If you've ridden in Iceland before and want to try a challenge, here it is.An unusual opportunity to ride through Eastern Iceland, with it's glaciers, reindeer and history. Rides are 5-7 hours a day, covering 30-45 kilometers with a great variety of riding terrain, mountain hut accommodations, and a chance to see some historical sights.
The Egilstadir tour starts in Iceland on Sunday, and runs through the next Monday, with your first and last night in Reykjavik. During it's 8 days you see lots of Iceland, much of it off the beaten tourist track. Here's the itinerary:
Friday Night
Overnight flight from US for Americans
Saturday
Arrival in Iceland - Keflavík Airport - Reykjavík
Travelers from the US leave for Iceland
from Boston, New York, or Minneapolis, (Orlando and San Francisco may require leaving a bit earlier) on an overnight flight for an early morning arrival at Keflavik Airport in Iceland.
Your outfitter will meet you at the airport and take you to your guesthouse in Reykjavík. At 5:30 PM you can meet the other riders at a Welcome Meeting which includes a light supper featuring traditional Icelandic soup.
Monday
Reykjavík - Egilsstaðir - Skriðuklaustur – Fjallaskard Mountain Cabin
You’ll start with a morning flight to Egilsstaðir in eastern Iceland, then drive to Skriðuklaustur Farm. You’ll get rain gear and helmets, meet the guides, and horses. You’ll start to enjoy the special gait of the horses, as you ascend from the valley sea level up onto the great highland plateau, with its broad views and Arctic vegetation and landscape. You’ll spend the first night at the mountain hut Fjallaskard, at the foot of the mountain Eyvindarfjöll. (6 - 7 hours)
Tuesday
Fjallaskarð – Aðalból Farm
From Fjallaskarð you’ll ride to Aðalból Farm, and then on through the beautiful Hrafnkelsdalur valley, where you’ll hear about the Saga of Hrafnkel, a famous tale from the Viking Age. You’ll also visit the waterfall Faxafoss named after one of the most famous horses in Icelandic literature. (5 - 6 hours)
An optional side trip is possible
to Sænautasel, a reconstructed traditional farm. You’ll see the Icelandic highlands between Matbrunnavatn and Búrfellsvatn on your way. It is a unique experience to see how Icelanders lived before the time of indoor running water and electricity. The Icelandic author and Nobel-prize winner Halldór Kiljan Laxness used this area for inspiration for his famous novel "Sjálfstætt fólk" (Independent People). Cost is 2.500 Icelandic Kronur (ISK) per person.
Wednesday
Aðalból – Hafrahvammagljúfur – Sauðá Mountain Cabin
A highlight of today is the ride to the gigantic canyon Hafrahvammagljúfur. This huge, narrow, steep canyon is an unforgettable sight. You’ll have far-reaching views over Iceland's rugged interior riding across the fertile landscape of Vestur-Öræfi. The end of the day brings you to the main summer pastures of Iceland’s reindeer. You’ll spend the night at Sauðá Mountain Cabin, just 5 km north of Vatnajökull glacier. (6 - 7 hours)
Thursday
Sauðá - Snæfell - Vatnajökull Glacier – Snæfell Mountain Cabin
You’ll ride on towards the magnificent Mt. Snæfell, one of the highest mountains in Iceland. You’ll head out on 4 wheels, rather than 4 hooves to explore Europe's biggest glacier, Vatnajökull, later in the day. Tonight you’ll stay at the foot of Mt. Snæfell in a spacious mountain cabin. (4 - 5 hours riding + 3 hours on the glacier)
Friday
Snæfell - Eyjabakkar – Laugarfell Mountain Cabin
A good chance to see more reindeer herds and countless numbers of pink-footed geese on the way round Mt. Snæfell and into the beautiful pastures of Eyjabakkar, with Eyjabakkajökull glacier towering above. Relax in a natural hot pool after your ride, close to Laugarfell Mountain Cabin for the night. (6 - 7 hours)
Saturday
Laugarfell – Skriðuklaustur – Hallormsstaður Guesthouse
Beautiful waterfalls in the glacier fed river Jökulsá come in sight during the descent to Norðurdalur valley. The riding tour ends at Skriðuklaustur Farm where the horses are bid adieu. Youll drive through Hallormsstaður forest, one of Iceland’s few forests. You’ll spend your last riding night at Hallormsstaður Guesthouse, where you can relax in the swimming pool after an exciting riding adventure. (6 - 7 hours)
Sunday
Egilsstaðir - Reykjavík
Your flight back to Reykjavík arrives around 11:00 AM. You’ll have the rest of the day to enjoy Reykjavík, and we’ll have you booked into a comfortable hotel room with a private bath.
Monday
This is a morning to relax, go swimming, shopping or see sights before heading back to Keflavik airport for a return flight, or setting off to explore Iceland on your own.
Download a PDF of the itinerary of the Egilsstadir Tour
Accomodations during the Egilstadir tour are traditionally Icelandic, as used by farmers and friends when they go out to round up their animals in the fall. Your outfitter will provide a sleeping bag with liner, as well as a mattress. You'll stay in farmhouses, mountain huts and cabins, which are all warm and clean. Typically there are several beds per room, and in huts there may be one big sleeping room. Most will have shared bathroom facilities.
Dates:
The Egilsstadir Riding Tour runs 3 times in 2005, from Sunday to Monday. 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 Saturday night before the tour starts, while Europeans can leave home on the Sunday on which the tour starts.
