Experience Countryside of Iceland by Horseback Riding

The special part of this ride is the horse itself. Icelandic horses are small, sturdy, and famous for the tölt, a smooth four-beat gait that feels different from an ordinary walk or trot. You ride through the countryside near Þorlákshöfn, with beaches, lava fields, grassy banks, and mountains changing around you.

I like the small group limit of 12, since guides can keep an eye on nervous beginners and match the pace to the least experienced rider. I also like the local feel: Magnus, often called Maggi, is closely tied to the farm and is known for patient teaching, humor, and offering coffee after the ride. The main consideration is that the route depends heavily on weather and season. You may not reach the beach, and English communication can be limited.

Key points to know before booking

• The tölt is the star: Ask your guide about trying this distinctive Icelandic horse gait if your ability and the conditions allow.
• Good for first-time riders: Guides explain how to control the horse and keep the group together at a gentle pace.
• Þorlákshöfn is close to Reykjavik: The riding center is about 45 minutes from the capital, or roughly 30 kilometers away.
• Scenery changes with the weather: Expect possible views of beaches, lava fields, green banks, moors, and mountains, but no fixed route is promised.
• A personal, informal atmosphere: Coffee afterward has been offered on some rides, adding a friendly local touch.
• Come dressed for Iceland: Helmets and riding equipment are supplied, but warm, comfortable clothes and good shoes are your responsibility.

Why the Icelandic horse makes this ride different

You are not simply sitting on a horse for a countryside photo. The Icelandic horse has a special place in the country’s culture and daily life, and riding one gives you a close look at Iceland’s open country without the glass of a tour bus between you and the ground.

The breed is often called a pony by visitors because of its size, but it is a true horse. It is known for its strength, sure footing, and calm nature. The tölt is its best-known extra gait. Instead of the bouncing motion many riders feel at a trot, the tölt can feel smooth and steady, though the exact experience depends on the horse, rider, and terrain.

This tour is designed to make that experience accessible. If you have never ridden before, you receive basic help with mounting, steering, and controlling your horse. If you already ride, you may get a chance to work on a different style and feel the horse’s movement.

The guides do not promise a fast ride. They adjust the outing to the group and do not go faster than the slowest rider. That is good news for a nervous beginner, a mixed-ability family, or a group in which one person rides often and another has never been on horseback.

Leaving Reykjavik for Þorlákshöfn

The advertised experience includes round-trip transfers from central Reykjavik hotels, which makes the outing easier to fit into a short stay. Þorlákshöfn is about 30 kilometers from Reykjavik and takes roughly 45 minutes to reach by road.

That transfer matters because the meeting point itself is at Alhestar, Faxabraut 6, 815 Þorlákshöfn. If you are not using the pickup option, you need to plan your own way there. The ride ends back at this same meeting point.

The drive is part of the change in pace. Reykjavik is compact and urban by Icelandic standards. Þorlákshöfn is a small fishing village on the South Coast, with a more open, rural setting. You are not heading to a grand visitor center or a polished resort. This is a working local area, and the appeal is the horses and the countryside.

Allow more time than the stated three-hour activity if you are using transfers. The riding experience is approximately three hours, but transport and the time needed to get mounted add to the full outing. That makes it best treated as a half-day plan rather than a quick activity between tightly scheduled sightseeing stops.

Getting settled with your horse

At the riding center, you receive a helmet and riding equipment. The supplied information does not specify every item provided, so you should arrive ready for outdoor conditions rather than assume a full wardrobe of riding clothes.

The first stage is about getting comfortable. Beginners need time to understand how to sit, hold the reins, and ask the horse to move or change direction. The guides are expected to keep the process safe and clear, and accounts of the experience repeatedly describe Magnus and Maggi as calm and helpful with first-time riders.

That human contact is a major part of the appeal. Maggi has been described as a patient teacher who checks that riders know how to control their horses. Experienced riders can receive more freedom, while a nervous rider may stay close to the guide for extra support.

Do not expect a formal riding-school lesson with a long classroom briefing. The tone appears more personal and practical. Communication may sometimes rely on simple English, gestures, humor, or translation tools, especially when Magnus is leading the ride. If detailed English instruction is essential to you, confirm the language arrangements before booking.

Riding through Þorlákshöfn’s open country

The route is not fixed. Weather and season decide where the horses can go, so one outing may include beach views while another remains on fields, moors, or ground near the village.

Possible scenery includes tall green grass banks, lava fields, mountains, and stretches of coast. The mix is what gives the ride its Icelandic character. You get open space, dark volcanic ground, and weather that can change the mood of the countryside within minutes.

A beach ride is a memorable possibility, but it should not be treated as a guarantee. Some descriptions of the experience include black sand and coastal riding, while another account found the route limited to pasture behind the village and did not reach the beach. That is not necessarily a flaw in the operator. Wind, rain, ground conditions, and the ability of the group can all affect the route. Still, you should book for the overall horse ride, not for one promised beach photograph.

The same applies to off-road riding. Some outings have included fields, dunes, lava areas, and moors. That variety can make the ride feel like a real outing rather than repeated circles in a paddock. Yet the route will be adjusted for safety and for the slowest rider, so experienced riders should not expect a fast or highly technical trek every time.

What the three hours feel like

Three hours on horseback is long enough to feel substantial. You have time to settle into the saddle, learn your horse’s rhythm, and notice how the surface changes beneath you.

For a beginner, that length can be both the strength and the challenge. A short pony ride may leave you wanting more, but several hours in the saddle can cause tired legs or soreness. A moderate level of physical fitness is required, and you should be honest about injuries, balance, and comfort around animals.

The guides keep the group together. That reduces the chance of anyone being left behind, but it also means the pace is communal. If you are an experienced rider hoping to gallop or ride independently, this is probably not the right format. The supplied information describes a fun, easy ride rather than an advanced equestrian tour.

You may get to try the tölt, though it is not presented as a guaranteed part of every outing. The guide will decide what is suitable for the riders, the horses, and the ground. For many people, simply feeling the horse move comfortably through Icelandic country will be enough.

The guides and the farm atmosphere

The strongest personal thread in this experience is the guide service. Magnus, also known as Maggi in some accounts, is associated with the property and has been described as someone raised with horses. That background helps explain the relaxed, hands-on tone.

Sigrún is also named as an instructor. When both guides are present, an experienced rider and a beginner can receive different levels of help within the same group. That is useful for families or friends who do not share the same riding ability.

Coffee after the ride has been offered on several occasions. It is not listed as a formal included feature, so do not book on the assumption that it is guaranteed. But when it happens, it adds a warm social finish and gives you time to talk with the people running the farm.

There is also a trade-off here. This does not sound like a large commercial operation with a scripted presentation and layers of staff. The personal approach can feel genuine and memorable, but it may also mean less polished communication and less predictable service. One account described a late guide and a ride that ended early. That appears to be an exception among the supplied accounts, but it is worth keeping in mind when you value strict timing.

Price, equipment, and practical value

At $207, this is not a cheap add-on. The value comes from the three-hour length, the Icelandic horse, the small group, equipment, snacks, and possible round-trip transfer from central Reykjavik.

The price makes more sense if you do not have a rental car. Getting to Þorlákshöfn on your own takes planning, while included transport can simplify the day. It also helps that the activity is longer than a brief stable ride and takes place in open countryside.

The value is weaker if you are paying mainly for a guaranteed beach route or an advanced riding session. The route can change, and the ride is adapted to beginners. You are paying for a flexible outdoor experience, not a fixed sightseeing itinerary.

Helmets and riding equipment are included. You need to bring warm, comfortable clothes and good shoes. Iceland’s weather can make an ordinary riding day feel cold, wet, or windy, so practical clothing matters more than looking smart. Dress in layers and protect yourself from the weather, while remembering that the provided details do not promise waterproof outerwear.

Snacks are included, but the type and amount are not specified. If you need a full meal, plan one separately.

Who should book this ride

I would recommend it most strongly to:

• First-time riders who want patient instruction and a gentle pace.
• Couples, families, or friends with mixed riding ability.
• Horse lovers who want to experience the Icelandic breed in its own country.
• Visitors without a car who value pickup from central Reykjavik.
• Riders who care more about scenery and contact with the horses than speed.
• People with room in their schedule for a weather-dependent half-day outing.

I would be more cautious if you need perfect English instruction, strict departure times, modern polished facilities, or a guaranteed beach ride. You should also think carefully if you have a low fitness level, since three hours in the saddle is not effortless.

Service animals are allowed, according to the supplied information. The experience requires moderate physical fitness, and the maximum group size is 12 people.

Weather, cancellation, and timing advice

This activity operates all year, but the experience will change with the season. The route depends on the weather, and poor conditions can lead to a different date or a full refund.

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the local start time. Cancellations or changes made within 24 hours are not refunded or accepted. The same 24-hour rule applies to the stated cancellation conditions, so check the local start time carefully.

I would avoid placing this ride immediately before a flight, a timed museum visit, or another booking across town. Pickup, driving, mounting, and weather changes can make the day less exact than a standard city activity.

My booking verdict

Book this tour if you want a personal, outdoorsy introduction to Icelandic horses and can accept a route shaped by weather and group ability. The small size, calm instruction, possible tölt, and chance to meet people connected to the farm give it more character than a quick riding-school circuit.

Skip it if the $207 price feels too high for a flexible outing, or if your main goal is a guaranteed black-sand beach ride or advanced riding. For everyone else, this is a strong choice for a slower day outside Reykjavik, provided you dress well, allow extra time, and arrive with realistic expectations.

FAQ

Where does the horseback riding tour take place?

The ride takes place around Þorlákshöfn, a small fishing village on Iceland’s South Coast, about 30 kilometers from Reykjavik.

How long does the experience last?

The horseback riding experience lasts approximately three hours.

Is pickup from Reykjavik available?

Yes. Round-trip transfers are offered from central Reykjavik hotels.

Is the tour suitable for beginners?

Yes. The tour is suitable for beginners and experienced riders. Guides adjust the ride to the group and do not go faster than the slowest rider.

Will I get to ride on the beach?

Not necessarily. The route changes with the weather and season. Possible scenery includes beaches, lava fields, grassy banks, moors, and mountains.

What is the Icelandic horse’s tölt?

The tölt is a distinctive gait of the Icelandic horse. You may have the opportunity to experience it, depending on your riding ability and the conditions.

What equipment is included?

Helmets and riding equipment are included, along with all fees and taxes and snacks.

What should I bring?

Bring good shoes and warm, comfortable clothing. The tour requires a moderate level of physical fitness.

How many people can join the tour?

The maximum group size is 12 people.

What happens if the weather is too poor?

If poor weather causes cancellation, you will be offered another date or a full refund. If the minimum number of participants is not met, you will also be offered another date, another experience, or a full refund.