Below The Mountains
Tour Description
Explore the diverse landscapes between volcanic mountains and the Atlantic coast on an Icelandic horse. Key highlights include riding across lush meadows to the Ölfusá glacial river delta, visiting the island of Lambey, and spotting wildlife in a local bird sanctuary. You will experience the smooth tölt gait while enjoying views of the famous Hekla and Eyjafjallajökull volcanoes. The tour concludes with coffee and home-baked cake at a traditional farm.
This day tour offers a practical and scenic exploration of South Iceland’s coastal and volcanic terrain. The journey begins at Vellir farm near Hveragerði, located about 45 kilometers (40 minutes) from Reykjavík. This area is characterized by vast wetlands, glacial rivers, and views of some of the country’s most active volcanoes.
The excursion starts on easy trails through meadows, providing an ideal opportunity to experience the tölt, a comfortable gait unique to the Icelandic horse. We follow the Gljúfurá river toward an ancient cemetery near the banks of the Ölfusá, Iceland’s largest river by volume. From here, riders can see the river delta stretching toward the ocean. On clear days, the inland volcanoes Hekla and Eyjafjallajökull are visible on the horizon.
The route continues along grassy paths to the river banks, where the ground turns into soft, black volcanic sand. You will ride through shallow water to reach the island of Lambey. This region is part of a bird sanctuary, and riders often spot various species inhabiting the wetlands. After an outdoor lunch break, the path leads toward Mount Ingólfsfjall, a large table mountain named after Iceland's first Viking settler. We follow an old trail along the base of Reykjafjall mountain, where livestock grazes during the summer months, before returning to the farm for refreshments.
Winter Note: During the winter season, the itinerary is slightly modified for comfort. We ride to the river banks and then return to the hotel for a warm meal of traditional Icelandic meat soup before finishing the mountain portion of the ride. This tour is suitable for those looking for a long, steady day in the saddle with varied scenery.
From Reykjavík
All Year
9-10 Hours
Included
Easy to moderate
Highlight Of The Tour
What’s Included
Frequently Asked Questions
Riding tours start at 09:00 if you didn't book a pick up service and will drive yourself to the farm.
We offer hotel pick-up in Reykjavík at 8:00 and pick-up in Hafnarfjörður, Mosfellsbær, Kópavogur at 7:30. The tour returns to Reykjavík at around 17.00
The ride is moderate, but we encourage everyone over 8 years of age to join this magnificent journey.
Everyone is required to wear a helmet.
Eldhestar has strict security measures in place. For safety reasons, you cannot bring backpacks, large cameras, selfie sticks, or other bulky items on the horses. Small waist bags are allowed. Horse riding is a potentially risky activity; you participate at your own risk.
The tour is available all year, but it's a good idea to bring extra clothing like socks, gloves, and a hat on rainy days or during winter day tours if you get wet during the ride.
To participate in the horse riding tour, you'll need to wear sturdy shoes, good sneakers or narrow hiking boots, and comfortable pants (riding pants are not required). It's a good idea to bring gloves and a thin hat under the helmet (a "buff" is a good choice). If you want to carry small items like a camera, you should bring a small waist bag (backpacks are not allowed on the horses). On rainy days or during winter day tours, it's a good idea to bring extra clothing like socks, gloves, and a hat in case you get wet during the ride.
The maximum weight for participants is 120 kg.
All used riding gear, such as boots and saddlebags, must be disinfected before coming to Iceland to prevent the spreading of infectious diseases that could threaten the horses. That typically includes washing riding wear and cleaning helmets, shoes, and safety vests with iodine or another disinfectant.
Used riding gloves and leather items, such as chaps, are not allowed.
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