Best horse tours in Iceland from Reykjavik

If you're looking for things to see and do in Reykjavík that include Iceland's natural beauty, but want to go for an idea that's more entertaining and novel than just a hike, then take part in a horseback riding tour of the southern part of the country.

Most of them are pretty good, but I 've done my research on the best of them all so you can choose from top-notch alternatives, at the best price and with different approaches to suit all tastes.

The first thing to bear in mind when considering a tour of the Icelandic countryside with Icelandic native horses is that these animals are quite different from the type of European or American horse you may have in mind.

They are shorter in stature, have more significant muscle mass in their legs and long, fluffy coats characterise them.

So by participating in a tour of the island's landscape on one of them, you get to connect not only with a true feat of biology and animal adaptation to their environment, but you can also imagine first-hand what life was like for the Vikings who used them as their main means of transport.

The tour is guided and also usually includes a snack where you can choose from tea indigenous to Icelandic culture, coffee or hot chocolate.

This type of tour takes in the area of the field outside Reykjavík, the Reykjanesfólkvangur nature reserve, where you can enjoy a landscape full of ancient lava formations and all sorts of small lakes and craters that are also above a geothermal field.

This is just as convenient if you're looking for things to do in Reykjavík in winter or if you need to find plans to enjoy Reykjavík in summer.

While summer days may be more favourable if you're fleeing the cold, the accumulation of snow on winter evenings is a scene worthy of a movie.

Details of interest

• Prices: A tour of the park is usually around 96 euros per adult and 73 euros for children between the ages of 8 and 15. These are the rates for those who come to the stable on their own, as for an additional 12% you can book a pick-up and drop-off at your accommodation or at a bus stop near that point in the city.
• Duration: The tour as such usually lasts about 2 hours maximum, but keep in mind that the pick-up time from the hotel is around 10 am and the return is set for around 4 pm.
• Conditions: You must be at least 8 years old to ride the horse and adults must always accompany children under 18 years old. You must arrive 30 minutes before the time indicated in your booking if you arrive at the stable on your own.
• Advantages: On this type of tour you are provided with all the necessary equipment to be able to enjoy horseback riding in the outskirts of Reykjavík without limitations. This includes riding helmets, rubber boots, windbreakers for the rain or an extra coat if necessary.

The idea of a well-planned trip is to optimise time and budget in order to do as many things as possible in the shortest possible time and without spending too much in the process.

For this reason, an equestrian tour with Icelandic horses combined with a short whale watching boat trip is a perfect plan for those interested in interacting with both wonders of nature.

The service of the equestrian tour service is basically the same, as you have the option of getting to the stable where the tour starts and this is not a difficult thing to do knowing that it is a 20-minute drive from the centre of Reykjavík.

Transfers to and from the hotel are also available for an additional fee and include the necessary equipment to ride in complete comfort and safety. The scenery you ride through is also in the same place, i.e. the surroundings of the Reykjanesfólkvangur nature reserve.

Next on the itinerary is the transfer to take you to the old port of Reykjanesfólkvangur, where the boat will be waiting to take you to the second stage of the tour, which usually takes about 2 or 3 hours more.

The intention is for you to see live minke and humpback whales, white-beaked dolphins and porpoises as well as other marine life in this protected wildlife sanctuary.

However, the people running these whale watching tours in Reykjavik are aware that there is a chance you may not see some of these animals and will offer you a complimentary ticket for another available date if you don't get the experience you are looking for.

Interesting details

• Pricing: Firstly, you should be aware that due to the limited space on the boat you will only be able to purchase tickets in groups of 5 passengers. At the same time, it is logical that they are a little more expensive due to the addition of a completely different activity in the itinerary and therefore usually cost around 190 euros per person.
• Means of transport: if you choose the hotel pick-up service, you will be picked up in a minibus and the boat used for this experience has nothing to envy to the rest of those used in boat tours and cruises in Iceland. It is quite comfortable and completely safe.
• Duration: if you add in the whale watching activity, I can say that this type of tour lasts about 5 or 6 hours if you also calculate the transfers and the short break for snacks in the barn.
• Advantages: with a tour like this you get to do two things on your itinerary in one day for one fee. However, it is also feasible and respectable to pay for both separately if you find the pace too strenuous.

Among the excursions that combine several attractions in the same itinerary, I show you what is perhaps the most interesting of them all.

This is a tour that will take you from the centre of Reykjavík to Thingvellir National Park with the intention of touring it thoroughly before you start your ride through the countryside near the Icelandic horse stable.

On this visit to Thingvellir National Park in Iceland you will stop at the canyons formed by the continental collision between the European and North American plates. You will also see the Gullfoss waterfall and finally tour the Geysir geothermal area.

All this while you travel from one point to another in a luxury bus that includes on-board wifi and air conditioning to avoid the cold that characterises Icelandic territory.

It includes the accompaniment of a local English-speaking guide and also an audio guide in 10 languages, including Spanish, for the bus sections. Meals are also usually included, as well as special equipment for the riding session you will have at the end of your visit to these iconic sites in the south of Iceland.

Please note that the age restrictions for children who can join the horseback riding tour are the same as for the other alternatives. That is, they must be over 8 years old and all children under the age of 18 must be accompanied by their parents.

Interesting details

• Prices: 150 euros is usually the price for an adult wishing to participate in this excursion, while children usually pay around 80 euros. Remember that these rates are for packages that include an early morning pick-up from your Reykjavík hotel, as prices for those who need to get to the bus station are usually around 10 euros less.
• Duration: A tour of this style can take up to 11 hours if you add in the time lost on the journey and lunch stops. As for the horseback riding tour, you should know that it is identical to the other options, i.e. it lasts approximately 2 hours.
• Advantages: by participating in these trips from Reykjavík you get to see all that Thingvellir National Park has to offer, with the great benefit of closing the day with a horse riding session. This is something quite special, knowing that horses are a real luxury in many parts of the world.

I can give you several recommendations to make your horseback riding tour in South Iceland an enjoyable event, but without a doubt the first and most important of all is to wear comfortable clothes.

You have to appreciate the fact that horseback riding is an activity that is full of friction and therefore the trousers you choose for it have to be soft, durable and warm enough to keep you warm in the cold Icelandic weather.

Don't hesitate to bring your own hydration, as you can't be sure how often you'll be able to buy bottled water or whether you'll be offered filtered, drinkable water at the stops further away from the stable and Reykjavík.

I would also advise you to make the most of the experience and understand that it is a real privilege to be able to ride alongside such a unique and authentic variation of Icelandic horses. And the truth is that as soon as you meet them you will realise that they look very special compared to the horses you have probably met in your life.

Finally, I recommend you to be as punctual as possible to be at the pick-up point, either at your hotel or at the bus terminal in Reykjavík. All alternatives require you to be on site 15 minutes in advance, as no driver will wait for you if you are not there by the time they arrive.

This is a basic rule that applies to all types of excursions, such as those that take you along the south coast of Iceland from Reykjavík or those that are designed to visit the Seljalandsfoss waterfalls from Reykjavík.

The first reason I can highlight is that this is a fun, low-risk activity that lets you get in direct contact with Iceland's natural beauty without having to walk too far away from the built-up area of Reykjavík.

The second reason could be the fact that this is an extremely family-friendly plan that can be very interesting for your children or your young companions if they are old enough to get on a horse.

In fact, this is a favourite activity to include in your list of things to see and do in Iceland if you are travelling as a family.

The third reason is that it's an enjoyable activity for everyone, as long as they don't have any physical limitations. It is also something that is relatively inexpensive if you seriously consider that horse riding is an expensive sport and anything involving horses is expensive everywhere in the world.

So it is a plan that helps you in a way to entertain yourself without having to unbalance your budget too much. This will allow you to have more money for other activities such as visits to Reykjavík's best hot springs. You'll also be able to take part in any other excursions, festivals or events that take place during your visit to this beautiful island nation.