The 9 Horse Riding Tours in the Golden Circle That Survive a Bad Forecast

1.Viking Horse Riding and Golden Circle Tour from Reykjavik

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 151 reviews · from $213Our pick

Spend about two hours riding Icelandic horses at Laxnes Horse Farm, then join a Gray Line coach for Thingvellir, Geysir, Strokkur, and Gullfoss. No riding experience is needed, gear is supplied, and guides such as Roman add Icelandic stories to the afternoon drive. Pickup and drop-off serve Reykjavik hotels, ports, and meeting points.

“Best place to horseback ride. They went above and beyond to make sure that my granddaughter rode with us. She was scared of riding alone and they took the time with her to get her comfortable on the horse. I would like to extend my gratitude to everyone at farm. This was my second time visiting the farm and I will return again next visit. Thank you to EVERYONE.”

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2.Hveragerdi: Reykjadalur (Hotspring Valley) Horse Riding Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 148 reviews · 2 hours · from $142

Ride for about 1.5 hours through the countryside near Hveragerdi with a small group and an English-speaking guide. Sólhestar matches you with a suitable Icelandic horse, teaches beginners the basics, and may offer a faster pace for experienced riders. Rain gear, winter suits, helmets, hot drinks, and free parking are provided.

“We loved our tour! It was a great way to see some of Iceland with knowledgeable guides.”

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3.Full-Day Horse Riding & Golden Circle Tour

★★★★★★★★★★3.7 · 81 reviews · 9 hours · from $258

Spend the morning riding an Icelandic horse through the countryside, with help from friendly farm staff and gear available to borrow. After a light lunch, continue by coach to Þingvellir, Geysir, and Gullfoss with an English-speaking guide. The day lasts about nine hours and suits beginners and children age seven and up.

“Horse riding was excellent. Our tour guide for the Golden Circle from gray line tours was absolutely fantastic.”

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4.Full-day Golden Circle & Horse Riding Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 53 reviews · 11 hours · from $234

Start with a 1.5 to 2-hour ride at Laxnes Horse Farm, crossing fields and a river on a calm Icelandic horse. After a short break, join an English-speaking bus guide for Thingvellir, Geysir, Gullfoss, and Kerið. Hotel pickup, riding gear, Wi-Fi, and return transport are included.

“Love it and I will definitely come back again 😊”

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5.Hveragerdi: Countryside Charm Horse Riding Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 34 reviews · 1 hour · from $96Best value

Meet friendly Icelandic horses at Eldhestar’s Vellir farm near Hveragerdi, learn basic riding and follow a guide along quiet paths through meadows and farmland. No riding experience is needed. Guides such as Stella and Anna have earned praise for their patience, and children must be at least seven years old.

“Esperienza molto bella con la mia famiglia (due bimbi di 10 anni)”

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6.Horse Riding Tour in Reykjadalur (Smoky Valley)-All Riding Levels

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 32 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $126

Meet at Sólhestar in Hveragerði, about 45 minutes from Reykjavik, for a roughly 1.5-hour ride on a five-gaited Icelandic horse. You get a helmet, winter jumpsuit, rain gear, and tea or coffee. The route crosses fields and low rivers, with a chance to try the smooth tölt. Children from age 9 can join.

“Great experience riding Icelandic horses, good for beginners as well as more experienced riders. We lucked out and had a really small group, which was extra nice. We got a real taste for riding in Iceland’s beautiful countryside, including riding through a few low rivers and experiencing the famous tolt! It would have been nice to learn a bit about Icelandic horse culture and the area we were riding through, but it was a short tour.”

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7.Hveragerði: Horseback Riding Tour for Beginners and …

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 14 reviews · from $101Top rated

Meet your English-speaking guide at Sólhestar’s stable in Hveragerði, suit up, and ride for one hour through the Reykjadalur area. The tour suits beginners and families with children aged six and older. Small groups keep the outing personal, and guides such as Tiffan add local horse knowledge. Valiant may even be your steady mount.

“Just me and the guide! Tiffan was awesome, shared about the horses and her time here. My noble steed Valiant was excellent. The adorable tiny cat Maximus in the lobby was a splendid addition.”

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8.Reykjavik Combo: Horse Riding & Snorkeling in Silfra Fissure

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 13 reviews · 8 hours · from $322

Start with pickup in Reykjavik and snorkel between tectonic plates in Silfra’s clear glacial water with a professional English-speaking guide. After hot cocoa and biscuits, ride an Icelandic horse at Laxnes Horse Farm. Guides including Pedro and Yannis, also called Jon, have helped make the water portion calm and clear for beginners.

“Super enjoyed it! Everything was perfectly organised and we got from A to B to C super easy and even got to the horse farm earlier. Snorkelling was an amazing experience (very cold so just be prepared & wear extra socks!) but would highly recommend. The same goes for horse riding, the owner is so lovely and the horses were all very well behaved! Definitely add this combo to your Iceland bucket list!!”

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9.Hveragerdi: The Siggi Horse Riding Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 13 reviews · from $132

Ride Icelandic horses through the countryside around Ölfus, crossing the Varmá River and passing lava fields, farms, and volcanic mountains. Your English-speaking guide chooses the safest route for the wind and weather, and helps you try the horse’s famous tölt. Pickup and return from Reykjavík are included.

“A wonderful time with a great tour guide - we learnt a lot about the horses and even managed to get used to the Icelandic tolt!”

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