Horse Activities

Hekluhestar - Riding tours since 1981 Austvaðsholtfarm, the heart of Hekluhestar, is located 12 km from Hella, in a vast open area 100 km. east of Reykjavik in the vicinity of the volcano Mt. Hekla, bordered by the river Rangá and has the character of a family farm.Horses are the focal point of activity at Hekluhestar, brought up and trained with the requirements of our guests in mind. Perfectly adapted to their ground, from the grassy meadows and river randges to the rugged desertic highlands and volcanic fields. The Icelandic horse has a fourth and fifth gait, tölt and pace, which enable one to cover long distances comfortably and swiftly. For over thirty years the Hekluhestar family has guided many groups of people coming from all over the world through the rugged area of Hekla. Anita is continuing the family tradition that her parents, Jón and Nicole started, and is leading the riding tours, which she has been involved every year since she was a little child. The Highland tours – 6 and 8 day ridesIn July and August we offer riding tours through lavafields and volcanic ash desert and other impressive scenery close to the famous volcano Hekla.The tours continues to Landmannalaugar a geothermal area with a colourful and breathtaking landscape of mountains, hot springs and lavafields. Daily treks of 4-7 hours. Accomodation is provided at the farm and in well kept mountain huts. Summer night ride – Ride into the bright Icelandic summer night in June.Experience a unique admosphere and the energy of the nature by riding into the bright night on an Icelandic horse. Ride in the meadows where the birds with their chicks are running around and the dew decorates the vegetation. Going alongthe beautiful and quiet river Ranga with a great view of the volcano Hekla, glaciers and mountains. We start the ride around 23 o‘clock and ride for about three to four hours. When we arrive back to the farm, hot chocolate and traditional „bakkelsi“ will be served. Day toursCome and visit our farm and go for a one hour ride up to a day tour along the river Rangá. Beautiful view of the mountains. The GuesthouseBuilt 1990 in old traditional Icelandic style. Turf on the roof makes the house fit perfectly into the natural surrounding. Sleeping-bag accommodation in a private house with selfcatering, for individuals and small groups up to 18 persons. Whatever your interest: overnight stay, a riding vacation, a sightseeing excursion or longer stay at the farm. You are always welcome. Available all times of the year. Icelandic, French and English spoken Find us on Facebook here.Find us here on instagram

We welcome you to the horse breeding farm Skeiðvellir. If you want to get to know the Icelandic horse while traveling in Iceland you have come to the right place. Skeiðvellir is a family run horse breeding and training farm which is home to around 100 horses. We offer a unique chance to get to know our remarkable horses and explore the beautiful landscape on horseback. For those who don´t want to ride but do want to interact with and get to know more about the Icelandic Horse, we offer a guided tour of the stable with where you'll get a chance to be up close with the horses, pet them to your heart's content and learn of their long history and what makes them a truly unique breed of horses. Furthermore, for a small fee, we offer a little horse rental for children, where they can try sitting on a horse and riding it as a guide leads them around in the riding hall. Open daily 09:00 – 17:00.

Sólhestar is a horserental that offers a broad variety of exciting riding tours. Sólhestar is located just 30 minutes (by car) from Reykjavík. The riding tours take place in the beautiful surroundings of Ölfus in the southern part of Iceland. Sólhestar offers tours for more experienced riders and absolute beginners so everyone can enjoy the riding tour to the fullest.We offer riding tours that can take up to seven hours. We have for exsample an ideal 3 hour family tour where pickup is included. For further information about our tours and prices contact us via phone or email.

Food Experience In Friðheimar we create a pleasant Food Experience for our guests where lunch is enjoyed among the tomato plants, as the restaurant is located inside the greenhouse. Enjoy the special experience of entering a greenhouse with its fragrant tomato plants – and then sitting down to a feast of the famous and delicious Friðheimar‘s tomato based cousine – with tomato plants all around. Some would also like to raise a glass of tomato schnapps!  Visitors can also buy delicious food souvenirs such as tomato jam, cucumber salsa and tomato drink. Everything homemade. We recommend to book a table in advance through email (fridheimar@fridheimar.is) or phone (+354 486 8894)    Greenhouse visit and a Horse show or Visit to the stable We also offer a Greenhouse Visit where guests are informed how Icelanders are able to grow vegetables the whole year around with help from the nature!  A Horse show or Visit to the stable is available where the history and gates of the Icelandic horse is introduced in a light and professional way in a nice environment. After the show our guests are welcome to the stable where they can meet the horses, take pictures and talk to the riders.  Friðheimar is a farm operated by an Icelandic family who is breeding Icelandic horses and growing vegetables all year around with help from the nature. A visit to Friðheimar is in perfect harmony with the Golden Circle route and is a great entertainment for all age groups and specially people that are curious about family farm life in Iceland.  Please notice that the Greenhouse visit and Horse show/Visit to the stable need to be booked in advance through email (fridheimar@fridheimar.is) or phone (+354 486 8894)  

 Catch the rainbow Úthlíð is a rare gem to be found in largely unspoiled Icelandic landscape. It is located centrally from most key locations, only an hour drive from Reykjavik, 25 min from the national park of Þingvellir, 10 min from the famous Geysir hot springs and only 15 min from Gullfoss.   Úthlíð offers unique combination of services:  Cottages for rent, various sizes and types Swimming Pool with hot tubs and shower Grill Bar and Restaurant Camping site with grill facilities Convenience store and a Gas station 9 hole golf course Horse rental for shorter and longer trips Golf course name: Number of holes: Par: Úthlíðarvöllur 9 70   Horserental - 7 person max pr. tour - bookings: Tel.: +354-699-5500 Shorter guided horse riding tours offered on request. Click here to book a house. Please contact for further information.

Riding Tours South Iceland is a family company. Our goal is to meet the needs of every customer as best we can with personal service. We are located in Syðra-Langholt 3 845 Hrunamannahreppur. We are about 100 kilometer from Reykjavik. Riding Tours South Iceland offer´s all kind of riding tours from one hour and up to 6 day riding tour. Please contact us if you have any special requests or wishes.We would love to help you to plan your dream riding tour here in Iceland with our great team.

At Eldhestar we have developed our activities since 1986 to combine pleasure, comfort and adventure in a way respecting nature. Our farm is located in the heart of Iceland’s south-western countryside, only 30 minutes´ drive from Reykjavík. The fascinating area around the volcano Hengill with its beautiful valleys, hot springs and the chance to bathe in natural warm water is the origin of our name: Volcano horses – Eldhestar in Icelandic. We offer a great variety of riding tours all year round. You can choose between half day tours, day tours, combo tours including riding and activities and multi-day tours including 2-7 days of riding. For experienced riders, we offer the adventure of 6-7 days on horseback in the Icelandic highlands with a herd of free running horses. We have up to 350 horses at our farm in the summer and 60-100 in the winter, doing our best to find the ideal horse for everyone. For groups, we offer a Horse Show, presenting the Icelandic horse´s historic role as well as its unique qualities as a riding horse for everyone - reservation required! Hotel Eldhestar offers accommodation in a cozy countryside hotel with a luxurious atmosphere, featuring 37 rooms, a spacious restaurant, conference facilities, and hot tubs. Colors and materials in Icelandic nature, genuine craftsmanship and old tradition inspire the interior of Hotel Eldhestar, which was the first lodging in Iceland to receive the Nordic Swan Eco-label. We also offer accommodation in a guesthouse with shared facilities for up to 19 people. Our guests can relax in a beautiful and peaceful environment, get to know fascinating nature with the Icelandic horses during the day and enjoy comfortable accommodations, food and drink in a cozy atmosphere in the evenings. We emphasize personal service, safety and an environmentally friendly operation. Eldhestar is participant in VAKINN, Iceland tourism’s official quality and safety label. Please contact for prices and booking information.

Midás is a small family business. At the farm we breed, raise, train and sell Icelandic horses. We also have a small tourism business and offer farm stay accomodation for a few guests at a time.  We offer unice and tailored stays for our guest where they have the chance to expeience the authenic Icelandic farm life and are welcome to participate in the daily life at the farm. We spoil our guest with great food and great horses. Since we only can accomodate a few guests at the time, we can make the most of their experience during the stay. We offer riding tours and riding trips. Most guest chose to stay at the farm for some days and decide each day depending on weather and wind wheather to take a few short rides and come back to the farm in between for meals and rest, or wheather to pack some food and go for a longer riding tour. We can also arrange longer riding trips where we bring a herd of loose horses with us.  We make a big effort in finding horses that fits every rider and that the horses are easy ride, with a good tolt and nice temperament. If people are looking for a horse to buy, we always have a range of horses for sale horses, and can help you find the right one.We also offer riding instruction, where you can get a teacher with extensive experience. We can pick our guests up from Keflavík airport and also drive them back there to catch a flight. If you are interested in renting a car during the stay with us or after the stay we can arrange that. The accommodation in Miðás has three double rooms, hot tub, great riding facilities, stables, big riding hall and nice riding paths in the beautiful nature. Miðás is approximately 85 km from the capital, Reykjavík and in a short distance from Hella, Selfoss, Hvolsvöllur, Þórsmörk and many of the main tourist attractions of South Iceland are within reach.Examples of other entertainment close-by is salmon and trout fishing and golf courses, We can also arrange accommodation in Laufás, our summer house, which has three double rooms, hot tub and great riding trails. Laufás is in a short distance from Hvolsvöllur, Þórsmörk, Skógar, Vestmannaeyjar, Landeyjarhöfn and Vík í Mýrdal and approximately 130 km from the capital, Reykjavík. There are 50 km between Laufás and Miðás if you take Highway nr.1 but around 25 to 30 km if you go riding. Don’t hesitate to contact us for more information about accomodation, riding, sale horses or other request. 

Herríðarhóll is a successful horsebreedingfarm and very well located in the south. We offer shorter and longer horseback rides, both for beginners and experienced riders in the beautiful countryside around our lake and along the river Þjórsá with a view on volcano Hekla. Accommodation is available in new cottages as well as in cosy doublerooms with breakfast and dinner. A bath in our Jaccuzzis in the garden is great for preparing you for the next ride. We are operating since 1996 - you are welcome!  

Miđ Hvoll is a humble treasure set amidst the panoramic backdrop of the Mýradsjokull glacial valley. Our seven comfortable holiday cottages are located in the historical and serene surroundings of Iceland's south coast with everything you may need for a pleasant stay. You can watch the sunrise over Dyrhólaey with a coffee from the front door of your cottage or if in season spot a puffin or witness the majestic Northern lights from your bedroom window. Our private beach is just a short walk away and the perfect place to unwind. There is a small family run horse rental available for those who would like to experience the world famous Icelandic horse. Tölting along black sand with off-shore views of Vestmanneyjar, fresh sea and glacier air while mounted on the horses of Vikings is a guaranteed unique experience. Miđ Hvoll is 170km away from the capital Reykjavík and easily located just off the national highway. Vík, the local town for goods and services is an approximate 15minute drive.

Exploring Iceland is a DMC based in Iceland and offers extensive B2B opportunities for individual travel offers, smaller and larger groups. At Exploring Iceland we dedicate ourselves to each and every detail, we select and hand-pick our partners focusing on quality, animal welfare and social responsibility. We take pride in personal service, professional guides, wonderful local Icelandic food and always try to find new routes and sights away from the crowd. We are proud to say that our tours are absolutely genuine and authentic by working with the locals! We offer both summer and winter tours and are happy to include for example northern light hunts, thrilling activities and cultural events. We also have our own sports division (running, golf, horseback riding and skiing). For the individual traveler we can arrange everything from a short stop-over visit to extended tours around Iceland. We are one of the few travel agencies that offer horse riding tours with hotel accommodation. These tours can either be booked as micro group tours with a maximum of 6 riders or private tours. We also specialize in tailor making exciting itineraries for families and other smaller and larger private groups based on either self-drive or guided tours. Private culinary tours, hiking, running, fishing and photography tours have been arranged by us – customer satisfaction is our ultimate goal! Contact us for an exciting offer tailor made to your wishes and needs!

Sólvangur is an authentic horse breeding farm in South Iceland where people can learn about and meet the Icelandic horse, visit the stable, take riding lessons, drink coffee or enjoy refreshments at the Stable Café, or even stay for a few nights in the peaceful countryside. The farm is owned by a family with passion for horses and a lot of experience and knowledge in the field. Today there are around 60 horses on the farm, as well as some other animals. The horses are well trained quality horses and the instructors are licensed riding teachers. Sólvangur is the place to visit if you love horses or even if you are just a little curious about them, as the Sólvangur team strives to educate and give people the chance to get closer to the Icelandic horse. Suits well for individuals of all ages, small groups and families. 

In Efstidalur you will get a unique and different experience. Right in the middle of the Golden Circle, you get a glance of the farm life in Iceland. This family farm has opened up for tourists and offers a variety of products straight from the farm, such as the famous ice cream, skyr and feta cheese. The restaurant also offers beef from the farm and other local food. We welcome you to come and meet our family at work! For opening hours, please visit our Facebook site. The horse rental is open in the summertime.

Set on an Icelandic horse farm 13 km from Hella town centre, this family-run property is 3 km off Iceland’s Ring Road. It offers views of the Hekla and Eyjafjallajökull volcanoes, a traditional Icelandic restaurant and 2 outdoor hot tubs. WiFi is free throughout the premises. At Hestheimar, the geothermally heated accommodation options feature blackout curtains and either private or shared bathrooms. Some include kitchen facilities and a terrace. Views of the Tindfjallajökull and Eyjafjallajökull Glaciers can be seen from some rooms. It also offers a communal living room with books and toys, BBQ facilities and a gift shop selling local crafts. Horse riding trips and sightseeing tours can be arranged on request. Homemade bread and cakes are available in the restaurant. Central Reykjavik is a 50-minute drive away, while the town of Selfoss is about 20 minutes away by car. 

Holiday house Cosy holiday house in the country side where up to 8 people can sleep. Vorsabær 2 is situated only 80 kilometers from Reykjavík. In the house there are 2 bedrooms, one of which has a double bed and the other a bunk bed with a double bed below. Besides there is a 18 m2 sleeping loft with 3 beds. We also provide a crib on request. There is floor heating and the kitchen is equipped with all necessary tableware and is included in the spacious living room with a TV. Outside the living room  is a patio with garden furniture and a gas barbecue. The view from the house is breathtaking, looking east you can see the volcano Hekla and in winter there is a good chance to witness amazing northern lights!   Horse back riding with personal service It is ideal for families and small groups of friends. Everyone can take part and the guides can lead the youngest childrens by the rein during the trip. We always start inside the riding arena where we will teach you all the basics and then we go outside and ride with you. There are good horses for both unexperienced riders and as well for experienced riders. You can choose between 1, 2 or 3 hours trips and even a day-trip for experienced riders which are 5 hours. We also provide children tours where we lead their horses by the rein inside the riding arena for about 10 minutes. We accommodate guests to visit our farm animals and see a real icelandic farm! We guide you on the farm for about 1 hour and you get the opportunity to spend some time with our animals to get to know them and pet them.

Hotel Eldhestar is a cozy country hotel with a luxurious, comfortable atmosphere, located in the heart of Iceland´s south-western countryside, only 45 km from Reykjavik.  The hotel features 36 spacious double or twin rooms and one family room accommodating five guests, all with private facilities and with a door to the garden. Some rooms can accommodate three guests and 2 rooms are wheelchair accessible. The hotel has a light-filled restaurant that seats up to 120 people with part of it suited as conference room, a bar, a cozy lounge area with an open fireplace and hot tubs. The hotel´s interior is inspired by the colors and materials found in Icelandic nature, genuine craftsmanship and old traditions. It was built in accordance with ecological guidelines and is the first lodging in Iceland to be awarded the Nordic Swan Ecolabel.  Hotel Eldhestar is ideally situated for sightseeing and activities in South Iceland, both for self-drivers as well as for those who prefer guided tours. Eldhestar horse rental was founded in 1986 with the purpose of offering riding tours in the fascinating nature surrounding volcano Hengill. Today, Eldhestar offers horse riding tours from 1 hour to 7 days, with day tours through scenic landscape nearby, suited for riders of all levels. The area around volcano Hengill with its beautiful valleys, hot springs and the chance to bathe in natural warm water is the origin of our name: Volcano Horses or Eldhestar in Icelandic. Please contact the booking and price list. • 36 well-equipped double or twin room with private facilities. • Spacious family room with five beds and private bathroom. • Part of the rooms are wheelchair accessible. • 10 rooms equippid with comfortable sofa-bed for use as triple rooms.   • High-quality beds from "Hästens" which have been awarded the Nordic Ecolabel Swan. • Breakfast included. • Television in all rooms. • Door to the outside area en in each room. • Free internet connection at the hotel. • Hot tubs. • Bar and cozy lounge with fireplace. • Restaurant for up to 120 people. • Conference and meeting room for 40-65 people. Opening hours: All year (closed 24-26 and 31 December and 1 January)