3 regularly scheduled rides, Golden Circle, Diamond Circle and Eastern Symphony provide riders with a challenging adventure with the comforts of warm, inviting bed at night in farmhouse, guest house accommodations including some especially y inviting family riding opportunities. Geysers, waterfalls, even whales and Eastern Symphony ride to the puffin are among the many highlights. All the trips horseback tours will reveal the startling geographical realities that are Iceland a country centrally heated by it own underground thermal heating, the result of volcanic activity. The riding pace varies some, but all riders may expect long hours in the saddle on those magical creatures, the Icelandic Horse whose fast pace and durability will rock you to relax while your horse does all the work.

Dates & Rates-
1. Diamond Circle: Northern Comfort: Tour 4
8 days – 7 nights – 5 riding days – 175 km: Strong intermediate riders
Dates: Saturday – Saturday:  July 12 – 19, 26 - August 2, Aug 2 - 9

$3255 US/2074 E/Single supplement $609/388 E

2. Golden Circle: Southern Comfort: Tour 6
8 days – 7 nights – 6 riding days – 180 km: Intermediate riders
Dates: Saturday – Saturday: June 7 – 14, 14 – 21, 21-28, 28 - July 5, July 5 –12, July 12 -19, July 19-26, 26 - Aug 2, 2-9, 9 – 16, 16- 23. August 23- 30

$2650 US/1689 E

3. Eastern Symphony: Horses and Puffins: Tour 5
 8 days – 7 nights – 5 riding days – 155 km: strong Intermediate riders
Dates 2008: Sunday – Sunday : July 13- 20, July 20- 27, August 3- 10, August 10 – 17

$3121 US/1988 E

4. Sheep Round-Up: Tour 14
6 days – 5 nights – 3 riding days – 100 km: Strong intermediate riders
Dates: Tuesday – Sunday: September 9 - 14

$1400 US/895 E

$1690 US/1077 E

6. Tour 18 Trail of Hope
5 days/ 4 nights - 120 km
Price: EUR 1.089 
Departures: 2007 - July 8, July 22, July 29, August 5, August 12, August 19, August 26, September 2

$1830 US/1165 E

Difficulty rating:
This tour is an ideal opportunity for everyone who wants to enjoy a comfortable ride in different types of landscapes. You get to ride through untouched nature and get an excellent insight into Icelandic history when listening to stories from the Saga ages. Riding the horses on smooth sandy grounds is a joy for both the rider and his mount. You have plenty of time to enjoy the special gait tölt while exploring nature and the history of this unique area.

Narrow Vatnsdalur Valley is home to our hosts for this tour Haukur and his German wife Sonja. You start your ride at their farm Hvammur, crossing Laxá River on your way to Thingeyrar Farm, once the site of a monastery founded in the 12th century. Visit Borgarvirki, an impressive fortress made out of basalt strata. Experience the adventure of riding in water on your way across the lagoon called Lake Hóp, while driving a herd of free running horses ahead of you. A visit to a seal colony on the North-Atlantic coast is something you do not want to miss. On your last day of riding you help your hosts bring the horses back to the farm to release them again into green meadows.

Your bus trip back to Reykjavík following Kjölur Highland Route is another highlight of this tour. Drive between two glaciers, enjoy a bathe at the natural hot pool in Hveravellir, and visit the Geysir Hot Spring area and mighty waterfall Gullfoss.

Accommodation during the ride is shared, in made up beds, for two to four people per room. Most nights are spent at the farm of your hosts in Hvammur, where a warm outdoor tub offers relaxation after your day in the saddle. One night of the tour you will spend at a different location.

Day-by-Day Itinerary:

Sunday: Reykjavík – Hvammur – Vatnsdalur – Thingeyrar
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 along the banks of River Vatnsdalsá before crossing over to the western side of the valley. Our ride ends at Thingeyrar Farm, a place of history, and we return to Hvammur Farm for our overnight stay. (25 km)
 
Monday: Hvammur - Thingeyrar – Hóp – Borgarvirki – Hotel Hóp
We start riding on Thingeyrasandur sandbar and towards Lake Hóp. Feel the excitement of the horses as they reach the open plain. Our trail leads us right across Lake Hóp, Iceland's fifth biggest lake, on a safe track across the water. Very easy and unforgettable experience. On dry land we visit Borgarvirki, a fascinating fortress from the Viking ages. We stay at Hotel Hóp, a countryside hotel, with excellent facilities for riders and their horses. (40 km)

Tuesday: Hotel Hóp – Vatnsnes – Hvítserkur – Hóp – Thingeyrar - Hvammur
Today we explore the beauty of the Vatnsnes Peninsula and follow black dunes on Sigríðarstaðasandur towards the North. 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. We cross Lake Hóp for the second time and follow a different route on our way back to Thingeyrar Farm. Enjoy bathing in geothermal water at a local swimming pool before a hearty dinner at Hvammur Farm, where we stay overnight. (30 km)

Wednesday: Hvammur - Thingeyrar – Hvammur
This is our last day of riding and we bring the horses back to Hvammur Farm. We follow good riding tracks, ideal for the special gait of the Icelandic horse, tölt. This time we ride on the eastern side of Vatnsdalur Valley, past Hvammsfoss waterfall, surrounded by impressive basalt columns. We celebrate the successful return in the evening during a feast in the barn. (25 km)

Thursday: Hvammur – Kjölur Highland Route – Reykjavík
It is time to say good bye to our guides and we drive on the scheduled bus over Kjölur Highland Road back to Reykjavík. The bus takes you through the rugged wilderness of the Icelandic highland. Be amazed by natural hot water pools at Hveravellir and enjoy a dip into one of them. View the majestic glaciers Hofsjökull and Langjökull, and powerful Gullfoss Waterfall, before reaching the well known Geysir area. Return to Reykjavik at approx. 19:00.

	Part of this tour can be booked as a 3-day-tour (3 riding days) – see tour 11.
	Knee-high rubber boots are recommended for this ride!

	All transfers during the riding tour, also domestic flights. Room and full board, while on riding tour.
	Accommodation and full board (Icelandic breakfast, packed-lunch and dinner while on the riding tour.
	3 – 4 horses per person and local guidance.
	Rainwear, sleeping bag (with a sheet) where necessary while on riding tour, saddle bag and a safety helmet

The Icelandic Horse stands pony size, Previous breeding attempts to create a larger horse did not create a better horse and were abandoned. They can easily carry over 200 pounds for long distances at an incredible pace. They are the product of a 1000’s of years of isolation, bred for a tough environment, normally living herd style in basically wide open adjoining unfenced fields in the winter. They are pictured as being terrifically cute – they do admittedly wash up good but they are basically wild, well-trained trail horses that run with a gait, that can make an experienced rider who has never felt their gait, say why doesn’t that feel like heaven on horseback. Their short legged canters will make you smile, but it those long hard tolts will as easy as they are on the legs will let you know you are moving.

Flat Icelandic saddles are used, the learning curve for intermediate riders of Western or English takes less then a few minutes to produce rider if not horse comfort. I have sent properly warned, youngish novices, including my son and he and his buddies and did just fine. All of the above tours are advised for intermediate riders due to the length of each riding day, and the terrains and mileage covered on horseback.
Everything is vehicle supported including your luggage.

Category: Strong intermediate riders
Duration: 8 days – 7 nights – 5 riding days – 175 km
Dates: Saturday - Saturday
July 12 - 19 • July 26 - August 2 • August 2 - 9
Accommodation: Double rooms in a hotel in Reykjavík, in guesthouses and holiday farms during the ride. Single rooms available at an extra charge.
Group size: Max. 14 guests
Meeting place: Keflavík International Airport
Optional: Whale watching boat trip, extra cost ISK 4.000.
Reservation code: IH - 4

The Lake Mývatn area is often called the Diamond Circle due to the high density of interesting sights. It witnesses the power of Mother Earth with a display of eerie lava formations, high rising steam clouds, black sand deserts and boiling multi-coloured mud pools. The lake itself is a famous breeding area for ducks, nesting in lush vegetation and raising their ducklings, sheltered by nature and protected by man. This tour is an alternative for those who want to combine the excitement of a highland ride with comfortable accommodation. You also have the advantage of being in a group of maximum 14 guests, which is fewer than we usually, have on our tours. Our hosts for this tour are Bjarni Páll and Elsa from Saltvík, well known from the Northern Exposure tours.

As on the Northern Exposure tour you enjoy the varied terrain surrounding Lake Mývatn. Our ride starts over Hvammsheiði Heath and we follow Laxá Salmon River towards Lake Mývatn. A bus brings us to Dimmuborgir, a true maze made by nature and Hverarönd boiling mud pools and steam vents. Natural warm water is harnessed at Jarðböð geothermal outdoor pool where we can swim in the mineral rich water. The riding leads further into the highlands and we catch a glimpse of Ódáðahraun Lava Field, the largest in Iceland, before the ride leads towards the shore again. In Bárðardalur Valley we visit Goðafoss Waterfall and ride partly along the river banks back to Saltvík Farm. Sail out into the Midnight Sun on an optional whale watching boat trip on your last night in the north.

On this tour we exchange the usual mountain cabins for beds in double rooms. Single room accommodation is also possible. Bathroom facilities are shared and a hot shower is available every night. During the three nights spent at Saltvík Farm we enjoy two outdoor hot tubs and the amazing view over the ocean and the Kinnafjöll Mountain Range.

TOUR 6 GOLDEN CIRCLE SOUTHERN COMFORT

Category: Intermediate riders
Duration: 8 days – 7 nights – 6 riding days – 180 km
Dates: Saturday - Saturday
June 7 - 14 • June 14 - 21 • June 21 - 28 • June 28 - July 5 • July 5 - 12 • July 12 - 19 • July 19 - 26 • July 26 - August 2 • August 2 - 9 • August 9 - 16 • August 16 - 23 • August 23 - 30
Accommodation: 2 - 4 bed units with shared facilities throughout the tour, rooms with private facilities for 2 nights at Geysir.
Group size: Max. 18 guests
Meeting place: Keflavík International Airport
Reservation code: IH - 6



There is no better way to visit the hot springs area of Geysir and the Golden Waterfall – Gullfoss – than by riding through the lovely countryside of South Iceland. On our way to the farm we witness the great scenery at Thingvellir National Park – the assembly fields where the oldest parliamentary institution was founded in AD 930.

This popular tour is ideal for families and those who do not have the required riding experience for our highland tours. Still riding days can be long so you should be in good physical condition and have a basic knowledge of horsemanship.

On our first riding day you get acquainted with the Icelandic horses and their special gaits on a relaxed ride through the countryside surrounding Fossnes Farm. Your guides lead spare horses along as you ride towards the magnificent Gullfoss Waterfall and the hot springs area of Geysir. We ascend through lovely birch forests with wild mountain flowers to a highland plateau with great views of mountains and glaciers. The last two days of the ride are more challenging since you now herd your spare horses along. You experience riding along the edge of civilisation when crossing the highland moor of Hrunaheiði. On our last riding day we enjoy the good riding tracks when we follow Laxárdalur Valley on our way back to Fossnes Farm.

Our partner Sigrún lives with her family at Fossnes Farm, situated in a hilly landscape near the glacial river of Thjórsá. Accommodation at the farm is in 2 - 4 bed units with shared facilities but at Geysir we enjoy the comfort of rooms with private facilities. Two nights are spent in a guesthouse in Reykjavík, one night before the tour and one after. Three nights are spent at Fossnes Farm and two nights at Geysir Hotel.

This popular tour has been in operation since 1984 and is ideal for families and those who do not have the riding experience necessary for our highland tours.

Reversed itinerary available upon request.

Difficulty: Strong intermediate riders
Duration: 8 days – 7 nights – 5 riding days – 155 km
Dates 2008: Sunday – Sunday
July 13 - 20 / July 20 - 27 / August 3 – 10 / August 10 – 17
Accommodation: Double rooms in a hotel in Reykjavík, a guesthouse and a holiday farm during the riding tour
Group size: Max. 12 guests
Meeting place: Keflavík International Airport
Note: Arrival time needs to be no later than 16:00. The first night is already spent in the East.
Buchungscode: IH – 20

In north-eastern Iceland, the "Trails of the Deserted Inlets" extend over an area where coastal mountains plunge abruptly into the sea. This isolated region is considered to be the central province of "the Hidden People" - the elves. The elf queen resides in her fortress at Álfaborg, near the village of Bakkagerði in Eastern Borgarfjörður Bay, with its 130 inhabitants and thousands of puffins breeding in a sheltered rock just outside the village.

The imposing colourful massif of the area displays the entire colour spectrum of volcanic rocks of rhyolite. Underneath lies the ocean, with the noise from crashing waves and the cries of thousands of nesting seabirds – a truly stunning location. The ocean changes colours with its moods - from the most exotic opal to turquoise to oil-black. Almost systematically when the evening comes a lid of mist descends on the landscape, adding to the mystery of the bright night.

You will be sure to bring home with you the memory of one of those magical evenings around a bonfire on the inlet bank, a most serene feeling in this extreme corner of the world. As nearby fulmars soar over the surf, a curious seal comes for a glance. And on the mountain above the cliffs, where the smoke of our fire meets the evening haze, the invisible elves will be observing you.

We spend the days riding in the vicinity of Borgarfjörður – by many considered to be one of Iceland’s most beautiful areas. Bird-watching is a frequent pastime on our routes, and side-tracks take us to deserted inlets that tell us the story of the past. You also have the advantage of being in a group of maximum 12 guests. Our first and last night will be spent at Útnyrðingsstaðir Farm, the home of our tour guide Stefán and the other nights will be spent in a cosy private guesthouse in eastern Borgarfjörður. Accommodation is in double rooms. Stefán has been running tours in this region for 15 years and knows it better than most.

Category: Strong intermediate riders
Duration: 6 days – 5 nights – 3 riding days – 100 km
Dates: Tuesday - Sunday
September 9 - 14
Accommodation: Hotel accommodation in Reykjavík. 2 - 4 bed units at the farm.
Group size: Max. 20 guests
Meeting place: Keflavík International Airport
Optional: Dance at the community centre Árnes, entrance fee to be paid locally.
Reservation code: IH - 14

The round-up of sheep is an Icelandic tradition with roots back in the past when pastures and fields near the farms were so precious that they had to be kept for the hay harvest. Thus the stock was driven to the mountains during the summer. On this tour we join the farmers in South Iceland when they gather thousands of sheep from the mountains. We experience Icelandic horses at their best, sure-footed and eager to fulfil the task set for them every autumn.

Our host Sigrún from Fossnes Farm actively participates in the round-ups with her family and we will meet them and their friends, tired but happy, after their successful return from the mountains. Fossnes plays a major role in the annual round-up since the flock spends one last night in the meadows before finally being sorted and returned to their owners.

The ride leads towards the highlands along good riding tracks, through black ash from Mt. Hekla eruptions. The mountain cabin at Hólaskógur offers shelter to the farmers who have been gathering sheep for days. We join the flock down from the mountains, but there is still time to explore the many sights, such as the beautiful Gjáin Valley and picturesque Hjálparfoss Waterfall. The third riding day brings us to the round-up pen where the sheep are sorted and returned to their owners. We sing with the farmers celebrating the successful journey into the highlands to secure the livestock.

Category: Strong intermediate riders
Duration: 6 days – 5 nights – 4 riding days – 100 km
Dates: September 11 - 16 (Thursday - Tuesday) • October 1 - 6 (Wednesday - Monday)
Accommodation: Hotel accommodation in Reykjavík. 2 - 4 bed units at the farm.
Group size: Max. 20 guests
Meeting place: Keflavík International Airport
Optional: Dance at the community centre in Blönduós or Víðihlíð, entrance fee to be paid locally.
Reservation code: IH - 15

Imagine free and spirited horses rushing down from their highland summer pastures to be returned to their owners. Mares and their foals, young horses and geldings make their way through rough territory, not really willing to give up their freedom yet before winter returns once again.

Join the farmers in this great autumn adventure driving the herd, sorting the horses and celebrating the successful return of horses and men. The varied terrain includes the highland moors, green valleys just turning into their autumn colours of burning red and yellow, deep blue lakes and rivers. An introduction ride from the Íshestar Riding Centre will help you to get acquainted with riding Icelandic style before your ride in the north really starts.

The ancient tradition of rounding up horses is only kept alive in the north of Iceland. Our September departure rounds up horses into the round-up pen at Skrapatungurétt and our October departure brings the horses back to Víðidalstungurétt. The locals celebrate the successful round-ups with a ball “réttardansleikur” in the adjacent community hall. Farmers and friends celebrate by singing and dancing the night away.

Depending on your chosen tour you will either meet our partners Haukur and Sonja at Hvammur Farm or Eggert from Bjargshóll Farm and Sigrún and Víglundur at Dæli Farm. They all will do their best to make your ride an unforgettable adventure.

Accommodation for all nights at the farm is in cosy 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.

• Part of this tour can be booked as a 3-day-tour (3 riding days) – see tour 11.
• Knee-high rubber boots are recommended for this ride!

*All types of additional possibilities can be arranged upon request including hotel or holiday farm based riding, extensions to trips and other combinations. Ridingholidays will be happy to assist you with customized reservations.