Reykjavik: Red Lava Horse Riding Tour

I like this Reykjavik: Red Lava Horse Riding Tour because it turns a short trip out of town into a real Iceland experience: friendly horses, volcanic scenery, and guides who seem to know exactly what they’re doing. The ride is short enough to fit almost any day, but long enough (about 1.5–2 hours in the saddle) to feel like you actually got out there.

Two things I especially like: the route choices for different riding levels (walk-only vs. more action), and the fact that you’re not sent off cold—helmets, rain gear, and winter jumpsuits are included when weather demands it. Guides like Claudia, Patri, Nina, and Kolgrima show up in guest notes, and the recurring theme is clear: they’re patient with first-timers.

One consideration: this tour is not a gentle stroll for everyone. You’ll need to be in good physical condition, and it’s not suitable for pregnancy, mobility impairments, recent surgeries, or back problems—and there’s a firm weight limit of 110 kg / 242 lb.

Key Highlights at a Glance

• Beginner and advanced paths split so riders get a pace that fits their comfort
• Red lava fields scenery on natural paths, with routes like Redhills and Rauðarvatn
• Winter-ready gear: helmets, wet-weather clothing, and winter jumpsuits
• Photo stop at red lava rocks, plus guides may help take phone photos
• Instructor-led safety with helmets required and riders matched to horses and experience

You can check availability for your dates here:

From Reykjavik to the Lava: How Getting There Works

Most days start with an easy logistics win: optional hotel pickup in Reykjavik. If you pick that option, you’ll be collected about 30 minutes before the tour starts, usually by a small bus or jeep with the provider name on it. If you’re driving yourself, you can park for free right in front of the stables and meet there instead.

The driving time matters here because you’re going to gear up and then head straight into the ride. Guests repeatedly mention pickups being straightforward and on time, and that’s a big deal in Iceland where weather can change quickly.

Timing tip: plan to be ready early. The tour asks you to arrive at the stables about 15 minutes before riding starts, and if you’re using pickup, you should be waiting roughly 30 minutes ahead.

Arriving at the Stables: Gear Up Without Stress

The stables are your base, and meeting is simple. You’re told to show up 15 minutes early so there’s time to get helmets and get sorted. There’s free parking in front of the stable, and guests note it’s a big white stable with an orange sign.

This is one of the most practical parts of the tour. They don’t just hand you a helmet and wish you luck. You’ll get a full safety setup (helmet required for all riders) and weather protection if needed.

What’s included that really helps:

• Helmet (mandatory while riding)
• Wet-weather clothing (provided if required)
• Winter jumpsuits (in cold conditions)
• Coffee and tea afterward, plus hot drinks are mentioned in reviews

Also, the tour has clear boundaries: no shorts, no professional cameras, no backpacks, and no open-toed shoes. That sounds strict until you realize it’s mostly about safety and keeping gear from getting caught.

Meeting Your Horse: What the Guides Do That Makes a Difference

This tour gets huge praise for its instructor-led approach. In guest notes, guides are friendly, knowledgeable, and very focused on matching riders to horses that suit their experience and comfort level. That’s why first-timers repeatedly say they felt relaxed after only a few minutes.

You’ll typically be grouped based on riding ability. One rider described how they were paired by experience, and another mentioned the group being split into beginner and advanced groups for riding style and pace.

Names that come up in the feedback:

• Claudia (mentioned in multiple reviews)
• Patri (mentioned leading part of a group)
• Nina (mentioned with Claudia as guides)
• Kolgrima (appears in a rider shout-out, tied to the guiding team)

I’m not claiming the same exact team runs every day. But the pattern is consistent: the people on the ground are the real quality indicator here.

The Ride Plan: Distance, Time, and How Pace Changes

You’re out for about 2.5 hours total, but the riding time is the heart of it: roughly 1.5 to 2 hours horseback riding. The ride distance is listed as 5–7 kilometers, and it varies depending on riders’ experience.

What changes between groups is not just how fast. It’s what the ground experience feels like.

• On one route, you’ll ride through smooth paths along the Redhills area.
• For more experienced riders, you may head toward Rauðarvatn for a different stretch of terrain.

Then there’s the pace option. Multiple reviews mention an ability to go faster if you want, and some describe learning or doing Icelandic-style gait moments like tölt sessions for the more advanced side of the group.

If you’re new: don’t assume you’ll be bored. Even a walk-focused route can feel exciting in lava country—because the landscape does the talking.

More Great Tours Nearby

Red Lava Landscapes: Why This Scenic Part Feels So Iceland

This is a tour built around a specific kind of Iceland beauty: volcanic terrain. You’re riding through red lava fields that look rugged, ancient, and wildly un-farm-like. That contrast is the magic. A lot of Iceland tours show you geology from a bus window. Here, you move through it at horse speed.

Routes matter because lava landscapes have a sense of scale. You’ll notice textures underfoot, moss in the edges, and red rock tones that shift with light. Even when the weather turns, people report it still feels stunning—one guest rode in snow and still called it a standout.

And the experience isn’t just visual. Being on a horse slows your brain down in a good way. You’re paying attention to footing, your posture, and the guide’s cues. That’s a more authentic way to understand a landscape than just taking photos at roadside stops.

The Photo Stop at Red Lava Rocks (and the Small Perks)

You’re not just riding in silence. Most tours build in short stops for photos, and this one includes a photo stop at red lava rocks.

One review mentions a mini photoshoot and that the guide took photos on a rider’s phone. If you’re trying to travel light, this helps a lot—you don’t need to fuss with settings or ask a stranger.

One thing to keep in mind: you shouldn’t plan on unlimited photo time. Reviews often praise the stop, but a couple riders wish there was more time for landscape pictures. So come for the ride first, photos second.

Coffee, Tea, and the End-of-Tour Reset

After you’re done riding, you return to the stables. Then you’re either brought back to Reykjavik (if you chose pickup) or you head back using your own car.

The included comfort perk is complimentary tea and coffee. In practical terms, it’s a small thing that makes the temperature drop feel less harsh, especially if you rode in wind or snow. Riders also mention having a chance to say goodbye to the horses before departure, which turns the end into something calmer.

Food note: food and drinks aren’t included beyond the coffee and tea. So if you’re hungry afterward, plan to grab a meal in Reykjavik. Think of this tour as an activity with drinks, not a full meal stop.

Value for Money: What $142 Really Buys You

At around $142 per person for roughly 2.5 hours, the best way to judge value is not the headline price—it’s what’s wrapped in.

You’re paying for:

• A guided horse experience with instructor-led safety
• Helmet + winter gear (wet-weather clothing and winter jumpsuits)
• Time in a rare landscape you’ll rarely reach any other way without a lot more hassle
• Transport support if you select pickup
• Hot drinks afterward

Some horseback tours feel short. Here, multiple reviews say it felt like a long ride for the money, with riders describing it as a highlight and worth doing at least once. You’re not just paying for a photo opportunity—you’re paying for real time with the horses and the terrain.

If you’re comparing prices, check what’s included versus added-cost gear rentals and optional transport. Here, the essentials are already bundled.

What to Bring (and What to Leave Behind)

The tour gives you major weather protection, but you still need your own clothes to do the job.

Bring:

• Warm clothing
• Comfortable, weather-appropriate layers

Based on rider notes, gloves and warm socks (like wool socks) help a lot in winter conditions. One guest specifically warned that winter rides get cold, so treat this as an activity where your “normal Iceland outfit” might not be warm enough.

Leave behind:

• Shorts
• Backpacks
• Professional cameras
• Open-toed shoes

If you like taking photos, you can still bring a camera, but skip the professional setup. If you want phone photos, the guide’s help at the photo stop can be useful.

Who This Tour Suits Best (and Who Should Skip It)

This is a great match for many travelers because it’s designed for different riding comfort levels. If you’re a beginner, you’ll likely be grouped with other novices and coached through the basics until you feel steady.

It also works for experienced riders because the tour offers different terrain options and pacing. People with riding experience mention doing tölt and choosing faster routes.

However, skip it if any of these apply:

• Pregnant women
• People with back problems
• People with mobility impairments
• Wheelchair users
• People who recently had surgery
• People with low fitness
• Weight over 110 kg / 242 lb

That’s not just legal fine print. Horse riding is physical, and lava paths can be uneven even when they’re “smooth” by trail standards. Safety matters.

A Realistic Day Schedule (What the Flow Feels Like)

Here’s how the day typically moves, based on what riders describe.

1. Pickup or self-drive to the stables
2. Arrive early to get helmets and gear sorted
3. Brief guidance and horse matching based on ability
4. Ride begins along volcanic terrain, usually with a pace that fits your group
5. Short stops for photos and regrouping
6. Return to stables and then back to Reykjavik if you chose pickup
7. Hot drinks to warm up and transition back to normal life

This tour is built for efficiency. You get the Iceland landscape and the horse experience without turning the day into a long, complicated logistics puzzle.

Should You Book This Red Lava Horse Tour?

I’d book it if you want an unforgettable Iceland moment that feels active, not passive. The combination of friendly Icelandic horses, volcanic views, and guides who actually coach (not just supervise) is a strong recipe.

You might think twice if you:

• Need a fully accessible or low-impact activity (this one isn’t designed for mobility impairments)
• Have back issues, recent surgeries, or pregnancy
• Expect food to be included (it isn’t—just coffee and tea)
• Want unlimited photo time (there’s a photo stop, but the ride is the main event)

For most travelers—especially first-timers who want to try something memorable with clear instruction—this tour is a very solid choice. With the included winter gear and the strong guide feedback (including Claudia and Patri showing up in multiple notes), you’re likely to feel taken care of from helmet-on to ride-off.

You can check availability for your dates here: