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5 Day Trail of Hope Autumn Adventure Horse Riding Holiday in the Northwestern Region, Iceland
Hvammur Farm, Hvammur, Northwestern Region, Northwest Constituency, Iceland
Thrilling Horse Riding Holiday in Iceland
This listing has one of the 10 most popular offers available in in Iceland
On this trail, you will ride through diverse nature on black sandy beaches, perfect for the famous gait tölt to the highlight of the program: when you glide over Lake Hope.
Key information
- Rider weight limit: 110 kilograms / 242 pounds
- Tack type: English tack, but stirrups are worn long
- Horse breed: Icelandic horse
Highlights
- 4 days of horse riding
- 25 to 40 kilometers per day
- Riding through Vatnsdalur Valley and exploring the Vatnsnes peninsula
- Visits to the historic Thingeyrar Church, Thingeyrar Farm, and Hóp lagoon shore
- Witness 14 thousand sheep on their way back home
- 4 nights accommodation
- Daily meals
- Bus transfer from Reykjavík to the farm included
Skill level
- Advanced
Styles
4 days with instruction
Group size: Maximum of 20 participants
Accommodation
Facilities
- Horse riding
- Hot tub / Jacuzzi
- Garden
- Free Wi-Fi
Hvammur Farm
Hvammur Farm is situated in the beautiful Vatnsdalur Valley, which is so full of old sagas and has the famous salmon fishing river Vatnsdalsá running down the middle. The farmhouse was renovated four years ago and has a hot tub in the garden with a view over the river.
- Six rooms
- Two to four beds per room, maximum of 19 people
- Outdoor Jacuzzi
- Two showers
- GSM connection
- Wi-Fi
- Made-up beds
- Two water closets
Program
On this fantastic tour, you will join Haukur in Hvammur and his fellow farmers in North Iceland as they round up thousands of sheep from the mountains. This tour is the popular Trail of Hope tour but with a twist.
This holiday is an ideal opportunity for everyone who wants to enjoy an exceptional ride in different types of landscapes. You will ride through diverse nature and get an excellent insight into Icelandic history while listening to stories from the Saga ages. Riding the horses on smooth sandy grounds will be a joy for the rider and his mount.
There will also be plenty of time to enjoy the unique gait “tölt” while exploring nature and the history of this outstanding area.
You will start the ride at Hvammur Farm in Vatnsdalur Valley. It will be a thrilling experience riding on the black sandy beaches, through rivers, fields, and the great lagoon called Lake Hóp (e. Hope). A visit to a seal colony on the North-Atlantic coast and the majestic Hvítserkur monolith will also be a wonderful thing to see.
Íslandshestar's well-known farmer, Haukur Suska, his family, and the wonderful staff at Hvammur farm will operate this program.
Horseback riding with Icelandic farmers
Íslandshestar is proud to present an autumn adventure in the North West of Iceland that includes a roundup day. There will be a lot of diversity in this tour, starting with beautiful mountain views from the wide Húnaflói Fjord and into the mysterious highland with a great view towards the two great glaciers, Hofsjökull and Langjökull.
You will meet sheep farmers on their way back to civilization after many days in the saddle, herding a big flock of sheep. It will for sure be a unique sight to witness 14,000 sheep on their way back home after spending the summer up in the highland, followed by over 30 shepherds with 100 horses!
You can feel the joy and the excitement as that will be their last day and everyone will be on their way back home. You can also for sure help them out and take part in the singing and happiness. When you participate in the round-ups, you will be experiencing the real thing! You will be one of the groups to herd and sort the animals.
Of course, this means long hours outside in sometimes cold weather. Iceland in autumn has many colors and types of weather. Anticipate to be in golden sunshine one moment and to ride in the rain and even sleet during the next.
Íslandshestar, therefore, recommends to dress well during these tours and bring long woolen underwear and lots of woolen socks and gloves. It will also be good to bring some quick energy suppliers like chocolate. A warm rider is a happy rider!
Precautions
- Knee-high rubber boots are recommended for this ride.
- Riding gear (riding trousers, jackets, etc.) needs to be washed (40 degrees Celsius) or dry cleaned.
- Items that cannot be washed or dry cleaned (riding boots and riding hats) need to be cleaned and disinfected at least five days prior to arriving in Iceland.
- The Icelandic Food and Veterinary Authority recommends the broad-spectrum disinfectant Virkon S for disinfection.
- Used riding gloves, whips, saddles, bridles, chaps, and other used leather gear may not be brought into the country.
Please understand that these precautions are necessary because there are no contagious animal diseases in Iceland. Horses are not vaccinated and are therefore susceptible to infectious agents from abroad. Please help Íshestar to protect Iceland’s fragile nature.
Tack type
The tack used for Icelandic horses is slightly different from the tack ordinarily used for other breeds. The saddle is built close to a dressage saddle and has a relatively flat seat. Saddles come with plain or quilted seats. On longer rides, a crupper helps to keep the saddle in place.
The riding style used on Icelandic horses is close to the English riding style, but stirrups are worn long. The bits used are mostly simple snaffles. Bridles have a detachable noseband and clip-on reins.
The Icelandic horse
This breed is best known for its four-beat smooth gait, the tölt, which is very comfortable for the rider, especially on a longer tour, and elegantly displayed by the horse. Riding an Icelandic horse in its native habitat land is an authentic riding experience.
Herding free-running horses is the traditional way of traveling in Iceland. Since horses are changed at least once a day on longer tours, you will get to ride a variety of horses.
The Icelandic horse is intelligent, good-tempered, and versatile. It is the most colorful breed in the world, with over 40 different colors and over 100 variations. The Icelandic horse is also unique amongst horse breeds because it masters five gaits, namely: walk, trot, tölt, canter or gallop, and flying pace.
Category
This program is for advanced riders who are comfortable with long hours in the saddle.
Daily itinerary
Thursday: Hvammur - Vatnsdalsá - Kárdalstunga
Pick up from BSÍ bus station in Reykjavík will be at 08:30. Please already be dressed in riding clothes. You will arrive at Hvammur farm at around noon and have a nice local lunch. After you have met the horses, you will start your ride through the beautiful Vatnsdalur Valley.
The valley is the setting of the Vatnsdælir Saga and the guide, Haukur, knows this Saga well. It will be interesting to listen to him tell stories of the past and present. The route will run along the banks of river Vatnsdalsá and you'll have to cross it several times.
You will end your ride deep in the valley where the horses will rest, but you'll go back to Hvammur, enjoy a well-deserved meal, and relax in the hot tub.
- 3 to four hours
Friday: Kárdalstunga - Auðkúluheiði - Sléttárdalur - Auðkúlurétt
This day will be a great authentic experience! You'll ride from Kárdalstunga and into the Highlands, with a stunning view of the glaciers. You will meet sheep farmers on their way back to civilization after many days in the saddle, herding a big flock of sheep.
It will for sure be a unique sight to witness 14 thousand sheep on their way back home after spending the summer up in the highland, followed by over 30 shepherds with 100 horses! You can feel the joy and the excitement as that will be their last day and everyone will be on their way back home.
You will end the day in the Auðkúlurétt corral where you'll leave the sheep and horses and go back to Hvammur farm and continue the singing.
- 8 to nine hours
Saturday: Auðkúlurétt - Reykir - Húnavatn - Þingeyrar - Sveinsstaðir
The group will drive from Hvammur farm to Auðkúlurétt Corrall, where a number of people have shown up to help the farmers sort out their sheep. You can also give a helping hand to Haukur's grandfather, who is 86 years old and is a sheep / horse farmer at Röðull farm.
Auðkúlurétt is the largest sheep corral in Iceland (and possibly in the world) with up to 14,000 sheep. This is also where you can get really deep into the Icelandic culture and it does not get more authentic than this! When the job is done at the corral, you will continue with the riding tour.
You will ride from the farm, Reykir, across Lake Húnavatn. You will also look at the remarkable stone church at Þingeyrar, built in 1877. After this cultural stop, you will continue your ride on the lowland countryside to Sveinsstadir farm, where the horses will rest overnight.
- 6 to seven hours
Sunday: Sveinsstaðir - Lake Hóp - Þingeyrar
This day will be the last riding day and of course, you'll finish the tour in style! Ride from Sveinsstadir towards Lake Hóp (one of the biggest lakes in Iceland). On the way, you will pass the historical place, Þrístapar, where the last execution in Iceland took place in 1830. Haukur will tell you the dramatic story which will leave no one untouched.
You will then ride alongside the lagoon Hóp. The black sand at the beach is ideal for riding tölt, the special gait of the Icelandic horse, as well as for feeling the joy in the horses when they are running in the shallow water. The lake is a reservoir (lagoon) because it is connected with these. The view and the movement of the horses will give you an unparalleled sense of freedom.
You will spend the last evening at Hvammur farm enjoying good food and of course, singing along and sharing entertaining stories of men and horses.
- 6 to seven hours
Monday: Return to the South - Reykjavík
Breakfast will be served and after you say goodbye, the bus will take you back to Reykjavík BSÍ.
Note
Íslandshestar reserves the right to alter the itinerary if necessary.
Location
The holiday will take place in Northwestern Region, Iceland.
Iceland
Iceland is the least densely populated country in Europe, with a pure, unpolluted, and truly magical landscape. In Iceland, you can find a hot spring oasis featuring hot pools and geothermal hot springs that are perfect for relaxing after a long riding day.
Vatnsdalur
This is a beautiful grown valley. The salmon and trout river Vatnsdalsá enters the valley and turns to numerous waterfalls and a canyon. Vatnsdalshólar, the uncountable hills, are a well-known feature in Iceland and the area is a setting of Vatnsdæla-Saga.
Borgarvirki
A natural basalt strata feature and a fascinating fortress of the Vikings that was renovated by locals in 1949, it contains ruins and a well inside and stands 177 meters above sea level.
Víðidalsá River
This is a generous salmon and trout river that runs towards Lake Hóp.
Þverárétt
This is a sheep pen used by local farmers to sort the sheep in the autumn.
Hvítserkur
This is a unique basalt rock formation and a nesting place for many seabirds.
Vatnsnes peninsula
The area is one of the best-known seal colonies in Iceland.
Sigríðarstaðasandur
This is a black sand area with dunes in the northwest of Iceland.
Nesbjörg
This is a 75-meter ridge above sea level in northwest Iceland.
Hóp
This is a lake or a lagoon.
Þingeyrar Farm
The farm was founded in the 12th century. It was once the site of a monastery.
Þingeyrar Church
This is the first stone church in Iceland.
Lake Húnavatn
Ingimundur named the lake after a polar bear that he found with her two cubs.
Hvammsfoss waterfall
Situated in Vatnsdalur, it is surrounded by impressive basalt columns.
Features
Activities
- Horse riding
- Hot tub / Jacuzzi
General
- Garden
- River
Services
- Free Wi-Fi
Food
During the ride, full board meals will be provided and are included in the price. The menu consists of a large breakfast and traditional Icelandic meals (fish or lamb). Vegetarian meals are available if requested when booking. All riders will make their own packed lunch from the breakfast table.
Alcoholic beverages are not included in the price and are hard to get in the highlands. They can be bought at a reasonable price in the duty-free store at Keflavík International Airport (KEF) upon arrival.
The following meals are included:
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
The following dietary requirement(s) are served and/or catered for:
- Regular (typically includes meat and fish)
- Other dietary requirements on request
If you have special dietary requirements it's a good idea to communicate it to the organiser when making a reservation
Things to do (optional)
Íslandshestar offers optional sightseeing tours and activities on some of the rides. These are mentioned in the itinerary and should be paid for in cash on the spot.
Réttardansleikur” dance can be experienced at a nearby community center, where everybody relaxes after the excitement of the day and celebrates yet another successful roundup. On special occasions like this, the guide and farmer, Haukur, puts his best dancing shoes on!
What's included
- 4 days of riding
- 3 - 4 horses per person and local guidance
- All transfers during the riding tour
- Bus transfer from Reykjavík to the farm
- Rainwear, saddle bag, water bottle, and a safety helmet
- 11% VAT
- 4 nights accommodation
- Full board meals
What's not included
- Individual travel insurance
- Flights
- Airport transfers
- Alcoholic beverages
How to get there
Recommended Airports
KEF
Keflavík International Airport
246 km
Transfer not provided
Arrival by bus
Íslandshestar's pick up for the holiday will be from BSÍ bus station. You can book your Flybus ticket to and from Reykjavík. The Flybus departs the airport and reaches the location 35 to 40 minutes after each arrival.
Buses are located right outside the terminal building. Please be ready at the earliest pick up time. Your accommodation might be the first one for pick up.
- Morning pick up: Between 07:30 - 08:30
Cancellation Policy
- A reservation requires a deposit of 14% of the total price.
- The deposit is non-refundable, if the booking is cancelled.
- The rest of the payment should be paid 30 days before arrival.
For this organizer you can guarantee your booking through BookHorseRidingHolidays.com. All major credit cards supported.
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