
Iceland is one of the most dramatic and unique landscapes to see. Looking across the land makes you feel like you’re in an alien world. Volcanos and snow live side by side, creating incredible sights unlike any other.
I went to Iceland last year and it was incredible. I’m planning out my next trip, because last time I ended up missing one of the most important aspects of traveling anywhere – I didn’t get to ride! There just wasn’t enough time. But, I rationalized that meant I’d have to return, which is not something I’m upset about. The landscape, the culture, and the yummy food are all things I would love to experience again.
Planning a trip can take a lot of effort, both from researching to back and forth with venues, to every other aspect there is. That’s why it’s super nice that there are websites like BookHorseRidingHolidays.com. They have a collection of curated vacations where you basically just show up, and you’ll be completely taken care of. Riding and traveling are the perfect combination to me, which is why my next vacation will be planned through them.
Before we get to the vacations, here’s what you need to know about taking a riding vacation in Iceland.
In a hurry? Go right to the trips.
Best horseback riding trip to see a variety of nature – Mountain and Beach Horse Riding Holiday in Snæfellsnes
Best horseback riding trip for families – 4 Day Saltvík Comfort Horse Riding Holiday in Húsavík, Norðurþing
Best horseback riding trip for advanced riders – 6 Day Under The Mystique Midnight Sun Horse Riding Holiday in Northwestern Region

(there aren’t ghosts in the photo, it’s reflections from the window, I was inside a bus)
What to Expect
You will be riding an Icelandic
All of the estimated 80,000 horses in Iceland are Icelandics, so that is what you will be riding. There are no other options, as it’s illegal to bring in any outside horses onto the island – in fact, it’s illegal to bring in many outside animals. This is done to protect the native species. Spreadable disease is low to non-existent thanks to this protection. Even if a horse was born there, if they leave the island for any reason, they cannot come back.
Icelandics are small, but don’t you dare call them ponies! It’s a bit of a faux pas, so many sure you refer to them as “horses,” even though they are small enough to be considered ponies. But don’t let their size fool you, they are strong little guys, and all healthy horses are fine carrying the average adult weight.
Icelandic horses have five gaits, so you’ll be able to experience the smooth and fast tolt as you explore.
When You Go Matters
As you may guess from the name, Iceland can have a lot of ice. The winters are cold and long. During the winter months, daylight only lasts for a few hours a day, so your riding hours can be limited. Plus, it’s pretty likely there will be thick snow or winter storms happening.
If you go during the summer, it’s a totally different experience. I was there during the summer solstice, and there’s was sunlight nearly all day. One night we were walking back to our hotel room at midnight, and it felt like daytime, which was such a novel feeling of being out in the middle of the night… even thought it was also raining that night.
The midnight sun means you can ride almost all hours of the day. Some of the tours are designed specifically around the midnight sun. It’s strange and thrilling to be keeping such weird hours, but such is the nature of taking a bucket-list, life changing trip.
But also, bring eye masks for when you do actually want to sleep. Many hotels have black out curtains for this very reason.
The Weather Changes Can be Drastic
Iceland is known for having pretty extreme weather. It can seem like it’s going to be a nice day, when you’re suddenly struck by a storm. Your tour guide will be your best bet for ensuring your preparation on a daily basis, but you need to prepare in advance, too. Bring layers! Have layers for cold and have layers for rain. Between those two, you should be well equipped to handle all your riding.
Beware Nature
Iceland is incredible in so many ways, but it’s also wild. I’m not talking about the animals either, there’s virtually no wild animals on the island that can hurt you, the biggest predator there is the fox.
I’m talking about the weather, the ocean, and the terrain. Most tourists accidents happen when people ignore posted warnings and decide to do whatever they want, which mostly means trying to get the perfect photo. Tourist get swept away by the ocean, fall off cliffs, fall into waterfalls and rivers, and get lost in the highlands. They underestimate what nature can do to them.
The saddest part is that all of these things are completely avoidable. Don’t become a statistic, just follow the rules and your guides, and you’ll be in good hands.
Quick Tips
- Nearly everyone there speaks English, especially young people and those in the city.
- The currency is Krona, but credits cards are accepted everywhere. You will have the option to pay in Krona when you check out, choose that option to avoid conversion fees.

Now, let’s take a look at the tours that I’m eyeing up!
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8 Day Mountain and Beach Horse Riding Holiday in Snæfellsnes
For those who want an extended ride time to experience all the variety of Iceland in one riding trip, this tour through Snæfellsjökull National Park is the best way to do it. There’s both golden and black long, sandy beaches, volcano fields, craters, glaciers, and the active volcano, Snæfellsjökull.
With this much riding, you should be an experienced rider to take advantage of this vacation. But there’s plenty of time to fully appreciate the beauty of Iceland.
Best for: Seeing a huge variety of Iceland’s natural beauty.




4 Day Saltvík Comfort Horse Riding Holiday in Húsavík, Norðurþing
You, the amazing equestrian would like to go on a riding vacation, but your spouse is not really a rider. You can still vacation together! This vacation has options for beginners to advanced riders, so families can vacation together, but choose how much riding they want to do.
When my kids are older, this is definitely a trip I’d like to do! The beginners can just do a little bit of riding and then go sight seeing, and those who can’t get enough riding can just ride all day. The perfect solution for families!
This trip is on the northern shore of Iceland, which means beach riding plus those open fields. There are several places nearby to check out, including hot springs and waterfalls.
Best for: families.




6 Day Under The Mystique Midnight Sun Horse Riding Holiday in Northwestern Region
This advanced level ride takes place on the the northern part of Iceland, near and including the highlands. This area is sparsely occupied by either locals or tourists, so you will feel like you’re out in the wilds here.
This is a natural world lover’s vacation. You’ll be witnessing much of the incredible Iceland countryside, under the magical light of the midnight sun. You will wander across the countryside, witnessing the black beaches, fishing villages, and plains, returning to your cozy room to sleep in late.


This is just a small selection of the numerous vacations on BookHorseRidingHolidays.com. If you had unlimited money and time, which ones would you do?
Even thought all these tours are out in the countryside, it’s incredible easy to base in Reykjavik and set up excursions. I highly recommend spending some time either before or after your tour to see some of the other incredible sights Iceland has to offer.
Iceland is an incredible country to visit. It’s safe, easy to get to from USA and Europe, and it’s welcoming. Whether you are a first time international traveler or a seasoned veteran, there’s something for you in Iceland – especially tons of amazing horses.