2010 Itinerary
Tour 15A- Skrapatungurétt

Wednesday: Arrival in Iceland –  Riding Center – Transfer to Reykjavík
Transfer from Keflavík Airport to the Riding Center. Make sure your flight arrives not later then 16:00 to be able to participate in an introductional riding tour towards Mt. Helgafell Volcano. (Clients arriving earlier that day are picked up upon arrival, driven to the hotel and picked up at the hotel again in time for the ride.) After the ride we enjoy a traditional Icelandic soup and receive details of the following tour before the day ends at your accommodation in a hotel in Reykjavík. (10 km)

Thursday: Reykjavík – Hvammur – Vatnsdalur – Stóra-Giljá
Transfer by bus from Reykjavík to Hvammur Farm, where we meet horses and guides. We start our ride through Vatnsdalur valley. This beautiful valley is the setting of the Vatnsdæla-Saga. We ride on the eastern side of Vatnsdalur valley, past Hvammsfoss waterfall, surrounded by impressive basalt columns with a beautiful view over the ocean. We leave the horses close to Stóra - Giljá Farm and return to Hvammur Farm, home of our hosts Sonja and Haukur for our overnight stay. (20 km)

Friday: Stóra-Giljá – Björnsólfsstaðir – Hvammur
After rejoing our horses we start our ride along the shore of Lake Húnavatn, follow the expensive salmon fishing river Laxá á Ásum and continue to Blönduós village. Here we cross the glacier fed river Blanda on a bridge and continue to Björnsólfsstaðir Farm in Langadalur valley. This farm belongs to Haukur’s grandfather who is known for his storytelling and warm personality. Overnight stay at Hvammur Farm. (30 km)

Saturday: Gathering horses in Laxárdalur - Skrapatungurétt
We meet up with our horses again at Farm Strjúgsstaðir. Today we meet the farmers coming down from the mountains where they already spent some time gathering the horses in their summer pastures. Hundreds of horses are coming down from the highlands and we participate in herding them to the round up place Skrapatungurétt. During this long riding day join in the singing of the farmers, celebrating this great event of the fall. (45 km)

Optional (not included in the tour price):
"Stóðréttardansleikur" dance at Blönduós, where everybody relaxes after the excitement of the day and celebrates yet another successful round up.

Sunday: Sorting of the horses and driving the herds to their home pastures
Our day starts at the round up place Skrapatungurétt where horses are sorted out. Experience the excitement and view beautiful horses while joining in this great event. When the horses are sorted we participate in returning some of them to their meadows at their home farms. Dinner at Hvammur Farm and time to share our personal experience on this riding adventure with our fellow riders. (25 km)

Monday: Return to Reykjavík – Blue Lagoon (optional)
After breakfast we leave the North and return to Reykjavík. We visit a factory outlet with woollen goods on our way. Approx. arrival at the hotel at 14:00.

Tuesday: Departure from Iceland – Reykjavík – Keflavík Airport
Transfer to Keflavík Airport in time for the return flight home.

2010 Itinerary
Tour 15B- Víðidalstungurétt

Tuesday: Arrival in Iceland – Riding Center – Transfer to Reykjavík
Transfer from Keflavík Airport to the Riding Center. Make sure your flight arrives not later then 16:00 to be able to participate in an introductional riding tour towards Mt. Helgafell Volcano. (Clients arriving earlier that day are picked up upon arrival, driven to the hotel and picked up again in time for the ride.) After the ride we enjoy a traditional Icelandic soup. Receive details of the following tour before the day ends at your accommodation in a hotel in Reykjavík. (10 km)

Wednesday: Reykjavík – Thingeyrar – Dæli Holiday Farm
We drive to the North and meet guides and horses at historic Thingeyrar Farm, where we start our ride. Our first riding day takes us into Lake Hóp. Feel the excitement of the horses as they reach the open plain. We continue through Thingeyrar peninsula and follow black dunes n towards the North–Atlantic ocean. Just off shore we see Hvítserkur, a basalt rock formation, nesting place to many seabirds. This area is home to large numbers of seals and hopefully we see many of them resting and playing on the beach. After having spent some time there we follow a different route on our way back to Thingeyrar Farm, where we leave our horses and drive to Dæli Holiday Farm, close to Kolugil canyon. This farm is beautifully located in Víðidalur Valley and will be our “home” for the next four nights. (25 km)

Thursday: Thingeyrar – Dæli
This long and exciting riding day takes us alongside the Hóp and across the Gljúfurá River. Through the friendly countryside of Vestur-Hóp with a stop at Nípukot Farm where we will have the traditional lambstew for lunch, and into the beautiful valley Víðidalur. We follow Víðidalsá River to Dæli Farm where we will enjoy the hospitality of Sigrún and Víglundur, that have been working with us for many years. The hot tub will be waiting and you will not be disappointed by Sigrún’s cooking !!!!(45 km)

Friday: Dæli - Kolugil – Víðidalstungheiði – Dæli
Today we ascend towards the highland plateau Víðidalstunguheiði and meet the horses coming down from their pastures in the highlands. We enjoy a warm lunch at a mountain shelter or at Kolugili Farm (depending on the weather), before we join the farmers in driving the herd down from the mountains. Before ending our ride at Dæli Farm we stop at Kolugili Farm for refreshments and singing !!! Following dinner that day, we spend time with the farmers and other guests in Dæli and join in their singing and celebrating of this great event of the fall. (35 km, 8-9 hours including lunch and coffee breaks)

Saturday: Víðidalstungurétt – Bjargshóll - Dæli
Our day starts at the round up place Víðidalstungurétt where horses are sorted out. An auction is held right on the spot and we can join the farmers in their joyful singing, celebrating the return of their horses. In the afternoon we ride to Bjargshóll Farm and return our horses to their meadows, before driving back to Dæli for a hearty dinner. (30 km)

Optional (not included in the tour price):
"Stóðréttardansleikur" dance at Víðihlíð, where everybody relaxes after the excitement of the day and celebrates yet another successful round up.

Sunday: Return to the South – Reykjavík – Blue Lagoon (optional)
Departure from the North and return to Reykjavík. We visit a factory outlet with woollen goods on our way. Approx. arrival at the hotel at 14:00.
For those interested we can help you plan a tour to the Blue Lagoon (not included in the tour price)

Monday: Departure from Iceland – Reykjavík – Keflavík Airport
Transfer to Keflavík Airport in time for the return flight home.


2009 Itineraries
September Itinerary  -  A. Skrapatunga

Day 1 Thursday: Arrival in Iceland – Transfer to Reykjavík
Transfer from Keflavík Airport to the Riding Center. Make sure your flight arrives not later then 16:00 to be able to participate in an introductional riding tour to Mt. Helgafell Volcano. (Clients arriving earlier that day are picked up upon arrival, driven to the guesthouse and picked up at the guesthouse again in time for the ride.) After the ride we enjoy a traditional Icelandic soup and receive details of the following tour before the day ends at your accommodation in a hotel in Reykjavík. (10 km)

Day 2 Friday: Reykjavík -  Þingeyrar – Björnsólfsstaðir – Hvammur
We drive to the North and meet guides and horses at Stóra-Giljá Farm. We start our ride along the shore of Lake Húnavatn, follow the expensive salmon fishing river Laxá á Ásum and continue to Blönduós village. Here we cross the glacier fed river Blanda on a bridge and continue to Bjönrsólfsstaðir Farm in Langadalur valley. This farm belongs to Haukur’s grandfather who is known for his storytelling and warm personality. Overnight stay at Hvammur Farm, home of our hosts Sonja and Haukur. (30 km)

Day 3 Saturday: Gathering horses in Laxárdalur - Skrapatungurétt
We meet up with our horses again at Farm Strjúgsstaðir. Today we meet the farmers coming down from the mountains where they already spent some time gathering the horses in their summer pastures. Hundreds of horses are coming down from the highlands and we participate in herding them to the round up place Skrapatungurétt. During this long riding day join in the singing of the farmers, celebrating this great event of the fall. (35 km)

Optional (not included in the tour price):"Stóðréttardansleikur" dance at Blönduós, where everybody relaxes after the excitement of the day and celebrates yet another successful round up.

Day 4 Sunday: Sorting of the horses and driving the herds to their home pastures
Our day starts at the round up place Skrapatungurétt where horses are sorted out. Experience the excitement and view beautiful horses while joining in this great event. When the horses are sorted we participate in returning some of them to their meadows at their home farms. Dinner at Hvammur Farm and time to share our personal experience on this riding adventure with our fellow riders. (25 km)

Day 5 Monday: Return to Reykjavík – Blue Lagoon (optional)
After breakfast we leave the North and return to Reykjavík. We visit a factory outlet with woollen goods on our way. Approx. arrival at the hotel at 14:00.

Day 6 Tuesday: Departure from Iceland – Reykjavík – Keflavík Airport
Transfer to Keflavík Airport in time for the return flight home.

October Itinerary    B. Víðidalstungurétt - Dæli

You will meet in the North Eggert Pálsson from Bjargshóll Farm with his staff and horses and at Dæli Farm the hosts, Sigrún and Víglundur. Tour leaders on this tour are Einar Bollason and his assistant; Haukur Hauksson. All these people have taken care of this tour since we started it in 2001 and they will do their outmost to make your ride an unforgettable adventure.
Day 1 Wednesday: Arrival in Iceland – Transfer to Reykjavík
Transfer from Keflavík Airport to the riding center. Make sure your flight arrives not later then 16:00 to be able to participate in an introductional riding tour to Mt. Helgafell Volcano. (Clients arriving earlier that day are picked up upon arrival, driven to the guesthouse and picked up at the guesthouse again in time for the ride.) After the ride we enjoy a traditional Icelandic soup. Receive details of the following tour before the day ends at your accommodation in a guesthouse in Reykjavík. (10 km)

Day 2 Thursday:  Reykjavík – Bjargshóll – Dæli Holiday Farm
We drive to the North and meet guides and horses at Bjargshóll Farm, where we start our ride. Our first riding day takes us through the beautiful valleys Fitjárdalur and Víðidalur each with their own salmon fishing river. We cross the river Víðidalsá and end at Dæli Holiday Farm, close to Kolugil canyon, beautifully located in Víðidalur Valley. Accommodation for the next three nights is at the farm. (30 km)

Day 3 Friday: Dæli - Kolugil – Víðidalstungheiði – Dæli
Today we ascend towards the highland plateau Víðidalstunguheiði and meet the horses coming down from their pastures in the highlands. We enjoy a warm lunch at a mountain shelter before we join the farmers in driving the herd down from the mountains. Before ending our ride at Dæli Farm we stop at Kolugili Farm for refreshments. Following dinner that day, we spend time with the farmers and other guests in Dæli and join in their singing and celebrating of this great event of the fall. (36 km, 8-9 hours including lunch and coffee breaks)

Day 4 Saturday: Víðidalstungurétt – Bjargshóll - Dæli
Our day starts at the round up place Víðidalstungurétt where horses are sorted out. An auction is held right on the spot and we can join the farmers in their joyful singing, celebrating the return of their horses. In the afternoon we ride back to Bjargshóll Farm and return our horses to their meadows, before driving back to Dæli for a hearty dinner. (30 km)
Optional (not included in the tour price):
"Stóðréttardansleikur" dance at Víðihlíð, where everybody relaxes after the excitement of the day and celebrates yet another successful round up.

Day 5 Sunday: Return to the South – Reykjavík – Blue Lagoon (optional)
Departure from the North and return to Reykjavík. We visit a factory outlet with woollen goods on our way. Approx. arrival at the guesthouse at 14:00.
For those interested we plan a tour to the Blue Lagoon (not included in the tour price)

Day 6 Monday: Departure from Iceland – Reykjavík – Keflavík Airport
Transfer to Keflavík Airport in time for the return flight home.

 Itineraries subject to change

As its name suggests, Iceland is cold, but not as cold as might be expected because of the passing warm waters of the Gulf Stream, which regulate the climate. The summer temperatures in Reykjavík range from 41°F (5°C) at night to as high as 77°F (25°C) during the day. The average January temperature is 31°F (-0.5°C). The south is the wettest part of the country, but snow is rare. Coastal areas tend to experience winter gales and are generally windy. During the summer months there is almost continuous daylight; early spring and late autumn feature long twilights. From mid-November until the end of January, in the darkness of winter, the opposite is true, with the country only experiencing a few hours of daylight each day. The Northern Lights are often visible in autumn and early winter.
 
 Despite its extreme north Atlantic situation, Reykjavik's climate is not as cold as might be expected, its average mid-winter temperatures being no lower than those in New York City. This is because the Icelandic coastal weather is tempered by the warm waters of the Gulf Stream. The city's coastal location does, however, also mean it is prone to wind, and gales are common in winter. Reykjavik is also a very wet city, having on average 213 rainy days out of the year, with spring having slightly more sunny days.

Accommodation for all nights at the farm is in cozy 2 - 4 bed units and in Reykjavík in hotel rooms with private facilities. After a day in the mountains we can relax in a comfortable warm outdoor tub before a hearty, home cooked dinner is served.

Passports
Passport valid for at least three months beyond length of stay required by all except:
(a) 1. nationals of Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain and Sweden who are only required to produce national identity cards issued by the competent authorities in their countries of origin.
Passport Note
Iceland is a signatory to the 1995 Schengen Agreement.

Visas
Not required by all nationals of referred to in the chart above for stays of up to 90 days.
2. EU nationals staying longer than 90 days will need to apply for a residence permit from the directorate of immigration in Iceland.
Note: Nationals not referred to in the chart above are advised to contact the embassy to check visa requirements (see Contact Addresses).
Visa Note
A stay in another Schengen-Zone country counts as the same as a stay in Iceland.