Viking Horse Riding and Golden Circle Tour
About this activity
Highlights
- Ride Icelandic horses through scenic landscapes
- Explore the stunning Gullfoss Waterfall
- Witness the erupting Strokkur geyser
- Discover the geothermal wonders of Geysir
- Experience Icelandic culture and history
Full description
Included / Excluded
- Guided horseback riding on Icelandic horses
- Visit to Gullfoss Waterfall
- Tour of Geysir geothermal area
- Meals and beverages
Itinerary
Experience the beauty of Iceland on horseback with a riding tour at Eldhestar, one of the country’s most renowned horse farms. Just outside Reykjavík, Eldhestar offers unforgettable guided tours through stunning landscapes shaped by volcanic activity—lush valleys, lava fields, steaming hot springs, and scenic hills. Riding the unique Icelandic horse is a highlight in itself. Known for its friendly temperament and smooth tölt gait, this special breed makes the journey comfortable and enjoyable for both beginners and experienced riders. Knowledgeable guides share insights about the horses, local history, and the surrounding nature, creating a deeper connection to the land.
Visit Thingvellir National Park, a designated UNESCO world heritage site. This is where Icelandic democracy began more than 1,000 years ago on the fields of parliament (Thingvellir) and it’s also where two tectonic plates are gradually separating creating a gorgeous landscape of steep cliffs and broad fields featuring Thingvallavatn, the largest natural lake in Iceland.
Visit Geysir geothermal area with its boiling mud pits, steam vents, Geysir, the namesake of all geysers.
Next up, you will see one of the most popular and powerful waterfalls in Iceland is Gullfoss (golden falls). The roar of the Hvita River falling over two tiers into the gorge below is exhilarating and on sunny days creates rainbow upon rainbow. With your camera and a good raincoat, you’ll be able to capture the beauty of the waterfall and its rainbows from several angels by way of the paths available around the waterfall, including one that leads to its bottom.
A geyser that erupts on a regular basis to the delight, and sometimes surprise, of onlookers.
Iceland's most popular sightseeing route.
Meeting point
Start Location
Unknown location
Important information
Know before you book
- Check the availability of the tour on your preferred date and time.
- Confirm the pickup location and time from your accommodation in Reykjavik.
- Review the cancellation policy and any applicable fees before booking.
Know before you go
- Wear comfortable clothing suitable for horseback riding and weather conditions.
- Bring a camera to capture the stunning landscapes and natural wonders.
- Ensure you have appropriate footwear for walking and riding.
Cancellation policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Accessibility
- Infant Seats Available
Good to know
- Minimum age for horse riding is 7 years
- No previous horse-riding experience is required
- Necessary gear will be provided for the horse riding
- Meals are not included, but stops will be made at local restaurants or shops where meals and snacks can be purchased.
Traveler reviews
Great horse experience, Great way to see Iceland countryside
Great way to see the countryside. Beautiful, calm horses. I underestimated the physical demands, however. For someone to average physical fitness without back injury, this is a great activity. However, for myself had a car accident back injury, I did not take that into account. The hosts were very kind and very understanding. Keep in mind that you will be bouncing up and down a bit on the back of the horse when it trots, so if you have back problems or other physical issues, definitely consider that. I was also very exhausted from traveling so if you do this activity, make sure you are well rested before hand. But if you like riding horses and have some degree of physical fitness, this is a great activity! They also had gear such as helmets, and waterproof pants because it rains a lot. Everyone is required to wear a helmet. There was no danger of getting thrown from the horse, however, things can happen and it’s best to be safe. You might want to wear a beanie hat to keep your head warm underneath the helmet. I wore a hat with a big snowball on the top, which would not fit under the helmet. I brought plenty of warm clothes so I wasn’t cold, but it’s something to think about also definitely wear a scarf! These horses are very well trained and very calm and they know what to do even if you are not an experienced rider. Wear clothes that you don’t mind getting a little wet, you’ll be riding through some water! Laxnes farm picked me up from my accommodations, even though I was a little bit off the route. They can pick up guests from most of the hotels and hostels in Reykjavic. They were very responsive by phone.
Mother/Daughter Trip
It was a lovely day! Will do it again if I ever get back to Iceland! The scenery was beautiful, and the horses were well carried for
Giddy up! Water everywhere….
The horse farm is a family run establishment. Very friendly and competent staff greeted us. The horse ride was a fun experience w beautiful backdrops. A horse for everyone’s riding background was available. You road on a trail w a guide for about one hour. The Golden Circle was a decent tour to see some of the landmarks. However, it was difficult to understand our tour guide and the guide did not take the group to see attractions at each stop. We were left at each stop and given a time to meet at bus. Some may like that style, but I would have preferred the guide coming with us and giving us more information about the attractions we were visiting. Bus was very comfortable. It was a long day starting from 9am and back to hotel at 7:30p.
Beautiful ride, horses and family farm!
Horseback riding was wonderful with this great family-owned farm. Hosts were so gracious and had beautiful Icelandic horses and an unforgettable ride up to the hills. Highly recommend!!
Just a dream
The horse ride in the nature was just a dream. The organisers and guides were more than friendly and kind always ready to help everyone. I would recommend it to everyone