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Icelandic Horse Ride: Scenic Meadows & Lava Fields
4.8
16 Ratings
Sveitarfélagið Ölfus
Explore Icelandic landscapes on horseback, experiencing volcanic vistas and the unique ‘tölt’ gait. Enjoy coffee and cake after your scenic ride.
Explore Icelandic landscapes on horseback, experiencing volcanic vistas and the unique ‘tölt’ gait. Enjoy coffee and cake after your scenic ride.
Duration:
2 hours
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Hótel Eldhestar - Discover a diverse landscape and a multitude of experiences! The journey begins with a ride up a hill on superb riding trails, skirting the slopes of Reykjafjall mountain and passing through a lush forest, a rare sight in Iceland. The adventure continues past numerous hot springs in the striking, colorful geothermal area located…
- Hótel Eldhestar - Discover a diverse landscape and a multitude of experiences! The journey begins with a ride up a hill on superb riding trails, skirting the slopes of Reykjafjall mountain and passing through a lush forest, a rare sight in Iceland. The adventure continues past numerous hot springs in the striking, colorful geothermal area located just above Hveragerði, a small town famously known as the “hot spring capital of the world.” This area underwent significant expansion during the 2008 earthquake and is continually evolving. The trail proceeds along the volcanic hills above the village, renowned for its picturesque setting between the Hengill volcano and the expansive plains of the southern lowlands. Enjoy a splendid view of the Varmá river, aptly named the “warm river” due to the geothermal water flowing through it, and the verdant valleys with steam rising in the distance. In the winter months, there is a stop to enjoy a warm cup of coffee, tea, or hot chocolate and to learn more about the Icelandic horse before returning to the farm.
What's Included
- English speaking guide and free pick-up & drop off
- Riding and safety equipment, rain gear, or insulated coveralls
- Snacks
- Tea and coffee
- English speaking guide and free pick-up & drop off
- Riding and safety equipment, rain gear, or insulated coveralls
- Snacks
- Tea and coffee
Additional Information
This tour guides participants through meadows, lava fields, and a small river. Along the journey, they can appreciate the beautiful views of volcanic mountains and farmland, passing by several farms that illustrate the evolution of agriculture over recent decades. The pleasant riding trails offer a wonderful chance to experience the unique gait of the…
This tour guides participants through meadows, lava fields, and a small river. Along the journey, they can appreciate the beautiful views of volcanic mountains and farmland, passing by several farms that illustrate the evolution of agriculture over recent decades. The pleasant riding trails offer a wonderful chance to experience the unique gait of the Icelandic horse, known as the “tölt.” At the conclusion of the tour, guests are invited to enjoy coffee and homemade cake.
- Weight limit: 110 kg
Location
Hótel Eldhestar
5 minutes south of Hveragerði directly on road 1.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.8
(16 Ratings)
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Kayla_a
Sep 27, 2025
Definitely recommend - It was well organized. Quick and efficient getting guests their gear, horse, mounted and out the gate. The marriage cake and hot cocoa at the end was amazing! I loved seeing the country side in another country.
Review provided by Viator
316yrsar
Sep 18, 2025
Great! - Really nice trip through the hot springs. The guide was very friendly and had a lot of knowledge. The horses where nice, calm and beginner friendly. Loved the trip, expecially to learn the Tölt
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Marja592015
Sep 3, 2025
This is fun! - A good start, as the bus had the clear red logo on it. We were quickly led to the changing rooms and then to the horses. All the horses were calm. Two guides led us through the fields. We also had a chance to try the tölt, even though many of us were beginners. It was fun. Part of the path went next to the noisy motorway. I would choose a tour that avoids the roads, opting instead for paths with more variety.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
C8510uweveb
Jun 3, 2025
Very well organized - I did the horseback ride for 3 hours it was super nice, the guide did not talk too much and not little just what it takes was perfect. The explanations were concise and relevant. The landscape was very peaceful and rich in colors. I liked the fact that we are only a small group and that the guide is planned to stop to take pictures. When you travel solo it's really a plus because having your picture taken can get complicated, and there it was automatic!:)
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Ian_m
May 4, 2025
Our Heritage Tour... - Our Heritage Tour horseback ride was one of the most unforgettable experiences of our trip to Iceland. The entire experience was amazing from start to finish—perfect for all levels of riders, whether you’re a beginner or more experienced.
Our guide was exceptional—patient, informative, and clearly passionate about both the horses and the history of the area. The Icelandic horses themselves were a true highlight: kind, gentle, and so unique in both personality and gait. Spending two hours getting to know and ride them was magical.
If we hadn’t been on a tight schedule, we would’ve booked another ride in a heartbeat. This was truly a standout moment in our journey, and we can’t recommend it enough.
Review provided by Viator
Velvet
Apr 16, 2025
Excellent riding tour for experienced riders - Excellent riding centre with beautiful Icelandic horses. Our guides were knowledgeable and made sure we had horses to suit our experience. We got to try the tolt lots. Below the Mountains tour was great for our group of 4 experienced riders. We all had a great time!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Carrielou10
Feb 17, 2025
Fabulous experience - This was such a fun morning, I couldn't believe they would take us all out on horse back as we are all beginners but the horses were so gentle and it was amazing to get the opportunity to ride through the beautiful countryside. The two hosts who were in charge of our tour were really great, so helpful and continually checking that we were all okay. Towards the end of the ride our 7 year old was getting really cold and they even called a car to come and pick her up. We were only about 15 minutes ride from the stables by then so they could easily have made her ride back but they obviously genuinely care about everyone having a good time. Would definitely recommend if you are looking for something a bit different to do during your tour of Iceland.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
776birgittaw
Apr 12, 2023
Amazing Tour! - Amazing tour! A Memory for Life! My husband, 14- year old son and I had never rode a horse by ourselves before. We were well taken care of by the staff!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sharpie197
Aug 28, 2025
Eldhestar is a great ranch but chose a better tour from them! - Eldhestar Ranch and personnel were incredible. But I would have chosen a different tour with this Ranch with fewer people and better riders. Some of the tours go to the hot springs and ride thru the lava fields. This one goes around the ranch. We ended up with about 25 people (maybe we were supposed to be two groups) and we had two difficult riders; one who refused to hold the reins and her mom who had knee issues. I think they should have been given a refund and sent back. They kept the entire group back until the end, when they allowed about 5 of us to go ahead. The horses were incredible once they did their special gait and I wish the others were able to experience that. Nice ranch. Food was great! Chose this ranch but pay a little more and get a better tour.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Kgrona
Jul 9, 2025
Not very demanding - Well organized. Nice scenery with forest, hills and small river. I knew that the tour was classified as easy, but for an experienced rider it was a bit too easy. If you want more demanding riding incl canter, you need to look for more advanced tours.
Review provided by Tripadvisor