Sheep Round Up South Iceland

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Sheep Round Up South Iceland  

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Date 2017  September 14 – 19

We made this tour with our great Partners:  Exploring Iceland.

Join our wonderful team on an exciting tour to two different Sheep Round Ups. Imagine thousands of sheep coming down the mountains like a huge white wooly blanket leaving their highland summer pastures to be sorted and reclaimed by their owners. The ancient tradition of rounding up the livestock is kept alive in Iceland and truly an experience of a lifetime since you you are invited to be one of the group to herd and sort the animals. During our excursion day we will visit the Thjórsárdalur Viking Valley with its beautiful waterfalls and Viking farm Museum and walk along the black lava beach of the South Shore. During this time of the year we are also very likely to get a superb display of the Northern Lights although of course we cannot guarantee them.

 

Type:   Multi days tour to two different Sheep Round Ups.
Duration:  6 days / 4 riding days
Level of expertise required: Intermediate and experienced riders in good physical shape.
Area:  South  Iceland
Accommodation: 4 nights in made up beds in double rooms with shared facilities and hot tub, 1 night in Reykjavík hotel in double rooms with private facilities. Accommodation in Reykjavik before the tour is not included but can be arranged.

Meals: Full board during the ride. 

Optional: Farmers Round Up evening celebrations & Reyjavík Food Walk.

Included: Geothermal Natural baths Secret Lagoon.
Max: 10 guests.

Guide: English speaking.

Group: International

Maximum Weight: 110 kg

 

Detailed itinerary:

1 day Thursday  Reykjavík – Syðra-Langholt – Towards the Sheep

Meet & Greet with your guide at 8 am at the BSÍ Bus terminal in Reykjavík. If preferred we can arrange a pick up at your accommodation in the capital area between 7 and 8 am. We drive straight to the farm for an introduction to the route, tack and the special gait of the Icelandic Horse. This first riding day takes us through the lovely green fields of Hrunamannahreppur community. This area is known for its idyllic rolling hills and small family farms scattered in beautiful surroundings. We enjoy splendid views of the Langjökull glacier and Mt. Hekla in the background while we try out the tölt on good and easy riding tracks. As soon as we reach Skipholtsfjall mountain we can already hear the sheep! Accompanied by the sheep herders and their dogs the roughly 5.000 sheep come down the mountain slope in beautiful autumn colours  – a wonderful sight to behold! We follow the herd to the pastures at the paddock and leave the horses at a field nearby before driving to our accommodation for a lovely dinner and a relaxing bath in the hot tub! With a little luck we might even see the Northern Lights during the night!

Riding distance: ca. 18 km.

Accommodation:  Double rooms with made up beds and shared facilities. Hot tub on site.

 

2 day Friday Hrunaréttir  Sheep Round Up

After a plentiful breakfast we head back to the horses. Today we start the sorting of the sheep. All of them have a little identification number tagged to their ears and the courageous ones can try their luck in catching and sorting out the sheep together with the locals. But even if you don´t want to get into the hard work it is so much fun to watch the young and the old farmers happily working hand in hand! Sit on the sheep paddock and enjoy the view! After the sorting we follow the farmers with their herds back to their farms. There will be a lot of singing along the way! Back at our accommodation we relax in the hot pot and look forward to another one of Arna´s delicious meals!  Riding distance: ca. 18 km.

 

3 day Saturday Reykjaréttir Sheep Round Up –  Farmer´s ball

After a good breakfast we fix our lunch from the breakfast buffet and head out again – this time southbound towards Reykjaréttir a beautiful historic sheep paddock build with lava rocks. Here the Flóamenn people sort their sheep and we can take part again in the busy sorting. On our route we need to cross the salmon river Stóra-Laxá a couple of times. In the evening after dinner we have the opportunity to go to the original farmer´s ball where everybody meets to have a few drinks together and to celebrate the Round Up! (Optional: Entrance and transfer to be paid locally).  For the rest of us there will be the hot pots and (hopefully!) Northern lights at our cozy accommodation!  Riding distance: ca. 15 km.

 

4 day Sunday Late Brunch – Secret Lagoon Riding Tour

Today we give everybody a chance to sleep in after the farmer´s ball with all its dancing and singing! Arna prepares a lovely gourmet brunch for us before we saddle up and ride to the Secret Lagoon, a natural hot spring. The pool´s steam rising into the air gives the place a magical feeling. The warm water keeps a temperature of 38-40° Celsius all year round. Close by there is even a little Geysir which erupts every 5 minutes, showing off for us. Changing rooms with showers are on site. After a long and relaxing bath we saddle up again and ride back to the farm for dinner and a last hug for your wonderful horses! Riding distance: ca. 20 km.

 

5 day Monday  Sightseeing Thjórsárdalur Viking valley  – Eyrarbakki  Black Beach – Reykjavík

After breakfast we say good by to our lovely hosts Arna and Steini and go by bus onto a sightseeing tour into the beautiful Thjórsárdalur valley with its beautiful waterfall Hjálparfoss, the Viking farm reconstruction Thjóðveldisbær and the excavation of the old viking farm Stöng that was buried under ashes in a Mt. Hekla eruption in 1104. We take a little stroll through the beautiful Gjáin valley with its numerous waterfalls and splendid basalt columns and might even take a walk to the secret grave of a moutain king and his beloved horse.  Via the coastal town of Eyrabakki with its romantic old houses we drive towards the mountain pass Þrengslin back to Reykjavík. During the drive we will stop at a beautiful black lava beach to look for sea shells and seals! At Reykjavík we check in at the hotel and go for a lovely meal and an evening stroll in the old part of the town.

Accommodation: Skuggi Hotel, double rooms with private facilities. http://www.keahotels.is/en/hotels/skuggi-hotel/about-skuggi-hotel

 

6 day Tuesday Reykjavík Departure

Our tour ends with a good breakfast at the hotel! After checkout we recommend a Reykjavík Food walk with our friends from Wake Up Reykjavík!

We are more than happy to arrange additional nights and excursions for your in Reykjavík!

 

Exploring Iceland reserves the right to alter routes, itineraries or timetables should the necessity arise. The estimated duration of tours as indicated by km or timing can change according to road or weather conditions.

 

Included:

  • Guided Tour according to programme.
  • 4 nights in double rooms with shared facilities and hot tub.
  • 1 night in double rooms with private facillities in hotel in Reykjavík.
  • Full pension during the tour starting with lunch on the first day and ending with breakfast on the 6 th day.
  • 4 riding days according to programme
  • 1x visit to Secret Lagoon incl. towel on the 4th day.
  • English speaking guide.

 

Price per person: 356.600 Icelandic krones. 

for more informations or to book please contact us simmi@ridingtourssouthiceland.is or give us a call phonenumber: +354 7721299.