Just south of the Arctic Circle is a country of enormous, unspoilt natural beauty with a hugely diverse landscape dominated by volcanoes, geysers, young mountains and glaciers. Sometimes called the land of ice and fire, Iceland is like no other place on earth.
In Iceland we work with Íslandshestar and Hestasport, two of the most well-known and respected outfitters. Accommodation on many of the rides is fairly simple and the majority of the rides are trail rides, although on some rides you return to the same accommodation each night whilst the horses remain out on the trail. One of the great delights of a riding holiday in Iceland is the herd of loose horses which run with the group, enabling riders to change horses regularly so that their mount is always eager. Please note there are some itineraries where you do not ride with a herd.
The Icelandic horse is a pure-bred descendant of those brought to Iceland by the Vikings over a thousand years ago. Horses remain an important part of Icelandic culture; they are used on remote farms to round up livestock and are still the best means of getting around in many parts of the island. Although small (the average height is 13hh to 14hh), the Icelandic is a powerful horse with great stamina and strength of character. What makes the Icelandic horse extra special is its fourth gait, the tölt, which is comparable to a running walk, which can be performed at a variety of different speeds. Most riders can master it fairly quickly; it's fast, comfortable and enables the horse to cover great distances.
Iceland is also the land of the midnight sun and the Northern Lights. In the light evenings you may well hear tales of the trolls and elves that dwell in the mountains and valleys through which you will pass. In this country you will believe that anything is possible!
The Icelandic horse is a pure breed and no horses are allowed to enter the country. Icelandic horses are not vaccinated and are therefore susceptible to infectious agents from abroad. To avoid the risk of any spread of infection, the country has strict laws regarding riding equipment which may be brought into the country.
