Combine a unique nature experience on horseback with a visit to Iceland's most famous natural wonders on this Iceland horse riding tour! While exploring the south-west of the island and the lonely but fascinating highlands on horseback, there is still plenty of time to visit the Icelandic highlights. The South Iceland horseback riding tour leads through valleys and meadows to the hidden valley of horses and continues along the shores of Iceland's largest inland lake to Ingvellir, where the Icelanders founded the world's oldest still existing parliament over 1000 years ago. You will ride to the geothermal area around the great Geysir and from there to nearby Gullfoss, which many consider to be the most beautiful waterfall in Iceland. You will cross the highlands between the glacial rivers Hvitá and Jorsá and visit Jófafoss, the waterfall of the thieves. Through Icelandic birch forests, you will reach the famous Hekla volcano, where this varied Iceland riding tour ends. After the daily riding stages, you will travel by minibus to nearby sights. On the third day, a visit to the Thingvellir valley is planned. This is where the Althing, the ancient Icelandic national assembly, used to meet and founded the world's first republic more than 1000 years ago. The next evening, you will spend the night near the Geysir, the famous hot spring that ejects water several metres into the air at regular intervals. Afterwards, you will visit Gullfoss, the golden waterfall, which is considered one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Europe.

Itinerary

Day 1: IndividualTransfer by airport bus to Reykjavík, where you will be picked up and taken to the riding centre in Hveragerdi. Transfer takes place between 5.30 p.m. and 6 p.m.

Day 2: After getting to know the horses and enjoying lunch together, you’ll ride from Hveragerdi to Hellisheidi. You’ll ride through the moor and lava fields to the Hengill volcano. Afterward, you’ll ride down to Kolvidarhóll, where Icelanders have been resting with their horses for centuries. Overnight stay at a farm. Riding time: 21 km / 4 hours.

Day 3: You’ll ride north along the base of the Húsmúli and Hengill mountains. At times, you’ll lead the horses through the narrow gorge to Marardalur (Valley of the Horses). Once you reach the summit after a strenuous climb, you’ll have a view of Thingvallavatn, Iceland’s largest lake. You’ll round out the day with a tour of the old Althing (Icelandic Parliament). From here, it’s not far to Skógarhólar, where you’ll spend the night in a mountain hut. Until 1978, Iceland’s national horse competition, “Landsmot,” was held in Skógarhólar. Riding distance: 38 km / 6–7 hours.

Day 4: Today you’ll ride through Thingvellir National Park. This is the area where the North American and European tectonic plates meet. The plates are drifting apart at an average rate of about 2 cm per year, creating a beautiful valley. You’ll cross the Lyngdalsheidi Moor and stop at the Laugarvatnshellir lava caves before ending your day’s ride just outside the village of Laugarvatn. Lake Laugarvatn is heated by underground hot springs. The bus will take you to the guesthouse. Afterward, you’ll visit the “golden waterfall” Gullfoss and the geyser field. Riding distance: 35 km / approx. 6–7 hours.

Day 5: You’ll continue riding up into the Icelandic highlands, leaving the inhabited agricultural areas behind and entering the desert-like landscapes of the highlands. You’ll spend the night in a mountain hut on the banks of the Litla-Laxá River. Riding distance: 35 km / approx. 6–7 hours.

Day 6: You’ll continue riding through the fascinating, vast landscape of the highlands, where you can literally hear the silence, all the way to Háifoss, Iceland’s second-highest waterfall. Today’s destination is the Hólaskógar Hut. Riding distance: 20 km / 4 hours.

Day 7: The tour continues along Iceland’s longest river, the Thjórsá. You’ll see Mount Búrfell, which was once home to trolls, as well as Tröllkonuhlaup (the spot where a female troll leaped across the river). After a few kilometers along the river, we’ll be treated to a magnificent view of Thjófafoss (the Thieves’ Waterfall), about which many stories are told. Riding distance: 45 km / 7 hours.

Day 8: You’ll ride all day with a view of Hekla, Iceland’s most active volcano, which was once called the “Gateway to Hell.” You’ll leave the horses behind in Fellsmúli. Around 3:30 p.m., the bus will first take you back to the riding stable, where we’ll have a light snack, and then on to Reykjavík, where the tour ends. Riding distance: 21 km / approx. 4 hours.

Subject of change!

Accomodation
On two days you will spend the night in guesthouses with 2-bed and multi-bed rooms. The remaining nights are spent in very simple mountain huts and in mattress dormitories. Not all accommodation has showers.

Saddle & Tack: snaffle and Icelandic trail riding saddles

Experience: You should have ridden regularly for at least 3 years and be able to ride other horses in all gaits without instruction. The riding pace is usually quite brisk at trot or tölt. For each rider ther are 2-3 riding horses available, which are driven along in a free-running herd.

Horses: You will, of course, be riding Icelandic horses. Hardly any other horse offers more ideal conditions for these riding tours: they are robust, extremely sure-footed, comfortable, tireless and reliable. You are sure to fall in love with this breed in no time.