Family Riding Camp
the ideal family holiday
This is a chance to enjoy all that's glorious about Iceland - it's landscape,
it's spectacular sights, and of course, it's horses. Work on your riding
skills while enjoying this pretty countryside. Great instructors, sightseeing
trips, discussions about Icelandic history, culture and nature, and the
last day in Iceland's capital. What could be better?
The Family Riding Camp is an annual tradition of Eldhestar, located
in Vellir southeast of Reykjavik. It will have two sessions, running Tuesday
to Tuesday, in 2001: June 11-18, and September 5-12. The first week coincides
with the Teen Riding Camp. A great way to become a better rider! Here's
the daily itinerary:
Tuesday: After an early arrival, at Keflavik International Airport
in Iceland, you'll take the Flybus shuttle into Reykjavik to the Hotel Loftlieder.
Here you can stash your stuff, and have the day to explore Iceland's capital.
Be back at the hotel at 5:30 PM when the outfitter will take you out to
their farm to meet the other riders, have a nice dinner and a good nights
sleep in their guest cabins.
Wednesday: After a good Icelandic breakfast, you'll get to meet
the horses. and then have lessons from 10 AM-Noon and then 2 PM to 4 PM,
with lunch and lectures in between. In the evening you can tour Hveragerdi,
see its hot springs, and greenhouses, and then take a swim!
Thursday: The morning will start with riding lessons and some
discussions about gait distribution in the Icelandic horse. After lunch
there will be a trail ride around Hveragerdi, where there are lots of nice
views, and a chance to see some interesting birds. After dinner Iceland's
history will be discussed
Friday: As lessons continue in the morning, no doubt you'll notice
you are riding better. In the afternoon a bus will take you to some of Iceland's
most interesting sights:
Thingvallavatn National Park, which straddles the North Atlantic ridge,
and was where the ancient government met: Geysir - the original boiling
water spout; and mighty Gullfoss, the double waterfall; Skaholt, the lovely
little church where the first bishop of Iceland lived.
Saturday: An all-day ride will take you over Kambabrun, with a
great view of the whole area around Hveragerdi and the Westman Islands.
Then you'll follow trails across the lava fields of the volcano Hengill
cross the river Hengladalsa several times. Walking down a steep hill, you'll
come to Reykjadalur -Valley of Steam, where a warm, fast running stream
invites you to bathe. Then down the mountain you'll go past a beautiful
waterfall and then back in Hveragerdi.
Sunday: The last riding lessons will be this morning, and then
there's a riding tour on nice trails along the river Olfusa. In the evening
there's time for a walking tour to some of the natural phenomena around
Hveragerdi. It's possible to split riders into several groups to pursue
different interests.
Monday: After a last riding tour in the morning and lunch, everyone
will head to Reykjavik. In the evening riders may choose to go out to a
nice restaurant together, (although this is not included in the price.)
The night will be spent in a guesthouse in Reykjavik -and there's a hotel
upgrade available.
Tuesday: Camp officially ends after breakfast. Riders will have
the morning free to visit some of Reykjavik's museums, sights, tack shops
or swimming pools. The Flybus Shuttle will return you to Keflavik International
Airport in time for flights back home, or you can set off to explore more
of Iceland.
Accomodations during the Family Riding Camp are traditionally Icelandic.
You'll need to bring a sleeping bag and the outfitter will provide mattresses.
You'll stay in guest cabins at the farm, with shared bathrooms. The cabins
are clean and warm, but quite small and rustic. We can also upgrade you
to a hotel or bed-and breakfast with private bath if you'd like.
Dates: Camp this year will have a Spring and a Fall session running Tuesday
to Tuesday: June 11-18, and September 5-12.
The fully inclusive price for the 8- day Family Riding Camp is $1850
per person. This includes round trip airfare on Icelandair from New
York, Boston or Baltimore, (Minneapolis for an extra $75) all transfers
while in Iceland, sleeping bag accommodations all nights, in guesthouses,
all meals, except lunch on day of arrival and departure, all rain gear,
safety helmets and tack for the horse tour. It does NOT include the US departure
taxes, (currently about $90 per person) the cost of a restaurant meal the
last night in Reykjavik, or the cost of any additional travel. Additional airline fuel charges added after March 1 '08 wiill also be extra.
Dates don't work? Because we work with several different outfitters,
we can often suggest similar tours; if the one you've chosen occurs at a
time that doesn't quite fit your travel schedule. Give us a call to discuss
alternatives!
At Horses North, we've traveled all over Iceland, and can advise and
book everything you will need to see more of this spectacular island. From
rental cars and restaurants to guesthouses and hotels, we can help you find
good maps, good roads and good sunsets.
To protect Iceland's horses from the threat of disease used riding gear
and boots must be disinfected before bringing them into Iceland. Riding
clothes that have been in contact with horses must be washed in hot water
or dry cleaned. Riding boots should be new, or disinfected. Many vets use
a disinfectant on their equipment and will provide you with some. Clothes
that cannot be cleaned or disinfected, leather gloves or chaps, wax coats,
may not be brought into Iceland. Boots and clothes which have not been around
horses should be dirt free, but need not be disinfected. Please see the
Gear list for more details | 