Environmental policy

Eldhestar believes that the natural environment and wilderness of Iceland are unique assets that need protecting. Dedicated to ecotourism, it considers the environmental impact of all its decisions in developing new tours, trails and facilities. Horse travel is undoubtedly one of the most ecological modes of transport. Eldhestar encourages its guides, staff and guests to always be aware of protecting and improving the environment.

Eldhestar´s environmental policy states:

Thoroughly inform and prepare all guests for each tour and encounter with nature and sensitive eco systems and train them to minimize any negative impacts when visiting sensitive areas, including prohibiting taking samples or souvenirs.
Encourage small sized group tours to minimize environmental impact and provide enough guides to adequately control the group.
Foster environmentally sensitive practices in all staff, guides and guests and apply environmentally sound practices to all Eldhestar decisions.
Educate guides thoroughly in ecology, geology, plants and
animals, equipment, safety, local practices, and Eldhestar environmental policies.
Follow sound ecologic practices for recycling, waste management and use renewable resources, locally grown organic products and home made cuisine and work with all local and governmental authorities to further responsible environmentalism.
Minimize environmental impact of all accommodations selected and new buildings, trails, and tours, a central policy in the designing of Eldhestar´s new hotel that opened n 2002.
Encourage guests to contribute to nature conservation projects such as tree planting and developing new riding trails in order to disperse tourism and lighten the load on popular riding trails.

Eldhestar is dedicated to the principles of ecotourism. Eldhestar believes that the natural environment and the wilderness of Iceland are unique assets that need protecting. Eldhestar considers the environmental impact of all its decisions on the new hotel, new trails, tours, and facilities.

Eldhestar´s environmental policy has ten basic rules:

Prepare all guests for each encounter with sensitive eco systems, geological formations, native plants and animals and train them to minimize any negative impacts when visiting these sensitive areas.
Encourage small sized group tours to minimize environmental impact, provide enough guides to have adequate control of the group
Avoid crowded, over-visited, environmentally-degraded sites.
Train guides and staff how to reduce environmental damage by tour groups and apply environmentally sound practices to all Eldhestar operations.
Educate guides thoroughly in ecology, geology, plants and animals, equipment, safety, local practices and Eldhestar environmental policies.
Warn guests specifically not to take samples or souvenirs since their removal may do lasting damage to sensitive sites
Work with local people and all appropriate governmental authorities to foster sound environmental procedures at Vellir, Eldhestar´s home farm, and at all tour sites
Follow sound ecologic practices for recycling, waste management and use renewable resources, locally grown organic products and offer home made cuisine.
Assess the ecological and environmental impact for all new buildings, trails, and tours. Environmental impact has been a major part of the planning for the new hotel that opened in 2002. Select accommodations based on their impact on the local environment.
Further Eldhestar´s commitment to nature preservation by encouraging guests to contribute to nature conservation projects such as tree planting and developing new riding trails in order to disperse tourism and lighten the load on popular riding trails.