Viking Horse Riding and Golden Circle Tour from Reykjavik

Horses first, waterfalls later. This full-day outing pairs a two-hour ride at Laxnes Horse Farm with an afternoon trip around Iceland’s famous Golden Circle. I like the chance to ride the gentle Icelandic horse, a breed with Viking-era roots, and I like how the tour covers three major sights without requiring you to arrange separate transport.

The main drawback is the split nature of the day. The horse farm has a warm, personal feel, while the Golden Circle portion uses a larger coach and moves on a tighter schedule. You may wish for more time at Thingvellir, especially if you prefer slow walks and quiet views over checking several sights in one day.

At about $213.97 per person, this is not a cheap outing, but it brings together riding, transport, a guide, park fees, and essential riding gear. For a first visit to Iceland, it can be a sensible way to fit a lot into one day.

Key points to know before booking

• Ride the small, sturdy Icelandic horse: The breed is famous for its calm nature, sure footing, and distinctive tölt gait.
• Spend two hours at Laxnes Horse Farm: The ride goes through countryside outside Reykjavik, with hills, streams, and open views.
• See the Golden Circle in one afternoon: Thingvellir, Geysir, Strokkur, and Gullfoss are all included.
• Expect two forms of transport: The farm’s minibus handles the horse-riding transfer, followed by a Gray Line coach for the sightseeing section.
• Good for beginners and experienced riders: No prior riding experience is required, and minimum age is 8.
• Pack for cold, wet weather: Extra layers are available for riding, but you should still arrive dressed for Iceland’s changeable conditions.

A 9:30 start and a day in two parts

Pickup begins from hotels, guesthouses, cruise ports, and designated meeting points in the Reykjavik area. The listed start time is 9:30 am, and the entire outing lasts about nine hours.

The morning is devoted to Laxnes Horse Farm, just outside the capital. After the ride, you transfer to a coach for the Golden Circle. This handoff matters. You are not simply staying on one bus all day, so pay attention to pickup instructions and keep your belongings together.

The arrangement also gives each part of the day its own character. The farm is smaller and more personal, with staff who help riders prepare and settle in. The afternoon sightseeing section is more conventional, with a larger vehicle, onboard WiFi, and a guide providing information during the drive.

A maximum group size of 50 people is listed for the whole activity. That can feel fairly large on the bus, though the horse-riding group may be much smaller. One account describes a riding group of only six people, while other rides may vary.

Laxnes Horse Farm and the Icelandic horse

The horse ride is the heart of this experience. Laxnes Horse Farm uses Icelandic horses, small but strong animals that have remained largely unchanged since they arrived in Iceland during the Viking Age.

Their size can surprise you. They are shorter than many riding horses, but they are known for a sturdy build, gentle temperaments, and confident footing. The breed also has a special fifth gait, the tölt, a smooth four-beat movement that experienced riders may get to try.

You do not need previous riding experience. That makes this a useful choice for families and first-time riders who want something more active than a coach tour. A minimum age of 8 applies, and the farm provides the necessary riding equipment.

The ride takes you through the countryside around Laxnes. Details can change with weather and group ability, but the accounts of the route describe stream crossings, hills, rougher tracks, and broad views around the farm. Some riders covered more than six miles, though the distance did not feel tiring because the pace included quieter riding and rest time.

The horses receive the strongest praise for good reason. They are described as friendly, fluffy, calm, and well trained. Beginners have been able to ride comfortably, while experienced riders have had chances to use more of their skills. That balance is not always easy to achieve in a mixed group.

Still, you should know that horses are living animals, not perfectly programmed vehicles. One description notes that some horses like to move toward the front and may brush close to other horses. That can feel exciting or unsettling, especially if you have never ridden before.

There is also no mounting block at the farm. Staff help riders who have trouble getting onto the smaller horses, but anyone with limited flexibility should keep this in mind. Riding gear is supplied, and extra layers may be available. One rider specifically appreciated receiving an added layer on a cold day.

After the ride, the farm may offer coffee and pastries, according to the supplied trip details. Non-riders have also been able to wait with coffee available. Food and drinks are not included as a formal part of the tour, so treat this as a pleasant possibility rather than a guaranteed meal.

Why the horse farm feels different from a standard excursion

Many Iceland day trips give you scenery through a bus window. This ride changes your pace and puts you close to the ground, where streams, rough tracks, and the sound of the horses become part of the outing.

I also like the human scale of Laxnes. The farm is described as family run, with staff who take time to make riders comfortable. One particularly useful account describes the team helping a nervous child ride with the family instead of forcing her to ride alone.

That personal attention is valuable for beginners. You can be frightened before mounting, then find that walking on a calm horse feels surprisingly relaxed. The chance to trot, and perhaps try the tölt or faster riding if suitable, adds excitement for people with more experience.

This is not a polished indoor show or a short photo opportunity. It is an outdoor ride in Icelandic weather. You may encounter cold, wind, mud, or wet ground, and the route can feel rougher than a simple riding-ring lesson. Dress warmly, use the provided gear, and keep your phone charged if you want photographs.

Thingvellir National Park: history and shifting plates

After the farm section, the coach heads toward the Golden Circle. The first major stop is Thingvellir National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with both political and geological importance.

This is where Iceland’s parliament began more than 1,000 years ago. The early assembly met on these fields, making Thingvellir one of the most important places for understanding Iceland’s national story.

The park is also known for the rift between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates. The plates are gradually separating, creating cliffs, open fields, and dramatic rock formations. Thingvallavatn, Iceland’s largest natural lake, adds another broad view to the setting.

You get about 45 minutes here. That is enough to walk, take photographs, and get a clear sense of the place, but not enough for an extended exploration. This is the stop most likely to feel rushed if you prefer history, walking trails, and quiet observation.

I would pay close attention to the guide here. A good explanation can connect the parliament site, the rock formations, and the wider story of Iceland. The bus guides are credited with adding historical facts, details about Icelandic life, and personal stories. Roman is specifically praised for making the coach portion lively while still giving useful information.

Geysir and Strokkur: Iceland’s most famous hot springs

The next section takes you to the Geysir geothermal area. The name Geysir gave the English language the word geyser, but the original Geysir is not the main attraction today. It is Strokkur, the nearby geyser, that erupts regularly and keeps people watching.

You have about 45 minutes in the Geysir area, followed by a listed 30-minute stop at Strokkur. In practice, these geothermal sights are close together, so the visit feels like one walk through a steaming area of boiling mud, hot pools, and vents.

Strokkur’s eruptions are the star. The timing is regular enough to give you a good chance of seeing it send water high into the air, but you still need to keep your camera ready. The pause before an eruption creates a small crowd of people watching the surface swell and shimmer.

Stay on the marked paths. The ground around geothermal areas is hot and unstable, and the steam can make the air feel sharply different from the cool Icelandic weather outside.

This stop works well for a short Golden Circle visit because it offers something very different from Thingvellir. You move from political history and rock formations to bubbling ground and sudden bursts of water. The tradeoff is that the area can feel busy, especially when several coaches arrive at once.

Gullfoss, the Golden Falls

Gullfoss is the visual high point of the afternoon. The Hvita River drops in two major steps into a deep canyon, producing a constant roar and a fine spray that can reach the viewing paths.

You get about an hour here. That gives you time to walk between viewpoints, take photographs, and watch the water from different angles. A good raincoat is important, even when the sky looks clear. Wind can carry the spray across the paths, and the conditions can change quickly.

On sunny days, the mist may create rainbows above the falls. The combination of rushing water, dark rock, and wide Icelandic scenery makes Gullfoss feel far larger than a quick photograph can show.

The paths offer several angles, including a route toward the lower part of the waterfall area. Wear shoes with a firm grip, since wet surfaces and uneven ground are part of the visit. If you have limited time, do not spend the whole hour at the first viewpoint. Walk a little farther and compare the views.

Gullfoss is also where the tight schedule may become noticeable. An hour is useful, but you will not have time to wander every path or sit for a long while listening to the river. The benefit is that you still see one of Iceland’s most powerful waterfalls without giving up the horse ride.

What the coach portion does well, and where it falls short

The Golden Circle section covers the essential sights efficiently. You get an air-conditioned vehicle, an English-speaking guide, national park fees, and WiFi onboard. Stops are long enough for the main viewpoints and photographs.

The guide adds value during the drive. Details about Icelandic life and local history help connect the stops, and the best guides use humor rather than simply reciting dates. Roman is one guide praised by name for personal stories and entertaining commentary.

The compromise is group size and time. The bus may carry many more people than the riding group, with up to 50 participants listed for the activity. The Golden Circle is also one of Iceland’s busiest sightseeing routes, so the experience is not designed for solitude.

One practical point is the food stop. Meals are not included, but stops are made at local restaurants or shops where you can buy food and snacks. Bring money and do not assume lunch is part of the price.

Is $213.97 good value?

At $213.97 per person, the tour costs more than a simple Golden Circle coach trip. You are paying for the two-hour guided ride, farm transport, the afternoon coach, guide service, park fees, riding gear, and hotel-area pickup and drop-off.

The value depends on what you would book separately. If you already plan to ride Icelandic horses, combining it with the Golden Circle can save the effort of arranging two outings. It also gives you a full day without needing to drive on unfamiliar roads.

For someone interested only in the Golden Circle, the price may feel high. The horse farm is the feature that makes this package different, and people who see riding as a side activity may find a standard sightseeing tour more suitable.

I think the price is easiest to justify for a first trip, a family group with children aged 8 or older, or anyone with limited time in Reykjavik. It is less convincing for a repeat visitor who has already seen the Golden Circle and wants a slower day in the countryside.

The tour has a 4.6 rating from 151 ratings, and 91 percent recommend it. Those figures match the pattern of the experience: the horse ride receives the warmest praise, while the coach section is usually seen as good but less personal.

Who should book this Reykjavik day trip?

Book it if you want an active morning followed by classic Iceland sightseeing. It suits first-time riders, families, couples, and experienced riders who would like to try the Icelandic horse in its home country.

It also works well for cruise passengers or short-stay visitors because pickup and drop-off are offered from Reykjavik-area hotels, guesthouses, cruise ports, and assigned meeting points. You get several major sights without renting a car.

Think twice if you dislike changing vehicles, large coach groups, or fixed stop times. The day is full, and Thingvellir in particular may leave you wishing for another half-hour.

You should also be comfortable outdoors in uncertain weather. Riding is weather dependent, and the full experience can be canceled if conditions are poor. If that happens, a different date or a full refund is offered. You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time, but changes or cancellations made later are not accepted.

My verdict: book it for the horses

I would book this tour if riding an Icelandic horse is high on your list. The Laxnes portion adds the close-up, active experience that many Golden Circle trips lack, and the horses are known for being calm enough for beginners while still interesting for skilled riders.

The afternoon sights are well chosen and efficiently arranged. Gullfoss and Strokkur are memorable, Thingvellir adds essential context, and the guide can make the bus time worthwhile. Just accept that the second half is a group sightseeing circuit, not a slow private tour.

If you want the strongest mix of Icelandic scenery, local animals, and practical transport in one day, this is a good match. If you want long walks, small groups, or extra time at Thingvellir, book the horse ride separately and choose a slower Golden Circle outing.

FAQ

What is included in the Viking Horse Riding and Golden Circle Tour?

The tour includes pickup and drop-off from Reykjavik-area hotels, guesthouses, cruise ports, and designated meeting points. It also includes an English-speaking guide, an air-conditioned vehicle, WiFi onboard, national park fees, a guided horse ride, and necessary riding gear.

Do I need previous horse-riding experience?

No. The ride is suitable for beginners and experienced riders, and no previous horse-riding experience is required.

What is the minimum age for the horse ride?

The minimum age is 8 years.

How long does the tour last?

The full experience lasts approximately nine hours. The horse-riding portion at Laxnes Horse Farm lasts about two hours.

Are food and drinks included?

No. Food and drinks are not included unless specifically stated. Stops are made at local restaurants or shops where you can buy meals and snacks.

What happens if bad weather cancels the tour?

The experience requires suitable weather. If it is canceled because of poor weather, you will be offered a different date or a full refund. You can also cancel up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund.