Tour 33 - Family Vacation

Day 1: Arrival
After arriving at Keflavík Airport, participants take the “Flybus” (operated by Reykjavik Excursions) to BSÍ bus station in Reykjavik. There you will be greeted around 17:30–18:00 by a representative from Eldhestar, who will drive you to our farm Vellir, close to the village Hveragerði. The day ends with dinner at Hotel Eldhestar.

Day 2 – Morning Riding Lesson – The Heritage Tour
After breakfast, your guide meets you for a short introduction in the stable. You will be provided with the necessary riding equipment and will get a short riding demonstration before you get to know the horses. We start with a riding lesson in small groups in Eldhestar´s modern riding hall. Beginners are given instructions to learn the basics of riding, preparing them for the first trail ride in the afternoon on our gentle horses. Experienced riders learn how to ride the different gaits if the Icelandic horse, or develop their riding skills on Icelandic horses even more. After lunch at Hotel Eldhestar we select horses for the afternoon ride and head for the surrounding meadows. We ride 1.5-2 hours on excellent trails with good opportunity to ride „tölt“, the special, smooth gait of the Icelandic horse. After the ride we enjoy some refreshments at the Cafeteria, and you can end the day with a relaxing bath in the hotel´s hot tubs. Dinner will be served at Hotel Eldhestar.

Day 3 – Below the Mountains / Optional sightseeing by bus „South Shore Adventure“.
Today we ride 5-5.5 hours, starting with the tour Meadows and Mountains. We ride on soft trails along the meadows surrounding our farm, a good opportunity to get familiar with the special gait of the Icelandic horse, the “tölt”. We then follow the river Gljúfurá, head towards the volcanic mountains and ride on an old route along the slopes of the mountain Reykjafjall. Our reliable horses take you up and down the trail, while you enjoy nice views of the diverse landscape between the ocean and the volcano Hengill. Back at the farm we warm up with light lunch before we choose horses for the afternoon program Soft River Banks. We continue riding along meadows and on grassland, following  the river Gljúfurá  to an old cemetery  and further down to the soft banks of the mighty glacial river Ölfusá.  From there, we have a view of the river and if the weather allows the famous volcanos Hekla and Eyjafjallajökull. The tour ends with coffee or hot chocolate and home-baked cake at the farm.

Guests who do not want to ride can take part in a bus excursion, visiting beautiful natural sights along the South Coast, one of the country’s most scenic regions. Among the stops on this tour are gorgeous waterfalls, a black lava beach, Skógar folk museum and Sólheimajökull glacier tongue.

Day 4 – Horses & Hot Springs – Afternoon Lesson / Optional sightseeing Golden Circle
In the morning we experience a variety of amazing nature. We start the day with the tour Horses & Hot Springs, riding on excellent trails along the slopes of Reykjafjall Mountain and through a green forest. We pass by many hot springs in the colorful geothermal area Gufudalur valley. This area is situated just above the village of Hveragerði and expanded dramatically during the big South Iceland earthquake in 2008. The path continues along the volcanic hills above the village, which is know for its beautiful location between the green mountains of volcano Hengill and wide plains. We stop close to the stable area for some refreshments and learn more about the Icelandic horse before riding back to our farm for lunch. In the afternoon your riding instructor will take you to the riding hall again for a lesson again – you will be surprised how much you have improved by riding several hours on different horses!

For those who would rather like to spend the afternoon sightseeing we offer a full day or half day tour along the „Golden Circle“, visiting the famous „golden“ waterfall Gullfoss, the spouting hot spring Geysir and Thingvellir National Park.

Guests who have booked the 3-days-program will be taken to Reykjavik by our transfer bus or the sightseeing bus in the evening.

Day 5 – The Siggi Tour – Afternoon free time / optional program
After breakfast, you ride The Siggi Tour. This tour provides the best of available riding route to us each time. Depending on the weather and wind, we will ride for 1.5-2 hours through the surroundings of our farm. Afterwards we will have a light lunch. The afternoon is free for your own plans. You are welcome to take our transfer bus to Reykjavik and get to know Iceland´s capital for a few hours, spend some time in the local thermal pool or book an additional activity such as hiking or whale watching.

Day 6 – Ingólfstrail & Gullfoss, Geysir and Thingvellir
The final day starts with the Long Mountain Tour, also called Ingólfstrail.  You will ride in the footsteps of the first settler Ingólfur Arnarsson, who settled in Iceland in the 9th century. On our way on the ancient Viking route on the foot of  the table mountain Ingólfsfjall, which is named after the first settler, you will learn more about Iceland’s history and the interesting geology of this area. After the riding and checking out of your room we warm up with light lunch, coffee and home baked cake. Then you will be picked up to visit the three most impressive natural sights in South Iceland: The famous Geysir geothermal area, the “golden waterfall” Gullfoss and Thingvellir National Park. The Geysir geothermal area boasts spouting springs, including Strokkur, the most active geyser in Iceland. At Gullfoss you are given the opportunity to stand next to the amazing waterfall, watching enormous quantities of water tumble violently into a deep canyon. You also spend time encountering a cross-section of Iceland’s natural wonders and geological phenomena at Thingvellir National Park, an area of historical and geological significance. You will be back in Reykjavík around 18:00.

Notice:
Included in the price are meals and services as described in the itinerary.

Dinner on the last day and accommodation in Reykjavik are not included in the price.