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Horseback riding tours
Rides in Iceland
Intro to Iceland
East and South Highland Tours Iceland Shorts Northern Tours West
Norway
Finland
Europe Overview
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Horse Drive in Iceland
Iceland Shorts
Iceland
Only a few Icelandic farmers continue the tradition of driving their horses to the highland pastures for the summer. Therefore it is a true privilege for us to be able to offer this great adventure to our clients in the foreign landscapes of this beautiful island country. Haukur and Sonja from Hvammur Farm, our partners for this unique tour, still drive their young horses and their mares with foals onto remote pastures in the highlands every summer as was common many years ago.
See the excitement of the young colts and fillies, some of which already know what awaits them once they have left the farmstead, remembering from the year before. The herd controls the speed of our ride, eagerly rushing away from the farm, yet making sure that all the tiny foals follow along and no one is left behind. Man merely shows the direction, the herd is driven by the natural instincts of the Viking horse.
The last day of riding brings us back to Hvammur Farm, in the beautiful historic Vatnsdalur Valley where we celebrate the successful drive with a feast in the barn. Another highlight of this tour is the drive over the highland route of Kjölur on our way back to Reykjavík. We bathe in the heart of Iceland in the natural thermo pool at Hveravellir and enjoy the beauty of Gullfoss Waterfall and the hot springs of Geysir area once we reach civilization again.
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Meeting:
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Reykjavik City at your hotel on Day 1
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Airport:
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Keflavik Airport
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Transfer:
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Keflavik Airport
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Riders:
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Min
8 riders
Max
16 riders
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Trip Rating
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Rates and Dates for 2010
Rates include:
Accommodation: at Hvammur Farm in 2 - 4 bed units and warm outdoor tub, all meals, saddle bag, raingear, safety helmet, 4 riding days - 120 km
| A | 2010 | 5 day trip, AP Ride 17 | 5d / 4n | €1135 | $1615 |
| Extra night in Reykjavik Guesthouse pp (dbl) | €62 | $90 |
| Extra night in Reykjavik Guesthouse Single | €98 | $140 |
| Kids under 12 - 25% off | €0 | $0 |
Rates Note:
Accommodation before and after the ride to be arranged individually.
Pick up is in Reykjavik City at your hotel on Day 1, please let us know where you will be staying before the ride starts. The group returns to Reykjavík approx. 18:30 PM on Day 5. Please book departure flights the day after the last riding day.
Rates do not include:
Accommodation in Reykjavík before and after the ride.
Knee-high rubber boots are recommended for this ride
Day 1 Sunday: Reykjavík – Hvammur – Vatnsdalur Transfer by bus from Reykjavík to Hvammur Farm, where we meet horses and guides. After having gathered up the horses we start our ride through Vatnsdalur. This beautiful valley is the setting of the Vatnsdæla-Saga. We ride past the historical farm Hof and cross the river Vatnsdalsá on our way to Saurbær Farm, where we leave the horses and return to Hvammur Farm for our overnight stay. (25 km)
Day 2 Monday: Saurbær – Grímstunguheiði – Saurbær This will be our longest day when we ascend towards the highland plateau Grímstunguheiði and drive the horses into their summer pastures. We enjoy a good picnic lunch and coffee at a mountain shelter before we return to Saurbær where our horses spend the night. On our way down from the highland pastures we see mighty Alkugil gorge with picturesque waterfalls tumbling down over rock formations. (40 km)
Day 3 Tuesday: Saurbær – Vatnsdalshólar – Thingeyrar – Hvammur Enjoying good riding paths we ride north on the west side of the valley towards Thingeyrar Farm, a place of great history with a beautiful church. We follow the banks of Vatnsdalsá River and cross the river a couple of times. Vatnsdalshólar are considered to be uncountable small hills which formed after an enormous landslide. The horses spend the night at Thingeyrar Farm and we return to Hvammur Farm for the night. (30 km)
Day 4 Wednesday: Hvammur - Thingeyrar – Hvammur We start the day with a visit to historic Thingeyrar Church. This is our last day of riding and we bring the horses back to Hvammur Farm. We cross Lake Húnavatn on a save trail in the water and enjoy the excitement of the horses once they have returned to the black sand on dry land. We ride on the eastern side of Vatnsdalur valley, past Hvammsfoss waterfall, surrounded by impressive basalt columns. Celebrate the successful return in the evening with a great barbeque feast in the barn – “Icelandic style”. (25 km)
Day 5 Thursday: Hvammur – Kjölur Highland Route – Reykjavík We drive over the Kjölur Highland Route back to Reykjavík. The bus takes you through the rugged wilderness of the highland. Be amazed by natural hot water pool at Hveravellir - enjoy a dip? View the majestic glaciers Hofsjökull and Langjökull, and powerful Gullfoss waterfall, before reaching the well known Geysir. Return to Reykjavik at approx. 18:30. subject to change
Meeting:
Reykjavik City at your hotel on Day 1
Airport:
Keflavik Airport
Transfer:
Keflavik Airport
Pick up is in Reykjavik City at your hotel on Day 1, please let us know where you will be staying before the ride starts. The group returns to Reykjavík approx. 18:30 PM on Day 5. Please book departure flights the day after the last riding day.
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Tack:
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Icelandic
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Horses:
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Icelandic
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Pace:
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4 riding days - 120 km
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Walk |
Trot |
Canter |
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Level:
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(3.5
out of 5) Strong Intermediate
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Riders:
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Min
8 riders
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Max
16 riders
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Passport and Visa Requirements:
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, Luxembour. more
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.
Note: Knee-high rubber boots are recommended for this ride.
You should be ready for all kinds of weather as it can change very quickly. We provide you with good rain-clothes, a riding helmet and a sleeping bag. Also a saddle bag (where you can keep the picnic lunch, a small camera, extra pair of gloves etc.).
| … this list is only a guideline for you |
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| Travel documents and Voucher |
| Flight tickets |
| Passport |
| Visa (check with your consulate) |
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| RIDING GEAR |
| Riding pants or Jodhpurs (used if possible!) |
| Riding boots (Knee high riding boots - preferably rubber, because of the rivers we cross) |
| Riding helmet (recommended for all trips) |
| Warm jacket or overcoat |
| Warm (woolen or fleece) sweater |
| Warm socks and gloves, at least two pairs, scarf and a cap or hat. |
| Warm underwear, long if possible (protects also from chaffing). |
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| PERSONAL CLOTHING |
| Jogging suit or other comfortable cloths to wear in the huts |
| For the ladies – sports bra. |
| Bathing suit and flip flops |
| Slippers for the huts (Icelanders take off their shoes when entering a house) |
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| ADDITIONAL THINGS TO BRING |
| A small camera to take with you when riding |
| Personal toiletries (soap etc.) |
| Towel |
| Small flashlight, ie: headlamp |
| If interested, duty free alcohol at Iceland airport |
| Chocolate or glucose sweets for strenuous riding days |
| Insect repellent, gnat net head cover. |
| Band aid and second skin plasters for chaffing |
| Sore cream (for the emergency) |
| Sun lotion for face and lips (with high sun factor) |
| Sunglasses |
| Song books |
Sorry, no video is currently available for this tour.
*Important Notice: The following ratings have been submitted by guests and do not necessarily represent the views of Hidden Trails, its partners or employees.
Every care is taken to ensure accuracy but Hidden Trails is not liable for any errors or omissions.
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All nights are spent at Hvammur Farm in 2 - 4 bed units. The warm outdoor tub is just the right place to enjoy the bright nights of the north.
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Tack:
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Icelandic
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Horses:
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Icelandic
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Pace:
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4 riding days - 120 km
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Walk |
Trot |
Canter |
|
|
Level:
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(3.5
out of 5) Strong Intermediate
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Riders:
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Min
8 riders
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Max
16 riders
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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.
| Passport Required? |
| British |
Yes |
| Australian |
Yes |
| Canadian |
Yes |
| USA |
Yes |
| Other EU |
Yes/1 |
| Visa Required? |
| British |
No |
| Australian |
No |
| Canadian |
No |
| USA |
No |
| Other EU |
No |
| Return Ticket Required? |
| British |
No |
| Australian |
Yes |
| Canadian |
Yes |
| USA |
Yes |
| Other EU |
No |
This information is not being updated on a regular basis. Hidden Trails does not
take any responsibility for the accuracy of the above information. Please, consult
the embassy or consulate for updated info.
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Horse Drive in Iceland
Tour Code:
IT-ICRT25
5 days /
4 nights
~$1,615.00
Dates :
July
Difficulty :
Lodging:
Introduction
Day to Day Itinerary
Rates | Dates
Accomodation
Tack:
Icelandic
Horses:
Icelandic
Pace:
4 riding days - 120 km
Walk,
Trot,
Canter,
Airport:
Keflavik Airport
Location on Google Map
Image Gallery
Image Slide Show
Customer Trip Rating
Climate
What To Bring
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