F
ICELAND ADVENTURE
ew travel destinations offer the adventure, the history, and the spectacular beauty of Iceland. The black ashes of recent volcanic eruptions and the bubbling hot springs remind visitors of the true power beneath the earth’s surface, while tall snow-capped mountains and lush meadows beckon them to explore further. Horses were brought to the island over a thousand years ago by the Vikings, and the animals have been isolated there ever since. As a result, the Icelandic horse is unique, known for its flowing mane and its tölt, a smooth running-walk gait. Experienced horseback riders are invited to join Adventure Women on a custom-designed riding trek. Offered only to women, the trip includes three nights at an Icelandic farm and two nights at a
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GLACIERS AND VOLCANOES ON THIS WOMEN-ONLY ODYSSEY
guesthouse in the countryside. The daily rides, which are quite strenuous, range from 12 to 20 miles per day through valleys, mountains, lava fields, and rushing rivers. Each woman rides up to six different horses during the trip, though the entire herd of nearly 70 horses accompanies the group most of the way. To end the week, the itinerary also includes a visit to the famous Blue Lagoon mineral hot pools, where guests can experience a well-deserved massage. To experience Iceland is to gain insight into the past in a way no longer possible in many other parts of the world. Iceland’s isolation has left much of the evidence of its long history intact, while the processes that formed our planet are so clearly and pristinely displayed. What better way to explore it than the way it was done for over a thousand years: aboard an Icelandic horse? PAGE 105