Iceland is one of the few places in Europe where pure and unspoilt nature still exists. The best way to explore these landscapes is on horseback. Discover the Iceland of 100 or even 1000 years ago. Ride through endless meadows, hidden valleys, dormant volcanoes and high mountains. These shorter riding programmes offer the opportunity to combine riding with other activities in Iceland. On the day trips, you will be accompanied by one or two guides who will bring along lead horses for you to change. At the end of each day, enjoy a dip in the hot tub, an excellent dinner (buffet) and first-class accommodation at the hotel on the riding farm. You will stay in cosy double rooms with private bathrooms and internet access. In the evening, the bar invites you to relax and chat.

The tours include hand horses for changing, not free-running herds. There will also be a short walk in between and the pace is rather slow. These rides are also suitable for families. Children accompanied by their parents are welcome, provided they are confident in the saddle.

Itinerary

Iceland's natural wonders (5 days)
You will ride in the area around the Hengill volcano and on the beach, discovering the amazing contrasts of Iceland's natural landscape – from the rushing ice-cold waters of the Ölfusá river to the hot geothermal streams of Reykjadalur – on four exciting day rides. You will ride for 4-6 hours each day.

Day 1: Arrival and transfer. Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel at the riding centre.

Day 2: You start the tour on the plain along the large horse pastures and follow the course of the Gljúfurá river to an old cemetery, where you can enjoy the wide view over the river plain to the famous volcanoes Hekla and Eyjafjallajökull (weather permitting). You then follow soft meadow paths down to the sandy banks of the Ölfusá, Iceland's most water-rich river, and on to one of the islands in the Ölfusá delta. In summer, the islands are populated by a variety of colourful birds. After lunch in the midst of this impressive natural setting, you will ride at a brisk tölt along rivers and meadows to the green hills at the foot of the volcanic mountains, where many horses and sheep graze in summer. The way back leads along a beautiful bridle path along the Reykjafjall mountain with views of the vast landscape.

Day 3: In the Reykjadalur valley above Hveragerði, you will experience hot springs and bathe in a naturally warm stream. You will follow narrow bridle paths through the lava fields at the Hengill volcano. In this unique landscape shaped by volcanism, you will enjoy views of green hills, steaming springs and the Djúpagilsfoss waterfall. On the way back from the valley, you will have a spectacular view over the Ölfusá river to the sea, where you can see the Westman Islands in good weather. The way back leads along excellent bridle paths around the horse stables of Hveragerði and through a wide geothermal area. You ride through a wooded area along the Reykjafjall mountain back to the riding hotel, where coffee and cake await you.

4th day: After breakfast, you ride across meadows and through lava fields, past several farms. You ride on beautiful bridle paths between horse pastures and fields, which are ideal for long trots. In the afternoon, you will follow an old path at the foot of Mount Ingólfsfjall, named after Iceland's first settler, a Norwegian Viking. Green plains, bizarre rock formations and steep mountain slopes allow you to experience impressive contrasts in nature. Before heading back, you will visit a reconstructed Viking farm.

Day 5: Today's tour begins on the beach of the small fishing village of Thorlákshöfn. You ride along the beach until you reach the Ölfusá river. From here, you ride back to the riding hotel on soft sandbanks. Transfer back to Reykjavik or extension.


Ride around the volcano (4 days)
A short but exciting tour-style ride around the Hengill volcano: The horses stay in a meadow along the way, and you return to your comfortable hotel in the evening. You ride 4-6 hours daily.

Day 1: Transfer from Reykjavik to the farm between 5:30 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. After dinner together, you will be briefed on the details of the next few days.

Day 2: From Hveragerði, in the Ölfus district, you will follow an old route to Hellisheiði. When you reach the high moor, you will ride along the Kristnitökuhraun lava field towards the Hengill volcano. This lava field was created in the year 1000 during an eruption of Hengill. According to legend, this eruption was the revenge of the ancient gods Thor, Odin and Freyr, and it influenced the adoption of Christianity in Iceland. The journey continues between mountains and lava – milli hrauns og hlíðar – to Kolviðarhóll, where people have been resting for hundreds of years.

Day 3: You ride north at the foot of the Húsmúli and Hengill mountains. Through a narrow gorge, you reach the Marardalur valley, the valley of horses. The route continues over the Dyrfjöll (Gate Mountain), from where you have a magnificent view of Lake Thingvallavatn. The route then leads down the Jórukleif mountain. Here you will hear the story of the evil giantess who once lived here. The destination is Nesjavellir, a geothermal power plant.

Day 4: You ride up into the mountains, through a cliff crevice with a river flowing through it. After climbing another mountain, you ride along black sand until the grasslands gradually dominate the landscape. Next to a waterfall, you climb a hill and arrive in a green area with many hot springs. In the Reykjadalur valley, you have the opportunity to take a relaxing bath in the warm river. The way back leads along the river back to the village of Hveragerði. Before you ride down from the mountains, you have a magnificent view of the sea and the Westman Islands. Return transfer to Reykjavik in the late afternoon.


Best of South Iceland (5 days)
During this 5-day programme, you will experience some of the most beautiful riding areas in southern Iceland, including Maradalur, the valley of horses, and Reykjadalir, the valley of smoke. Another highlight is riding along the black lava beaches of the south coast. You will also experience Thingvellir National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the meeting place of the first Icelandic parliament, from horseback during the four days of riding. You will spend 4-6 hours in the saddle each day.

Day 1: Transfer from Reykjavik to the farm between 5:30 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. After dinner together, you will be briefed on the details of the next few days.

Day 2: You will ride through lava fields to the green hills at the foot of the Hengill volcano and continue on narrow bridle paths up into the picturesque Reykjadalur valley. The trail passes the beautiful Djúpagilsfoss waterfall and many steaming hot springs. In Reykjadalur, you will have the unique opportunity to bathe in a naturally warm river. On the way back from the valley, you will enjoy spectacular views over the town of Hveragerði and the Ölfusá river to the sea, where you can see the Westman Islands in good weather. The way back takes you along excellent bridle paths around the horse stables of Hveragerði and through a geothermal area with steaming springs, which dramatically expanded in 2008 after the strong earthquake in southern Iceland. Finally, you ride through a small pine forest along the Reykjafjall mountain back to the farm. Approx. 19 km, 5-6 hours.

Day 3: You start the day in Kolviðarhóll and ride along the Húmúli and Hengill mountains. Narrow bridle paths take you to the Engidalur valley. There you dismount and lead the horses through a narrow gorge into the beautiful Maradalur valley. Marardalur – the ‘Valley of Horses’ – is characterised by the eruptions of the Hengill volcano. The valley is surrounded by specially shaped rock formations and has a beautiful wide grassy plain in the middle. In earlier times, the Valley of Horses was used as summer pasture for cattle. It is a unique place with magnificent views and very good riding trails. Approx. 15 km, approx. 4 hours in the saddle.

Day 4: Today you will ride along picturesque trails through forest and lava in Thingvellir National Park, past the abandoned farms of Hrauntún and Skógarkot. The trail continues to the shores of Lake Thingvallavatn, Iceland's largest natural inland lake, and through impressive scenery past crevasses and gorges created by the movements of the American and Eurasian continental plates. From Gjábakki farm, you will have a good view of the valley, which is characterised by glaciers and volcanism, with the national park, Lake Thingvallavatn and volcanic mountains. You will follow old bridle paths almost to the Kringlumýri hut, where you will end the day's stage. Approx. 25 km, approx. 5 hours in the saddle.

Day 5: You will cross the Ölfusforir area, where you can see different species of birds. On a clear day, you can see the volcanoes Eyjafjallajökull and Hekla further to the east. The trail continues along beautiful meadow paths along the wide river delta towards the west until you reach the south coast and ride along the black lava sand beach to the fishing village of Thorlákshöfn. This is where your ride ends and you return to the riding centre. Approx. 24 km and 5 hours in the saddle. After a light refreshment, we return to Reykjavík at around 4:15 p.m., from where tour participants can take the bus to the airport or continue their travels in Iceland on their own.

Please note: Depending on availability, individual overnight stays may be in a hotel in the surrounding area (higher category, approx. 5 minutes transfer time)!
The order of the individual day rides varies!Day programmes
Would you like to experience one or two more highlights in the south of Iceland? Our day programmes from the riding hotel can be freely combined with all longer rides offered by our partner (code IE-). The combination programmes with sightseeing and puffin watching end in Reykjavík and are therefore ideal to book after your riding programme.
Our offer:

Combined riding & sightseeing: In the morning, you will go on a short ride in the volcanic area around the riding hotels (1.5–2 hours), and in the afternoon, you will drive to the Gulfoss waterfall, the Geysir and Strokkur hot springs, and the famous Thingvellir. This allows you to cover three of Iceland's most famous sights in one go.

Day ride to hot springs: Beautiful ride along the mountains in the Hengill Vilkans area. You ride across lava fields and pass bizarre rock formations. In the Reykjadalur valley, you will encounter many steaming springs and enjoy a dip in the warm river.

Day ride to the beach: Ride to the fishing village of Thorlákshöfn. You will ride along the black beach and through the wide delta of the Ölfusá, where many birds frolic. Green meadows and soft sandbanks lie between the riding stable and the coast. (Min. 4 people)

Accomodation
You will stay at the Reiterhotel in spacious double rooms (approx. 23 square metres) with private bathrooms. Single occupancy is available at an additional cost. Family rooms and triple rooms are also available. The hotel offers TV and internet in all rooms, a restaurant with excellent international cuisine, a bar, fireplace and hot tub. Towels are provided and hairdryers can be borrowed from reception.

A delicious buffet breakfast awaits you in the morning. Water, tea and coffee are included. In the evening, there is a 3-course menu for guests, always with a vegetarian option. Other meal requests can also be accommodated upon prior arrangement. Beer, wine and soft drinks are available at an additional cost. On the go, you can enjoy a picnic with sandwiches in the great outdoors.
Credit card payment is possible at the hotel

Saddle & Tack: Snaffle and Icelandic trekking saddles

Experience: You should have some riding experience. Experience in tölt is not required. Children are welcome if accompanied by their parents. Young people from the age of 16 also possible unaccompanied. Rider weight approx. 95kg.

Horses: Icelandic horses, stick size approx. 1.35 to 1.48m. There are very well-behaved, experienced horses for children and beginners, but also lively, easy to ride horses for advanced riders.