June 21- 30, 2010
$2,198 per person in twin room, plus roundtrip air from gateway city
*Alumni of past trips with The Trip Chicks®,
ask for the "loyalty traveler discount."
If you want to believe in magic, come with us to Iceland, a mystical land filled with delightful surprises. Located at the top of the world, amazing Iceland has visible "continental divide tectonic plates" separating Europe from North America, blue glaciers hiding extinct volcanoes, boiling hot water geysers, moon-like landscape used by NASA for astronaut training, a healthy Nordic people who speak an ancient language of the Vikings, towns said to be entirely overrun by elves, days when the sun never sets, & the world's most beloved horses.
For those who enjoy the outdoors, Iceland is a topnotch experience, full of scenery unlike any other place on earth. What better way to explore this striking land than on horseback! The good-natured, sturdy Icelandic horses are known around the globe for their beauty & docile character. This tour is perfect for novice to intermediate riders. Our own little "paradise," a half hour away from the northern capital of Akureyri, is a peaceful farm with over 100 of the sure-footed animals. Each day your guide leads you on memorable rides through the lovely countryside surrounding your "home-base" working Icelandic farm.
Though Iceland is technically part of Europe, Icelanders are very different from their neighbors on the continent. They have unique family names, formed by using their father's first names & adding a "son of" or "daughter of" ending. Did you know that people in Iceland are listed alphabetically by first name in the phone book? There are the toasty Icelandic outdoor pools, warmed by the bubbling geo-thermal springs just under the island's fragile crust. And where else can you scoop up a special silica mud from the mineral waters of the exotic Blue Lagoon & slather it on your face for that fresh-faced Scandinavian glow? Don't miss The Trip Chicks™ wonderful Iceland horseback & farm adventure. Reserve your spot today! Don't delay because there's no telling when the space on our Iceland adventure will disappear. Your getaway includes:
- 2 nights' Reykjavik central guesthouse in twin-bedded room with Blue Lagoon visit
- 7 nights' Icelandic horse farm twin-bedded accommodations (with shared facilities)
- 9 full breakfasts (B), 7 packed or picnic lunches (L), & 7 full dinners (D)
- Roundtrip flight from Reykjavik (capital city) to Akureyri (in northern Iceland)
- Roundtrip transfers from airport to Reykjavik lodging & Akureyri airport to farm
- Guided daily rides from farm to fjords, valleys, boiling pits, waterfalls, & fishing villages
- Services of English-speaking riding instructor/guide & American escort
- Safety helmet & rain gear for riding
**Travel protection insurance (yours or ours) is extra & is required on this trip. Call us about policies we recommend.
**Please allot about $150 per person for optional museum/sightseeing/admission fees & the extra meals not included in rate. (2 breakfasts, lunches, & dinners in Reykjavik on own June 22 & 23, days #/2/3)
Contact Wendy or Ann at PASSPORT TO ADVENTURE, INC. today! Phone 770 - 454 - 7205 - Fax 770 - 454 - 8486 thetripchicks@mindspring.com
Magical Iceland Horseback & Farm Itinerary
June 21 - U.S.A. to Reykjavik Fly Icelandair from Boston, arriving in Reykjavik at 11:40 the same night. (D)
June 21/22 - Reykjavik Welcome to Iceland! From Keflavik Airport, catch the FlyBus to guesthouse & rest up. The next day, explore Reykjavik. Later take a dip in the exotic Blue Lagoon thermal waters, said to have curative powers. Early risers may prefer an optional “Golden Circle” all-day tour. Before flying to Akureyri on June 23, enjoy free time in Reykjavik. (B)
June 23 thru 29 - Reykjavik to Akureyri Head to the domestic airport for a flight north to Akureyri. Later you are welcomed by your farm hosts, who drive you to their family farm 30 minutes away. After a tasty dinner, enjoy a brief tour of the farm, happy home to 100+ majestic Icelandic horses, 250 sheep, lambs, rabbits, chickens, 2 cats, & a friendly dog. Enjoy a delicious home-cooked dinner & get to bed early for a good night’s sleep. Tomorrow meet the horses! (B/L/D)
Almost every day after a hearty farm breakfast, explore northern Iceland on horseback with your experienced guide. En route, you are served a delicious picnic lunch & each evening, you return to a wonderful home-cooked Icelandic farm dinner. (B/L/D daily on farm)
Here is a sample of what’s in store for you during your vacation in the beautiful countryside of northern Iceland! A 3-hour horseback ride leads you to Hoefdi, a strategic hill overlooking the stunning fjords. Another memorable ride takes you to the tiny scenic island of Hrisey, where 200 inhabitants enjoy a peaceful rural existence just like their ancestors did centuries ago. Enjoy a ride to a quaint fishing village or perhaps the remote Latrarstrond beach along the craggy coast. Your guide might suggest a ride toward the lovely Leirdalsheidi mountains, and on another day, to the peaceful Enjoskadalur Valley.
After your Icelandic horseback skills get finely-tuned and the weather is just right, your hosts promise to take hardy souls on an exciting “wet ride” through one of the many crystal-clear streams of the area. The ride possibilities in this fascinating landscape seem almost endless & the Icelandic horses are gentle & docile companions each day.
During your farm holiday, you also visit Akureyri, the capital of the North, along with the famous Goðafoss, an impressive waterfall which played a role in the history of Icelandic Christianity long ago. Your farmhouse home-base is only a few miles away from Grenivik, the quiet fishing village where you can go shopping or swimming in the popular heated pool. Throughout this part of Iceland, old farmhouses made of turf have been passed down from generation to generation. Relax on a long walk in the pristine countryside, hop on a bike for a short scenic spin, or try your luck at fishing Iceland’s pristine glacial waters.
June 30 - Farm to Akureyri; flight to Reykjavik & to U.S.A. After a final hearty breakfast, ride from the farm to Akureyri airport for your flight back to the capital city. There make your connecting flight to Boston. Return home with memories for a lifetime. “Takk fyrir and bless” to Magical Iceland. (B)
Non-refundable deposit: $600 per person due by Feb. 10, 2010 (farm deposit & Akureyri air; checks only)
2nd installment: $599 per person due by Mar. 10, 2010
3rd installment: $599 per person due by Apr. 10, 2010
Final payment: $400 per person due by May 10, 2010
***Add $100 to tour total cost to reserve single room (shared bath) for 2 nights in Reykjavik.
