Best horse tours in Iceland from Reykjavik

If you are looking for plans to see and do in Reykjavik that include the natural beauty that characterizes Iceland, but you want to go for an idea that is entertaining and more novel than a simple hike, then you have to participate in a horseback riding tour in the southern part of the country.

Most of them are quite good, although the truth is that I have researched which are the best of them all so you can choose between first class alternatives, at the best price and with different approaches for all kinds of tastes.

The first thing to keep 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 characterize them.

So by participating in a ride through the island's landscape on one of them, you get to connect not only with an authentic feat of biology and animal adaptation to their environment, but you can also imagine firsthand what life was like for the Vikings who used them as their primary means of transportation.

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

In this type of tour you will travel through the area of the field that is located just outside Reykjavík, specifically the Reykjanesfólkvangur nature reserve, where you can enjoy a landscape full of ancient lava formations and all kinds of small lakes and craters that in turn are on top of a geothermal field.

This is an equally convenient plan if you are looking for things to do in Reykjavik in winter or if you need to find plans to enjoy Reykjavik in summer.

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

Details of interest

• Prices: a tour with these characteristics in that park usually costs about 96 euros per adult and about 73 euros for children between 8 and 15 years of age. Those are the rates for those who come to the stable on their own, since for 12% more you can book the pick up and return to your accommodation or to a bus stop near that point of the city.
• Duration: the tour as such usually lasts about 2 hours maximum, but keep in mind that the pick up at the hotel is around 10 am and the return is set for about 4 pm.
• Conditions: you can't ignore the fact that 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 reservation if you arrive at the stable on your own.
• Advantages: in this type of tour they offer you all the necessary equipment to be able to enjoy the horseback riding outside Reykjavik without limitations. That is, riding helmets, rubber boots, windbreakers for the rain or an additional coat if necessary.

The idea of a well-planned trip is to optimize time and budget in order to do as many things as possible in the shortest time possible 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 attention of the equestrian tour service is basically the same, as you have the option to get to the stable where the tour starts and this is not something complicated knowing that it is a 20 minute drive from the center of Reykjavik.

Transfers to and from the hotel are also offered for additional fees and include the necessary equipment to be able 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.

What follows in the itinerary would be the transfer to take you to the old port of Reykjanesfólkvangur, where the boat will be waiting for you to board to start the second stage of this tour, which usually lasts 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 species in this protected life sanctuary.

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

Interesting details

• Pricing: First of all, you must take into account that due to space limitations on the boat you will only be able to buy 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 about 190 euros per person.
• Means of transportation: if you choose the pick-up service at the hotel 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: knowing that the whale watching activity is added, I can say that this type of tour lasts about 5 or 6 hours if you also calculate how long the transfers and the short break for snacks in the barn take.
• Advantages: with a tour like this you get to do two things on your itinerary in one day and pay only one fee. However, it is also feasible and respectable that you may want to pay for both things separately if you find this pace too exhausting.

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

This is a tour that will take you from the center of Reykjavík to Thingvellir National Park with the intention of touring it thoroughly before starting 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 go from one point to another in a luxury bus that includes wifi on board and air conditioning to avoid the cold that characterizes the Icelandic territory.

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

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

Interesting details

• Prices: 150 euros is usually the price for an adult who wishes 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 Reykjavik hotel, as prices for those who need to get to the bus station are usually about 10 euros less.
• Duration: an excursion of this style can extend up to 11 hours if you add the time lost in the journey and the stops for lunch. As for the horseback riding tour, you should know that it is identical to the other options, that is, it lasts about 2 hours.
• Advantages: participating in these trips from Reykjavik you get to know everything that has to do with Thingvellir National Park with the great benefit that you close the day with a horseback 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 the south of 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 riding is an activity that is full of friction and that is why the pants you choose for it have to be soft, resistant and warm enough to keep you warm in the cold Icelandic weather.

Do not hesitate to bring your own hydration, as you cannot be sure how many times you will be able to buy bottled water or if you will be offered filtered and drinkable water at the stops that are further away from the stable and Reykjavik.

I also advise you to enjoy the experience to the fullest and understand that it is a real privilege to be able to ride with such an authentic and unique variation as the Icelandic horses. And the truth is that as soon as you meet them you will realize that their appearance is very special compared to the horses you have probably known throughout your life.

And finally I recommend you to be as punctual as possible to show up at the pick-up point, either at your hotel or at the Reykjavik bus terminal. 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 urbanized Reykjavik area.

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 favorite activity to include in your list of things to see and do in Iceland if you are traveling as a family.

The third reason is that it is a plan that is enjoyable for all kinds of people, as long as they do not have physical limitations. And it is also something that is relatively inexpensive if you seriously consider that horseback riding is an expensive sport and everything 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 the best hot springs in Reykjavik. This will allow you to have more money for other activities such as visits to the best thermal baths in Reykjavik, as well as any other excursion, festival or event that takes place during your visit to this beautiful island country.