Ride Overview
This tour includes half day tours and a day tour on horseback, relaxing in thermal pools and sightseeing to the most famous natural sights in South Iceland. After the morning ride you warm up at lunch with soup and coffee at our comfortable hotel before you continue with riding, bathing in Hveragerðis excellent thermal swimming pool or sightseeing.
On the last day you have an excursion to the beautiful Gullfoss waterfall, the hot springs at Geysir and Thingvellir National Park. When the sky is clear and the Aurora Borealis forecast promising, you can just walk outside to observe the stunning phenomena or we drive where the chances to watch the Northern Lights are the best.
***Note: This tour is dependent on weather and Northern Lights sightings are not guaranteed. The transportation from airport to Reykjavík & Reykjavík to airport is not included.
2024/25 Dates: Oct. 7-10, Oct. 14-17, Oct. 28-31, Nov. 4-7, Nov. 18-21, Jan. 27-30, Feb. 10-13, Feb. 24-27 , March 10-13, March 17-20, March 31-April 3, April 7-10, Sept. 29-Oct. 2, Oct. 6-9, Oct. 13-16, Oct. 27-30, Nov. 10-13, Nov. 17-20
Rates (through April 2025):
Hotel Accommodation: Oct. 2024-April 2025: $1,645.00 USD per person sharing (or 1,350€ ) Single supplement on request.
Guesthouse Accommodation: Oct. 2024-April 2025: $1,355.00 USD per person sharing (or 1,085€) Single supplement on request.
We also have a 6 day program available which offers all tours on the shorter option as well as whale watching.
2024/25 Dates: Sept. 23-28, Oct. 7-12, Oct. 14-19, Oct. 28-Nov. 2, Nov. 4-9, Nov. 18-23, Jan. 27-Feb. 1, Feb. 10-15, Feb. 24-March 1 , March 10-15, March 17-22, March 31-April 5, April 7-12, Sept. 29-Oct. 4, Oct. 6-11, Oct. 13-118, Oct. 27-Nov. 2, Nov. 10-15, Nov. 17-22
Rates (through April 2025):
Hotel Accommodation: $1,165.00 USD additional fee per person sharing (or 900€) Single supplement on request.
Guesthouse Accommodation: $885.00 USD additional fee person sharing (or 455€) Single supplement on request.
Included
- 3 nights accommodation
- 2.5 days of riding
- Half day excursion to the Golden Circle
- All meals but dinner on the last night
- Horse and all tack
- Transfer to/from Reykjavik city
- All local taxes
Not Included
- Airfare
- Travel insurance
- Airport transfer to Reykjavick city
- Dinner on the last night
- Gratuities for the team at the end of the stay
Day 1
Evening Arrival.
The tour begins in the evening. Guests who arrive in Iceland on the same day may take the airport shuttle “Flybus” (Reykjavik Excursions) from the airport to Reykjavík (BSÍ bus terminal). You will pick you up at BSÍ or at your hotel / guesthouse between 17.30 and 18.00 and drive to Eldhestar’s farm Vellir near the village of Hveragerði (ca. 40 minutes driving), where you will be staying either at Hotel Eldhestar or at Guesthouse Eldhestar (according to your booking).
An information letter with a detailed description of the following days will be offered upon arrival. The day ends with dinner at Hotel Eldhestar.
Day 2
Meadows, Mountains & Winter Warmth.
After breakfast, your guide meets you for a short introduction in the stable. The guide will provide the necessary riding equipment (riding helmet, warm overall or rain gear) and start with a short riding demonstration as you get to know the horses during a few rounds in the paddock.
Today you ride 4-4.5 hours, starting with the tour Meadows and Mountains. You ride on soft trails along the meadows surrounding the farm, a good opportunity to get familiar with the special gait of the Icelandic horse, the “tölt”. You then follow the river Gljúfurá, heading towards the volcanic mountains and ride on an old route along the slopes of the mountain Reykjafjall. Your reliable horses take you up and down the trail, while you enjoy nice views of the diverse landscape between the ocean and the volcano Hengill.
Back at the farm you warm up with a light lunch before you choose horses for the afternoon program Winter Warmth. You’ll spend another hour on horseback before driving to the thermal swimming pool in Hveragarði to soften up in soothing, warm geothermal water, relax in the steam sauna or take a swim in the comfortably warm outdoor pool. Imagine sitting in a steamy hot tub as a light snowfall turns the grass around you white.
Afterwards, coffee and home baked cake will be served in the cozy environment of the hotel. You check the Northern Lights forecast and get some useful information about this natural phenomena. If the forecast is favorable, and the sky is clear, you look out for the lights at the farm or go on a hunt!
Day 3
Horses, Hot Springs & Soft River Banks.
Today you experience a variety of amazing nature. You start the day with the tour Horses & Hot Springs, riding on excellent trails along the slopes of Reykjafjall Mountain and through a green forest. You pass by many hot springs in the colorful geothermal area Gufudalur valley. This area is situated just above the village of Hveragerði and expanded dramatically during the big South Iceland earthquake in 2008.
The path continues along the volcanic hills above the village, which is known for its beautiful location between the green mountains of volcano Hengill and wide plains. You stop close to the stable area for some refreshments and learn more about the Icelandic horse before riding back to the farm for lunch.
After lunch you saddle your horse again for the afternoon ride, Soft River Banks, following the river Gljúfurá to an old cemetery and further down to the soft river banks of the mighty glacial river Ölfusá. From there, you have a view of the river and if the weather allows the famous volcanoes Hekla and Eyjafjallajökull. Upon your return to the farm, dinner will be served.
Day 4
The Heritage Tour & The Golden Circle
On the final day you will ride The Heritage Tour in the morning. This tour takes you on nice trails through meadows, lava fields and a small river. On the way, you enjoy the nice scenery of volcanic mountains and farmland, passing several farms which give an idea of how agriculture has developed in the last decades.
After the riding and checking out of your room you warm up with a light lunch and coffee or tea. Then you will be picked up to visit the three most impressive natural sights in South Iceland along the “Golden Circle”: The famous Geysir geothermal area, the “golden waterfall” Gullfoss and Thingvellir National Park.
The Geysir geothermal area boasts spouting springs, including Strokkur, the most active geyser in Iceland. At Gullfoss you are given the opportunity to stand next to the amazing waterfall, watching enormous quantities of water tumble violently into a deep canyon. You also spend time encountering a cross-section of Iceland’s natural wonders and geological phenomena at Thingvellir National Park, an area of historical and geological significance.
You will be back in Reykjavík around 18:00.
***Please note that hotel and dinner on the last evening is not included.
Summary:
3 nights – 3 days on horseback – Accommodation at hotel or guesthouse Eldhestar in shared rooms full board.
Nancy W.
I can’t say enough how spectacular this entire experience was. We stayed for 3 nights and rode for 3 days. All of the horses were outstanding, they were so fun to ride (I own horses and have ridden for decades). I was on the tour with two friends with same background – and we all agreed that our tour guides, Anna and Rachael, made the spectacular tours even BETTER. Their dedication to our safe rides were always paramount, but above and beyond, those two ladies were so very personable, and their on-the-trail stories of the history and tales of your wonderful country really made the experience over the top.
Thank you to all the staff for every single detail – our Golden Circle bus tour was also fantastic, as Nicholas was equally passionate about every stop on that tour, and in between stops he was so knowledgeable and enthusiastic.
Highly recommend this tour and this company for anyone looking to experience these wonderful horses and breathtaking scenery.
Jess C.
This trip went off without a hitch! I was grateful to Active Riding Trips for enabling me to join back-to-back tours (this one and the Nature’s Treasures tour) and booking an extra night for me in between.
The tours themselves were awesome and the groups I was with were so good that I made some friends I’m sure I will keep in contact with. The food and accommodation were top-notch. I even got lucky and saw a spectacular northern lights display! It’s good to watch right from the hotel with very little light pollution.
I can’t say enough good things about the horses and the well-maintained trails and excellent guides. 10/10 would recommend and the custom departure was much appreciated!