Small but mighty! The Icelandic horse is a symbol of national pride and cultural heritage. They are known for their surefootedness and gentle nature, and they are famous for the Tölt, a gait unique to the breed, which makes them incredibly comfortable over great distances and rugged terrain. Riding an Icelandic horse in its homeland is an authentic experience you won’t forget. These horses are not only strong but also friendly and affectionate- they love a good cuddle!

On this tour, we’ll also be herding alongside free-running horses, a traditional way of traveling in Iceland. With a fast pace, you’ll switch horses at least once or twice a day!

Max rider weight: 110kg / 240 lbs

Did you know? Icelandic horses are the only horse breed in Iceland, kept pure for over a thousand years. No horses are ever imported, which means every Icelandic horse you meet carries a unique heritage found nowhere else in the world.

Important: All riding gear should be disinfected before traveling to Iceland, as horses here are not vaccinated. We will provide additional information about disinfecting gear at the time of booking.

Accommodation: 4 nights in comfortable shared rooms in farm house accommodation, and 2 nights in mountain huts with sleeping bags. Please bring your own sleeping bag or let us know in the booking that you want to rent one from us. Accommodation before and after the ride are to be arranged individually.

Food: The menu consists of a large breakfast and traditional Icelandic meals (fish or lamb). Vegetarian meals are available on request when booking. All riders make their own packed lunch from the breakfast table.

• €3490 per person

• Optional add-ons:

  Single room supplement: €150

  Renting a sleeping bag: €50 per person

  Renting a safety vest: €75 per person

  Visit to Sumarliðarbaer breeding stable and exclusive hot pools: €90 per person

Included:

• Bus transfer from Reykjavík to the farm

• 6 nights shared accommodation

• Full board (all meals provided)

• Rainwear, water bottle, saddle bag, and riding helmet

Not Included:

• Flights to and from Iceland

• Travel insurance (We recommend arranging your own travel insurance before your trip to Iceland)

• Alcoholic beverages are not included in the tour price and are hard to get in the highlands.

• Sleeping bags are not included but are available for rent upon request

Distance: 10-20 miles/15-30 km per day

Ride Time: 5-7 hours/day

Day 1: Getting started (Reykjavik - Hafnarfjörður- Minnivellir)

We will pick you up at the BSI Bus Terminal in Reykjavik around noon and drive to the riding center. There we will start to pick out our riding equipment (helmet, saddle), that we will keep for the rest of the tour. Then we will meet our horses of the day and start our introductory ride. We will venture through vast lava fields and hills covered in lupins towards the volcano Helgafell. This mountain was formed through an eruption under a glacier during the last ice age and though not very high (338m), it is a landmark towering over its surroundings. Our ride will take us around it through outlandish landscapes and surprisingly green oases. After the ride we will pack our gear (plus rain gear, just in case) into the trailer and then enjoy a coffee while watching the horses and waiting for dinner. After the dinner we embark our bus for a 1,5 hour drive to our base for the following days: The farmhouse Minnivellir. There we move in and enjoy the beautiful views of the surrounding volcanoes Hekla, Eyjafjallajökull and Burfell.

Accommodation: Minnivellir 

Day 2:  Towards the Volcano (Minnivellir – Rettanes – Rjupnavellir)

Today we ride towards the majestic Hekla volcano. The landscape changes from lush fields to ash and sand dunes with sharp lava rocks: Both testimonies of the power of Hekla's eruptions. We reach Rangá river and have our lunch break at a historical sheep round-ups. After lunch we cross Rangá river and ride closer to Hekla until we reach Rjúpnavellir, where we leave our horses and drive back to Minnivellir for the night. 

Accommodation: Minnivellir
Riding distance: ca. 30 km.

Day 3:  Entering the Highlands (Rjupnavellir - Landmannahellir)

After a nice breakfast and a short drive we start our ride into the highlands. With a view of the Hekla volcano we climb up into the mountains, through black sand and past small lakes until we reach the remote valley Landmannahellir. 

Accommodation: Landmannahellir
Riding distance: 35 km.

Day 4:  The Kaleidoscope of Iceland's colors (Landmannahellir)

After an exhilarating ascent up to the highlands, we leave the herd behind for a well deserved rest and go on a single horse ride exploring the area. After a warm lunch in the hut we go by bus to Landmannalaugar passing through an obsidian field and experiencing the colors change from greenish black lava fields to the blue-yellow-reddish of the rhyolite mountain ranges in Landmannalaugar. In Landmannalaugar we will have time to enjoy a soak in the thermal hot spring as well as a hike through the area. Then we return by bus to out hut in Landmannahellir for a warm dinner and a cozy evening.

Accommodation: Landmannahellir
Riding distance: 40 km.

Day 5:  The Gateway to Hell (Landmannahellir – Rjúpnavellir Summer Cottages)

We leave the scenic Landmannahellir area and ride north of Mt. Hekla volcano, down from the highlands. A desert of black ash and light pumice is a witness to numerous eruptions of this volcano, the most active one in Iceland and known as the Gateway to Hell. Rjúpnavellir cottages are our first step back into “civilization”.  We leave the horses there and drive back to Minnivellir for a cozy evening.

Accommodation: Minnivellir
Riding distance: 35 km.

Day 6:  Winding Down: (Rjúpnavellir – Skarfanes - Minnivellir)

Our last riding day leads us west of Mt. Hekla volcano and around the big lava field ‘Merkurhraun’, that is about 6000-8000 years old. We ride alongside the mighty river Þjórsá and past the beautiful waterfall Þjófafoss that shows another, rather positive side of Mt. Hekla's  eruptions: fertile farmland. We ride through lush green fields  and cross the rivers Ytri-Rangá and Eystri-Rangá. 

(Optional: Visit to Sumarliðarbaer breeding stable and exclusive hot pools.)

Riding distance: 35 km

Day 7: Returning to Reykjavik

Today we pack, bid our horses farewell, and return to Reykjavik.

Fly to: Keflavík Airport (Reykjavik International Airport)

Airport Transfer

We recommend booking your transfer between Keflavík Airport and Reykjavík with Reykjavik Excursions’ Flybus service. It is reliable, comfortable, and runs both ways, waiting for passengers after each flight arrival. The bus departs from just outside the airport terminal and takes about 45 minutes to reach the BSI Bus Terminal in central Reykjavík. This is where most rides begin, and it is where you will be picked up to start your adventure!

Departure Times: The Flybus departs approximately 35-40 minutes after each flight arrival.

Booking: You can book your Airport Direct Ticket to and from Reykjavík.

Buses are located just outside the terminal building.

Liability:
Our ride operator reserves the right to alter routes, itineraries or timetables without prior notice, should the necessity arise and depending on road or weather conditions.

Insurance:

Individual travel insurance is not included in the tour price. We encourage all guests to contact their travel insurance before visiting Iceland.

Make sure to bring comfortable riding clothes and shoes! We recommend high riding boots with a heel, but low boots are also acceptable. Make sure to bring a couple pairs of comfortable shoes, such as hiking or rubber boots, in case they get wet.

Cleaning and Disinfecting Riding Gear: All riding gear (trousers, jackets, etc.) must be washed at 40°C or dry cleaned before arriving in Iceland. For items that can’t be washed (boots, helmets), clean and disinfect them at least five days before your trip. We recommend using Virkon S for disinfecting.
Please note that used riding gloves, whips, saddles, bridles, chaps, or other leather items are not allowed to be brought into Iceland.
Note: Iceland has no contagious animal diseases, and the horses are not vaccinated. To protect their health, we ask for your help in following these guidelines. For more information, visit www.mast.is.