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Horse riding tours in the East fjords – Summer 2017

6-days horse-riding tour with a free running herd into the magical mountains of the East fjords

Informations about the region can be looked up here www.east.is or www.icelandtravel.is/about-iceland/destination-guide/east/

Dates: 7.-13.August and 14.-20-August 2017

2-3 horses per person. Friendly and fine to ride, sure-footed and well trained – mainly private riding horses from very good breeding lines with mostly great gaits potential.

Full board, consisting of a rich breakfast, lunch box for the day, coffee and biscuits and a hot traditional icelandic dinner. Preferences of the participants (i.e. vegetarian) will be taken into consideration.

Accomodation in dorms in hostels, mountain cottages and on our farm Geirastaðir

Number of participants: 5-10 (adolescents are welcome) with advanced riding experience and good physical condition.

Price: 1500 Euro ( 1300 Euro for adolescents )

Inclusive : -6 horse-riding days -transfer from and to the domestic airport Egilsstaðir, transport of luggage to the different accommodations. -6 nights in dorms and full board.

(not included: entry to swimming pools/hotpot, alcoholic beverages).

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Description of the tours

Tour 1 Monday, 7

th of August until Sunday, 13

th of August

07.08. Geirastaðir, Húsey

We will meet at lunchtime on the domestic airport Egilsstaðir. Then we will go grocery shopping, to the swimming pool and have lunch together. After that we will go out to the countryside, about 40 km to our farm Geirastaðir. We will have coffee and biscuits, and then we will get to know the horses on a short ride to our neighbouring farm Húsey (www.husey.de). If we are lucky, we will see seals at the river Jökulsá or maybe a herd of reindeer on the way. The night is spent at Geirastaðir.

08.08: Start of the riding tour: Geirastaðir-Hóll

We will ride on the old mailing routes through the vast country of Hróarstunga, crossing the Lagarflót towards the mountains. The horses stay on the deserted farm Hóll on a pasture, while we go back and spend the night in Geirastaðir again.

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09.08. Hóll – Njarðvík – Borgarfjörður-eystri

We will ride through the open landscape along Sandi to the farm Unaósi, from which the route goes through black sand to the Gönguskarð-Pass, where it goes steeply uphill and later downhill into the bay of Njarðvík.

From that point it goes along the winding country road right beside the sea into the Borgarfjord (www.borgarfjordureystri.en) to the idyllic village Bakkagerði, where a lot can be discovered, such as the bird rock Hafnarhólmi, where hundreds of puffins and different seagull species hatch. Furthermore, there is a fairies hill to wander around, a cosy pub and a hotpot to relax. The night will be spent in the guesthouse „Borg“ with a stunningly beautiful view on the mountains.

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10.08. Borgarfjörður – Breiðavík

Today we will ride on a wonderful route across the mountains to the bay Breiðavík, where we will spend the night in a cosy hiking cottage. It is possible to ride towards the beach in the evening...

11.08. Breiðavík- Húsavík

We ride through the fascinating mountain world to Húsavík. In the evening it is possible to ride or drive to the beautiful little church of Húsavík. The night will be spent in the mountain cottage in Húsavík.

12.08. Húsavík - Loðmundarfjörður

Today we will ride over the mountains into the famous, beautiful, lonely Loðmundarfjörður. The night will be spent in the mountain cottage in Loðmundarfjörður.

13.08. We will drive you back through the mountains to Egilsstadir (ca 3 hours drive)

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Tour 2 Monday 14th of August until Sunday 20th of August 14.08. Arrival in Egilsstaðir, journey to Loðmundarfjörður

We will meet at lunchtime at the domestic airport Egilsstaðir where we pick up your luggage. If you want you can go grocery shopping, to the swimming pool and/or eat something. After that we will drive approximately 150 km through a beautiful landscape through the well-known fjord Borgarfjördur eystri (www.borgarfjordureystri.en) and further to the famous, beautiful, lonely Loðmundarfjörður where our horses were kept after Tour 1. We will have a joint evening ride so you get to know the horses. The night will be spent in the mountain cottage in Loðmundarfjörður.

15.08. Loðmundarfjörður- Húsavík

Today we will ride on a wonderful route with a great view on the mountains and the sea to Húsavík, where we will spend the night in a cosy hiking cottage. It is possible to ride to the little church of Húsavík in the evening

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16.08. Húsavík - Breiðavík

We start through the fascinating mountain world from Húsavík, across the famous mountain Hvítserkur and the lake Gæsavatn where we will turn to the next fjord, the bay of Breiðavík. The night will be spent in the mountain cottage in Breiðavík very close to the sea. In the evening you can ride to the beach with black lava-sand.

17.08. Breiðavík- Borgarfjörður-eystri

We go over mountain passes towards Borgarfjördur eystra. We will enjoy that beautiful place (www.borgarfjordureystri.en). There is a fairies hill to wander around, a cosy pub and a hotpot, right beside the sea, to relax. The night will be spent in the guesthouse „Borg“ with a stunningly beautiful view on the mountains

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18.08. Borgarfjörður-eystri – Hóll

According to the weather, we will ride either over the mountain pass Gönguskörð or along the road over the Vatnsskarð – both beautiful routes. On the other side of the mountain extends the vast Herað plain and we all have to work well together to keep the horses within the herd. The horses spend the night on the deserted farm Hóll on a pasture, while we go back and spend the night in Geirastaðir.

19.08. Hóll - Geirastaðir

The last day of the riding tour leads us along the big river Lagarflót to the old church Kirkjubær, where an old mailing route brings us directly to our farm Geirastaðir, where we will let the horses go into a well earned long break, while we will have a good dinner with roasted lamb. If you want you can drive to Húsey, our neighbouring farm, where seals and sometimes even reindeers can be seen.

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20.08. Geirastaðir, journey to Egilsstaðir

In the morning we will bring you back to the domestic airport respectively the bus station in Egilsstaðir and wish you a safe trip home or further journey on Iceland.

Equipment for all tours

• Sleeping bag, swimsuits, towel, leisure clothes for the evenings • warm, rain- and windproof clothing (hats, woolen socks and gloves, wintery

temperatures are possible) • riding helmet (can also be borrowed), 2 riding trousers and good riding and

hiking shoes. All used riding equipment must be desinfected when brought to Iceland!!!

Insurance regulations

Participation of the horse-riding tours takes place on your own responsibility, which is why you should have a valid travel/accident insurance.

More information, contact and booking:

Angelika Liebermeister , Geirastaðir 2, 701 Egilsstaðir/Island

eMail: angelika_liebermeister@web.de

Tel: 00354-8453006 or on facebook : Geirastadir-hestar or Angelika Liebermeister