Day 1: Welcome to Iceland! Riders will 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, 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. Guest cabins at the farm will be a place for a good night's sleep! If available, we may be able to upgrade youy to hotel accommodations for your first nights stay. Day 2: Hveragerdi - Fagurholsmyri You'llbe driven from Hveragerdi to the farm Svinafell in Oroefi in southeast lceland and saddle up after lunch. You'll get to try out all the gaits during the afternoons' four hour, 20 km ride along an old trail that ends at Fagurholsmyri, not far from the sea, where the horses will stay overnight. You will go to the farm Hof for the night. Day 3: Fagurholsmyri - Svinafell Today's ride starts at the small village Fagurholsmyri and heads to Ingolfshofdi. This is named after Ingolfs Arason, one of Iceland's original settlers. From there a soft trail leads to Haalda. After riding 35 km, you'll be at Svinafell, known from Njals Saga, where there is a chance to relax in a hot pool. and you can walk to the nearby glacier, Svinafell. You'll return to Hof for dinner and a good nights sleep. Day 4: Skaftafell - Skeidararsand A walk through the national park Skaftafell is the first stop after breakfast, to look at the waterfall Svartafoss. While the riders are exploring around the park, the horses head across one of Iceland's biggest rivers Skeidara, south of Vatnajokull. Now it's time to hit the beach, as you'll have a chance to ride over the vast sand beaches. and together go on the famous Skeidarar Sand down to the beach. There will be an Icelandic barbecue on the beach this evening, and you'll spend the night in a nearby mountain hut. Day 5: Skeidararsandur - Reykjavik A ride a long the edge of the glacier will give you a chance to see the impact of the volcanic explosion under Vatnajokull in 1996. After a bit more sightseeing you'll say good-bye to the horses, and then back in Reykjavik around 7.00 PM, where the night will be spent in a guesthouse-or hotel if you want an upgrade. Often riders all go out to one of Reykjaviks many good restaurants for a last dinner together (but its not included in the price!) Day 6: Farewell...perhaps The tour officially ends the next morning. Travelers have a long morning before getting the Flybus shuttle back to the airport or head off to see more of Iceland. Download a PDF of the itinerary of this tour Accomodations on the Vatnajokull tour are traditionally Icelandic. You'll need to bring a sleeping bag, and the outfitter will provide a mattress. 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 sleeping room. Most will have shared bathroom facilities. There are 6 departures for the Vatnajokull Tour in 2004, with the first day being when the tour starts in Iceland. While travel dates are flexible, riders need to leave the US no later than the night the tour leaves, while Europeans can leave the morning that the tour starts departure. Here are tour dates for 2004: Wed-Mon 9 June to14 June Wed-Mon 23 June to 28 June Sun- Fri 4 July to 9 July Mon -Sat 19 July to 24 July Mon -Sat 2 August to 7 August Mon -Sat 16 August to 21 August The fully inclusive price for this 5-day tour is $2240 per person for the June 9 departure and $2440 per person for the other dates. We package the tour with accommodations for the night after the last days ride, as well as round trip airfare on Icelandair from New York, Boston or Baltimore, (Minneapolis is $75 extra) all transfers while in Iceland, sleeping bag accommodations all nights, in guesthouses, mountain huts and farm houses, all meals while on the riding tour, all raingear, safety helmets and tack for the horse tour. It does NOT include US departure taxes (presently $88) breakfast and lunch on day of arrival, lunch on day of departure, restaurant dinner on last night of the tour, and the cost of any additional travel. Additional airline fuel charges added after March 1 '08 wiill also be extra. |
