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Our equestrian tours in Iceland 
Horseback riding vacations in Iceland
 Iceland is a large island in the North Atlantic close to the Arctic Circle. The landscape is wild, rugged and colorful, with black lava, red sulphur, hot blue geysers, rivers, waterfalls and green valleys. Its coastline is richly indented with bays and fjords.
Iceland is one of the most volcanically active countries in the world. Hekla, in the south of Iceland, has erupted no fewer than 16 times, and was once described by clergymen as the gateway to Hell. Certainly, Iceland's seething mountains contribute towards this sense of other worldliness.
Riding in Iceland:
Pristine nature, wide open landscapes, glaciers, geysers, and Iceland's slumbering but nonetheless active volcanoes are what attracts riders to visit this land many times over. While many equestrians return to try a different ride each time, others ride the same areas for different experiences.
Most Icelandic equestrian rides take twice or triple the usual number of horses along to prevent exhaustion in the rough terrain. You’ll change horses several times while the rest of the herd freely runs between front and end rider - a special treat. You will be staying in small guest houses, mountain huts or in school dormitories in sleeping bags. From the end of May to the end of August is the time of the midnight sun, when the night is never dark. Iceland is famous for its thermal pools and you can count on never being more than a few nights away from their warmth and relaxation.
Lodgings: Due to the remote nature of Iceland and lack of infrastructure facilities are limit. This is not for everyone, but if you are looking to get away and back to basics - you will love it. While on the ride in the back country, lodgings can be quite basic in dorm room type buildings with outhouse facilities. That means you will be sleeping with many other riders in the same room with little or no privacy (sleeping bag bunk beds). We have been working on improving this, but due to the remote locations of the stopovers, this is not always possible. The most rustic accommodations are on our Egilstadir, Kjoelur, Northern Exposure and Snaefellsness rides, but they also provide some of the most unique atmosphere and camaraderie. Other tours offer accommodations in made up beds and double rooms along with 3 to 4 bed rooms with hot showers or hot tubs on most nights. Along with The Diamond Circle, the most "luxurious" tours are the Golden Circle (or the shorter version the Geysir Gulfoss) and the Eastern Symphony.
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See Mini Country Guide
Holidays on horseback in Iceland
Below is a list of our trips in this area with video clips.
 Click on the 'watch video' icon
to view a video clip,
Northern Exposure
(IT-ICRT03)
Northern Tours, Iceland
8 days / 7 nights, regular rate
$2,465
The North of Iceland is known for its great natural sights and varied landscape. Our tour leads from Saltvík Farm near Húsavík to the Lake Mývatn area, known for its volcanic features and countless numbers of breeding ducks. An optional whale watching t...
Minimum riding level: Strong Intermediate
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Golden Circle Tour
(IT-ICRT06)
East and South, Iceland
8 days / 7 nights, regular rate
$2,205
Is there a better way to visit
the well-known sights in Iceland, the Geysir Hot Spring area and the
Golden Waterfall Gullfoss than by riding through the lovely countryside
of South Iceland?
Exchange the beaten tracks for fine bridle paths along deep canyons...
Minimum riding level: Low Intermediate+
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Kjolur Ride - Between the Glaciers
(IT-ICRT07)
Highland Tours, Iceland
9 days / 8 nights, regular rate
$2,475
Move back in time and ride along the historic Kjölur trail as Icelanders did throughout the centuries while travelling to the big summer parliament at Thingvellir, first held in 930 AD. We visit this historic place which has since become a national park, famed for its b...
Minimum riding level: Strong Intermediate
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Northern Elves Trail
(IT-ICRT-P01)
Northern Tours, Iceland
8 days / 7 nights, regular rate
$1,595
In the North of Iceland, at the longest fjord of Iceland, Eyjafjördur, lies dreamly Grytubakki, a farmhouse - the starting point of a variety of riding tours in an extraordinary landscape. About 100 horses live with us during the whole year and durin...
Minimum riding level: Intermediate
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Iceland Mini Guide
Source: World Travel Guide
Overview
Iceland is a large island in the North Atlantic close to the Arctic Circle. The landscape is wild, rugged and colourful, with black lava, red sulphur, hot blue geysers, rivers, waterfalls and green valleys. Its coastline is richly indented with bays and fjords.
Iceland is one of the most volcanically active countries in the world. Hekla, in the south of Iceland, has erupted no fewer than 16 times, and was once described by clergymen as the gateway to Hell. Certainly, Iceland's seething mountains contribute towards this sense of otherworldliness.
Yet around the coastal regions, Iceland is a bustle of activity, particularly in the capital city, Reykjavík, where more than half of Iceland's population lives. Reykjavík is set on a broad bay, surrounded by mountains, and is in an area of geothermal hot springs, creating a natural central heating system and pollution-free environment. It is a busy city combining old-fashioned wooden architecture and modern buildings. Despite being a relatively small capital city, Reykjavík has managed to forge a reputation for partying, and its nightclubs and bars are regularly filled with hordes of fun-loving citizens.
Whether you wish to quietly watch for birds or whales, or prefer to get active and ski, glacier skidoo or horse ride, Iceland amply provides for both.
Note
Icelandic consulates no longer issue visas. For visa information, contact the Royal Danish Embassy (tel: 09065 540 755 for appointments. For further details see Denmark section).
Passport/Visa
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Passport Required? |
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British |
Yes |
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Australian |
Yes |
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Canadian |
Yes |
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USA |
Yes |
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Other EU |
Yes/1 |
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Visa Required? |
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British |
No |
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Australian |
No |
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Canadian |
No |
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USA |
No |
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Other EU |
No |
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Return Ticket Required? |
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British |
No |
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Australian |
Yes |
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Canadian |
Yes |
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USA |
Yes |
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Other EU |
No |
Passports
Passport valid for at least three months beyond length of stay required by all except:
(a) 1. nationals of Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain and Sweden who are only required to produce national identity cards issued by the competent authorities in their countries of origin.
Passport Note
Iceland is a signatory to the 1995 Schengen Agreement.
Visas
Not required by all nationals of referred to in the chart above for stays of up to 90 days.
2. EU nationals staying longer than 90 days will need to apply for a residence permit from the directorate of immigration in Iceland.
Note: Nationals not referred to in the chart above are advised to contact the embassy to check visa requirements (see Contact Addresses).
Visa Note
A stay in another Schengen-Zone country counts as the same as a stay in Iceland.
Money
Currency
Icelandic krona (ISK; symbol kr) = 100 aurar. Notes are in denominations of kr5,000, 2,000, 1,000, 500, 100, 50 and 10. Coins are in denominations of kr100, 50, 10, 5 and 1.
Currency Exchange
Foreign currencies can be exchanged in all major banks, some of which (such as the Landesbankí at Reykjavík airport) are open 24 hours. Most hotels also provide their guests with exchange services. Exchange services are also available from The Change Group, which has offices at Reykjavík airport, the tourist information centre and in central Reykjavík.
Credit/Debit Cards and ATMs
American Express, Diners Club, Europay, MasterCard and Visa are widely accepted. ATMs are available throughout the country.
Traveller's Cheques
Widely used. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travellers are advised to take traveller's cheques in US Dollars.
Currency Restrictions
Restrictions apply.
Banking Hours
Mon-Fri 0915-1600.
Exchange Rate Indicators
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Date |
Jul 08 |
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£1.00= |
kr156.35 |
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$1.00= |
kr78.79 |
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€1.00= |
kr125.03 |
Health
Vaccinations
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Special Precautions |
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Diphtheria |
No |
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Hepatitis A |
No |
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Malaria |
No |
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Rabies |
No |
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Tetanus |
Yes |
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Typhoid |
No |
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Yellow Fever |
No |
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Inoculation regulations can change at short notice. Please take medical advice in the case of doubt. Where 'Sometimes' appears in the table above, precautions may be required, depending on the season and region visited. |
Health Care
The emergency number for medical assistance is 112 (24 hours). For European visitors who are taken ill or have an accident, free or reduced-cost treatment is available – in most cases on production of a valid European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). The EHIC gives access to state-provided medical treatment only. Note that the EHIC replaces the Form E111, which is no longer valid.
Getting There
Getting There by Air
The national airline, Icelandair (FI) (website: www.icelandair.net), operates direct flights all year round to Reykjavík (Keflavík) from London and New York. Iceland Express (website: www.icelandexpress.com) and British Airways (website: www.ba.com) also fly from London.
Approximate Flight Times
From London to Iceland is 3 hours; and from New York is 5 hours 30 minutes.
Main Airports
Keflavík International Airport (KEF) (website: www.keflavikairport.com) is the main international hub, 48km (30 miles) southwest of Reykjavík (journey time – 45 minutes). To/from the airport: Flybus (website: www.re.is) operates after each flight, making trips to all major hotels in Reykjavík, the camping ground, the youth hostel in Laugardalun and the domestic terminal. A taxi service is also available. Facilities: Duty-free shop, banking and exchange facilities, information desk, post office, restaurants, bars and car hire.
Departure Tax
None.
Getting There by Water
Main ports: Keflavik, Rekjavík and Seyðisfjörður.
A few ferry companies operate services to Iceland from Denmark, Germany and Norway. The Faroe Islands' Smyril Line (tel: 472 1111 or +44 1595 690 845, in the UK; website: www.smyril-line.com) operates a weekly passenger- and car-ferry service from Norway, Denmark, the Shetland Islands and the Faroe Islands.
Many cruises also call at Iceland.
Climate
Iceland’s climate is tempered by the Gulf Stream. Summers are mild and winters rather cold. The colourful Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights) appear from the end of August. From the end of May to the beginning of August, there are nearly 24 hours of perpetual daylight in Reykjavík, while in the northern part of the country the sun barely sets at all. Winds can be strong and gusty at times and there is the occasional dust storm in the interior. Snow is not as common as the name of the country would seem to suggest and, in any case, does not lie for long in Reykjavík; it is only in northern Iceland that skiing conditions are reasonably certain. However, the weather is very changeable at all times of the year, and in Reykjavík there may be rain, sunshine, drizzle and snow in the same day. The air is clean and free of pollution.
Required Clothing
Lightweights in warmer months, with extra woollens for walking and the cooler evenings. Medium- to heavyweights are advised in winter. Waterproofing is recommended throughout the year.
Contacts
Icelandic Tourist Board
Laekjargata 3, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland
Tel: 535 5500.
Website: www.visiticeland.com
Embassy of Iceland in the UK
2A Hans Street, London SW1X 0JE, UK
Tel: (020) 7259 3999.
Website: www.iceland.org/uk
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0930-1600.
There is currently no Icelandic tourist board in the UK, but the embassy can deal with all enquiries. There is also a brochure request line based in the UK, tel: (020) 7636 9660.
Embassy of Iceland in the USA
1156 15th Street, NW, Suite 1200, Washington, DC 20005, USA
Tel: (202) 265 6653.
Website: www.iceland.org/us
Icelandic Tourist Board in the USA
c/o The Scandinavian Tourist Board, 655 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017, USA
Tel: (212) 885 9700.
Website: www.icelandtouristboard.com
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Around the Glaciers
9 days / 8 nights, regular rate ~$2,395
This tour starts at the farm Skálakot, which is situated beneath the Eyjafjall Mountain Range. From Skálakot we ride first to the Fljótshlíd area, made famous in The Saga of Burning Njal where we have a good view over the area Thorsmörk and the glaciers Myrdalsjökull and Eyjafjallajökull.
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Eastern Symphony - Horses and Puffins
8 days / 7 nights, regular rate ~$2,595
In north-eastern Iceland, the "Trails of the Deserted Inlets" extend over an area where coastal mountains plunge abruptly into the sea. This isolated region is considered to be the central province of "the Hidden People" - the elves.
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Egilsstadir Saga Tour
9 days / 8 nights, regular rate ~$2,345
Discover the incredible wild beauty of East Iceland on the Egilsstaðir Tour and explore an area not known by many people. Even among Icelanders this part of the interior is a best- kept secret.
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Golden Circle Tour
8 days / 7 nights, regular rate ~$2,205
Is there a better way to visitthe well-known sights in Iceland, the Geysir Hot Spring area and theGolden Waterfall Gullfoss than by riding through the lovely countrysideof South Iceland? Exchange the beaten tracks for fine bridle paths along deep canyons,travel across wide salmon rivers to the wonders of untouched nature.
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Landmannalaugar Nature Tour
9 days / 8 nights, regular rate ~$2,395
This tour in South Iceland begins between three glaciers. We ride north from the cornet-shaped mountain Einhyrningur, with its troll's head cliff, and cross the Markarfljót River.
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Mountain Spirit Ride - Landmannalaugar
7 days / 6 nights, regular rate ~$2,195
Landmannalaugar, colourful beauty in the southern highlands. We are proud to launch again an adventurous ride to visit the Landmannalaugar area.
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Between Glaciers into the Desert
8 days / 7 nights, regular rate ~$2,090
We ride along the ancient Sprengisandur route that crosses Iceland. We explore some of the most fascinating and extreme contrasts of the Icelandic landscape.
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Classic Wilderness Tour
8 days / 7 nights, regular rate ~$1,980
The Classic Wilderness Kjölur route is an ancient riding trail, intimately associated with many dramatic events in Icelandic history. We visit the popular attractions of Gullfoss and Geysir as well as uninhabited tracts of land, glaciers, wilderness and hot springs.
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Kjolur Ride - Between the Glaciers
9 days / 8 nights, regular rate ~$2,475
Move back in time and ride along the historic Kjölur trail as Icelanders did throughout the centuries while travelling to the big summer parliament at Thingvellir, first held in 930 AD. We visit this historic place which has since become a national park, famed for its beauty and its position right on top of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, where the continental plates drift apart.
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Horse Drive in Iceland
5 days / 4 nights, regular rate ~$1,525
Only a few Icelandic farmers keep up the tradition of driving their horses to highland pastures for the summer. Therefore it is a true privilege for us to be able to offer this great adventure to our clients.
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Horse Round Up in Iceland
6 days / 5 nights, regular rate ~$1,405
Imagine free and spirited horses coming down from their highland summer pastures towards the inhabited areas to be returned to their owners. Mares and their foals, young horses and geldings make their way through rough territory, not really willing to give up their freedom yet before winter returns once again.
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Sheep Round-Up on Horseback
6 days / 5 nights, regular rate ~$1,170
The round-up of sheep is an Icelandic tradition with roots in the past when pastures and fields near the farms were so precious that they had to be kept for the hay harvest. Thus the stock was driven to the mountains during the summer.
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Trail of Hope - North West Explorer
5 days / 4 nights, regular rate ~$1,525
This tour is an ideal opportunity for everyone who wants to enjoy a comfortable ride in different types of landscape. We ride through unspoiled nature and get an excellent insight into Icelandic history when listening to stories from the Saga ages.
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Diamond Circle Ride
8 days / 7 nights, regular rate ~$2,830
The Lake Mývatn area is often called the Diamond Circle due to the high density of interesting sights. It witnesses the power of Mother Earth with a display of eerie lava formations, high rising steam clouds, black sand deserts and boiling multi-coloured mud pools.
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Iceland Special
12 days / 11 nights, regular rate ~$4,225
Iceland Specials - choose from one of these 2 Special riding tours in 2009 1. Nine Glacier´s Panorama Hidden Trails presents for a first time a special tour covering parts of all three traditional highland routes: Sprengisandur, Kjölur and Arnarvatnsheiði.
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Northern Elves Trail
8 days / 7 nights, regular rate ~$1,595
In the North of Iceland, at the longest fjord of Iceland, Eyjafjördur, lies dreamly Grytubakki, a farmhouse - the starting point of a variety of riding tours in an extraordinary landscape. About 100 horses live with us during the whole year and during the months of June, July and August some other 20 join the herd.
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Northern Exposure
8 days / 7 nights, regular rate ~$2,465
The North of Iceland is known for its great natural sights and varied landscape. Our tour leads from Saltvík Farm near Húsavík to the Lake Mývatn area, known for its volcanic features and countless numbers of breeding ducks.
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Pearls of the North
8 days / 7 nights, regular rate ~$1,985
This wonderfully diverse ride takes us through many of the green valleys of Northern Iceland. We pass lake Ljósavatn, the lake of the lights, and Godafoss, the waterfall of the gods.
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Black Lava and White Sand
8 days / 7 nights, regular rate ~$1,985
This tour in West Iceland gives us the opportunity to experience the wide range of Iceland's colors -through green valleys, across black lava fields and along yellow sand beside the dark sea. We begin in the green Lundareykjadalur Valley and cross Grimsá, one of Iceland's most famous salmon rivers.
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Golden Highlights of the South
9 days / 8 nights, regular rate ~$1,860
This tour through varied nature takes us to the most popular attractions in the South of Iceland. We leave from Vellir and follow paths between lava and hills to the Valley of Horses.
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Krýsuvík and the Blue Lagoon
6 days / 5 nights, regular rate ~$1,075
We begin at Vellir and follow one of Iceland's largest rivers, the Ölfusá . We ride through the mouth of the river to the west coast where we visit the beautiful Strandarkirkja Church.
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Magical and Mysterious Snaefellsnes
9 days / 8 nights, regular rate ~$2,395
The Snæfellsnes peninsula, recently designated a National Park, is named after the glacier covered cone volcano Snæfellsjökull, one of the most recognized sights in Iceland. Its mystic atmosphere has been described in words and written language and became famous through Jules Verne´s novel “A journey to the centre of the Earth”!
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