Reykjavik: Evening Sleipnir Horse Riding Tour with Pickup

The best part of this three-hour evening ride is the setting: you leave Reykjavik behind and soon find yourself among green hills, volcanic red rock, and Icelandic horses under the soft light of the northern summer. The route reaches Hólmsheiði, Stallion Valley, and Rauðhólar, all close enough to the city for an easy evening outing.

I like the small group of eight and the warm, family-run feel at Viking Horses. I also like that beginners get a short lesson before riding, then finish with coffee, tea, hot chocolate, and a sweet Icelandic kleina in the hosts’ home.

The main consideration is the price, $202 per person, which is not cheap for a three-hour activity. It makes the most sense if you value personal instruction, hotel pickup, well-cared-for horses, and a quiet ride rather than a large commercial outing.

Key points at a glance

• Ride through Rauðhólar: Red volcanic formations provide the most unusual scenery on the route.
• Small groups only: The maximum of eight riders allows more help from the guide and less waiting around.
• Good for beginners: A riding lesson, gentle horses, and professional assistance make this suitable for riders with little experience.
• Evening pickup included: Collection in the Reykjavik area takes place between 6:30 and 6:45 PM.
• Warm finish at the stable: Hot drinks and freshly served kleina make a pleasant end to the outing.

From Reykjavik streets to Icelandic horse country

Viking Horses operates about 15 minutes from Reykjavik, so this ride gives you a taste of rural Iceland without committing to a full-day excursion. That short transfer matters. You can fit the activity into an evening and still have time for dinner or other plans afterward.

Pickup is included within the Reykjavik area. The stated pickup window is 6:30 to 6:45 PM, so you should be ready at your accommodation or chosen pickup point before then. The evening timing is especially appealing during Iceland’s bright summer months, when the sun gives the hills and lava formations a softer look.

This is not a city sightseeing tour with a quick photo stop. Once you reach the stable, the focus shifts to the horses and the countryside. The family-run setting gives the experience a more personal scale than a large riding center with several dozen people arriving at once.

The small group size is one of the tour’s strongest practical features. With no more than eight participants, the guide can help with mounting, answer questions, and keep an eye on riders who are still getting used to the horse. You also avoid spending much of the outing waiting for a long line of riders to move.

Getting comfortable with an Icelandic horse

The tour begins with a short riding lesson. That is important even if you have ridden before, since Icelandic horses have their own feel and personality. The lesson gives you time to learn the basic instructions, settle into the saddle, and understand how the group will move along the trail.

This outing is suitable for beginners and people with limited riding experience. The horses are described as friendly, well trained, and gentle, which is exactly what you want when you are more interested in enjoying the scenery than proving your riding ability.

A rider named Monica is associated with particularly attentive guiding on this experience. She is noted for making less experienced riders feel at ease and for taking photos and videos during the ride. Guide assignments can vary, but the available information points to hands-on instruction and a friendly approach rather than a guide who simply leads from the front.

You should still expect to participate actively. Riding is not a passive bus tour. You need to follow instructions, keep your balance, and pay attention to the horse and the riders around you. The tour is not suitable for people with mobility impairments, and children under eight cannot join.

Hólmsheiði and Stallion Valley by horseback

After the introduction, the route heads into the hills and green nature around Hólmsheiði. This area gives you a change of pace from Reykjavik’s roads and buildings. On horseback, you notice small changes in the ground, the open views, and the way the evening light falls across the hills.

The route also includes Stallion Valley, a name that fits the horse-centered character of the outing. The riding trails offer variety rather than one straight stretch, so the scenery changes as you move through the area.

I like this kind of short Icelandic excursion because it offers more than a photo stop but does not require a full day away from the capital. You get time to settle into the ride, enjoy the countryside, and see the horses working calmly beneath you.

Keep your expectations realistic. This is a guided trail ride, not an advanced riding lesson or a fast-paced trek. The supplied details emphasize suitability for beginners, so the pace is designed around comfort and control. Experienced riders may find it gentle, but that slower rhythm is part of the appeal for first-time riders.

The red lava formations of Rauðhólar

Rauðhólar is the visual highlight of the route. The area is known here for its red and striking lava formations, giving you a very different setting from the green hills of Hólmsheiði.

Iceland is famous for volcanic scenery, but seeing it from a horse changes the experience. You move through the terrain instead of viewing it through a vehicle window. The red rock creates strong contrast with the surrounding greenery, and it gives the ride a clear sense of place.

The route’s volcanic character also helps this tour stand apart from a standard horseback ride in open farmland. You get both natural color and varied surfaces, with the hills, valley, and lava formations providing different views during the same outing.

The weather can affect how dramatic Rauðhólar looks. This tour runs rain or shine, so a wet evening may mean darker rock, wind, and less comfortable riding conditions. Bring warm clothing and comfortable, closed-toe shoes. Rain clothes and riding helmets are included, which removes two items from your packing list, but you still need to dress properly underneath.

Why the evening timing works

The evening departure gives the ride a quieter feel and takes advantage of Iceland’s long summer light. The experience is described as having the special atmosphere of the Nordic summer solstice, when daylight lasts late into the evening.

You should not expect a guaranteed sunset or a particular color in the sky. Icelandic weather changes quickly, and the tour operates in all conditions. Still, the timing gives you a good chance to ride with softer light than you would find in the middle of the day.

The pickup window begins between 6:30 and 6:45 PM, and the full experience lasts three hours. That means the ride occupies a substantial part of your evening, so plan meals and other bookings with enough space around it.

For many people, the timing is a plus. You can spend the day exploring Reykjavik or taking another excursion, then return to the city for pickup. If you prefer early starts and a packed daytime schedule, the evening departure may feel less convenient.

A warm drink and kleina after the ride

The activity finishes back at the Viking Horses stables with light refreshments. You can have coffee, tea, or hot chocolate, along with kleina, a traditional Icelandic deep-fried sweetbread.

This small ending adds something useful to the experience. After several hours outdoors, a hot drink gives you time to warm up, ask questions, and talk with the hosts without rushing straight back into a vehicle. It also makes the outing feel more like a visit to a family-run stable than a simple trail ride.

The refreshment stop is not a full meal, so you should not book this as dinner. Think of it as a light snack after the ride. If you know you will be hungry after an evening outdoors, plan a later meal in Reykjavik.

Horses, equipment, and comfort

The Icelandic horses are a central part of the experience, not just transport. The horses are described as friendly, happy, well trained, and well cared for. Their calm temperament is particularly helpful for first-time riders who may be nervous before mounting.

You receive a riding helmet and rain clothing. You still need to bring warm, comfortable clothing and closed-toe shoes. Comfortable shoes matter both for riding and for walking around the stable before and after the tour.

Backpacks are not allowed, so avoid arriving with a large day bag. Pack only what you need in clothing pockets or follow the operator’s instructions for storing personal items. Alcohol and drugs are also not allowed.

Pregnant women should not book this activity. The ride is also not suitable for people with mobility impairments. These restrictions are worth checking before you pay, since the ride involves mounting, sitting on a horse, and moving over outdoor trails.

Is $202 a fair price?

At $202 per person, this is a premium short excursion. You are paying more than simply three hours in a saddle. The cost includes transport within the Reykjavik area, riding equipment, a lesson, a small group capped at eight, a guide, and hot refreshments afterward.

The value depends on what you want from a horse ride. If you only want the least expensive way to sit on an Icelandic horse, this may not be the right choice. If you care about small numbers, personal help, and an easy pickup from your accommodation, the price is easier to justify.

The included transfer saves you from arranging transport to a stable outside the city. The small group also has real value. You are less likely to feel lost in a crowd, and beginners have a better chance of receiving individual guidance.

The photo and video help associated with Monica’s guiding can also matter if you want a record of the ride. It is not listed as a formal inclusion, so you should not book solely on the expectation of photography, but it is a welcome touch when available.

A flexible booking policy also reduces the financial risk. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund, and the reserve-now, pay-later option lets you hold a place without paying immediately. Those terms are useful when Icelandic weather and changing itineraries make planning difficult.

Who will enjoy this ride most?

I would recommend this tour to:

• First-time riders who want instruction and a calm horse
• Couples or friends who prefer a small, personal outing
• Visitors staying in Reykjavik without a rental car
• Riders interested in volcanic scenery as well as green countryside
• Anyone who likes a slower evening activity with a warm drink afterward

It may be less suitable for confident riders looking for speed, technical riding, or a long wilderness trek. The description points to a beginner-friendly experience, so the emphasis is comfort and scenery rather than athletic riding.

It also does not suit anyone who cannot comfortably mount and sit on a horse. Children must be at least eight years old, and pregnant women should not participate.

What to bring for a rain-or-shine ride

I would dress in layers and choose warmth over fashion. Icelandic evenings can feel cool even when the forecast looks mild, and the ride takes place outdoors for several hours.

Bring:

• Warm clothing
• Comfortable clothes
• Comfortable, closed-toe shoes

Helmets and rain clothes are provided. Do not bring a backpack, and leave alcohol and drugs behind. The tour runs in rain or shine, so your clothing choice matters more than the forecast alone.

If you are uncertain about footwear, choose sturdy closed-toe shoes that you can wear comfortably around a stable. Avoid anything open or difficult to keep secure while riding.

Should you book the Viking Horses evening ride?

Book it if you want a small, beginner-friendly horseback outing close to Reykjavik, with volcanic scenery, hotel pickup, and a thoughtful finish over hot drinks and kleina. The horses, personal instruction, and maximum group size are the strongest reasons to choose it.

Skip it if $202 feels too high for a three-hour activity, if you want an advanced or fast ride, or if you need an outing that can guarantee dry weather. For the right rider, though, this is a well-shaped evening: easy transport, gentle Icelandic horses, changing scenery, and enough personal attention to make a first ride feel manageable.

FAQ

How long is the Reykjavik evening horse riding tour?

The activity lasts three hours, including the riding experience and the refreshments afterward.

What time does pickup take place?

Pickup takes place between 6:30 and 6:45 PM from accommodations or chosen pickup locations within the Reykjavik area.

Is hotel pickup and drop-off included?

Yes. Pickup and drop-off within the Reykjavik area are included.

Is the tour suitable for beginners?

Yes. The tour includes a short riding lesson and is suitable for beginners or people with little riding experience.

How many people are in the group?

The group is limited to a maximum of eight participants.

What equipment is provided?

Riding helmets and rain clothes are provided. You should bring warm, comfortable clothing and closed-toe shoes.

What happens after the ride?

The experience ends at the Viking Horses stables with coffee, tea, hot chocolate, and deep-fried sweetbread called kleina.

Can children or pregnant women join?

Children under eight cannot join, and the tour is not suitable for pregnant women. It is also not suitable for people with mobility impairments.