Horseback Riding in Iceland

Thorsmork Ride

Overview

The Thorsmork Ride is a combination of riding the famous Icelandic horses and exploring some of Iceland’s most unusual natural landscapes. These sites include thundering waterfalls and impressive glaciers near Thorsmork. The Nature Reserve if also a beautiful hiking area and one can hike between two glaciers, Eyjafjallajökull and Mýrdalsjökull, from Thorsmork to Skogar.

The lodging and food are very simple by American standards, but accommodations are clean and the food is wholesome. During the ride you will stay in dormitory type lodging at the farmhouse home of your hosts and in mountain huts along the route. The guesthouse at the farm has indoor plumbing, electricity and showers.

A typical menu will consist of the following:
Breakfast: Milk, yogurt, cereals, several kinds of bread, cheeses, jams, coffee and tea.
Lunch: Picnic with varied sandwiches, fruit, cold and warm drinks.
Dinner: A hot meal with meat or fish, vegetables, milk products and fruit.
Please note that meals consist of many dairy products. Riders who are lactose intolerant or vegetarians need to notify Equitours in advance. Also, this is a “dry” tour with alcohol only available to purchase in Landmannalaugar.

  • Overview:
    Icelandic horses are short (about 13.2 hands average) but stout and strong, weighing 800 to 1000 pounds and are quite capable of carrying large and heavy people over rough distances at a brisk rate. The horses are usually in snaffle bits - loose rings with snap-on, one-piece reins. English-type saddles are used with the Icelandic style of saddle seen as somewhat of a cross between a dressage and an endurance saddle. The saddle is set further back on the horse.
  • Horse Breeds:
    Icelandic
  • Trip Pace:
    To suit
  • Tack:
    Icelandic
  • Weight limit:
    200lbs/ 90kg

6PM on the first day of the ride at the Reykjavik BSI (central bus station)

Trip Itinerary

Day 1

Upon arrival in Reykjavik make your way to the BSI bus station where the outfitter will meet you at 6PM. Drive to the farm and enjoy a welcome dinner and talk about the upcoming adventures. Sleeping bag accommodations in the guesthouse, dormitory style.

Day 2

Have breakfast around 8:30 and fix a picnic lunch from the breakfast table. After a relaxing morning we go to meet up with the horses. We ride through the meadows of Hekluhestar farm to the river Ranga. We cross the river and be prepared to get wet feet. Ride through farmland and the historical Landgræðslan, the soil conservation service of Iceland. Enjoy the lunch next to the river Ranga Eystri. After lunch continue riding to a beautiful mountain hut called Foss, situated next to the Ranga Eysteri with a fantastic view of the mountains around. Just before reaching your destination, Smaratun in Fljótshlið, a farmland that has always been famous for its historic sites, ride through one of the few Icelandic forests. Ride time of 5 hours with loose running horses.

Day 3

After breakfast start to prepare the horses for the day ahead. Ride from Foss to Fljótshlið. After lunch ride through a lupin field next to the mountain Stori Dimon. Enjoy a break with fantastic views. Continue on in the afternoon and end the day at Stóra Mörk. Ride time of about 5 hours.

Day 4

Have a hearty breakfast at Stóra Mörk and then continue your journey with the loose horses. View some glacier tongs and beautiful mountains all around before reaching the nature reserve Thorsmork; it is truly a magical place with three glaciers around and a natural birch forest. Overnight at the cabin in Husadalur. Ride time is around 4-5 hours.

Day 5

After breakfast each rider chooses one horse for a leisure ride in the Thorsmork reserve. Enjoy the scenic place with glacier views, astonishing mountains, bright green moss, bushes and creeks everywhere. Afterwards take your time to say goodbye to the horses and fellow riders. The transfer from Thorsmork to Reykjavik leaves 4PM or continue your adventure in Thorsmork on your own. The area is also a beautiful hiking area and there is the option of hiking between two glaciers, Eyjafjallajökull and Mýrdalsjökull. Its an amazing hike but a difficult one as it takes about 12 hours.

We advise people to stay longer in Thorsmork as it‘s a beautiful hiking area and there is the option of hiking between the two glaciers, Eyjafjallajökull and Mýrdalsjökull, from Thorsmork to Skógar. It‘s an amazing hike but a difficult one, it takes around 12 hours. There are accomodation in Skógar and buses that can take you both to Reykjavik and further east.

Itinerary Addendum

**This itinerary is flexible. Changes may occur due to weather or other unexpected events.**

Trip Map

Trip Dates & Pricing

Departure Dates

Trip Starts
Trip Ends
Jun 9, 2024
Jun 13, 2024

Pricing & Options

  • Base Price
  • $2,460
  • Transportation
  • Included from BSI bus station in Reykjavik on Day 1 at 6PM, transfer back to Reykjavik mid-afternoon on the last day.

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Contact Biggi Hayes

What made the trip for us was the family, who were FABULOUS. They made the ride very special and personal, and got us away from the crowds whenever they could by leading us on shepherds' trails. We saw one or two other groups riding with outfitters along the way, who were clearly being 'packaged', and thanked our lucky stars that we had found Equitours.

Deborah Gage