Horseback riding in Iceland – with Icelandic horses to Reykjadalur

Writer: Helena Bergström

Updated: August 2026 | Riding an Icelandic horse through a landscape of mountains, lava and steaming hot springs sounds almost like the ultimate Icelandic experience. And that was exactly what we had been looking forward to when we booked a horseback riding trip to Reykjadalur outside Hveragerði. What we hadn’t expected was the freezing wind and snow… It was a horseback riding trip we will never forget – for several reasons.

Horseback riding in Iceland with Icelandic horses

The Icelandic horse is somehow connected to the Icelandic landscape. The breed has existed in Iceland for over a thousand years and is known for being small, strong and hardy – characteristics that are well suited to a country where the weather and nature can be demanding, to say the least.

We had booked a full day tour with Fire horses, who has his farm Vellir just outside Hveragerði in southern Iceland. The destination for the day was Reykjadalur, a geothermal valley filled with hot springs, steam and bubbling water.

We ride towards Reykjadalur

In the morning we woke up to a roar outside the house. It was really windy and the weather forecast didn't look promising. Were we really going to go out on horseback in this? Sure. Put on the warmest clothes we had and off we went!

We were picked up and driven to Vellir, where we met the horses and got ready for the day's ride. Then we headed towards the mountains and Reykjadalur.

The Icelandic weather shows what it's capable of

We probably couldn't have had much worse weather. Icy winds swept across the landscape and occasionally it even started to snow.

As we rode up the mountains, the horses struggled, step by step, while we ourselves tried to stay warm and at times almost struggled to breathe in the wind. It was undeniably an adventure.

When we finally reached the place where we were supposed to take a lunch break, we were frozen to the core. We sat there with a cold sandwich each and wondered a little despondently: Have we really paid for this?

Hot springs save the day

But we were still in Reykjadalur – the name means something like Rökdalen – and there is plenty of geothermal activity here.

Steam rises from the ground and warm water flows through the landscape. When our hands had become completely frozen, we found a warm stream where we could warm them. Suddenly, life felt much better.

Reykjadalur is still a popular excursion destination and is best known for the hike to the warm river where you can swim. The area is located just above Hveragerði, in the middle of a landscape characterized by volcanic and geothermal activity.

Back through the geothermal landscape

On the way back, the wind was at our backs. Now we could finally look up and really take in the landscape around us. And what a landscape!

We rode over mountains and through rocks, mud and water. All around us, steam rose from the ground and hot springs and streams bubbled. It was wild, barren and at the same time incredibly beautiful – exactly the kind of nature experience that is hard to get anywhere else but in Iceland.

Riding an Icelandic horse

A horse ride in Iceland is of course not just about nature. The Icelandic horse is an experience in itself. One of the breed's special characteristics is its gait. fill, a four-beat gait that is usually experienced as considerably softer for the rider than the trot. On Eldhestar's tours in the area there is the opportunity to try tölt, depending on luck and conditions.

You don't necessarily have to be an experienced rider to book a horseback riding tour in Iceland. There are tours at different levels, from shorter beginner tours to full-day and multi-day tours for experienced riders.

Horseback riding to Reykjadalur today

Our ride was done a few years ago and the layout may have changed, but Eldhestar is still around at Hveragerði and offers several different rides.

Among other things, there are still The Hot Springs Tour to Reykjadalur Valley, a horseback ride of about 5–6 hours including breaks and the opportunity to swim in the warm river. The tour is offered during the summer season. There are also shorter tours in the geothermal landscape around Hveragerði.

Was the ride worth it?

When we sat there in the cold wind with our cold sandwiches, the answer might not have been entirely obvious. But afterwards? Absolutely.

Experiencing Iceland's geothermal landscape from horseback was something very special. And somehow the terrible weather became part of the experience. We didn't get that idyllic ride under blue skies that we might have imagined. We got Iceland for real.

More to see and do in Iceland

Of course, there is much more to see and experience around Iceland. Here you will find tips and inspiration:

• Gullfoss
• Strokkur and Geysir
• Þingvellir National Park
• Blue Lagoon
• Things to do in Reykjavik