Icelandic Horse Riding Tour in the Red Lava Fields near Reykjavík, Iceland
Looking for a unique Iceland adventure just minutes from Reykjavík? A horse riding tour through the red lava fields lets you experience the country’s volcanic beauty from the saddle of a purebred Icelandic horse — one of the most iconic animals in the world. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced rider, this small-group horseback tour near Reykjavík combines stunning scenery, gentle horses, and authentic local culture.
I have been so fortunate to have seen and done so much while in Iceland (also helps that I have been back a number of times!) but this was one of my top magical and uniquely Icelandic memories! What an incredible experience and so happy that my first horseback riding experience ever was in Iceland.
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Meet the Icelandic Horse: Small but Mighty
There are so many things that are interesting and unique to the land of fire including the iconic Icelandic horses. They came to the island with Norwegian settlers 1100 years ago and it has been revealed that they descended from an ancient breed of horse that is now extinct outside of Iceland.
It is one of the purest horse breeds in the world as they have been and continues to be preserved in isolation. In fact in order to protect them (both for purity and health reasons), no horses are allowed to be imported into Iceland, with the law so rigid that once a horse leaves Iceland, it will never be allowed to return.
Note: to further protect the horses from infectious diseases, there are really strict restrictions about what riding gear you are allowed to bring into Iceland as well as the disinfection process/certification that must be presented with allowable gear.
Don’t be fooled by their small stature — these sturdy horses are strong, sure-footed, and famously friendly – remind you of anyone? Haha maybe that’s why I felt instant kinship with them =)
Five Gaits
What really sets them apart are their five natural gaits vs most horse breed’s three: walk, trot and gallop/canter. Natural gaits are what horses are born with or what they can do without any training. The gait that the Icelandic horses is renowned for is tölt which is a such a smooth gait that Icelanders are known to show off by riding with a full glass without spilling it. Note that tölt can be ridden very slowly and up to a very fast speed. The other natural gait that most Icelandic horses have is the flying pace (Skeið in Icelandic) and is sometimes referred to as the fifth gear and is ridden very fast and over short distances
The Red Lava Fields near Reykjavík
Just a short drive from Iceland’s capital lies a surreal landscape of ancient lava flows and red volcanic rock. These areas, like Rauðhólar (the Red Hills) and the lava plains near Mt. Helgafell, are remnants of long-past eruptions that shaped Iceland’s dramatic geology.
Riding through these rust-colored lava formations feels like exploring another planet — with panoramic views, mossy trails, and the soothing rhythm of your horse’s tölt beneath you.
Best Time for Horseback Riding in Iceland
You can enjoy lava field rides year-round, but each season offers something unique:
- Summer (June–August): Midnight sun and lush green moss
- Fall/Autumn (September–October): Fiery foliage and fewer crowds
- Winter (November–March): Snow-dusted lava and Northern Lights possibilities
- Spring (April–May): Crisp air and bright, clear trails
Responsible Riding & Horse Welfare
Icelandic tour operators follow strict animal welfare standards. Horses are rotated between rides, given plenty of rest, and live freely in open pastures when not working.
Always listen to your guide’s instructions and treat your horse with respect — you’ll quickly see why locals are so proud of these incredible animals.
The Red Lava Horse Riding Tour From Reykjavik
Tour Details
- Overview: Saddle up for untamed adventure through Iceland’s volcanic wonderland on this small-group horseback trek from Reykjavik, seeing the land like it’s meant to be seen: in the open air. With a guide, you’ll ride gentle Icelandic horses along natural paths through the crimson Redhills or circling serene Lake Raudavatn. Perfect for both beginners and experienced riders, this intimate journey includes warming drinks and winter gear to keep you comfortable.
- Details: Duration of 3 hours
- Important Notes:
- Choose from a morning or afternoon ride with the option to add transportation: pickup/drop off from select locations in Reykjavík which does NOT include the Skarfabakki Harbour
- Morning Tours start at 9:30 with pick ups starting at 9 and Afternoon Tours start at 13:30 (1:30 PM) with pick ups starting at 13:00 (1 PM) / if meeting only location, be there 15 minutes before start of tour
- Includes:
- Transportation available with Pick-up/Drop off from hotel/bus terminal if that option is purchased
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 15 travelers
- Gear is provided including Winter jumpsuit, Rain clothing, Helmet and Boots available
- Coffee, Tea, and Hot chocolate are provided after the ride
- Not recommended for:
- Travelers with back problems / pregnant travelers / No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
IMPORTANT NOTE: This activity does have a weight limit of max 110 kilograms (242 pounds)
My Experience on the Red Lava Horse Riding Tour From Reykjavik
Pickup / Ride
- This tour can include pickup/drop off from select locations in Reykjavík which what I opted for
- Pickup details: Begins at pick-up is at either 9 or 13:30 (1:30 p.m.), depending on if you chose the morning or afternoon tour
- Pickup starts 30 minutes before departure! If a customer is not at the pickup point at the latest 5 minutes after pickup starts, there is a chance that the booking will be canceled.
- Pickup can take up to 20 minutes. Please type the phone number into the booking details that are reachable in Iceland, if they need to get in contact with you at the last minute.
Pick up was seamless and since I was staying at the Hilton Reykjavík Nordica, pick-up is direct at the hotel. I was the last pick-up and we headed straight away to the stable. Solhestar Horse is very close to Reykjavík with the drive taking 15 minutes or so.
One thing first time visitors are caught off guard by: By law, access to Reykjavík downtown hotels is limited with private buses/mini-buses so you will be picked up/dropped off at a nearby bus stop rather than directly from your hotel
Safety Information / Get Into Riding Gear
I opted to use the provided rain gear (longer jacket – pictured is a size XS and also the rain pants). I wore my boots but riding rubber boots were available.
I would definitely advise wearing the gear if the forecast calls for rain as I heard from a couple of the other riders that they wished they had worn the gear and were cold and a little miserable during the ride
- A brief tutorial on safety and riding is conducted by the Solhestar team and then you are given an opportunity to use the WC one last time prior to the tour beginning (with no other opportunities to go until the tour is over).
- Helmets are mandatory and other riding gear is provided – shown above are the winter overalls
- There was a line for the WC, so I forgot to snap a photo of the other gear as I was rushing to get outfitted after I was done. Rain gear (including a long jacket, rain pants and boots were available)
- Note that on the ride, you are limited to what you will wear as you are not allowed to carry anything nor have anything dangling/loose on – ie backpacks/purses/cameras are not allowed unless they can be stashed in your pockets
Getting Paired with an Icelandic Horse
After we put on our gear and helmets, the team inquired and sorted us according to our riding ability/experience and then will started pairing us up with our horses.
Hilariously, this horse was being a wee bit obstinate when they were first trying to get him to come over – so much so that a few people whispered that they hoped that they wouldn’t be paired with him behind me. Luckily I wasn’t one of them but did have a little pang of worry when they told me that I would be the one riding him. I could only laugh when they told me his name. Meet Spirit and true to his name, he’s got a personality and spunk.
Icelandic horses are known for being friendly, cooperative, and do not startle easily so they are perfect for first time riders – or what I had read to psych myself up for my first ever horse ride. And Spirit was Icelandic through and through and while not thrilled to be interrupted from his eating, he proved to be a wonderful companion.
As he would use every and all opportunities to try to grab a bite to eat during our ride, I realized how perfect the pairing truly was. Luckily I was also comfortable in reminding him that we were on a ride not off foraging for snacks so that was nice confidence builder to be able to gently and firmly tell him no and get him to focus on the the ride.
A Most Icelandic Experience with Horse Riding
We start on some very easy terrain and even though we are riding with English saddles, I quickly get a feel for Spirit and start to feel pretty comfortable riding in general.
The ride is beautiful and taking this tour in the fall/autumn makes it especially magical. The changing leaves and the bright orange, yellow and red foliage pop against the black volcanic rock.
The ride is smooth and I feel comfortable enough to take photos/videos and there’s even time to engage in conversation with the other riders and the Solhestar staff!
The weather is truly Icelandic (and being from Colorado that doesn’t phase me in the least) as it changes minute by minute with nearly every type of weather. There’s sun, rain, sleet, sorta snow, wind, lots of clouds and even periods of one of my fave phenomena when you are in sunshine but it’s also raining as in the photo above
But with the rain (and sleet), comes rainbows and in our case – many including a double rainbow! I am glad that I wore the rain gear as I was extremely comfortable through the ride and could just focus on the sensation of riding and admiring the beauty around me. (For context, I can go to temperature extremes but I run neither hot nor cold. I wore a t-shirt, Arcteryx light jacket and the rain jacket – I can’t recall what the temps were)
After the photo stop, we are asked if we want to experience the tölt AKA go faster than a walk. We separate into two groups with the majority wanting to fully experience an Icelandic horse riding tour and that gait. We are given a few opportunities to tölt with each time being a little longer and faster than the next. It’s pretty crazy to me that I went from never riding a horse before to being able to go beyond a walk on my first ride!
The tour lasts about 2.75 hours with the ride lasting about 2 hour and 10 minutes for us. The sun comes out in earnest and makes it a little less sad that the tour is coming to an end. Afterwards there is coffee, tea and hot chocolate available for those wanting to warm up and/or needing refreshment.
Talking with the rest of the group afterwards, everyone enjoyed the activity from those on our first ride to very seasoned riders!
Local Expertise / Attentive Guides
I believe that there were five or six staff members on our ride (one or two went with the other group) and they were all so friendly and attentive.
They were helpful in reminding riders about body position especially when going up and down hills (important for both the horse and riders for weight distribution and comfort).
And were right there when we would kick it into tölt for the new riders but also gave attention when and where warranted.
And I appreciated that once I got the hang of riding, they gave me space (lol probably watching from a distance) as opposed to being right next to me as they were with other new riders. This really helped build confidence for me!
Photos Included!
Another plus for this tour was that the guide will capture a complimentary photo of you with your horse with this pretty background of the red lava hills. Lol she actually took a ton of photos for me which was really nice!
Tips for Red Lava Horse Riding Tour From Reykjavik
- Book your tour early especially during summer as tours fill up quickly.
- If it even remotely looks like it will rain, wear/use the gear available from Solhester
- Dress warmly (don’t forget hat, gloves and scarves) and in layers if you tend to get cold.
- Don’t be afraid to communicate with the staff and ask for help but they are so attentive, I saw that they would proactively assist riders
- If you want video footage, a mounted go pro is the way to go – wish I would have brought mine!
Final Thoughts — A Ride to Remember
If you want to experience Iceland’s volcanic beauty in the most authentic way possible, a horseback ride through the red lava fields near Reykjavík is an unforgettable choice. It’s peaceful, photogenic, and a genuine connection with Icelandic nature and culture and another truly unique Icelandic activity. I would absolutely recommend this tour and company and actually want to do another ride here when I am back!
On a Cruise and Need Pick-Up from the Cruise Terminal? Book THIS Icelandic Horseback Riding Tour
Why I Chose to Book This Tour Via Viator
What I Really Spent
- Tour: $141.99 The tour was $153.99 and I used $2 in Viator Rewards towards the booking and received an additional $10 off using a Chase Offer!
- TOTAL SPENT: $141.99
I booked via Viator as I was able to quadruple stack on this spend: #1-getting rewards on my credit card, #2-getting Viator rewards (5% on the booking that can be used towards a future booking), #3-getting miles (using the AA shopping portal at 6 Miles/$1) and finally #4-using a credit card offer to save!
If You Want to Book This Tour Via GetYourGuide Instead?
Interestingly this exact same tour from the same tour company is actually cheaper on GetYourGuide ($141!) – book the Reykjavik: Red Lava Horse Riding Tour through GetYourGuide here!
Why You Should Choose to Book Via GetYourGuide
Never used the GetYourGuide app before and want to save 5% on an activity or excursion? You must use my referral to download the app and then book via app with discount code: BEAUTLIFEWORLD5.
For more on the discount code specifically, read this and on GetYourGuide in general, read this
What a helpful and well-structured post. Thanks a lot!
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