What to bring
For half-day tours
- Sturdy shoes, good sneakers or hiking boots that are not very broad are fine.
- Comfortable pants (riding pants are not necessary).
- We recommend gloves and a thin hat under the helmet (“buff” is well suited).
- If you would like to bring small items such as a camera you should bring a small waist bag, backpacks cannot be taken on horseback.
- On rainy days and on day tours during the winter season, we recommend bringing extra clothing such as socks, gloves and hat in case you get wet during the ride.
For day tours
- Sturdy shoes, good sneakers or hiking boots that are not very broad are fine.
- Comfortable pants (riding pants are not necessary).
- We recommend gloves and a thin hat under the helmet (“buff” is well suited).
- If you would like to bring small items such as a camera you should bring a small waist bag, backpacks cannot be taken on horseback.
- For day tours in summer we recommend sun lotion, sun glasses (also if partly clouded) and a fly net (not necessary on windy days).
- On rainy days and on day tours during the winter season, we recommend bringing extra clothing such as socks, gloves and hat in case you get wet during the ride.
For multi-day tours
- Warm clothes in layers (long underwear, woollen socks, scarf, gloves, woollen sweater or fleece, wind- and waterproof jacket). Eldhestar provides good rain gear.
- Thin hat to wear under the helmet, “buff” is well suited. You can buy a “buff” at Eldhestar.
- Sleeping bag. We recommend a small pillow and a bed sheet if you use your sleeping bag as a blanket. A sleeping bag is not needed for tours with all nights at Hotel or Guesthouse Eldhestar.
- A small waist bag (not a backpack!) for using when riding. (Backpacks are bumpy when you are riding and may hurt you if you fall off).
- Swimwear and towel.
- Riding pants (If you don’t have riding pants, any seamless tight garment will do), for long tours you should bring two pants suitable for riding.
- Riding or hiking boots which should be comfortable with a thick sole for walking over rocks. Hiking boots are fine if they are not too broad for the stirrups. High riding boots might get uncomfortable, rubber boots are not necessary.
- Sun lotion
- Sunglasses (also for long tours to protect eyes from dust).
- Flynet (can be purchased at Eldhestar).
- Band-aids and second skin plasters for chaffing.
- Some comfortable clothes and shoes (slippers) for using in the evening, after the riding. Normal street clothes are not necessary except for your stay in Iceland after the tour.
- Your travel insurance card/information.
- Please do not use large and bulky suitcases as we have limited space in the trailer. If you need more luggage for travelling in Iceland before / after the tour you are welcome to store it at Hotel Eldhestar during the tour.
You might experience temperatures close to 0°C as well as”T-shirt weather”, please be prepared! You find more information about climate in Iceland here
Note:
Used boots, riding wear, saddlebags etc. must be disinfected before arrival in Iceland. This is because infectious diseases can easily be brought into the country, which poses a great danger for the horses. Riding wear is normally washed, and shoes, helmets and security wests are cleaned with iodine or some other fluid disinfectant.
Used riding gloves and all used leather articles (e.g. chaps) are prohibited.
F.A.Q
Accommodation for multi-day tours
Our guests can either stay at Hotel Eldhestar or Guesthouse Eldhestar.
Accommodation at Hotel Eldhestar is included in the tours 8a/b (summer), 8c, 8d, 8f and 33a/b.
Accommodation at Guesthouse Eldhestar is included in the tours 8e, 12 (partly) and 21. The first night of our longer tours 10,11 and 13-20 is always booked in made-up beds at Guesthouse Eldhestar (2- to 4-person rooms with shared facilities). An upgrade to Hotel Eldhestar is possible for an extra charge (if rooms are available).
For Tours 7, 8a/b (winter), 9 and 30a/b it is your choice (while booking) if you are accommodated in the hotel or guesthouse.
Every tour ends on the last riding day with the transfer back to Reykjavik.
Accommodation during the tours 10-20 is at farms, guesthouses, community centres and simple mountain huts in a sleeping bag (partly dormitory style, bring your own sleeping bag). Some mountain huts in the highlands only have cold water and no showers.
Airport transfer
Our tours start from Reykjavik. For transportation from the airport to Reykjavík (BSI main bus station, hotels or guesthouses) please take the Flybus (operated by Reykjavik Excursions). This service is NOT included in the tour price.
Arrival transfer for day tours
Transport to and from Reykjavík is included in all tours except for tour 1a. We pick up from BSI main bus station, hotels, guesthouses and designated bus stops at 08:00 and 13:00. The pick up in Hafnarfjörður, Mosfellsbær and Kópavogur starts at 7:45. Please note that we cannot pick up from private apartments and Airbnb’s.
Arrival transfer for multi-day tours
The tour departure dates indicate the arrival day at Eldhestar. Participants will be picked up at BSI main bus station in Reykjavík at 17:30. For guests arriving earlier, we offer pick-up from hotels, guesthouses and designated bus stops in Reykjavik. On the first evening, we have a welcome dinner. The riding tours start the following day.
Availability
Half day tours, day tours and combo tours are available every day and should be booked at least one day before arrival. During the summer season, we recommend booking earlier. Available spots and dates for multi-day tours can be seen on the respective tour page.
Bookings
Half day tours, day tours and combo tours can be booked on our tour pages. Please use the shopping cart for booking several tours. If you wish to book tours that don’t have an online booking option yet (tours 7 & 8), please fill out the contact form on the corresponding tour page.
Climate and weather
Thanks to the Gulf Stream, temperatures are usually moderate all year round. Average temperatures in Reykjavík are about 12°C in July and 1°C in January. Icelandic weather is known to be unpredictable and changing several times a day. A beautiful day can suddenly turn windy and rainy (and vice versa). Travellers to Iceland should be prepared for anything and dress in layers. You can find detailed information about the weather, climate and Aurora here.
Closed days
Eldhestar operates riding tours every day of the week, all year round, except for the following days: January 1, December 24 afternoon, December 25, December 26, December 31 afternoon.
Daylight hours
From mid-May to mid-August the sun only sets for only a few hours per day, and it is effectively light for the whole 24-hour period. In contrast, there are around 4-5 hours of effective daylight during mid-winter. But Iceland’s inexpensive geothermal energy means that streets and buildings are well-lit during winter darkness. You find information about daylight hours in Iceland here.
Riding equipment
Eldhestar provides safety helmets and rain gear, and during the winter also warm overalls. Please see the information about what to bring here.
Languages
In general, our riding tours are guided in English. Our guides are English-, Swedish-, or German-speaking. During the summer season, we might have guides that speak other languages.
Included
Riding tours, accommodation and meals as described in the itineraries and transfer from Reykjavik and back. Helmets and rain gear, warm overalls. Not included: Flights and transportation from the airport to Reykjavik and back. All our tours (except for tour 1a) start and end in Reykjavík.
For multi-day winter tours:
Included: Meals and services as described in the itinerary and 11% VAT.
Children’s discount for children 14 years and younger is 20%.
For multi-day summer tours:
Included in the price: Meals and services as described in the itinerary and 11% VAT.
Children´s discount for children 14 years and younger is 20%.
Prices for tours with hotel accommodation are based on a shared double room, single rooms are bookable for a surcharge (based on availability).
Prices for tours with guesthouse accommodation are based on accommodation in 2-4 bedrooms.
Note: The last night in Reykjavík will not be included in our Shorter Tours, Longer Tours and Wilderness Tours from summer 2019 on.
Liability
Eldhestar reserves the right to alter the itineraries or change timetables without prior notice to guests if weather conditions or other events outside the control of Eldhestar prevent going on the original tour. The riding routes are therefore subject to weather conditions and can be changed without refunds. Eldhestar does not take any liability for costs incurred because of changes to our timetable or itineraries. Please also note that riding is at your own risk.
Luggage
On multi-day-tours luggage is taken by car between the overnight stops. Please pack light and do not bring more than one piece of luggage, as we have limited space in the trailer. If you need more luggage for travels in Iceland before or after the tour you are welcome to store it at Hotel Eldhestar. You find information about what to bring here.
Meals
All multi-day tours include full board starting with dinner on arrival day and ending with lunch on the last riding day. Dinner on multi-day tours is traditional Icelandic. In summer, lunch is either packed in saddle bags or the cook meets the group. From Sept. 15 – May 15 we offer light lunch at Hotel Eldhestar (soup, bread, cheese, ham etc). Vegetarian and gluten-free meals are available on request – please book in advance. Please note that dinner on the last evening is not included.
Minimum age
All half day tours (except 3b), combo tours (except 4a & 4c) & daytour 5c: Children aged 7 years and older accompanied by an adult. We offer paddock rides for younger children (15 min, children are led).
Day Tours 5a, 5b : Children aged 10 years and older
Day Tour 5d: Minimum age 8 years.
Day Tour 6a: 10 years, children 14 years and younger must have riding experience.
Combo Tour 4a: 10 years, 4c: 11 years
Tour 3b and 6c (for experienced riders): 12 years or on request.
Multi-day tours: Please contact us regarding booking of children under 15 years.
Northern Lights
The best months to see the Northern Lights or aurora borealis are October through April, with peak visibility from December through February. However, as it is a natural phenomenon, sightings cannot be guaranteed. The Northern Lights are the result of charged particles from solar flares colliding with the earth’s atmosphere. They can only be viewed in the darkness of night when there are no clouds blocking your view to the sky. You can follow the Northen Lights forecast here.
Riding ability
Half day tours, day tours 5c & 5d and combo tours: These tours are suited for all experience levels. We select horses according to riding skills and participants on our tours always get to try “tölt”, the special, smooth gait of the Icelandic horse.
Tour 3b, 6b and 8f: For experienced riders only (riding regularly, capable to control the horses in all gaits in different terrain).
Day tours 5a, 5b & 6a and shorter multi-day tours (7-12, except for 8f & 10): These tours are for everyone, but require very good physical condition as we cover 20-25 km per day and ride a lot of tölt (about trot speed). Participants must be able to mount a horse with little assistance.
Longer tours (10, 13-16 & 21) require basic riding skills with a secure, balanced seat and a good physical condition. We ride up to 45 km per day mostly in the gait tölt and take a herd of free-running horses with us part of the tour, which requires a certain speed.
Wilderness Tours (17 – 20) are for experienced riders only (several years of riding regularly in all kind of terrain). A large herd of free-running horses follows every day.
It is the rider’s responsibility to assess their own level of riding proficiency. If uncertain, please contact Eldhestar before booking your tour.
Riding wear / gear – Caution: Disinfect!
Used boots, riding wear, helmets, saddlebags etc. must be disinfected before arrival in Iceland. Chaps, bridles and other used leather gear must not be brought to Iceland. That is because infectious, contagious diseases can easily be brought into the country, which poses a great threat for the horses as they are not vaccinated. Riding wear is normally washed and shoes and are washed and cleaned with VirkonS, Iodine or some other fluid disinfectant. For further information please click here. The riding style in Iceland is similar to English riding. We use simple snaffle bits, bridles with detachable nose-bands and clips on the end of the reins so they can be easily removed when grazing. Our saddles are comfortable with soft, rather flat seat, it is not necessary to bring saddle seat pads.
Safety and security
Eldhestar maintains a high-security standard. Backpacks, large cameras, selfie sticks and other bulky items cannot be taken on horseback. Small waist bags are allowed. Riding is at your own risk.
Substance use
We will not allow people under the influence of intoxication substances, such as alcohol and/or drugs, to participate in our riding tours.
Travel insurance
Remember to take out travel insurance before your journey. Please note that all riding is at your own risk. Residents of the EU/EEA countries should bring their European Health Insurance Card (E-111 form) in case of illness and need for medical care.