Flexible-Length Lava Field Ride

Icelandic Horse Riding Tour & Pickup Option from Reykjavik runs through Íshestar Riding Tours. Rated 4.8 across 1,989 reviews. Runs 2 - 4.5 hours. From $129.

Overview

This ride from Íshestar's stables near Hafnarfjörður puts you on an Icelandic horse for 1.5 to 2 hours on trails that cross lava fields and run along green hillsides, about a 20-minute drive from Reykjavik. The full outing runs 2 to 4.5 hours depending on whether you add transfer from the city. Guides lead the way in English, and riders can look out for rocks, flora and fauna as they go.

The pace is matched to the group. Riders are assessed and split by ability, so a relaxed set mostly walks while the faster group trots and tolts, the smooth gait these horses are known for. That split makes the tour work for first-timers and for riders with some experience, and reviewers back this up, describing everything from a first-ever ride to extended paces with a short canter uphill.

Gear is handled at the stables. Everyone gets a helmet, rubber boots, rainwear or a warm overall in their size, and staff match horses to each rider. Bags cannot go on the ride but can be stored at the riding center. Pickup from Reykjavik can be added when booking, with drop-offs at many central bus stops and hotels afterwards.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Pickup or own arrivalDepending on the option selected, either meet directly at Íshestar Riding Tours in Hafnarfjörður or add pickup in Reykjavik when booking.
2. Arrive at the stablesGet fitted with a helmet, rubber boots and rainwear or a warm overall in your size, then be matched with a horse. Bags can be stored at the riding center.
3. Horse ridingRide for 1.5 hours through lava fields and along green hillsides, with the group split by riding ability so pace suits each rider.
4. Return to the stablesThe riding tour is 1.5 to 2 hours long, or 4 hours 15 minutes with transfer included.
5. Drop-offOptional. With the transfer option, riders are dropped at locations including BSÍ Bus Terminal, Harpa, Hallgrimskirkja, Skarfabakki Harbour and several central hotels.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points shape how this ride goes, from gear rules to how the group is split.

• Riding gear rules. Used riding gear such as boots, trousers, jackets, hats and gloves must be washed at 40°C, dry cleaned or disinfected before arriving in Iceland, and used leather gear may not be brought into the country.
• Mounting unaided. All riders must be able to mount the horse by their own strength. This is the one physical requirement the listing states.
• No bags on horseback. Backpacks and bags cannot be taken on the ride. They can be stored at the riding center while you are out, so plan to leave things there rather than on your back.
• Group split by pace. Riders are assessed and the group is divided, with the relaxed group mostly walking and the faster group trotting and tolting. One reviewer counted roughly 30 in the walking group and only a handful in the faster one, and one experienced rider said the split allowed them to ride at the different paces of the Icelandic horses.
• Weather gear provided. Helmets, rubber boots, rainwear or a warm overall are included in your size. One reviewer rode through wind and rain and said the whole group stayed comfortable thanks to the kit handed out.
• First-timers welcome. The tour is pitched at beginners to intermediate riders, and several reviewers described the tour working well across riding levels. Confident riders after galloping are pointed by the operator toward their Viking Tour instead.

Common issues. The pace may feel slow for experienced riders, and the summarized booking feedback notes some wanted earlier, clearer grouping and longer fast sections. Anyone wanting gallop should look at the operator's Viking Tour rather than this one, and riders must be able to mount unaided.

Picking A Ride