Iceland: Volcanic Landscape Horse Riding Tour

GYG

Iceland: Volcanic Landscape Horse Riding Tour

★ 5.0(17 reviews)

• Guide works in English
• Duration per the operator: 2 hours

from $195

See dates, price and what is included at the operator

Two hours on Icelandic horses through the lava fields

This tour takes you out of Reykjavik on the back of an Icelandic horse, the small, sturdy breed that has carried riders across this landscape for over a thousand years. The ride runs for two hours and is led by a local English-speaking guide. It is sold as a small group, which keeps the pace relaxed and the attention personal. The operator, Islenski Hesturinn - The Icelandic Horse, runs the trip from Reykjavik, so you set out from the capital and return there the same day. The tour suits riders who want a genuine taste of Icelandic riding without committing to a full day in the saddle. The price starts at 195 USD. The horses are known for their smooth gait, and the terrain you cross is volcanic, which gives the ride its name. This is not a sightseeing tour where you dismount at every stop. It is about the experience of riding itself, moving through open country on an animal that is as much a part of Iceland's story as the lava itself.

Photographs from the operator Islenski Hesturinn - The Icelandic Horse. They show the listing, not your day.

What the 195 USD covers and what it does not

The entry price of 195 USD buys you the two-hour ride, the guide, and the horse. The operator states that food is explicitly not included, and this puts the tour in a minority within its category. Only three other listings in the same group of twelve say the same. Most comparable rides in Reykjavik include a meal or a snack of some kind, so if you are used to tours that feed you, plan to eat before you go or bring something for after the ride. No official fees apply at any point along the route. There are no gate charges, no parking fees, and no admission costs added on the day. The price you see is the price you pay for the riding itself. Free cancellation is offered, so you can book with some flexibility, though the operator does not give a deadline for how close to the start you can cancel and still get your money back. What you are paying for here is the riding, the guide's expertise, and the small-group setting, nothing more and nothing less.

A perfect score from a small group of riders

The tour holds a rating of 5.0 out of 5, but that score comes from only 17 reviews. That is a small sample, and it matters when you weigh the number. Within the horse-riding category of 13 tours, this one ranks 11th by the number of reviews it has collected. That places it near the bottom of the group for evidence, even though the score itself is flawless. The other tours in the category have far more reviews behind them. The Red Lava Horse Riding Tour, for example, has a 4.8 rating from 2,646 reviews, and the Icelandic Horse Riding Tour with Pickup Option has a 4.8 from 1,905. The Viking Horseback Tour in Hafnarfjörður has a 4.9 from 125. What this means for you is simple. A 5.0 from 17 people tells you that those 17 riders were very satisfied, but it does not tell you much about how consistent the experience is across many different groups, weather conditions, and seasons. The tour is ranked 10th of 13 in its category when ordered by the strength of the evidence behind it, not by the score alone. Take the perfect rating as a good sign, but understand that it rests on a narrow base.

Riding through Reykjavik's cool seasons

The ride runs year-round, and the temperatures in Reykjavik shape what you should wear more than they shape whether the tour goes out. From June through August, highs reach 13 to 15 degrees Celsius, with lows around 7 to 9 degrees. That is mild riding weather, though the wind can cut through a light jacket. In May and September, highs sit at 10 and 11 degrees, which is still comfortable for a two-hour ride. From October through April, the picture changes. Highs hover between 3 and 8 degrees, and lows drop to minus 2 or minus 1 degrees in the winter months. A two-hour ride in January, when the high is only 3 degrees, means you need warm layers, gloves, and a hat under your helmet. The short duration of this tour works in your favour. You are not out for half a day in the cold. You are moving for two hours, and the horses generate some warmth, but your extremities will feel the chill. The best months for a comfortable ride are probably June, July, and August, when the daylight is long and the temperatures are at their highest. If you come in winter, dress for the cold and you will be fine.

Meeting your guide and setting out

The tour starts in Reykjavik, and the operator runs the meeting point from the city. You will join your small group and your local English-speaking guide there before heading out to the riding area. The guide handles the route and the pace. The terrain is volcanic, which means the ground under the horses' hooves can be uneven in places, but the Icelandic horse is bred for exactly this kind of country. The ride itself is the focus, not a series of stops at named sights. The weather in Iceland changes quickly, and a guide who turns back early is doing the job properly, so be ready for the plan to shift if conditions demand it. The operator states that the tour is not wheelchair accessible, so if that is a requirement for you, this is not the right choice. The small-group format means you are not lost in a crowd, and the guide can give you attention as you ride. There is no mention of any staffed facilities at the riding area itself, so come prepared to be outdoors for the full two hours.

Who should take this ride and who should look elsewhere

This tour suits riders who want a focused, two-hour experience on an Icelandic horse with a local guide and a small group. It is a good fit for people who have ridden before and want to feel the famous tölt gait on volcanic ground, and it also works for confident beginners who are comfortable being led through open terrain. The fact that food is not included is worth noting, but for a two-hour ride it hardly matters. If you are looking for a longer outing or a ride that includes a meal, the comparable tours in the same category offer alternatives. The Red Lava Horse Riding Tour runs for 2.5 hours and starts at 143 USD, with a far larger base of reviews. The Icelandic Horse Riding Tour with Pickup Option runs from 2 to 4.5 hours and starts at 151 USD, which gives you more flexibility on length. The Small-Group Horse Volcano Riding Tour with Pickup runs for 3 hours at 187 USD. If you want the shortest, most direct ride with a perfect score from those who have taken it, this tour delivers. If you need a longer day, a pickup from your hotel, or a meal built into the price, one of the other three will serve you better.

GYG

Iceland: Volcanic Landscape Horse Riding Tour

Dates, remaining places and the current version of what is included are at the operator. This page reflects the state of the catalogue, not the state of this morning.

from $195

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