This family-friendly horse-riding tour is ideal for riders of all abilities and all ages, thanks to its adaptability. It takes place on the legendary South Coast of Iceland, on a beautiful black sand beach – filled with fascinating lava sculptures and unique wildlife. In addition to the horse ride, we'll also visit two of Iceland's most famous waterfalls – guaranteeing that you have an amazing adventure in the land of fire and ice!
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The adventure begins when we collect you from one of our Reykjavik pick-up points and head for the rustic village of Vik on the Ring Road. You’ll see many incredible sights of Iceland’s South Coast throughout the journey as we’ll pass volcanoes, lava fields, mountains and glaciers along the way.
Upon arrival at Vik, we’ll head straight to our traditional Icelandic stables. Here you’ll meet the charming Icelandic horses, and our guide will get you kitted out with any necessary safety equipment.
Our guides will make sure that you are matched with a horse that is right for your ability. You’ll have some time to connect with the horse and you will soon find out why it’s called a horse and never a pony! This unique breed of horses is famous for its character and on this tour, you’ll learn all about it.
Once you’re fully equipt and comfortable on the horse, we’ll head out to explore a black sand beach from the back of an Icelandic horse!
We’ll be riding on Víkurfjara beach, a volcanically crafted wonderland that combines jet-black sands, mesmerizing lava rock formations, and a winding series of symmetrical basalt columns. Look skywards and you’ll see a huge selection of seabirds soaring high above your head. As we ride along the beach, get ready for a sensual feast, including the stark contrast between the waves and the volcanic sands, the salty sea-breeze blowing against your face and the cries of the birds echoing against the cliffs.
We can’t think of any better way to explore this remarkable landscape, than from the back of a traditional Icelandic horse, who’re uniquely adapted to Icelandic conditions. They’re much smaller than normal European horses and have remained unchanged since the Viking era, thanks to very strict import and export regulations. Icelandic horses are most famous for their unique gait, which is known as the ‘tolt’ – a graceful style that means they always have three hooves on the ground when they move.
If you’re coming with younger riders, then don’t worry – we’ve got you covered. You can join our shorter family-friendly tour that takes an easier route across Víkurfjara Beach. All of our family-friendly horse-riding tours take place under the watchful eye of our expert guides, who will ensure that junior riders are safe throughout the tour. Please inform us during the booking process if you’re interested in the family-friendly iteration of the tour.
You'll have lunch in the charming village of Vik, which is perched on top of a hill overlooking the Atlantic Ocean and then we'll head back to Reykjavik. On the way, we'll stop off at two of Iceland's most famous and most beautiful waterfalls – the perfect end to an amazing tour.
Skogafoss is a massive 197 ft (60 m) waterfall with one of the widest cascades in the entire of Iceland. Your friendly guide will take you up to its summit – where you can snap some great photos of Skogafoss and the surrounding mountains.
Seljalandsfoss is just as beautiful as Skogafoss, replete with a steep cascade that can be walked behind – allowing you to see the raw power of nature from a totally different perspective.
We’ll end the day by dropping you back in Reykjavik – we hope you have enjoyed your horse-riding adventure in Iceland and can’t wait to see you again!
