Overview
Riding the trails of Northern Iceland is one of the top horseback adventures. Recognised by The Sunday Times as one of the world’s best riding trails, this Icelandic horse tour showcases the incredible scenery of North Iceland. A land of waterfalls, volcanic landscapes, and open riding country.
Starting from Bjarnastaoir Farm near Husavik, we ride towards the stunning Lake Myvatn area, known for its geothermal activity and rich birdlife. Along the way, we visit Asbyrgi Canyon, Dettifoss – Europe’s most powerful waterfall – and the striking rock formations at Hljooaklettar.
The soft tracks are ideal for “tolting,” the smooth extra gait of the Icelandic horse. From lush green pastures, we head towards the Gæsafjoll Mountains and spend a night in a mountain cabin at Theistareykir before crossing fascinating volcanic terrain to reach Lake Myvatn. Here, bubbling mud pools and lava fields reveal the earth’s raw energy. The tour finishes with a relaxing soak in the warm geothermal waters of the Myvatn Nature Baths is most definitely the perfect end to this unforgettable adventure.
Accommodation & Meals
You will stay at various family run guest houses during this trip. Price is based on sharing a twin or quad room with twin or bunk beds. Single rooms are subject to availability and include a supplement. Bathrooms are shared.
During the ride full board is provided with a mix of cosy, simple guesthouses & farmhouses. The food is lovely home cooked Icelandic food, consisting of soups & stews, fish & lamb, with healthy breakfasts & lunches. Vegetarian meals and other meal requests are available if requested when booking. All riders make their own packed lunch from the breakfast table.
Rain wear, water bottle, saddle bag are provided. It is compulsory to wear a riding helmet.
Hot tubs are available at most of the guest houses, so this gives the riders something to look forward to after a long day’s riding.
Details
- Runs June to August
- Set departures and private groups
- Minimum 2 / Maximum 20 riders
- Trail with progressive riding – Point to Point trail
- 5 Days / 5 nights (6 days riding)
- 5-7 hours riding per day
- Suits advanced riders
- Weight limit – 110 kilos / 240 lbs
Riding Ability:
Riders must be at ease at all 4 paces across varied, uneven terrain and be in good physical condition. You must be secure in the saddle and be comfortable riding for long hours of up to 5-6 hours a day. Rider weight limit: 240 lbs. / 110 kilos.
Much of the riding is at a tölt, which can be fast so you need to be a confident rider able to adapt to different riding styles. General fitness is as important as riding experience due to the long hours in the saddle.
If you know how to ride a horse using English riding style you should have no problems riding an Icelandic horse. Western-style riders should not experience any difficulties adjusting to the Icelandic way of riding either. The guides will take some time at the beginning of each tour to explain the correct way to saddle the horse, mount it and how to ride the different gaits. They will carefully explain how and when to ride “tölt”, the special gait of the Icelandic horse. The height of horses is from 13hh – 14hh
Horse breed:
The Icelandic Horse breed is best known for its four-beat smooth gait, the “tölt”, which is very comfortable for the rider, especially on a longer tour. Riding an Icelandic horse in its native habitat is an authentic riding experience.
Herding along free running horses is the traditional way of travelling in Iceland. Horses are changed at least once a day on longer tours, you will get to ride a variety of horses.
Group Size:
Riding groups are a minimum of 2 to a maximum of 20 riders plus a lead rider and other group leaders.
Type of Tack:
The tack used for Icelandic horses is slightly different than the tack ordinarily used for other breeds.
The saddle is built close to a dressage saddle and has a relatively flat seat. Saddles come with plain or quilted seats. On longer rides a crupper helps keep the saddle in place. Riding style used on Icelandic horses is close to English riding style, but stirrups are worn long.
Most horses are ridden in simple snaffle bits, and the bridles feature detachable nosebands with clip-on reins.
Helmets are mandatory and a packing list will be provided when you book the ride. Saddlebags, wet-weather gear, and water are provided.
** An Important Note on Bringing your own Riding Gear **
Like Australia and New Zealand, Iceland is an island nation with strict quarantine laws to protect its unique ecosystem and resident animals.
Icelandic horses are not vaccinated and are therefore susceptible to infectious agents from abroad.
It is prohibited to import into the country any used riding gear made of leather, and riding gloves made of any material.
Used riding clothes and boots should be washed in a washing machine or dry cleaned prior to entering the country.
Used riding clothes and boots that cannot be placed in a washing machine or dry cleaned should be washed and disinfected as follows:
– Rinse thoroughly with detergent
– Dry
– Spray with a wide spectrum disinfectant that is effective against bacteria, fungi and viruses such as Virkon S (1%) or Septustin M (0,4%).
– Store for at least 5 days prior to bringing the clothes into contact with horses in Iceland
For more information visit Iceland’s Food & Veterinary Authority MAST
Dates and prices:
2026 Rates: From €2910.00.00 – Approx AUD$5445.00 subject to change due to currency fluctuation
We require a 30% deposit at time of booking
- June: 24 – 29 June 2026 (This is a Wednesday departure)
- July: 27 July – 1 Aug 2026 (Monday departure)
- August: 3 – 8 Aug, 10 – 15 Aug, 17 – 22 Aug 2026 (Monday departures)
The Northern Exposure tour is the most popular riding holiday in Iceland. Explore the wonders of Lake Myvatn and Europe’s largest waterfall, Dettifoss. We also offer a wide variety of other rides. If you do not see availability for your preferred dates, please contact us. Sometimes there has been a cancellation or we might have a different ride in Iceland that might also appeal to you.
This ride is in shared rooms and you are required to bring your own sleeping bag. You will stay at a hut one night that does not have any showers or a jacuzzi.
You will need to stay in Reykjavik at least one night before and after your ride.
Please contact us for the most up-to-date pricing for your riding holiday.
The rates are calculated in euros and subject to currency fluctuation. Snaffle Travel uses the ANZ bank sell conversion rate CHECK HERE to get an indication. All rates are based on twin/quad-share accommodation.
Inclusions:
- Flight from Reykjavík to Akureyri and bus drive to the farm.
- During the ride full board is provided. Our menu consists of a large breakfast and traditional Icelandic meals (fish or lamb). All riders make their own packed lunch from the breakfast table. Special meals can be arranged.
- Alcoholic beverages are not included in the tour price and are hard to get in the highlands. They can be bought at a reasonable price in the Duty-Free Store at Keflavik Airport upon arrival.
- Rainwear, water bottle, saddle bag, riding helmet.
Not included:
- International flights and transfers to Reykjavik local airport
- Sleeping bag required
- Travel insurance (compulsory)
- Entry to sights and activities not mentioned
- Special meals ie: There is an extra fee of €100 euros for gluten and vegan special meals
- Drinks not included with meals, additional incidentals, and tips
Photos
Itinerary
The Northern Exposure ride is very popular and you will enjoy visiting some stunning areas and some of the highlights include Lake Mývatn and the Nature Baths, Öxarfjörður Fjord, Ásbyrgi canyon, Dettifoss waterfall and Jökulsárgljúfur National Park.
It is recommended to stay in Reykjavik on arrival and departure due as you will need to connect ot local flights.
Snaffle Travel founder, Tania Huppatz was lucky enough to enjoy the warm hospitality, ride and experience the beautiful sights in Iceland in June 2018. Tania is happy to answer any questions you may have.
Day 1: (D) Monday – Reykjavík – Akureyri – Ásbyrgi – Dettifoss – Bjarnastaðir
Meet at Reykjavík Domestic Airport at 06:20 am . Fly to Akureyri and drive to Bjarnastaðir farm. Please bring your passport or other identification for your domestic flight. At Bjarnastaðir, we have lunch and start our ride with a short introduction to the Icelandic horse and its special gaits.
This is truly a day to remember when we ride on the east side of the National Park Jökulsárgljúfur. On this day we have a sightseeing tour by bus to Europe’s largest waterfall, Dettifoss, and the famous Ásbyrgi Canyon, one of the wonders of nature, a wide, horseshoe-shaped canyon with sheer cliff faces up to 100 m high. Overnight at Bjarnastaðir Farm. (Approx. 20 km)
Day 2: (B,L,D) Tuesday – Bjarnastaðir – Kelduhverfi – Theistareykir Mountain Cabin
After breakfast, we drive to Kelduhverfi and start our ride from there. We ride into the mountains and see a magical landscape over Öxafjörður Fjord. We ride to the geothermal area of Theistareykir. Overnight at Theistareykir Mountain Cabin. (Approx. 35 km)
Day 3: (B,L,D) Wednesday – Theistareykir – Laxárdalur
Enjoy today’s ride from the Theistareykir area to Halldorstaðir in Laxárdal. Over the rough landscape and riding through the geothermal area and lave fields up to the desert area of Hólasandur. Then we ride down to Laxárdalur Valley and over the Laxá river to Halldórstaðir. We then drive to Bjarnastaðir farm, where we stay the night with a hot tub on the premises. (Approx. 35 km)
Day 4: (B,L,D) Thursday – Laxárdalur
We saddle up again and head of through a black sand desert along the colorful Laxárdalur valley with the glittering Salmon River Laxá in the middle on our side. A true day of contrasts in the ever-changing Icelandic nature. We stop at the very special Hraunsrétt – made of lava. We ride to Skógarhlíð, where we leave the horses before we head back to Bjarnastaðir farm where we spend the night. We will enjoy a nice hot bath in Jarðböðin, an outdoor lagoon with geothermal water. (Approx. 30 km)
Day 5: (B,L,D) Friday – Reykjaheiði
Today we set out through Geldingadalur Valley and Reykjaheiði heath. At one point we will practically cross over from one continental plate to another as we ride over the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. It is a fascinating area with deep earthquake fissures, multi-colored mountains, and geothermal energy. With all this volcanic activity going on here, it is easy to understand that Iceland is still under “natural construction”. We ride into Öxarfjörður Fjord to Bjarnastaðir Farm, where the hot outdoor tub is waiting and we spend our last night. (Approx. 40 km)
Day 6: (B,L,D) Saturday – Reykjavík
In the morning return to Akureyri airport. Whale watching tour in Ribb boats (optional). Flight back to Reykjavík Domestic Airport around 13:20 pm, arriving in Reykjavík at 14:05 pm.
Reykjavik is the capital and offers plenty of amazing sightseeing. We are happy to arrange accommodation for you at the start and the finish of your ride as well as car hire and other sightseeing and tours and options if required.
Please note: The riding operator reserves the right to alter the itinerary if necessary. The program is for your information only. The itinerary may be modified according to the availability of the hotels, the weather, any other local conditions and some sights maybe closed for various reasons.
OTHER INFORMATION
Location
Northern Iceland
Weather
Weather website: http://www.holiday-weather.com/
Areas of interest
During the ride, you will enjoy visiting the following areas: Lake Mývatn and the Nature Baths, Öxarfjörður Fjord, Ásbyrgi canyon, Dettifoss waterfall and Jökulsárgljúfur National Park.
Languages spoken
English
Closest Airport
Reykjavik
Snaffle Travel is happy to provide a competitive quote on international flights, travel insurance, car hire, and hotels before and after your ride. Please contact Snaffle Travel for further information, booking terms and conditions to info@snaffletravel.com.au
This holiday is calculated using Euros and is subject to currency fluctuation. We will update the final invoice 7 days prior to final payment. This itinerary is subject to our terms and conditions and the deposit is non-refundable. Please ask for our *terms and conditions* which apply to riding holidays.
Please contact Snaffle Travel for further information, riding holiday booking terms and conditions to info@snaffletravel.com.au
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