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TRAIL OF HOPE 2009
COUNTRYSIDE RIDING TOUR
Difficulty rating:
5 days / 4 nights, Reykjavik - Hvammur
-Vatnsdalur - Lake Hóp -
Hvammsfoss - Kjölur Highland Route - Geysir - Gullfoss - Reykjavik
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Departures: Jun 21, 28 / Jul 05, 19, 26
/ Aug 02, 09, 16, 23
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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.
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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)
Photo
credit: Ragnar Sigurdsson
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)
Knee-high rubber boots are recommended for this
ride.
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Departure Dates
2009 |
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June 21, 28
July 05, 19, 26
August 02, 09, 16, 23
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Prices
in US Dollar |
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Trail of Hope, 5 days |
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Duration:
5 days / 4 nights - 120 km |
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Per person in double room |
1,580 |
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Included |
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4 nights accommodation in
shared rooms -
Scandinavian breakfast buffet daily -
Hotel taxes and service fees
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During the ride full board is
included, along with water and
coffee/tea -
4 x
Dinners, from day 1
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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).
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4
nights on tour |
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Not Included |
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Please
inquire about our favorable
special fares on Iceland Air! |
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Please note: |
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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.
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Add-ons: Tour Options |
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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.
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