Maximum weight for a rider is 110kg/242lb for both Day Tours and Multi Day Tours.

We have established a new way to categorize riders based on their capabilities. This approach ensures clarity in communication about riding skills, bridging any cultural differences. The “Rider Ability Levels” at Ishestar explain the different skills riders need for our horseback tours. We created these levels to avoid confusion, as horse riding terms can mean different things in different cultures and cover overall experience with horses. Find out your Rider Ability Level on our Blog page

Riding gear (riding trousers, jackets, etc.) needs to be washed (40°C) or dry cleaned. Items which can not be washed or dry cleaned (riding boots, riding hats) need to cleaned and disinfected at least five days prior to arriving in Iceland. The Icelandic Veterinary Authority recommends the broad-spectrum disinfectant Virkon S for disinfection. Used riding gloves, whips, saddles, bridles, chaps and other used leather gear may not be brought into the country.
Please understand that these precautions are necessary because there are no contagious animal diseases in Iceland. Horses are not vaccinated and are therefore susceptible to infectious agents from abroad. Please help us to protect Iceland’s fragile nature! For further information please take a look at: www.mast.is

Pick up starts at least 60 minutes before tour departure except for tours starting at 13:00, pick up time is 90 minutes before tour departure or at 11:30. Please be ready at your bus stop or location at the given pick up time on your voucher. If you need any further information please call us at +354 555 7000.

We recommend booking a couple of days in advance just to make sure that we have free spaces on the day you wish to join our riding tours. Please note that it is often possible to book the same day you wish to join.

You will be back at your hotel around one hour after the tour ends. If you are in a hurry please let us know and we might be able to assist.

Riding helmets, rubber boots, rainwear or a warm outfit during the ride. Meals are included on some of the tours, but optional on others, see tour program for details. Our tour guides are English and Scandinavian speaking, some speak German. See tour programmes for details on what is included in combination tours.

Íshestar Riding Center is located at Sörlaskeið 26, 220 Hafnarfjörður, which is 15 minutes drive from Reykjavík City center. You find our location on this MAP. GPS: Lat.: 64.043289 / Long.: -21.914219

You do not have to be an expert rider to participate in our tours, but some tours are more difficult than others.
Beginners / Easy Little: or no riding experience needed.
Intermediate riders / Challenging: Comfortable and in control at the walk, moderate length trots (tölt) and short canters.
Advanced: Extreme Comfortable and in control at all paces, firm seat, comfortable in the saddle for up to 7 hrs. per day. Who rides regularly and is capable of handling horses in an open country.
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. Íshestar 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.

Riding gear (riding trousers, jackets, etc.) needs to be washed (40°C) or dry cleaned. Items which can not be washed or dry cleaned (riding boots, riding hats) need to cleaned and disinfected at least five days prior to arriving in Iceland. The Icelandic Veterinary Authority recommends the broad-spectrum disinfectant Virkon S for disinfection. Used riding gloves, whips, saddles, bridles, chaps and other used leather gear may not be brought into the country.
Please understand that these precautions are necessary because there are no contagious animal diseases in Iceland. Horses are not vaccinated and are therefore susceptible to infectious agents from abroad. Please help us to protect Iceland’s fragile nature! For further information please take a look at: www.mast.is

WE THINK THERE ARE FIVE KEY ELEMENTS WHY BOOK WITH ÍSHESTAR:
Our partners The real connoisseurs of the local terrain and history. By cooperating with local farmers we make sure that each tour has its own charm and is organized by the local expert, the farmer and his family. They use their own horses and ride through the part of the country they know so well.
Diversity Íshestar offers riding tours in most parts of the country, South, West, North and East Iceland and across the highlands. Everything from a 2 days countryside tour to a 10 days highland tour, as well as day riding tours in the Capital area.
Experience Íshestar was founded in 1982 and has over 35 years of experience in leading riding groups through Iceland.
International groups Our guests come from many countries, so be prepared to meet new horse lovers from all over the world.
Innovation We are constantly working on new ideas and itineraries to offer to our riders and come up with new tours every year.

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 for our longer tours:
• Warm jacket or overcoat
• Warm (woolen or fleece) sweater
• Warm socks and gloves
• at least two pairs
• a scarf and a cap or hat
• Warm underwear, long if possible (protects also from chafing)
• For the ladies – sports bra
• Riding trousers
• A pair of slippers to wear in the accommodation (Icelanders take off their shoes when entering a house)
• Swimsuits
• Towels
• Soap, etc.
• a small camera to take with you on the ride
• Band-aids and second skin plasters for chafing
• Insect repellent, gnat net headcover
• Chocolate or glucose sweets for strenuous riding days
• Sun lotion for face and lips (with high sun factor)
Additionally, for sleeping bag accommodation:
• Sleeping bag
• Small pillow to sleep on
• Earplugs (Some people snore)
Íshestar provides:
• Saddle bags
• Rain wear
• Safety helmet

Maximum weight for a rider is 110kg/242lb for both Day-tours and Multi-Day tours.

You do not have to be an expert rider to participate in our tours, but some tours are by nature more difficult than others. All our tours are categorized to help you choose the right tour according to your previous riding experience. Some tours are for riders with little riding experience, others are more difficult and therefore the rating should help to find a suitable tour for everyone. If in doubt call us or send us an e-mail.Categories:Intermediate riders / Challenging: Comfortable and in control at the walk, moderate length trots (tölt) and short canters. Strong Intermediate riders: Comfortable and in control at the walk, moderate lengths canters. Riding regularly and is comfortable in the saddle for at least 5-6 hours per day.Advanced: Extremely comfortable and in control at all paces, firm seat, comfortable in the saddle for up to 7 hrs. per day. Who rides regularly and is capable of handling horses in an open country.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. Íshestar 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 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 to keep the saddle in place. Riding style used on Icelandic horses is close to English riding style, but stirrups are worn long. Bits used are mostly simple snaffles. Bridles have a detachable noseband and clip on reins.

The Icelandic Horse
The 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 land is an authentic riding experience.
Herd
Herding along free running horses is the traditional way of travelling in Iceland since horses are changed at least once a day on longer tours. You get to ride a variety of horses.
Icelandic Nature
Iceland is the least densely populated country in Europe, with a pure, unpolluted and truly magical landscape.
Nature bathing
In Iceland (and on our riding tours) you can find hot spring oasis featuring hot pools and geothermal hot springs that are perfect for relaxing after a long riding day.

Here you can book your Flybus ticket to and from Reykjavík with Reykjavik Excursions . The Flybus departs from Keflavík airport 35-40 minutes after each arrival. Here you can book your Airport Direct Ticket to and from Reykjavik. Departures are timed with arrivals of passenger flights. Busses are located right outside the terminal building.

The main thing is to wear something you think comfortable while riding. We recommend high riding boots with a heal but it is OK if you only have low or don´t have any at all. Make sure you bring more than one pair of comfortable shoes to change if you get wet for example hiking shoes, rubber boots or riding boots.

Group size usually ranges from 10-20 riders.

A cancellation made by e-mail with more than six weeks’ notice is subject to a cancellation fee amounting to 30% of the tour price. A cancellation made by e-mail with less than six weeks, but more than three weeks’ notice is subject to a cancellation fee of 50% of the tour price. A cancellation made with less than three weeks’ notice means that the full price is due. COVID-19 policy: If it is impossible to enter Iceland from your country of residence due to travel restrictions relating to the COVID-19 pandemic at the time of travelling, we offer a rescheduling of the tour free of charge or a full refund.Íshestar reserves the right to change a day’s itinerary if road or weather conditions prove unfavorable.