. Today´s ride will take us even more up into the moutains when we pass Haukadalsskarð on our way to the beautiful Dalir region of West Iceland. This is the home of numerous waterfalls, deep valleys and incredible mountain views. It is also the home of some of the most famous Icelandic Sagas like the Sagas of Eric the Red and the Saga of the people of the Salmon River Valley People. Imagine how the old vikings become alive in this authentic locaction! At Giljaland we leave the horses for tonight and drive to the old farmhouse Svarfhóll, which will be our home for the next three nights.Of course a hot tub will wait for us there as well! Day 5: Giljaland – Haukadalur – Álfheimar After breakfast we join the horses again and ride through the beautifull Haukadalur valley – the valley of hawks- and along the picturesque lake Haukadalsvatn. This is the area where Eric The Red lived before he was sentenced to exile in 982. He later founded a nordic settlement in Greenland and his son Leifur set out in around the year 1000 to discover America which he called Vinland. Long before Christopher Columbus even set foot on the North American continent. Lovely countryside settings with green meadows, small farms and beautiful waterfalls await us while we drive our herd through the valley. At Álfheimar, „the home of elves“, we will leave our horses tonight for a well deserved rest. Back to Svarfhóll for the night. 6. Day: Álfheimur – Sea shore ride – Dunkur Today we will ride during low tide at the seashore of Hvammsfjörður Fjord. Breath some sea air and look out for sea eagles and other sea birds while we tölt along the remote coastline with incredible views over the deep fjord and its skerries in the deep blue water of the secluded fjord where only few people live. Hear the tales of Auður, the Deep minded, a heroic Viking women who lived in Caithness and the Hebrides in Scotland before claiming land at Hvammur on the north shore of Hvammsfjörður. We leave the horses and Dunkur and drive back to Svarfhóll. 7. Day: Along the beach to Svarfhóll Today we take our horses all the way to Svarfhóll farm, which has been our home for the last nights. Again we will ride along the beach and enjoy a different view while riding in east direction. A sorrow last hug for our wonderful horses at Svarfhóll farm before we drive back to Reykjavík. We stop at Eriksstaðir farm, where the famous Viking and Warrior Eric the Red lived before he set out for Greenland. A small museum (entrance facultative) is on site. Farewell dinner with the group before we all have to good bye. Arrival in Reykjavík at approx. 21:00. Drop off at your accommodation in the Reykjavík capital area. We are more than happy to arrange your Reykjavík accommodation for you (not included in tour price)! If you have a flight later in the night we can arrange a transfer to Keflavík as well. Please note: The date July 31 - August 6 is the reverse. We start in the West at Svarfhól and ride North to Bjargshóll. Please make sure you read our Useful Information about Riding Tours. Exploring Iceland reserves the right to alter routes, itineraries or timetables should the necessity arise. The estimated duration of tours as indicated by km or timing can change according to road or weather conditions. |
Included:
- Transfer from Keflavík Airport on the first day and to Reykjavík/Keflavík on the last day
- 6 nights in shared rooms with shared facilities.
- Full board starting with breakfast on day 2 and ending with dinner on day 7
- 6 riding days according to program
- English and German speaking guide
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