Trip Overview
Departures
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Duration
9 Days
Activities
Horseback Riding
Physical Rating
Riding Ability: Experienced Novice–Intermediate
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Photo Credit: Cline Owen
Discovering the Golden Circle
The fabled “Golden Circle” of Southern Iceland is a never-ending story—above and below! Iceland is famous for its dramatic volcanic and geothermal landscape full of fissures. The expansive valleys and mountains make for ideal and exceptional riding conditions. Expect saddlebag picnics, a historical interlude at Thingvellir National Park, the wow of Gullfoss, geysers, hot spring soaks and a sneak peek at the life of the “cave people” of Laugardalshellir caves. This trip is a beautiful balance of riding, landscape, geological wow factor and authentic Icelandic cuisine. And, of course, sweet-as-all-get-out Icelandic horses!
Explore the Land of Fire and Ice
Prepare to be Enchanted
Icelandic horses are known for their distinctly smooth gait and sweet personalities. This trip is suitable for women with solid novice to intermediate skills who are open to learning, as the style is quite different. More experienced riders will appreciate the introduction to the signature tölt and flying pace. After rewarding days of horseback riding through the undeniable enchantment of Iceland, you’ll spend your nights in the sanctuary of eco-friendly farm guesthouses and cozy mountain huts.
This really was a beyond amazing trip. I think the description of the riding experience required versus the riding opportunities provided in reality were spot on. The guides were phenomenal.”
Melissa B.
Photo Credit: Jenny Rae Bateman
Photo Credit: Jenny Rae Bateman
Photo Credit: Jenny Rae Bateman
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Itinerary
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Day 1
Arrival
Off to the Farm
We gather in the late afternoon for our transfer to the farm, where we meet our energetic Wild Women guides and settle into the cozy ambience of the guesthouse. We swap stories and laughs over dinner, and afterwards gather for a quick meeting to establish individual riding ability, experience and the type of horse preferred (forward and eager or slow and steady). Our expert guides match us up with the most suitable, compatible horse for the following day’s ride.
Included Meals
Dinner
Accommodations
Eldhestar Guesthouse
Travel
40 minutes by van shuttle
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Day 2
Learning to Ride Tölt
Meeting Our Horses
This morning, our guides provide detailed information about the uniqueness of the Icelandic horse breed and techniques for Icelandic riding. We watch a live demonstration of tacking, mounting and maneuvering through the various gaits of the Icelandic horse before getting our saddles and pairing up with our first horse. After a quick practice ride in the outdoor paddock, we head out for a two-and-a-half to three-hour ride, with sandwiches in our saddle bags to enjoy along the way. After a decadent dinner we head off to pack for our next three nights at the huts. Take advantage of a soak in the hot tubs before turning in for the night.
Included Meals
Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodations
Eldhestar Guesthouse
Travel
9 miles (15 km), which takes about 3 hours
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Day 3
Valley of Horses
Over Hills and through Valleys
We have an early breakfast before a 20-minute shuttle to Kolviðarhóll, where we begin the day’s stunning ride. Lunch is in the vast enclosed valley known as Marardalur (“the Valley of Horses”). From here, we lead the horses up and out of the valley, then ride along the mountainside, crossing a few roads and hills, eventually meeting the trailers for our shuttle to Thingvellir National Park.
Thingvellir is known for being the place where Icelanders had their parliamentary meetings for hundreds of years. This rift valley area is also where the North American and the Eurasian Plates slowly drift apart along the mid-Atlantic Ridge. From here, it’s 10 minutes to our mountain hut, Skógarhólar, where we meet our cook, who will have warm drinks and tempting snacks waiting before serving us a traditional Icelandic meal.
Included Meals
Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodations
Skógarhólar Hut
Travel
15.5 miles (25 km), which takes about 4–6 hours
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Day 4
Thingvellir National Park Ride
Ride Across Tectonic Plates
Today we ride through the wide paths of Thingvellir National Park and gain an exceptional, uninterrupted view over the park and Lake Thingvallavatn, the largest lake in Iceland. We ride across the moonscape-like area where the North American and European crustal plates meet.
After lunch, we cross the super scenic Lyngdalsheidi moor before finishing the day’s ride at Kringlumýri cottage, where we’re rewarded for our efforts with another decadent and authentic home-cooked meal.
Included Meals
Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodations
Kringlumýri cottage
The Ride
13.5 miles (22 km), which takes about 5–6 hours
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Day 5
Geysir and Gullfoss
Feel Mother Nature’s Pulse
This morning, we ride a loop through the Lyngdalsheidi Moor with a stop to poke around the Laugarvatnshellir caves. These caves were inhabited in the early 1920s and have recently been restored by descendants of the family who once lived there.
After returning to Kringlumýri cottage for lunch, we drive to Gullfoss to learn how Sigríður Tómasdóttir, the first female Icelandic conservationist, saved the captivating “Golden Waterfall” from being dammed. Inspired by Tómasdóttir’s efforts to conserve Gullfoss, we visit another precious natural phenomena in the area: Haukadular hot springs, where an active geyser erupts every two to seven minutes. Wowed by Mother Nature’s pulse, we return to Kringlumýri for another incredible meal and solid sleep.
Included Meals
Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodations
Kringlumýri cottage
The Ride
9 miles (15 km), which takes 3–4 hours
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Day 6
Riding the Drift
Back to the Farm
From Kringlumýri, we travel along soft riding paths called “drift.” These trails are soft and forgiving under the horses’ hooves and can be deep in places as they have been worn down by years of horse and sheep travel and water runoff. We have another stellar view over Lake Thingvallavatn before we stop for lunch near Ljósafossvirkjun, one of the first water power stations in Iceland. We continue riding along the south area of the lake to the roadside to meet the trailers and load the horses to head back to our eco-friendly guesthouse by bus.
Included Meals
Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodations
Eldhestar Guesthouse
Travel
9 miles (15 km), which takes 3–4 hours
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Day 7
Reykjadalur Hot Springs
Soak in the Warm River
Today’s ride winds us around the community of Hveragerði, through the vast lava fields en route to Reykjadalur (“the Smokey Valley”). We stop to rest the horses before leading them on foot into the mountains. At the top, we re-mount and follow a wide, well-graded trail. There are some exposed sections (the downhill side is very steep), but we trust our nimble horse’s familiarity with the terrain and take in the amazing views.
After descending into the verdant valley, we arrive at a paddock where we untack and leave our horses. A 15-minute walk further up the trail leads us to the warm river! Here, we enjoy a picnic and a dip.
On our way back to the farm, we follow a smooth new riding path, where options to fast tölt or canter are on the table for those who are ready to test their mettle. In the afternoon, we have free time to journal, doodle, chat or cat nap before dinner.
Included Meals
Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodations
Eldhestar Guesthouse
Travel
11.8 miles (19 km)
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Day 8
Black Beach Ride
Miles of Pure Black Sand
Today’s route depends on the tides. We either ride from our home base at the farm to Thorlákshöfn OR from Thorlákshöfn back to the farm. The goal is to ride the black sand beach next to the small fishing town of Thorlákshöfn at low tide when the sand is firmest: the best tölting conditions! On our way, be prepared for spectacular views and the potential for several bird sightings. There’s time to relax and enjoy one last soak in the hot tubs before we gather for a farewell dinner.
Included Meals
Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodations
Eldhestar Guesthouse
Travel
14.3 miles (23 km), which takes 5–6 hours
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Day 9
Departure
Where did the time go?
Today we have the opportunity to sleep in and enjoy extra cups of coffee before we say our last heartrending goodbyes to our lovely horses and plan for a midday transfer back to Reykjavik. Drop off at the BSÍ (Reykjavik Excursions bus terminal) is around 2 p.m. If you are staying at a hotel in Reykjavik, the shuttle can drop you off at the nearest bus stop to your hotel. If you’re heading to the airport, jump on the FlyBus at the bus terminal.
Included Meals
Breakfast
Travel
40-minute van shuttle
What’s Included
- Seven amazing days of horseback riding
- Visits to Thingvellir National Park, Gullfoss and Haukadular Hot Springs (Geysir and Strokkur)
- Riding gear (helmets, rain gear, tack, saddle bags, etc.)
- One to three Icelandic horses per day per woman
- One to three energetic and professional female horse guides (dependent on group size)
- Eight nights of cozy shared accommodations
- Divine Icelandic meals from dinner on Day 1 to breakfast on Day 9
- Return transfer from BSI Reykjavík Excursions bus station to Eldhestar Guesthouse
Please Note:
Helmets are provided and must be worn while mounted.
All applicable taxes are included in the trip price.
There are no private room upgrades available on this adventure.
Itineraries may be subject to change without notice due to weather and other environmental conditions. Please review our Booking Terms.
Trip Details
Know Before You Go
Click HERE for all of the logistical details you’ll need to know prior to departure—including the packing list, arrival and departure details and suggested tipping information.
This trip starts at the BSÍ Reykjavik Excursions Bus Terminal, Iceland, and finishes at the BSÍ Reykjavik Excursions Bus Terminal, Iceland. The closest airport is the Keflavík International Airport (airport code: KEF).
Accommodations
At Farm Vellir Guesthouse, there will be two, three or four women sleeping per room. At Skógarhólar Mountain Hut, there will be four to six women per room in bunk beds. At Kringlumýri Mountain Hut, there will be 18 women per room (bunk platform and loft).
The Wild Women Way
If you’re wondering how we roll, it’s together. The Wild Women Way is our modus operandi, our mantra and our rock solid foundation. You can learn more about our Wild Ways HERE.
How We Support You
Ready for a big adventure? We’re in it together. On this trip, we’ll be spending many hours each day in a saddle, riding Icelandic-style (on an English saddle), so if you are a novice rider, haven’t ridden recently or have only ridden Western, you must take Icelandic or English riding lessons prior to this trip.
Like all our trips, this trip can be scaled to suit different abilities and comfort levels. If you have concerns or reservations about your ability to complete or enjoy this trip due to any physical or medical reasons, please contact us and let’s talk about it.
What the Trip Entails
This is an active adventure, multi-day tour on horseback for novice to advanced riders. Basic horsemanship skills are required. We would like you to be comfortable with the following:
- Riding Ability Rating: Experienced Novice (Comfortable at a walk and trot, gaining confidence at the canter) – Intermediate (Comfortable at a walk, trot and canter)
- Icelandic style riding is similar to English style and saddles are most similar to dressage type
- Ability to balance and stay in control while maintaining a secure seat at a walk, trot and tölt
- Mounting and dismounting unassisted from the ground
- Leading and riding horses over hilly, uneven terrain
- The fitness and confidence to ride for 4–6 hours per day for seven days
- The maximum rider weight for this trip is 210 pounds
