Our Destinations
Letter Randocheval
Why travelling with Randocheval ?
ICELAND / HORSEBACK TRAIL IN NORTHERN ICELAND, DRIVING A 60 HORSE HERD...
Itinerary - Extensions - Horses and required riding level
Guiding - Accommodation - Dates and rates - More infos / booking
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This tour leads through an ever-changing landscape and offers each day new scenery and impressions. Ride along pleasant riding tracks through bushy forests and luxuriant vegetation. Continue through sand deserts and lava fields , where few living creatyres have set foot before. Enjoy Lake Mývatn with its countless numbers of breeding ducks. View boling mud pools and eerie lava formations reminding you of the power of the volcanic energy hidden beneath. A peaceful sail on a whale watching boat introduces you to the secrets of the ocean and Dettifoss, Europe's largest waterfall is waiting to be explored. If you would like to know what Iceland is all about, this tourwill be revelation for you |
See our special information sheet on Icelandic Rides.
ITINERARY
Sunday
Transfer from Keflavík Airport to a guesthouse in Reykjavík. At 17:30 we invite you to a Welcome Meeting including traditional Icelandic soup. Receive details of the following tour and meet your fellow riders.
Monday
Domestic Flight in the morning to Akureyri and transfer to Saltvík Farm. On the way we stop at majestic Goðafoss waterfall. At Saltvík, we start our ride after a short introduction to the Icelandic horse and its special gaits. We cross the mountain plateau Hvammsheiði towards the Reykjahverfi area with its white steaming hot springs. Surely you will enjoy a relaxing bath in a warm outdoor tub before dinner at Saltvík farm and overnight stay. (4 - 5 hours)
Tuesday
Through the Geldingadalur valley and over the plateau Reykjaheiði
heath our trail leads us to the geothermal area of Theistareykir. At one
point we will practically cross over from one continental plate to another
as we ride over the midatlantic ridge! It is a fascinating area with deep
earthquake fissures, multi-coloured mountains and geothermal energy. With
all this volcanic activity going on here, it is easy to understand that
Iceland is still under "natural construction"! (6 - 7 hours)
Wednesday
Enjoy today´s ride from the Theistareykir area past the mountains
Gæsafjöll and Hrafnabjörg. We follow good riding tracks
through the mountains, past lakes and through bushy vegetation. At Grímsstaðir
Farm we leave the horses behind and take a nice hot bath in Jarðböð,
an outdoor pool with geothermal water. We continue to community centre
Skjólbrekka, where we stay over night. (6 - 7 hours)
Thursday
We start the day with an exciting sightseeing tour around Lake Mývatn by bus. Visit Dimmuborgir, fantastic black lava formations with rich vegetation. Our next highlight is the geothermal area of Hverarönd with boiling mudpools and steam vents. We saddle up again and head out of the Mývatn area. Through a black sand desert we ride into colourful Laxárdalur valley with glittering salmon River Laxá in the middle. A true day of contrasts in the ever changing Icelandic nature. Overnight at Saltvík Farm for the last two nights. (5 - 6 hours)
Friday
Enjoy excellent riding paths in the lovely birch wood area of Vatnshlíðarskógur and the great views on the shores of Lake Vestmannsvatn. We cross Laxá river on our way to Hraunsréttir, a place used by the farmers for their annual sheep round-up every autumn Over Hvammsheiði heath we ride back to Saltvík Farm where the warm outdoor tub is waiting. (6 - 7 hours)
Saturday
In the morning return to Akureyri by bus and flight back to Reykjavík
Domestic Airport with arrival at approx. 13:30. Last night in guesthouse
in Reykjavík.
Sunday
Transfer by bus to Keflavík Airport in time for the flight back
home.
EXTEND YOUR TRIP
Whale watching safari:
Iceland is one of the best place in the world for whale watching ..
Why not staying an extra night (breakfast included) after your ride for
a half-day whale watching tour?
(Transfers from and to your guesthouse included, airport return transfer
not included).
Self-driving tour in the South of Iceland: To discover other types
of Icelandic landscapes and the amazing volcanic activity of the island,
we suggest a 8 days / 7 nights self-driving tour in farmstays (breakfast
and unlimited mileage included).
HORSES AND REQUIRED RIDING LEVEL
The Icelandic horse is world-famous for his gait, the tölt, fast
and comfortable, that allows to cover long distances without tiredness.
Moreover, during our rides, each rider has several horses that he rides
in turn, the others following the ride in freedom. Limited tiredness for
each horse, and pleasure to ride among a heard of fifty horses or so in
freedom for the riders.
From 5 to 8h on horseback a day (30-40 km), without major technical difficulties,
but requiring an experience of long rides.
The guide is responsible for your safety, therefore he can ask you not
to ride if your riding level is not sufficient for this ride.
For your safety, we recommend always to wear a riding helmet while on
horseback.
See our special information sheet on Icelandic Rides.
YOUR GUIDES
The ride is supervised by a team of professionals of the trail ride in
Iceland that perfectly knows the Icelandic horses and the specificity
of the country.
ACCOMMODATION
Accommodation in guesthouses, mountains cabins and gîtes. Rustic confort, sometimes, there is only one shower for the all group. You'll sleep in made up beds.
DATES AND RATES
| Northern Iceland trail 2008 |
| Next departure on 2009 |
Flights to Reykjavik Please contact us to check the best available rate from your country.
|
Self-driving tour in the South of Iceland (8
days / 7 nights)
|
|
| Rate per person in double accomodation |
1430 €
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RATE INCLUDING
- the trail ride with 3-4 horses per rider- full board (except at Hafnarfjordur- Reykjavik, breakfast)
- english-speaking equestrian guide
- the financial guarantee of the deposits you send to Randocheval
RATE NOT INCLUDING
- tips
- drinks, the meals at Reykjavik
- the organisation of a possible tour through another region before or after the trail ride (consult us)
- any other prestation
- insurrance (cancellation, luggage, repatriation). You can subscribe to these insurrances only if you are an european resident. If you live outside European Union, please check with your local insurrance company.
BOOKING - INFORMATION
Contact us !
PRATICAL INFORMATIONS
COUNTRY
Iceland
LENGTH
8 days / 7 nights, 5 riding days
LANGUAGE
English.
GROUP SIZE
ACCESS
Reykjavik airport.
CLIMATE
However this period is really ideal seeing that the sun shines during the best part of the day.
Formalities
Check with your local Embassy according to your nationality.
Vaccines-Health
No specific vaccination, we recommend you to be up to date concerning
your usual vaccinations, in particular for the tetanus vaccine.
Remember that a repatriation travel insurrance is compulsory.
Compulsory disinfection of your used riding equipment - leather forbidden
(Protection of Icelandic horses from diseases absent from the island).
See our special information sheet on Icelandic
Rides.
REFERENCE :CH48-iceland-north
