Viking Horse Riding And Golden Circle Tour From Reykjavik

The horse riding at Eldhestar was great. They gave us rain gear, gloves etc so we were comfortable. It was a good experience for both experienced and novice riders. The rest of the tour was a disappointment. The operator waited 30 minutes for people to join ( due to airport delays). As a result, we were cheated on time especially at Thingvellir. With a tour as tightly scheduled as this one, they cannot wait for people who are significantly delayed. I do not recommend this tour provider to friends or clients.

Beware Greyline Tours!!! We had the horse riding and golden circle tour booked through aviator with Greyline, we waited at the designated pickup location. When they didn’t show, we rang the horse farm directly only to be told Greyline have gone out of business and all their tours have been cancelled. Viator didn’t even know this, and now we have to wait to see if we get a refund. Do jot book anything with Greyline as you may lose your money instantly

Booked a horse riding tour from their website through my work, the tour was cancelled without notifying me. Only found out when no one came to pick me up the day of the tour.

Great way to see the countryside. Beautiful, calm horses. I underestimated the physical demands, however. For someone to average physical fitness without back injury, this is a great activity. However, for myself had a car accident back injury, I did not take that into account. The hosts were very kind and very understanding. Keep in mind that you will be bouncing up and down a bit on the back of the horse when it trots, so if you have back problems or other physical issues, definitely consider that. I was also very exhausted from traveling so if you do this activity, make sure you are well rested before hand. But if you like riding horses and have some degree of physical fitness, this is a great activity! They also had gear such as helmets, and waterproof pants because it rains a lot. Everyone is required to wear a helmet. There was no danger of getting thrown from the horse, however, things can happen and it’s best to be safe. You might want to wear a beanie hat to keep your head warm underneath the helmet. I wore a hat with a big snowball on the top, which would not fit under the helmet. I brought plenty of warm clothes so I wasn’t cold, but it’s something to think about also definitely wear a scarf! These horses are very well trained and very calm and they know what to do even if you are not an experienced rider. Wear clothes that you don’t mind getting a little wet, you’ll be riding through some water! Laxnes farm picked me up from my accommodations, even though I was a little bit off the route. They can pick up guests from most of the hotels and hostels in Reykjavic. They were very responsive by phone.

It was a lovely day! Will do it again if I ever get back to Iceland! The scenery was beautiful, and the horses were well carried for

The horse farm is a family run establishment. Very friendly and competent staff greeted us. The horse ride was a fun experience w beautiful backdrops. A horse for everyone’s riding background was available. You road on a trail w a guide for about one hour. The Golden Circle was a decent tour to see some of the landmarks. However, it was difficult to understand our tour guide and the guide did not take the group to see attractions at each stop. We were left at each stop and given a time to meet at bus. Some may like that style, but I would have preferred the guide coming with us and giving us more information about the attractions we were visiting. Bus was very comfortable. It was a long day starting from 9am and back to hotel at 7:30p.

Horseback riding was wonderful with this great family-owned farm. Hosts were so gracious and had beautiful Icelandic horses and an unforgettable ride up to the hills. Highly recommend!!

The horse ride in the nature was just a dream. The organisers and guides were more than friendly and kind always ready to help everyone. I would recommend it to everyone

The horseback riding was great. The people at the farm could not have been nicer, the horses are beautiful as is the scenery. The reason for only three stars is that Grey Lines forgot to tell the horse farm to pick me up (and the other party on the tour was forgotten as well). This delayed everything and we were rushed through the Golden Circle Sightseeing. All of the sites on the Golden Circle tour are gorgeous. Too bad we felt rushed.

The tour was great. I wish we could have stayed longer at Thingvellir. Gullfoss waterfall was unbelievable!!

They cancelled on us and didn’t offer full refund. We booked the horse riding + golden ring tour combo. Gray Line cancelled the golden ring tour with less than 24 hours notice and said we could only get a partial refund for the Golden Ring part of the tour. We wanted to see the Golden Circle, so booked a different operator’s tour. This meant we couldn’t go horse riding as the other operator departs early. Gray Line said we could not get a full refund as ”we could still go horse riding”. We booked the combo with Gray Line and the combo was not offered. We were not offered the option to cancel the entire combo which seems unreasonable. Even after emailing them and having the lady from the tourist information centre call them on the phone, they said they could not authorise or guarantee a full refund.

Not reliable. Canceled our trip on Christmas day but didn't tell us so we were outside in the freezing cold at 6am waiting to be picked up. They only refunded half the amount and are now ignoring emails. DON'T WASTE YOUR TIME OR MONEY WITH THEM. I'd hate for others to be left disappointed like we were.

AVOID them if you don't want to be disappointed. I emailed them roughly 4 months prior to double check the date I wanted was available prior booking. They confirmed so I booked. Tour day came and we didn't get picked up. We rang them. They said it was cancelled. They never eamiled or rang us to advise. This was devastating! It was going to be the highlight of our trip. They also decided to refund less than half the cost. I've emailed them multiple times to explain they cancelled it, not me, so a full refund should be issued. Now they aren't replying and haven't issued a full refund. Paid €358. Refund €166 😞

The horse riding was awesome. Our visit to the farm was amazing and the ride we went on was well managed and great fun.

Horse riding was fabulous- 6 stars if I could! Lovely people, great ride off-roading, crossing streams, up and down hills- bring a fully charged phone for the pictures! But second half bus tour was not as great- wish I’d gone in smaller group- stops were short and drive in overheated bus with screaming baby was low point of my trip. Would recommend small bus or solo trip to see golden circle.

The horse ride was the highlight of the tour! This lived up to all of my expectations. It was cold but they give you an extra layer and it was totally worth it, just dress warm. They were all so nice and gave us coffee and pastries after the ride. We were then picked up by the tour bus and went to Thingvellir. This was very cool to see and we were able to get food and go to the bathroom. The geysir was cool to see and all the hot springs. The waterfall path was closed due to weather but still so cool to see. Great way to see a lot of Iceland and I thought there was plently of time at each stop with lots of food and bathroom options.

We loved this tour! Caution, you do have to message to book your pick (the farm picks you up) then the bus line will pick you up from the horse farm for the express golden circle tour. The horse farm was AMAZING one of my favorite experience in Iceland. Everyone was so nice and welcoming. The ponies are happy and healthy. The views are indescribable. Dress warm for the ride (they do have gear if your arnt dress appropriately) but the golden circle tour is more of a bus ride here see the site bus ride there see the site. Warm clothes and sneakers will do just fine for that part of the experience. It was a nice relaxing experience after being in the cold on horses for several hours. The bus was full so it was a little annoying getting off at destination and trying to get pictures without people in your pictures when your driving around with 65 other people.

This was a good tour. Horse back riding was excellent. Tour of golden circle was what you would expect. Had time to see everything and take pictures. I would recommend this.

Riding the Icelandic horses was a stellar experience. The bus trip around the Golden Circle was also wonderful. Our guide was knowledgeable and lovely.

I loved the horseback riding and the horses were beautiful! We were able to trot if we wanted and the scenery was amazing. The waterfall later on the tour was amazing!

The owner of the horse farm was so warm and inviting. It’s family businesses like his that make experiences like this so special.

Such fun riding the small personable horses through the amazing countryside, crossing streams, and even taking a rest break. Staff and farm was wonderful. They even allowed advanced riders the opportunity to use their skills.

Laxnes Horse Farm was amazing, very nice family, well operated ride. A second bus picked up at the farm to continue on the golden circle tour, which was also well run. Great scenery, and informative.

Picked up by the horse riding farm minibus, very pleasant man who also spoke about the horses and history behind it. Amazing riding experience for my daughter, the team at the horse farm were brilliant. Coffee on hand if you were not riding. Bus for Golden Circle tour on time, comfy and WiFi available. Guide was excellent, kept us entertained with fun facts as well as history. The geysers and gullfoss waterfall were outstanding.

Amazing trips! Firstly the horses were super friendly and fluffy! Calm natured and relatively well behaved considering we got to ride on their first snow day!! Our group was only 6 of us and a mix of experienced riders plus partners🤣 my OH had never ridden before and now would love a lesson on my mare because of how much fun he had! He did everything we all did including cantering and tolt and as a beginner felt well looked after and comfortable! The scenery was stunning and we rode for over 6miles (didn’t feel that far at all!) the overalls were amazing and the horses were incredible! Be aware there’s no mounting block but the guys at the yard were really helpful for the inflexible like myself who couldn’t get up on the horses that are smaller than my own🫣 We were then picked up by Grayline and had a wonderful afternoon exploring the national park, Geysir and Gulfoss waterfall! The guide on the bus was knowledge and interesting in telling us about not only the places we were going to but also Icelandic life and experiences.

The horse back riding tour was AMAZING! Guides were super knowledgeable and the views were incredible. Roman, the tour guide on the bus, was super fun to listen to. He offered so much information about Iceland and threw in some personal stories. He made the experience so fun for us.

The harm was great. I was a little nervouse when it came to getting up on the horse, it had been so long since I had ridden, but they were helpful & confident. We wound up in a bit of a blizzard. The snow was kind of whipping our faces, when we got back though they warmed us up with pastries & hot beverages. I was hesitant about booking this, because the Golden Circle part would be in such a large group. (The horse riding was in a small group) I had been leaning towards small group tours only. It was good though. Comfortable bus, we had enough time at the sights (for my taste anyway), & we had good views out the windows.

A definite must. The horse riding was amazing and the family were great, loved every moment. The golden circle tour was brilliant and the guide, Matthias was really informative and good fun. The pick up and drop off were smooth and there is enough time at each stop to grab a drink or bite to eat. Loved it.

This is worth the trip! My family really enjoyed this tour. The viking horse tour is the highlight of our tour to Iceland. The horses were so gentle. The staff were wonderful and our pick up from the port terminal was on time. The views was amazing. Highly recommend to do this tour. They even let my som borrow a jacket because he wasn’t wearing one and it was a little chilly. Excellent!

Of course the horseback ride. The farm was professional and well managed. Horses were well broken and not “soured”. The bus trip took my sister and me to beautiful and interesting places. Would love to go on this tour again

Loved the horses! The owner and staff great folks. The afternoon bus tour took us to some beautiful and interesting places. Our guide very knowledgeable.

For this tour, the horses are clearly the most memorable experience. First-time riding a horse is totally scary, but when they are walking it's actually relaxing and I totally enjoyed myself. When they are running it became scary again, but also thrilling when I didn't get thrown off a horse. One thing I notice is that the horses, including the one I rode, Klettur, like to be in front, and they will walk right through whatever opening they can find, brushing against other horses. It is thanks to #laxneshorsefarm that this is possible. After the thrill of riding horses, the afternoon part of the trip was much more relaxing checking out the sites in the Gold Circle. Gullfoss is such a big waterfall and the water mists are awesome, Thingvellir National Park in Selfoss has such amazing view and great rock formations. The Great Geysir is a sight to behold, as many eyes are fixed on when it might go off shooting water as much as 40 feet high. And to boot, the water has sulfur in it and are as milky blue as the Blue Lagoon.

When in Iceland be sure to do the Golden Circle. The waterfall is amazing! And the Icelandic horses are a joy to ride.

The most wonderful horse ride we have ever experienced! The horses are magnificent and well cared for! It is a must do if you are in Reykjavik! Loved it!

Ishestar is a riding stable very close to Reykjavík. Clean facility. Horses well cared for. Great guides and a well paced ride. Not to mention the beautiful scenery of Iceland! Highly recommend.

Best place to horseback ride. They went above and beyond to make sure that my granddaughter rode with us. She was scared of riding alone and they took the time with her to get her comfortable on the horse. I would like to extend my gratitude to everyone at farm. This was my second time visiting the farm and I will return again next visit. Thank you to EVERYONE.

The stable was excellent and provided us with very nice horses. The horses were well trained with very agreeable personalities. Ride in the countryside was a memorable experience with excellent views and the personnel provided us with a safe environment. The waterfall and the national park were added bonuses. The only improvement that could be made is to let people know when to expect lunch and when to expect pick ups and transfers. This trip has you wait a very long time for lunch, about 6 hours , if you are diabetic bring plenty of glucose tablets.

Amazing time and worth the money! The horses are amazing! The tour was great and it was great for beginners and advanced people

Overall, it was a good tour. We enjoyed riding the horses, however, the group is so big, I think there were around 30 people or so, that it becomes unmanageable at times. A few times my horse was squeezed between other 2 horses on a narrow path. Also, the guides don't give you any information at all about the horses, the farm, or the area, I would have appreciated a more informative tour than just a simple ride. The area is very beautiful, and the horses are super cute. They do have a mind of their own, they are not trained to follow your commands, but due to their size, they feel safe to ride even when they move fast. They gave us complimentary tea and pastries at the farm after the ride which was a very nice gesture. The rest of the tour after the ride was hit and miss. Our tour guide was good, gave us plenty of interesting information about the history, terrain, animals, etc. Some of the stops felt really rushed, I would have enjoyed extra 10 minutes here and there, that would have prolonged the tour 30 minutes or so but would have provided a more meaningful experience. The best part is the waterfall which I believe is the last stop, we had enough time on this particular stop to walk all the way to the waterfall, take pictures, buy souvenirs, etc and it is truly beautiful. I recommend bringing snacks and water with you as the time is limited and you would want to spend it enjoying the actual sites rather than standing in line to get food.

Efficient pick up from hotel on a day where almost every other tour was cancelled! On arrival at the horse farm we were greeted and offered coveralls to keep us dry/warm. We were then issued with our helmets (gloves and hats, etc were available for those who didn’t have them) and then led through to meet the horses. We fed them some mints and were then allocated a horse based on our experience. We were helped on and our saddles adjusted and how to control the horse explained. As the group set off, the sun was coming up - beautiful scenery, snowy, fresh and bright. The guides checked in with us on our ride and it was very peaceful and enjoyable. We rode for about an hour and were offered coffee and cake on our return to the farm. Everyone else left as they were travelling privately. As we waited for our bus to continue the tour, the owner chatted to us and gave us a wine/beer. It was lovely to chat to him about the set up of the farm and about his life stories. We were then taken to meet our bus and continued on the golden circle tour. The tour visited Thingvellir national park, we had about an hour to wander around, then Gullfoss waterfall, where we had a beautiful traditional lamb stew for lunch, and also the geyser area. Having visited before, it was incredible to see these places on the winter conditions as well. Wrap up warm and bring gloves as you’ll want to be outside to get the most of the places on the tour!

Friendly, welcoming knowledgeable place. Amazing views perfect for all abilities. We will definitely be back

The horses were amazing and what great scenery! All the staff were great! Bus drivers got us where we needed to go and great informative information throughout the day. Highly recommend.

I would 1000% recommend the horseback riding portion of this tour. It was great! It’s at Laxness Farm and the adults had as much fun as the eight year olds! BUT the rest of the tour would be a NO for me. The bus stops and picks people up along the way at other places and it really cuts into your time. The stops are too fast for the most part except when we got stuck at the falls AN ENTIRE HIUR PAST DEPARTURE. We had to wait on a tour group coming in from snowmobiling the glacier and they were late because they had to dig out their snowmobiles the first hour of their tour. We did have a building where we could grab a snack and wait but most of us had other plans that were dependent on getting back as advertised. Greyline did provide transportation to the harbor so we could make our tour that night but it was awful not being able to go back to the hotel and freshen up before a late night, especially with kids. Also, the tour bus was packed on the way back and very hot and stuffy. I think it was a bit unprofessional to tell everyone when they went to board to leave that it would be at least an hour delay. It caused stress you don’t need on vacation. Hindsight, I’d just rent a car and drive myself to have the time at the stops I want and not be stranded.

I went on this tour with my 15 yr old and my 10 yr old. While we did enjoy all the activities, the description of this tour (Golden Circle & Viking Horseback Riding Tour) by Gray Line was not clear and, to be honest, misleading. This was very disappointing and made our day less enjoyable. I have screenshots of the tour description as of today (which is the same as when I booked). I cannot seem to upload them to add to this review. I do hope Gray Line will revise their tour description to give accurate information. First, in their description (as of 8/5/2022) states this tour will take 9 hours, with departure at 9:30. It was actually about 11 hours - we are asked to report to pick up location by 9am and were dropped off after the tour at almost 8pm. It makes things difficult regarding having dinner once back in Reykjavik as some kitchens close well before the restaurant closes and several places require reservations for tables. Inaccurate description of how much time the tour will take makes it impossible to plan for dinner in the evening which may not be a problem for most, but because my family has special needs regarding diet, we generally have limited options to begin with and it gets more difficult when we do not have accurate timing information. Additionally, the description says there will be opportunities to eat at all stops and states specifically that Laxnes Farm serves soup. The farm did not offer our group soup. They did have a coffee urn out, but ran out of coffee cups and no one available to ask for more cups. They had a pitcher of water out as well as some sort of bread/cake. My family cannot eat wheat/gluten so that was not an option for us, nor does it constitute lunch food - and should be described as light snack. If you take the tour, be aware that you may be able to have water, a coffee, & possibly bread/cake during your 1.5 hours wait after the horse riding, but no soup or other foods were made available to our group. Speaking of waiting for the bus for the Golden Circle Tour, from the Gray Line tour description, it seemed we would be taken back to Reykjavik after horse riding to join the Golden Circle tour at 13:00 in Reykjavik. Because of this, I believed we would be able to grab lunch quickly in Reykjavik before the Golden Circle tour departure at 13:00. Instead, those of us that were going on the Golden Circle Tour were expressly told to wait at Laxnes Farm and that we would be picked up there for the Golden Circle tour. We were waiting there, with literally nothing to do and only the limited snacks & drinks we brought with us in our backpacks, for nearly 1.5 hours. This felt like a terrible waste of our precious little time in Iceland. There was certainly time to take us back to Reykjavik so we could pick up lunch and join the Golden Circle tour as it departed Reykjavik at 13:00. Again, this is what the tour description implied and was entirely inaccurate. The bus that showed up to take us on the Golden Circle tour was perhaps the largest possible tour bus and mostly already full with limited seating remaining available. I am no fan of large bus tours and wish the description more clearly described the "comfortable coach" as a giant tour bus that would already mostly be full by the time they pick you up - hungry and bored - at the Laxnes Farm. All in all - I would recommend booking horse riding excursion directly with Laxnes (I wish I’d know this was an option) and carefully choosing a Golden Circle Tour that suits your timing and tour size preferences.

The horseback riding was the highlight! The Laxnes Horse Farm picked me up in front of my hotel right on time. The tour was amazing, all of the staff was very friendly and welcoming. In June, the flowers were blooming — it was such a beautiful ride!! The other half of the tour that was operated by Gray Line was okay. The nature of the Golden Circle was of course stunning and beautiful! The tour itself was a little less exciting. The tour guide sounded bored and mumbled some words, so it was a total contrast from the exciting morning and nature. The fun facts were interesting, I just wish the tour guide would have been a little more enthusiastic or at least enunciated words so I could understand a bit more. I’d definitely recommend the Laxnes Horse Farm!! For the Golden Circle Tour, maybe you’ll get a more enthusiastic tour guide to make the whole trip exciting but the sites were worth it!

We loved the owners of the farm - so kind and experienced - and loved the ride - the horses were so sweet and the landscape was stunningly beautiful!

The stable owner is lovely and the horses are beautiful. The view on the ride is fantastic. Be prepared for a bit of an adrenaline rush when the horses start their tölt uphill.

This was such a great part of our visit! It gave us a chance to see some of the amazingly beautiful sights around Iceland and the horse riding was spectacular - so much fun, well cared for horses, and a great way to explore Even in torrential rain we loved it!

Wow! What a fabulous experience! I have used Viator before for a helicopter ride over the Grand Canyon and it was wonderful! This time, my friend and I booked a horseback riding and Golden Circle tour in Iceland… Horseback riding was terrific, the park was beautiful, the waterfalls were stunning and the geyser totally cool! All three gift shops were also amazing! In addition, our tour guy, Simon, made the bus rides fly by... Thanks you guys!