The Icelandic Horse Championship 2010 will take place at Vindheimamelar in Skagafjörđur between June 27th and July 4th.
This event is absolutely the highlight of breeding and competition of the Icelandic horse in Iceland and the world.
It is also the meeting point for thousands of Icelandic horse lovers from all around the globe.
This program offers you the perfect opportunity to see the brightest stars of the Icelandic horses in the arena
and to experience riding some fantastic horses in their natural environment.
For many people worldwide the Icelandic horse is a treasure from the Viking time that has been preserved in Iceland for more
than 1100 years.
Skagafjörđur area has been the cradle of horse breeding in Iceland for centuries. By visiting some historic places like Hólar and Kolkuós on horseback,
you get a strong connection to the history and the breed for you are indeed travelling on the paths of the settlers. You also get the feeling
for how the Icelandic Horse was used through the centuries and how this strong "breeding blood" was collected in this area.
Duration
9 days / 8 nights - 4 riding days, 3 days at Landsmót
Departures
Tour A: 27.06. - 05.07.2010
Tour B: 01.07. - 09.07.2010
Daily rides
ca. 15 - 20 km
Riding skills
Suitable for a little up to highly experienced riders
Accomodation
Hotel in Reykjavík, in Skagafjörđur made up bed 2 - 4 pers. in a room. One night sleeping bag accommodation in a mountain hut
Number of participants
min: 4, max: 12
Itinerary Tour A starts with the riding tour and ends with the visit to Landsmót
(Itinerary for Tour B you finde here)
Sunday, Day 1
After your flight to Iceland our agent will meet you at Keflavik airport around 04:00 PM and take you to the domestic
airport in Reykjavík. You take the plane up North to Sauđárkrókur where our guides welcome you. After 30 minutes driving we arrive at
Hólar where we spend the first two nights. As well as being one of the most historical sites in Iceland, Hólar University has the best known research-
and education centre in the country. After dinner, we have a nice and relaxing evening in this charming place.
More information about Hólar you find here.
In case you arrive earlier in Iceland, please let us know where we can meet you.
Monday, Day 2
The breakfast at the restaurant in Hólar is a nice start of the day. We drive about 20 minutes to a farm in Hegranes where we
meet our horses who accompany us the following days. We saddle up and after a short introduction we carefully train and adapt our
riding skill to ride with a hand horse. With the open Atlantic Ocean on our left hand we follow an excellent riding trail that leads
us across the valley floor to the farm Enni. From there we follow the trail of the settlers from the 9th century over
Hrísháls down to Hjaltidalur and then further on to Hólar. After the first riding day a relaxing bathe in the natural heated hot tube
at the swimming pool is highly appreciated before we have dinner at the restaurant.
Tuesday,Day 3
After an informing visit to all different sections at Hólar, we mount our horses again and leave nowadays civilization.
We ride into the silence of the mountains and head to the desolated valley Kolbeinsdalur through Víđinesdalur from where we
enjoy a magnificent view. Today we spend the night in the cozy mountain cabin Fjall in Kolbeinsdalur.
Wednesday, Day 4
After a peaceful night at Fjall we head to our next destination Kolkuós. Kolkuós (or in earlier years Kolbeinsárós) was an important
Viking harbor in the 9th and 10th century. Today archeologists work there and found already a farm under the ash from the Hekla volcano
eruption 1104.
There is no other place in Iceland which is so strongly connected to the Icelandic Horse as Kolkuós. In the year 930 the first horse
mentioned by name ("Fluga") arrived here by ship. Many years later a man called Sigurmon lived at the farm Kolkuós. He was a very
famous and successful horse breeder. From 1940 to 1950 he laid the foundations of the still famous "Kolkuós line" in the Icelandic horse
breeding. From Kolkuós we follow the cost line up to Brimnes where we leave the horses. We drive to Varmahlíđ and spend the night at
Steinsstađir. A bath in the hot tube of the swimmingpool is well appreciated after the riding.
Thursday, Day 5
This is our last riding day. With a beautiful view over Skagafjörđur with its prominent islands Drangey and Málmey,
our trail leads us along the sea-shore of Brimnesskógar back to Hegranes, where we started our tour. After we have said good bye to our horses,
we drive back to our guesthouse, where we make a short stop before we go in the late afternoon to Landsmót at Vindheimamelar where we enjoy
the festival through the night.
Friday, Day 6
After breakfast - a day at Landsmót
Saturday, Day 7
After breakfast - another day at Landsmót
Sunday, Day 8
After breakfast we pack our luggage and make ready to fly to Reykjavík tonight before we enjoy the last day at Landsmót.
When Landsmót is over it is time to say good bye to "friends and facility" and go to the airport at Sauđárkókur.
You spend the last night at a Hotel in Reykjavík.
Monday, Day 9
Transfer by the Flybus to the international airport Keflavík right in time for your flight home.
Price: 1.980 EUR per person
Included in the price:
- all ground transportation from Keflavík to Keflavík
- domestic return flights Reykjavík - Sauđárkrókur
- all ground transportation through the tour
- 6 nights in made up beds in 2-4 persons room
- 1 night sleeping bag accommodation in mountain cabin
- 1 night in a hotel in Reykjavík, twin /dbl room with private facilities, breakfast incl.
- full board on the riding days from dinner on day 1 until lunch on day 5 (from day 6 to 9 only breakfast)
- 4 riding days, 2 horses per person
- transportation of luggage
- all needed saddle gear, helmets, rainwear
- entrance fee for all services at Hólar
- 4 interesting days on horseback
- entrance to Landsmót
- from day 5 to day 8 two times a day transportation to / from accommodation - Landsmót
- English and / or German speaking guidance
