We present a truly wonderful riding adventure into the fascinating Thórsmörk Nature Reserve. Once one of our most beloved tours, we are proud to offer it again. The Thórsmörk area is a hiker’s paradise, and exploring it on horseback is a pure joy.
On our way to Thórsmörk, we are reminded of the dramatic volcanic eruptions of 2010 that disrupted international air traffic worldwide. We ride past one of the lava streams that poured down from the mighty, glacier-capped volcano with the famously unpronounceable name, Eyjafjallajökull.
Each day we spend 4–7 hours (20–35 km) in the saddle, surrounded by stunning landscapes of rugged mountains, glacial rivers, and birch woodlands. In the evenings we stay in cosy mountain cabins. After long days of riding, you can unwind in a sauna, enjoy warm showers, or soak in an outdoor hot tub with views of the highlands. Can you imagine the sheer magic of relaxing in natural hot water under the Icelandic sky? Life hardly gets any better.
To complete this unforgettable journey, we extend the tour with two riding days along Iceland’s dramatic South Coast. Here we follow stretches of black sand beaches, where the thundering waves of the North Atlantic meet wide open plains. The powerful contrast between the ocean, volcanic sands, and distant glaciers creates a truly unique riding experience.This combination of highland adventure and coastal beauty makes the tour an extraordinary way to experience Iceland’s diverse landscapes on horseback.
Day 1 – Reykjavík to Þórsmörk
Pick-up at BSI Bus Station around 11 AM and transfer to Skálakot. Meet the horses and enjoy an afternoon ride with spectacular views of the Westman Islands and Eyjafjallajökull.
Day 2 – Entering the Valley of Thor
Visit Seljalandsfoss and Gljúfrabúi waterfalls before meeting the horses at Stóra-Mörk. Ride through glacier landscapes and lava streams into Þórsmörk, crossing the Krossá River. Stay in a cozy cabin in Húsadalur Valley.
Day 3 – Riding in Þórsmörk
Explore the beautiful Þórsmörk nature reserve on horseback, riding through green valleys, waterfalls, canyons, birch woods and mountain streams.
Distance: Approximately 25–30 km
Day 4 – From Þórsmörk to the Lowlands
Cross the Krossá River and follow the Markarfljót River, crossing several glacial streams along the way. Continue across the historic Markarfljót bridge towards the fertile Landeyjar region.
Day 5 – Land of the Sagas
Follow ancient paths along the Markarfljót riverbed, rich in Icelandic history and sagas. Visit Drumbabót, known for its ancient tree fossils and spectacular views of Þórsmörk, before continuing towards the farmlands.
Day 6 – Going Home
Enjoy an easier ride towards Þykkvibær, crossing the Hólsá River where several major rivers meet. Finish the ride at Týri and Kristín’s farm before returning to Minnivellir for a farewell barbecue.
Day 7 – Return to Reykjavík
After breakfast, transfer back to Reykjavík.
We reccomend that you bring warm gloves and a thin hat that can fit under the riding helmet. Included in the price is that you can borrow a helmet, warm overall or rain coat and rain pants as well as rubber boots.
Maximum weight for a rider is 110kg/242lb.
Riding clothes. 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 be 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.
Kindly note 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: Import of riding equipment | Matvælastofnun
You can book online on our website or by contacting Ishestar by email daytours@ishestar.is or by phone +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 arrive.
Included in all Day Tours:
Day 1: Reykjavík – Thorsmork Pick up around 11 am at BSI bus station. Please be ready at the earliest pick up time and be ready in your riding clothes. We travel by a private coach in the morning to the farm Skálakot, where we will meet horses and staff. We will take the horses out for a ride in the afternoon and ride up the mountains for spectacular views towards Westman islands and Eyjafjallajökull.
Day 2: Entering the Valley of Thor Day 2: While our horses will be herded the first bit of the way, we start the morning with a visit at Seljalandsfoss and Gljufrabui waterfall. We will join the horses a bit later at the farm Stora-Mörk and saddle up! We start the ride down to the river Markarfljót and continue our ride past glacier lagoons and lava streams into the stunning nature park of Thorsmörk, crossing the glacial river Krossá on our way. This will be our home for two 2 nights, in a cozy cabin in Húsadalur valley, where a sauna and a natural pool are also available.
Day 3: Riding inside Thorsmörk We will spend the day riding inside the park, visiting numerous waterfalls and canyons. This is truly a wonderful area with the low bushes and glittering mountain creeks all over. Thorsmork has an especially warm climate (by Icelandic standards), better than in the rest of the southern part of the country. In the protected valley, there is green vegetation of moss, fern, birch wood and other small shrubs. (App. 25-30 km)
Day 4: Thorsmörk This day’s ride takes us back across the river Krossá (river condition permitting) and alongside River Markarfljót. Then we have to cross all the “small” glacial rivers from Mýrdalsjökull that go into Markarfljót. Then we will be crossing the almost 100 year old bridge across one of the biggest glacial rivers in the south,, Markarfljót – where all the water we have been crossing today + much more, is forming one huge river. Now we are getting close to the most fertile farmland in Iceland, called Landeyjar, but still we will be riding on the former riverbed from the Markarfljót, without fully entering farmland, until we reach our field for the night, an oasis close to the desert.
Day 5: Land of the Sagas Today we will be riding again the riverbed from Markarfljót, the same paths as the first Iceland’s settlers rode, where every stone is filled with the Icelandic sagas. One of our stops today we will be at a mythical place called Drumbabót, where we have a magnificent view of Þórsmörk and the desert we have been riding, there are fossils of former huge trees that were destroyed by an eruption in Katla in the days of the first settlement in Iceland. Now we start to get closer to the fertile farmlands and end in our field for the night.
Day 6: Going home day 5 – today will be the “easy ride home” – we will be crossing the only none-glacial river of the tour – Hólsá – which is where three big rivers meet: Ytri-Rangá, Þverá and Eystri-Rangá, before they reach the Atlantic ocean. It’s deep and wide and we need to be careful crossing. At the end of the day will follow the banks of Hólsá to Þykkvibær and end at Týri’s and Kristín’s place After that we return to Minnivellir for a farewell barbecue.
Day 7: Return to Reykjavik after breakfast
– We reserve the right to alter the itinerary if necessary –
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