Here are pictures from some of our tours that we offer all around Iceland, both short and long tours, we will put more images here, so it would be great that our guests will send us pictures that they have been taken in our tours.
We are a fresh thinking privately owned fully licensed Booking company delivering a customer focused approach to finding the right holiday for you. From a short horse trip around the capital to a horse trip in the wilderness or a tours all around Iceland, we offer a lot‘s of choice. This choice, combined with expert, impartial advice, and unbeatable special offers, means that you get the perfect holiday that suits you.You have the choice of using our website or alternatively, you can speak to one of our fully qualified and caring consultants who are experienced in offering packages, flexible and tailor-made holidays to your destinations.We looking forward to helping you find your perfect holiday.
All our longer tours are from local farmers
Seeing our beautiful country on a horse, with local farmers who know the area like the palm of their hands, is the most authentic travel experience you can get in Iceland. The breathtaking beauty of our country will seem even more unique while riding the Icelandic horse in their natural environment. Our main goal is to offer our guests exceptional service, excellent horses and a safe ride in the Icelandic nature. On most of our tours, we ride with a herd of free-running horses which make the experience of riding in Iceland even more amazing.
Icecard .
Myrarkot 6
Garðabæ
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Iceland
Our great partners and friends.
icelandridingtours.is
For Day tours is paid upon arrival at the site or on our website www.tophorses.is .
For longer riding tours you have to pay 30% of the price on confirmation of the booking, you will receive payment information once the booking has been sent, the tours has to be paid in full 60 days before the beginning of the journey.
All prices are the best possible rates for these trips and include all taxes and other charges.
All our trips are organized and undertaken by local people, you will newer pay Tophorses for longer tours, you will always pay the tour organizer, who has all permits as a tour operator .
Regulation´s about payment, if you book the tour or accommadition through the website the full amount is requested at booking.
If you need any assistant, don’t hesitate to contact us.
Travel Insurance Remember to take out travel insurance before your journey. Please note that all riding and hiking 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.
Used boots, riding wear, saddlebags etc., must be disinfected before arrival in Iceland. That is because infectious disease can easily be brought into the country, which poses a great threat for the horses. Further information at www.mast.is . How to Clean and Disinfect Riding Gear:
Riding wear is normally washed and shoes and leather articles are washed and cleaned with iodine or some other fluid disinfectant.
You should be ready for all kinds of weather as the weather can change very quickly.
We recommend that the following items are included when preparing riding tours:
Comfortable well-fitting water-proof hiking shoes, an extra pair of shoes or boots for crossing especially damp areas as in our tour Water, Wideness, Wilderness, slippers, rain-proof clothes (jacket and trousers), hiking-bag, gloves and cap, bathing costume or trunks, sunglasses, sleeping bag (moderade only), warm, functional clothing, trekking-rucksack (moderade only), hiking-sandals or similar shoes for river-crossings (moderade only).
Thousands of people in Iceland own horses for the simple pleasure of riding out and enjoying the companionship of their horses. Travel on horseback is growing in popularity and Icelandic horsemen are respectful and considerate when it comes to nature, just as they are with their horse. All sorts of competitions are on offer and everyone can find a level that suits them, from novice fun classes up to top class national competitions. The Icelandic Horse can be used in all the traditional Icelandic disciplines as well as in classic equestrian sports such as dressage and jumping. Whatever your preference – you will always find an Icelandic horse to fulfill your dream!
The history of the Icelandic Horse can be traced right back to the settlement of the country in the late 9th century. Viking settlers brought with them their best horses, from various origins, though mostly of Germanic descent. Some sources say that the Icelandic Horse is a descendant of a Northern European breed, “Equus Scandinavicus”, while others claim that the horse is closely related to the English Exmoor pony. Although the origin of the breed was mixed, today this is one of the most purebred horse breeds in the world, due to its isolation. The breed has remained pure for over a thousand years and thus today there is only one breed of horse in Iceland – The Icelandic Horse.
Raising horses in this manner, in herds that roam free in wide open fields and highlands, is the key to shaping the personality and character of the Icelandic Horse. Since the breed has been isolated in Iceland for a thousand years none of the major infectious horse diseases are found in Iceland.
The Icelandic Horse is unique amongst horse breeds because it masters five gaits; walk, trot, tölt, canter/gallop and flying pace. The masters five gaits; walk, trot, tölt beat smooth gait, the “tölt”, that is very comfortable for the rider and elegantly displayed by the horse. It is an unforgettable experience, riding a horse that is so connected to the nature and landscape and where you can climb mountains, gallop across fields, cross rivers and enjoy the bright Icelandic summer nights.
Ielandic horses were first exported as working animals decades ago. They were used for farm work and mining and tens of thousands of horses were exported for that purpose. The 1950s saw the first exports of riding horses, and since then the Icelandic Horse has grown in popularity in Europe and North America. An international association of Icelandic horse owners, FEIF, comprises 18 member countries: Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, the Faeroe Islands, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland and the USA. There are more than 100,000 Icelandic horses abroad, most of them in Germany and Scandinavia. The growing popularity of the Icelandic Horse has made horse breeding a valuable business and it has boosted the agricultural community in Iceland.
sourcer:The Icelandic horse, published by The Horse Breeders Association of Iceland.
Accommodation is pleasant and comfortable, where possible. On the way, we sleep in plain guesthouses and youth hostels with double-/multi-bedrooms. especially when riding we also spend some nights in simple but clean and warm huts and village halls (mattress camp), old farmhouses and 2-person huts equipped with cooker, cooking utensils and provisions.
What does full board mean? As a rule, this means breakfast, substantial picnic or warm lunch, as well as warm dinner. We value typical Icelandic food, whenever possible. Typically Icelandic – most of all means healthy: Vegetables and salad from geothermic hothouses, fresh fish from the sea or our clean rivers, delicious dairy products which are not mass produced and lamb from absolute free-range animals.
En route, there is almost no possibility to spend extra money. But do take along some money for possible short-transfers in Reykjavík on departure-day. In most of our tour‘s is no alcohol drinks included in the tour price and in the highlands it is hard to get, that can be bought at the duty free store at keflavik airport upon arrival.
Luggage will be transported in the kitcen van, pack light because transport space is limited, bring bags rather then hard cover suitcases.
This is a critically important first step in choosing a riding tour. For most of our multi-day riding trips you must have a good knowledge of the basics and some experience in riding cross-country.Maximum weight of rider is 120 kg
Beginners: with a basic knowledge : 
It is no problem for you to ride a safe horse in all gaits in the country. It is possible to take children or anxious riders into consideration.
Intermediate riders : 
Comfortable and in control at all paces,firm seat,comfortable in the saddle for 4- 7 hours ride a day.
Experienced riders : 
We are riding at a lively pace with free-running horses (pack-horses, exchange horses, young horses) and we appreciate it when our guests help driving and keeping the herd together.
For all our riding programs participants need to be fit and healthy.
Caution!It is the rider’s responsibility to assess their own level of riding proficiency. If uncertain, please check with Tophorses or tour operator before booking your tour. Please also note that riding is at your own risk. Maximum weight of rider is 120 kg
we reserves the right to change and adjust riding routes should weather conditions or other external circumstances make the original route unsafe or even dangerous which are not refundable.
Please note that some guesthouses do not serve breakfast for passengers of early morning flights (departure 5.00).
We reserve the right to change programs when absolutely necessary (e.g. extreme weather conditions).
Please understand that we cannot repay for services provided, that you don’t wish to use.
Thanks for reading this information and have a nice and safe travel in Iceland .
Is it difficult to get to Iceland?
Not at all! Frequent flights operate to Iceland from main cities in Europe and North America and many gateways are served daily. Flight times to Europe are two to four hours. Most flights connect at Iceland´s Keflavík International Airport (45 km from Reykjavík) to give good stopover opportunities for transatlantic travelers.
How cold does it get?
Thanks to the Gulf Stream, Iceland isn´t as cold as it sounds. Temperatures are moderate year-round. Average July temperatures are around 11°C in Reykjavík – the north and east are often the warmest parts in the summer. Snow is not the norm and only settles intermittently in Reykjavík but tends to stay longer in the north. Fine winter skiing areas are found on the higher ground outside many towns, however. Average January temperatures in Reykjavík, at around zero, are actually higher than those in New York.
How should I dress?
In the summer, light clothing is often all you need – but always be prepared for both cold and wet weather at all times of the year. The weather can be extremely changeable. Icelanders often say, “If you don´t like the weather, just wait 15 minutes.” And always bring a bathing suit, whatever time of the year you visit. A favorite pastime is year-round outdoor swimming in countless geothermally heated pools and lagoons, with a typical temperature of 25-28°C.
Do Icelanders speak English?
Most Icelanders (especially those from their teenage years through their fifties) speak fluent English. In fact, they welcome the opportunity – so never be shy about approaching an Icelander.
What are the accommodation and food like?
Excellent! Iceland´s hotels and guesthouses are almost invariably clean and comfortable. The seafood and lamb are of outstanding natural quality and served in imaginative European style. There are also plenty of fast food establishments.
When is it daylight in Iceland?
Summer visitors who arrive at a bright midnight sky and ask when it gets dark in Iceland are sometimes told: “in the middle of August.” The sun barely sets in the summer in Reykjavík and it´s light round-the-clock in the north at the peak of summer. In mid-winter, expect only about four to five hours a day of daylight. Spring and autumn daylight hours are more or less “normal”.
What is there to see besides nature?
Nature is obviously a big part of the Icelandic experience – but it´s by no means the only part. Reykjavík is one of the liveliest, safest, most sophisticated and modern cities there is, and its nightlife and cultural activities have earned an exciting reputation. Other towns such as Akureyri in the north are worth visiting in their right too. For those who want to see both city and nature, the wilds begin just outside urban communities and a wide range of sightseeing tours are on offer from most of them.
Will my mobile phone work in Iceland?
Most European cell phones work on Iceland´s GSM network; North American ones use a different standard. But you can rent cell phones in Iceland. Iceland now has the highest rate of cell phones use in the world. Mobiles work in towns and on virtually all main travel routes.
Facts about Iceland
The Country.
Iceland is an island of 103.000 km2 (39,756 sq.miles), about one-third larger than Scotland or Ireland. Its highest peak, Hvannadalshnjúkur, rises to 2.119 m and over 11 percent of the country is covered by glaciers, including Vatnajökull, the largest in Europe.
Energy.
Situated on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, Iceland is a hot spot of volcanic and geothermal activity: 30 post-glacial volcanoes have erupted in the past two centuries, and natural hot water supplies much of the population with cheap, pollution-free heating. Rivers, too, are harnessed to provide inexpensive hydroelectric power.
People.
Out of a population numbering more than 300.000, half live in the capital Reykjavík and its neighboring towns in the southwest. Keflavík International Airport has located about 50 km from the capital. The highland interior is uninhabited (and uninhabitable), and most centers of population are situated on the coast.
Language.
Iceland was settled by Nordic people in the 9th century – tradition says that the first permanent settler was Ingólfur Arnarson, a Norwegian Viking who made his home where Reykjavík now stands. The Icelanders still speak the language of the Vikings, although modern Icelandic has undergone changes of pronunciation and, of course, of vocabulary! Iceland is alone in upholding another Norse tradition, i.e. the custom of using patronymics rather than surnames; and Icelander´s Christian name is followed by his or her father´s name and the suffix -son or -dóttir, e.g. Guðrún Pétursdóttir (Guðrún, daughter of Pétur). Members of a family can, therefore, have many different “surnames”, which sometimes causes confusion to foreigners!
History.
In 930, the Icelandic settlers founded one of the world´s first republican governments; the Old Commonwealth Age, described in the classic Icelandic Sagas, lasted until 1262 when Iceland lost its independence, and in 1944 the present republic was founded. The country is governed by the Althing (parliament), whose 63 members are elected every four years. four-yearly elections are also held for the presidency; President Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson was elected in June 1996 to succeed Vigdís Finnbogadóttir and was re-elected in June 2000. The head of state plays no part in day-to-day politics.
Health.
Life expectancy, at 81.3 years for women and 76.4 for men, is one of the highest in the world, and a comprehensive state health-care system aims to keep it that way.
Tallest mountains.
Hvannadalshnjúkur 2119 m, Bárðarbunga 2000 m,Kverkfjöll 1920 m,Snæfell 1833 m.
Longest rivers.
Þjórsá 230 km, Jökulsá á Fjöllum 206 km, Ölfusá / Hvítá 185 km, Skjálfandafljót 178 km
Largest glaciers.
Vatnajökull 8300 km2,Langjökull 953 km2,Hofsjökull 925 km2,Mýrdalsjökull 596 km2,Drangajökull 200 km2
Largest lakes.
Þórisvatn 83 km2,Þingvallavatn 82 km2,Lögurinn 53 km2,Mývatn 37 km2
