Golden Circle & Horseback Riding

In the morning, we’ll pick you up at your chosen pickup location in Reykjavík and drive directly to the quaint horse farm where the furry Icelandic horses await us. 

The Icelandic horse is a special breed. It arrived with the Norse settlers and hasn’t been mixed with other breeds since. There have been some attempts to do so in other countries, but as far as Iceland is concerned, this is the only breed in the country and the current plan is to keep it that way. 

The breed is known for being hardy, sure-footed, exceptionally curious, and friendly. While most horses have three gaits – walk, trot, and gallop – the Icelandic horse has two extra gaits: tölt and skeið. Tölt is a soft way of riding stable at an even pace. Skeið, on the other hand, is mainly used in racing. 

While at the farm, you’ll be provided with all the necessary gear such as helmets, boots, and rainwear (or snowsuits in winter). Our horseback riding guides are the owners of the family farm, so they know each of the animals very well. They’ll give you a short introduction and help you to choose the proper horse to match your experience. 

You’ll spend around 1.5-2 hours on horseback, on a wonderful ride through the picturesque and historic Mosfellsdalur valley in which the farm is located. You’ll ride along a riverbank, crossing the stream many times on the way. 

After your amazing experience riding Icelandic horses, we’ll pick you up at the farm and continue on our way to visit the famous natural attractions of the Golden Circle! 

Our first destination will be Þingvellir (Thingvellir) National Park. Renowned as a UNESCO heritage site, Þingvellir is famous for its great history and unique geography. First and foremost, the Icelandic Parliament, Alþingi, was founded in this valley in the year 930, making it the oldest continuously existing democratic parliament in the world. 

Another notable aspect is that Thingvellir is the location where the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates have been slowly drifting apart, creating a stunning rift valley in the process. The rugged cliffs of the tectonic plates’ edges create a dramatic atmosphere in the historic place where the law speakers took a stand and proclaimed the law a millennium ago! 

Our next stop on the agenda is the Geysir Geothermal Area. This is a vast area filled with hot springs, fumaroles, steaming pots, and erupting geysers. The spouting hot spring called either “Stori-Geysir” or “the Great Geysir” is inactive nowadays. It was this geyser whose fame gave us the English word “geyser” to describe this type of geothermal activity. 

However, there is another geyser nearby called Strokkur, which erupts huge volumes of superheated water 82-131 ft. (25-40 m) into the air every five to ten minutes. Watching a geyser erupt is an unforgettable experience! 

The final highlight of our tour is the majestic Gullfoss waterfall, also known as the “Golden Falls”. The water of the river originates from Iceland’s second largest glacier, Langjökull. The water plunges in two stages into a deep canyon. The first of these drops is 36 ft. (11 m) while the second measures 69 ft. (21 m). 

In the summertime, we can get close enough to the water to feel the spray of the thundering waterfall as it drifts by in the air. In optimal conditions, you’ll be able to see a rainbow over the water and the golden-hued spray around the cascade. This is the reason why it was named the “Golden Falls”! 

After our beautiful, adventurous day, we’ll head back to the capital and drop you off at your previously chosen location. 

This is a combination of two separate tours. If one of the tours is cancelled, you will still be able to join the other part.