I’ll be heading to Iceland in a few weeks, so I wanted to see if anyone had any recommendations for horseback riding tours.
I obviously want to do something a bit more for experienced riders (definitely want to ride at a tolt, preferably a canter at some point). It has to be a half-day ride (so 2-3 hours).
Has anyone here ever done that? Does anyone have any recommendations?
Thanks!
I wish I could remember the name of the tour I went with when I visited Iceland years ago. It is a big company that usually has a spot each year at Equine Affaire. It was absolutely incredible- gorgeous scenery that would not have been accessibly by car or bus, and had an amazing ride. Definitely enjoyed playing with some speed despite our group of rank beginners to experienced riders, but the guides knew the terrain and the horses knew their jobs so it was fun for all. A friend of mine went a couple year and timed it right that her ride went through fairytale-like fields of flowers.
Yes!! I took my husband who is a non-rider, so we only did the shorter ride. Once he was comfortable, we did quite a bit of tolting, and I did a bit of trot and canter. We went to Lava Horses in Husavik. They were lovely - a northern European working student (Swedish I believe) was our guide - and they did a great job picking appropriate mounts for each of us.
I went on a several day ride in Iceland, we toured the Golden Circle. It was one of the most memorable experiences of my life. The tour group I used was Ishestar. I think they offer shorter, day rides, as well.
Honestly I don’t think you can go wrong, Iceland’s number one income is tourism. They take it seriously!
Have a great trip, plan for plenty of money to eat with, food was expensive. Credit cards are accepted every where, don’t bother exchanging too much currency.
I did it quite a few years ago and it was wonderful! I rode with Eldhesar and took the Hot Springs Tour. They picked me up at my hotel in Reykjavic. https://eldhestar.is/day-tours/5a-the-hot-springs-tour-to-reykjadalur-valley/
That’s a little too far north for us! We’re only going as far as Hofn and then heading back to Reykjavik. But I did look at their tours and thought they sounded great! Just too far, unfortunately.
Is this the one you did? https://eldhestar.is/half-day-tours/3c-horses-hot-springs/ This is the one I’ve actually been looking at if I couldn’t find a place that was geared more towards experienced riders.
August 2018 we did a six day ride over the Hekla territory and it was lovely. Great horses and the landscape was breathtaking. I booked with Equitours but would book directly with Hekluhestar if I did it again. Equitours sucked. We rode 150 miles and stayed in the most adorable earthen shepherd huts. We saw volcanos, had fresh trout for dinner and the group was international and we all became close! I would totally do it again. It was wet but great. Wonderful trip. They even told us the local mythology and sang old songs about it.
I think so, altho that doesn’t mention getting into the river - and we did! Of course that meant changing out pretty much in the open but I’m a child of the 70’s and had no issue with it. WOnderful experience!! As far as experienced riders go, there seemed to be a big variety in our group - I did NOT own up to how much experience I had as I really didn’t want the crazy horse LOL. We tolted and some folks jsut lagged a bit behind… no worries!
We booked a 4 hour “viking ride” through a national park just outside of Reykjavik a few years ago and really enjoyed it. We used this group: https://www.ishestar.is/en/. The only negative was that it wasn’t a private ride and some of the other riders had a bad habit of riding in a pile (about 7 other riders. We hung back and created some space). We rode all gaits, up and down hills, across flat lands and through spectacular scenery.
The horses were adorable, safe, and comfortable and the equipment clean and in good order. We stopped mid-ride for a snack / drink and to explore some caves. The stables were very clean and they had a nice waiting area for before / after the ride. I’d recommend them.
Have fun!
We used Solhestar - based in Olfus.
We were there in April, so off high tourist season, and we did a 4 hour ride (probably the best way to get in a more vigorous ride).
I’d highly recommend the longer ride, and we had so much fun with our tour guide as well as a delicious lunch at the owner’s house afterward!
We spent a cold but sunny morning tolting (you will almost certainly tolt on any tour), cantering, and pacing over hill and dale. My mom’s horse liked the flying pace, and overtook my little icey mare’s canter with ease on one straightaway!. We stopped to explore hot springs and to give the horses (and our bums) a break, and then stopped for a longer break alongside a stream. “Junior” the farm dog came along as well, because the stables were being painted that day.
We’d trot, tolt or canter along nice patches of the trail and then walk to let the horses cool down and for Junior to catch up.
To this day, one of my very favorite memories of Iceland is the feeling of my little icey mare powering up a hill at a full-out canter with a herd of horses thundering up the paddock next to us. It felt so wild and truly some of the best fun I’ve ever had on horseback!
Wherever you end up riding, you’ll probably have a blast, and fall in love with the rockstar forelocks of the icelandic horses (not to mention their personalities and surefootedness!)
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