Ride Icelandic horses

Tours start from stables located 10- to 30-minutes’ drive from Reykjavik, with transfers included in the tour price. All equipment, including rainwear, is included.

Short rides are offered daily, all year round. Multi-day tours generally run from mid-May to mid-September. Start times vary by operator.

Ishestar is the closest stables to Reykjavik and runs day rides, plus longer Northern Lights, highland and countryside tours to Gullfoss and Geysir. All abilities are welcome.

Eldhestar is one of Iceland’s oldest established stables. They run half-day and whole-day trips. Day trips take in volcanic beaches, mountains and hot springs.

Islenski Hesturinn is another good option for small group tours, and they also offer personalized options for more experienced riders.

Last, but not least, the excellent Skalakot Manor Hotel has its own stable and runs horse treks from its own grounds into the surrounding wilderness.

Horse riding is only practical in Iceland when weather permits i.e. when there’s no snow on the ground. That makes summer and autumn the best times to do it: most providers will offer rides from around April until October, but it does depend on conditions. If it’s very wet, tours may be cancelled at short notice for safety reasons.