The Golden Circle Complete is an 8-day -7 night tour which departs in Iceland on Saturday, and runs through the next Saturday. The first and last nights stay in are in a guesthouse in Reykjavik, which offers a nice glimpse of Iceland's capital. The shorter version of the tour, the Geysir - Gullfoss Special, runs from Sunday through Thursday, and is proceeded by a night's stay in Reykjavik. It's easy to book an upgrade into various hotels. While travel dates to Iceland are flexible, riders must leave the US no later than the night before the tour departs in Iceland, while riders from Europe can leave home the morning the tour starts. Here's what to expect on the tour:
Friday Night
Leave the US
from Boston, New York, or Minneapolis, (Orlando and San Francisco may require leaving a bit earlier) on an overnight flight with an early morning arrival at Keflavik Airport in Iceland.
Saturday:
Arrival in Iceland -
Keflavík Airport - Reykjavík
You’re met at the airport and driven to a guesthouse in Reykjavík. You’ll have the day to explore Iceland’s capital, a chance to meet the other riders in the late afternoon, and then have dinner on your own.
Sunday:
Reykjavík - Fossnes Farm - Gnúpverjahreppur
You’ll head out from Reykjavík, have a stop at Thingvellir National Park, and then on to Fossnes farm to meet horses and guides then ride along pleasant riding tracks and explore the beautiful Gnúpverja-hreppur countryside. Enjoy mountains and valleys and the view of mighty Thjórsá River. Relax in a hot pool before a hearty dinner at the farm. (4 - 5 hours in the saddle)
Monday:
Fossnes Farm - Hvítárdalur -
You’ll head into the fertile farming lands of Hrunamannahreppur, crossing the Stóra-Laxá River to Hvítárdalur Farm./ There will be a lunch stop at Hrunaréttir where farmers gather their sheep in the autumn and a few extra horses will be ponied along so it’s possible to change mounts during the day. Overnight back at Fossnes. (6 - 7 hours)
Tuesday:
Fossnes - Hvítárdalur - Gullfoss - Geysir Guesthouse
The ride continues to the gigantic canyon Brúarhlöð where white water passes through unusual rock formations. Then on to mighty Gullfoss waterfall, one of the most beautiful waterfalls in the country, and continue to the famous Geysir hot spring area where everyone will stay for the next two nights. (6 - 7 hours)
Wednesday:
Geysir - Haukadalur - Haukadalsheiði
The ride ascends through Haukadalur valley and along forested hillsides towards the highland moors. Witness the changes in nature as higher ground is reached. Breathtaking view of the mountains and highland are revealed while riding Haukadalsheiði heath. (4 - 5 hours of riding today)
You’ll have plenty of time to explore the many interesting aspects of the Geysir area as well. It’s the home of the original boiling water spout- Geysir, which is now silent, but you’ll hear it’s little brother Stokkur as it erupts several times an hour!
Thursday:
Geysir - Tungufellsdalur- Fossnes
This morning the Geysir Gullfoss riders will go back to Reykjavik, after breakfast,
for a last bit of the capital, a night in a hotel with private baths and a Friday departure for home.
Leaving the Geysir area, you’ll ride back along the Brúarhlöo canyon, across the Hvita again. You’ll head towards the interior as you follow the beautiful Tungufellsdlaur valley onto Hrunaheidar heath. The horses will then spend their night at Kaldbakur farm, while riders will return to Fossnes, for a hot soak and dinner. (6 - 7 hours)
Friday:
Fossnes-Hrunakrokur - Reykjavik
A last day of great scenery! Cross the Stóra Laxa River at Laxargljufur canyon at Hunakrokur. You’ll ride through vast green meadows through the Laxardalur valley, and wind back to Fossnes farm. Here it’s time to say goodbye to the guides, staff and horses and return to Reykjavík where you’ll have a hotel room for your last night! Often riders get together for dinner, too! (6 - 7 hours)
Saturday:
Farewell to Iceland
You’ll have a long morning to relax, explore Iceland’s capital city, visit geothermal swimming pools, cafes, museums and shops, before taking the bus to Keflavik Airport in time for your flight back home.
This popular tour is ideal for families and new riders. Less strenuous than the longer countryside tours, it offers a nice amount of riding, at a relaxed pace. Accommodations are simple but comfortable, and the hot tubs will be very nice after a day of riding!
There is a PDF of the Golden Circle and Geyser - Gulfoss Riding Tours you can down load and print
DATES
The Golden Circle Tour and Geysir Gullfoss Special will run 12 times in 2008. The dates listed are when the tour starts in Iceland. Riders from the US will have to leave for Iceland no later than the night before the tour starts. However, Europeans can leave home the same morning the tour begins. Riders will arrive in Iceland, have a rest day in Reykjavik with accommodations, then be picked up by the outfitter the morning the tour starts. On the last day of the tour, you’ll be returned to Reykjavik late in the afternoon, and have a hotel or guesthouse (double occupancy) for the night before leaving for home the next afternoon. As an example, for the four day tour, a Monday morning arrival in Iceland would mean riding Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, and then a Friday departure.
Prices*:
The all-inclusive price for the Golden Circle Tour is $3786 p/p. The price includes round trip airfare, with fuel surcharge, from NYC, Boston, Baltimore, Minneapolis, and Orlando (ask for prices from Toronto, Halifax, and Europe). Price also includes all transfers while in Iceland, made up beds in guest and farmhouses with shared facilities, all meals, tack and equipment while on the tour, and a last night in a hotel in Reykjavik, with private bath. *NOT included are US departure taxes and fees - which are up to $92 (as of February 2008) and subject to change, breakfast and lunch on the day of arrival in Iceland, dinner on your last riding day back in Reykjavik, lunch the day of departure and the cost of any extra and additional travels. Additional airline fuel charges added after March 1 '08 wiill also be extra.. Additional airline fuel charges added after March 1 '08 wiill also be extra..
The Sunday - Thursday version, the Geysir Gullfoss Special, is $3142 p/p. Airfare and transfers are included as above, but you ride Sunday through Wednesday, and have Saturday and Thursday nights in a double hotel room with private bath in Reykjavik, with a departure for home on Friday flights.*NOT included are US departure taxes and fees - which are up to $92 (as of February 2008) and subject to change, breakfast and lunch on the day of arrival in Iceland, dinner on your last riding day back in Reykjavik, lunch the day of departure and the cost of any extra and additional travels. Additional airline fuel charges added after March 1 '08 wiill also be extra.. Additional airline fuel charges added after March 1 '08 wiill also be extra.
