An interesting way to get a look into the ancient Sagas of Iceland,
Along with a one-day visit to the Westman Islands
This new tour goes through to the area where the saga of Njál took place. (Pronouncing it as Nyowl is pretty close) You could also go just for the variety of landscapes it explores.You'll ride up the mountain range of Eyjafjöll and get a magnificent view over the glaciers Eyjafjallajökull and Mýrdalsjökull. Down to the lowlands again, and heading towards Fljótshlíð and the farm Hlíðarendi where Gunnar, one of the main characters in Njáls Saga lived.
You'll get to know the area where Njál himself rode around 1000 AD, and with a visit to the Njáls Saga History Center in Hvolsvöllur you'll have a real understanding of this nation's heritage. Green meadows near the ocean, beaches, sandbanks and soft grass make for perfect riding variations. The tour ends back at the farm Skálakot beyond the Eyjafjöll mountains. In the middle of the tour you'll get a day off the horses, and take a short flight to visit the beautiful and unique Westman Islands.
Day 1: Welcome to Iceland!
You'll arrive at Keflavik airport, and take the Flybus to the Hotel Loftlieder, where you can check luggage, have breakfast and set out to see some of the nation's capital. But be back at the Hotel by 5:30 in the afternoon, as that's when the outfitter will pick you up and take you to their farm, Vellir, in Hverdagerdi, about 45 minutes from Reykjavik. Over dinner that evening, the riders will get to know each other and tour details will be explained. You spend the night in the new hotel on the farm and get a good night's sleep!
Day 2: Hveragerði - Skálakot - Ásólfsskálaheiði
Travel is by bus to the farm Skálakot, where the horses are waiting. After a good lunch there will be a short riding lesson to get to know the horses. Then the group sets off on the first ride towards the highlands. When you're up on the Ásólfsskálaheiði you'll see the canyon of the river Holtsá. and further in there's a great view over the glacier Eyjafjallajökull. The horses on spend the night at Ásólfsskálaheiði and riders return to Skálakot to have dinner and spend the night. 15 km, 3.5 hours
Day 3: Ásólfsskálaheiði - Dalshverf
After breakfast it's back to the horses. You'll ride along old riding trails, to the west, where there is a view over the glacier, and to the south is the Atlantic ocean and the Westman Islands. At day's end is the the farm Dal, a well-known historic place from the old Njál Saga. The horses spend the night here, the riders return to Skálakot again for the night.after covering about 20 km, in 7-8 hours
Day 4: The Westman Islands
After a 7 minute flight from a small airport, you'll have the day on the Westman Islands, in all it's variety. The day is starts with a sightseeing trip by bus, and a boat trip that goes all around the islands.You'll see delicate sea birds and the effects of the powerful eruptions and lava flows of 1973. There will be a chance for a little walk in the village on the largest of the islands, and a stop at the local museum. In the evening it's back to Skálakot where a nice dinner is waiting.
Day 5: Dalshverfi - Hvolsvöllur
The horses are still at Dal, having enjoyed their day off, too. Today the ride starts by going over the old bridge over the river Markarfljót, and continues on to some of the famous places from the Njál Saga: Gunnarshólmi, Stóra-Dímon and Hlíðarendi, where one of the main characters of the Njál saga, Gunnar, used to live. The route goes through interesting countryside along the mountains surrounding Hlíðarendi, and eventually comes to the town of Hvolsvellir, where you'll spend the night.. In the evening there's a visit to an interesting museum that tells the story of Njál Saga. 30 km, 7-8 hours
Day 6: Hvolsvellir - Landeyjar
Endless grass fields in the area Landeyjar beckon riders today. The trail is very beautiful and invites fast tölting on the soft grass. There is a stop at Bergþórshvóll where the wise Njál himself lived. The whole day's ride will offer a magnificent view over the Atlantic ocean and the Westman Islands the mountains around Fljótshlíð and the glacier Eyjafjallajökull. In the late afternoon there's a stop a hot pool on the way to Skálakot for the night. 30 km, 7 hours
Day 7: Landeyjar - Skálakot
The tour closes the circle today as you ride the old trail to Skálakot, arriving around 3 PM.. Then it's a bus ride back to Reykjavik., where Horses North riders will spend the last night in a nice hotel or guest house with private bath. Often riders all go out to one of Reykjavik's many good restaurants for a last dinner together, (but it's not included in the price!)
Day 8 Farewell perhaps... After breakfast the tour officially ends. Travelers returning home will have a few hours to shop, visit museums, or tack shops before the bus returns to Keflavik airport for flights back home. Those lucky enough to be exploring more of Iceland can get underway.
Download a PDF of the itinerary of this tour
The Njals Saga Circle runs 4 times in the summer of 2004 and the price is $2925. per person. Riders from the US must leave no later than the night before the tour starts, while Europeans can leave home on the first day of the tour, which is a travel day.
DATES
Tue-Tue 22-June 29-June
Sat-Sat 3-July 10-July
Fri-Fri 30-July 6-July
Fri-Fri 13-August 20-August
The Njal's Saga Circle is an 8 day, 7 night ride, and we've packaged it with a Reykjavik hotel room on the first night and the last night of the last riding day. The price also includes round trip airfare on Icelandair from New York, Boston or Baltimore, (Minneapolis for an extra $75) all airport transfers, sleeping bag accommodations all nights, in guest houses, mountain huts and farm houses, all meals, except on day of arrival and departure, all rain gear, safety helmets and tack for the horse tour. You'll need to bring a sleeping bag and the outfitter will provide a good mattress. It does NOT include US departure taxes, (currently about $88 per person) meals on the days in Reykjavik, and the cost of any additional travel. Additional airline fuel charges added after March 1 '08 wiill also be extra.
We can arrange your travel dates to give you any extra time you might want, either before or after a riding tour, so that you can explore Iceland. We can even extend your trip to mainland Europe easily and inexpensively.. 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 guest houses and hotels, we can help you find good maps, good roads and good sunsets.
Accommodations are traditionally Icelandic. You'll need to bring a sleeping bag, and the outfitter will provide mattresses. The schools, mountain huts and cabins where you'll sleep are 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 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!
We can arrange your travel dates to give you any extra time you might want, either before or after a riding tour, so that you can explore Iceland. We can even extend your trip to mainland Europe easily and inexpensively.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 guest houses and hotels, we can help you find good maps, good food, good roads.
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