Autumn Colors and Northern Lights 2008 8 Days Northern Iceland Farm Based Horse Tour

Snow capped mountains ring the fjords and valleys through Northern Iceland's long summer days, and as the days shorten in September the colors of sub-Arctic Autumn add their dramatic accents. We have also seen the most dramatic display of Northern Lights (ever) while standing at the stable door here!

This tour will show you several different aspects of this rarely explored corner of our planet and you'll get a glimpse of a culture that is very modern and yet keeps its ties to the past. The past is seen in the flocks of sheep you may be asked to herd; the modernity is evident when you first step off the plane in Reykjavik.

The riding tour is based partly at the farm guest house with two overnight's, at a farm guest house and a shepherd's hut. Sleeping bags are used all nights.

The tour price includes the flights north and all ground transport.

Friday:
Travelers from North America leave for Iceland on an overnight flight with an early morning arrival at Keflavik Airport in Iceland.

Saturday:
After arriving at Keflavik International Airport the Flybus shuttle will take riders into the Reykjavik airport, for a dramatic 45 minute flight to Akureyri, the "capital" of northern Iceland. Here the folks from Polar Hestar will pick up riders, for a short drive to their farmhouse Grytubakki for dinner and a good night's sleep.

Sunday:
After breakfast, riders will meet the horses and take a little ride for about three hours to the river Gljufura. The ride will go around the mountain Hðfdi. There are views up and down and across the fjord called Eyjafjordur - snow capped mountains, deep valleys far across the fjord, the little city of Akureyri and the island of Hrisey. Back to Grytubakki for dinner and sleep.

Monday:
After breakfast, riders will saddle-up, and ride down to the coast to check out the little fishing village of Grenivik. Then it’s north to explore the edge of the Fjord with its abandoned farms, broad meadows, deep valleys and clear rushing streams.

Tuesday:
Off for a two day trip up the Fnjoska River from Ejyafjordur, through a pass that slips between 3000 foot high ridges. A few miles further and the river and the trail both turn south into a gentler and broader valley to the night's accommodation - the farm Hjardaholt.

Wednesday:
Today the ride back to Grytubakki takes the high ground. Great views over Ejyafjordur and a touch of folklore. The Holy Hill, Helguholl, sits on a ship filled with gold left by the old Vikings. If the gold is unearthed it will cause all of the churches that can be seen from the hilltop to burn down.

Thursday:
Another two day trip. This one goes inland through the Troll's valley and ends at the height of land between Ejyafjordur and the ocean that stretches to the North Pole. Gil, the sheepherder's hut is home for the night. Since the nearest electric light is 15 or so kilometers behind the chances are pretty good for Northern Lights. This night also may mark the furthest you will ever get from civilization!

Friday:
The last day of riding: from the isolation of the hut Gil to the warm cheeriness of Grytubakki. Maybe finding some of the hundreds of sheep that have spent the summer on these hills on the way back. Supper and reminiscences at Grytubakki.

Saturday:
After breakfast riders will be taken back to Akureyri, for flights to Reykjavik, and on to Keflavik to fly back home, or... on to further explorations in Iceland

Maximum of 8 riders Minimum of 4 Riders
Accommodations on the Autumn Colors Tour are traditionally Icelandic. You’ll need to bring a sleeping bag and towels, there will be a mattress provided. The farmhouses, mountain huts and cabins where you‘ll sleep are all warm and clean. Typically there are several beds per room, and in huts there may be one big room. Most will have shared bathroom facilities.

Meals will be family style with lots of typical Icelandic cuisine which features fish, dairy products, lamb, and potatoes. Vegetarians can be accommodated with advance notice. We’ll send you a gear list that provides tips for packing, as well as info on converting money and electricity, weather advice (no guarantees, though) and other useful stuff.

Download a PDF of the itinerary of the Autumn Colors Riding Tour

Riders from the U.S. will have to leave for Iceland no later than the night before the tour begins. However, Europeans can leave home the morning the tour starts. Please note that Icelandair is currently not flying daily from all U.S. cities. If you have a specific gateway from which you want to leave, it may mean departing for Iceland a bit before your tour starts. Not to worry, though. We'll arrange everything you'll need for an extra day or two.

The first day is always a transfer day, which allows you to rest from the short night of sleep on the flight, before you start riding on the second day. American travellers will have to leave the US on, or before, the Friday night before the tour starts, while Europeans can leave home on Saturday. Price*

Price*
The price for this 7 day ride is $2831 per person. The price includes round trip airfare, with fuel surcharge, from NYC, Boston, Baltimore, Minneapolis, and Orlando (ask for prices from Toronto, Halifax, and Europe). The flights to and from northern Iceland are included as are accommodations in guest and farm houses with shared baths, all meals, as well as rain gear and safety helmets. You’ll need to bring a sleeping bag. *NOT included are US departure taxes - which aren’t firm until the tour is booked and are up to $92 (as of February 2008) and subject to change, breakfast and lunch on arrival day, lunch on departure day, and any additional travel you choose while in Iceland. Additional airline fuel charges added after March 1 '08 wiill also be extra.

While travel dates to Iceland are flexible, riders from the US must leave for Iceland no later than the night before the tour starts. Riders from Europe may leave home the first morning of the tour.