2 hours Private Horse Riding to Lake Hafravatn, Reykjavík – Mos

Lake Hafravatn is close to Reykjavík, but the ride feels far removed from city life. At Icelandic Riding, you meet your horse, learn how to mount and guide it, then head into fields and open country with the lake and nearby mountains in view. The private format means your guide can set the pace for your group instead of holding everyone to a fixed line.

I especially like the chance to groom and get familiar with your horse before riding, and the way the guides adjust the outing for both first-time riders and experienced equestrians. You may learn the Icelandic horse’s famous tölt, a smooth, unusual gait that gives the ride a distinct local character.

The main consideration is the price: $210.26 per person is a serious outlay for about three hours at the farm. You also need enough balance and strength to mount and dismount without a stool, and the 105-kilogram weight limit is firm.

Key points at a glance

• Private ride for your group: You ride only with your own party and a guide, with no large mixed group to slow the pace.
• Lake Hafravatn scenery: The route moves through fields and open country with views toward the lake and nearby mountains.
• Good for mixed abilities: Beginners receive help with mounting, steering, balance, and basic gaits, while experienced riders may get more speed and cantering.
• A real introduction to Icelandic horses: You may try the tölt, the breed’s smooth extended gait, when your guide feels it is suitable.
• About three hours total: Plan for horse preparation, roughly two to two and a half hours in the saddle, and time at the stable afterward.
• Easy access from Reykjavík: The farm is at Akrar 1 in Mosfellsbær, and bus number 15 is described as the easiest public transport option.

Why this private ride feels different

Many Iceland horse outings use a fixed route and a mixed group. This one is designed around your party. That matters if one rider has spent years in a saddle while another is trying a horse for the first time.

Your guide begins at the stable, helping you meet and prepare the horses. The preparation is not just a quick safety briefing. You may brush the horse, lead it, and spend time getting comfortable before the saddle goes on. That small pause can make a big difference for a nervous rider.

The private setup also gives the guide room to watch your balance and confidence. A beginner may stay at a calm pace while learning to steer and stop. A confident rider may be offered more varied gaits, including the tölt and, when appropriate, a canter. The ride is not automatically fast simply because it is private, but it can be adjusted more closely to your ability.

The stable has been described as a family-owned operation with a long connection to Icelandic horses. The care of the horses is a major part of the experience. They are kept on large fields, and the preparation and post-ride routine help you see the animals as more than transport for a scenic outing.

Meeting the horses at Akrar 1

You meet at Akrar 1 in Mosfellsbær, just outside Reykjavík. The total visit lasts about three hours, but the actual riding time varies. Expect around two to two and a half hours on horseback, depending on riding ability and the pace that feels safe for your group.

The opening stage sets the tone. Your guide matches each rider with a horse, explains basic handling, and helps you prepare. If you have never ridden before, this is where you learn how to sit, hold the reins, guide the horse, and communicate without pulling too hard.

Several guides have been named in accounts of this experience, including Jonina, Anastasia, Linnea, and Linni. The important point is not which name you receive, but the guide’s role. You get close supervision and a chance to ask questions throughout the ride rather than being left to copy a line of riders.

You may begin in an enclosed area or near the stable to test the match between horse and rider. This is useful for beginners, but it also benefits experienced equestrians. Icelandic horses have their own movement and habits, and a short warm-up lets you understand your horse before the route opens up.

Wear clothes you can move in and expect them to collect dust or dirt. Comfortable riding shoes are recommended, though good walking shoes or sturdy sneakers are also listed as suitable. Icelandic weather can shift quickly, so dress for changing conditions rather than for the forecast alone.

Riding through fields toward Lake Hafravatn

Once everyone is ready, the ride leaves the stable and heads into the surrounding countryside. The setting is the star here: fields, open views, nearby mountains, and Lake Hafravatn. You are not simply circling a paddock for photographs. The route gives you time to settle into the horse and take in the area at ground level.

The scenery changes with the season. Summer riders may find flowering fields, while other departures can bring cooler air, mist, or more dramatic cloud cover. The weather is part of Iceland’s character, but it also affects comfort, so do not treat a sunny start as a reason to leave your waterproof layer behind.

A guide may share information about the area and Icelandic horses as you ride. The local setting gives those explanations more meaning. You are hearing about the countryside while moving through it, rather than sitting in a visitor center and looking at photographs.

The route is also a good fit for people who want nature without giving up convenience. You do not need to spend a full day driving to a distant riding farm. Mosfellsbær is close enough to combine with time in Reykjavík, yet the fields around Hafravatn provide a clear change of pace.

Learning the Icelandic horse’s tölt

The tölt is one of the reasons to choose an Icelandic horse ride instead of a standard trail outing. It is an extended gait that can feel smoother than an ordinary trot. You are not guaranteed to spend long stretches at the tölt, since your guide will decide what suits your ability and the horse, but private groups have more opportunity to try it.

For a first-time rider, the basic goal is control and comfort. You will work on balance, direction, stopping, and mounting or dismounting. That is enough to make the ride worthwhile. Do not feel pressured to chase every gait if you are still getting used to the horse.

Experienced riders can ask for more challenge. Some outings have included cantering, and riders with extensive experience have been given a faster-paced ride. That does not make this a specialist riding clinic. It means the guide can make sensible use of your skills when conditions and horse behavior allow it.

The best feature is the range. Two people with very different abilities can ride together without automatically getting the same experience. A complete beginner can focus on the basics, while a confident companion may have the chance to use more advanced gaits.

What the private format is worth at $210.26

At $210.26 per person, this is not a budget activity. The price makes more sense if you place a high value on personal attention, a small group, and the chance to set the ride around your own ability.

A large group ride can cost less, but it may keep everyone at the pace of the least experienced rider. Here, you are paying for the guide’s time and for a more flexible outing. If you are traveling with a partner or family member who has never ridden, that flexibility can prevent the experienced rider from feeling bored and the beginner from feeling rushed.

The value is also stronger for riders who care about horse handling. Grooming before the ride, learning about communication, and giving the horses snacks afterward add substance. You are spending time with the animals, not only sitting on them for a photograph.

Still, the cost may be hard to justify if you simply want a short pony ride or a quick introduction to Icelandic scenery. You should choose this activity because you want the horse experience itself, not just because it is one more way to see a lake.

Group discounts are available, although the exact savings depend on the size of your party and booking conditions. Since the tour is private, ask about the total cost for your group before you commit.

Is it suitable for a beginner?

Yes, provided you are comfortable with the physical requirements. The guide teaches mounting, dismounting, basic steering, and the main riding gaits. The horses are described as calm, well trained, and carefully looked after, which helps take the edge off a first ride.

You still need moderate physical fitness. You must be able to mount and dismount without a stepping stool, follow instructions, and remain secure in the saddle. If the guide feels that you cannot ride safely or are not following directions, the activity may be cancelled without a refund.

That policy is strict, but it is also sensible. A horse ride is not a passive sightseeing tour. You are responsible for listening, keeping your balance, and responding to the horse. Tell the operator honestly about your experience level when booking.

The minimum age is 12. Children under that age cannot join this particular outing, even if they have ridden before. The maximum rider weight is under 105kg, set for the comfort of the horses.

The ride is not recommended if you have allergies to horses, dogs, or grass. Service animals are allowed, but the setting includes horses and open fields, so anyone with serious allergies should consider the environment carefully.

Getting there from Reykjavík

The meeting point is at Akrar 1, 271 Mosfellsbær. The operator identifies bus number 15 from Reykjavík as the easiest public transport option. You can also reach the farm by rental car, which is useful if you are already exploring the Reykjavík area.

The activity ends back at the meeting point. Do not assume hotel transport is included. Some individual arrangements have included pickup and drop-off, but the supplied tour details identify the stable as both the start and end point.

If you are coming from a cruise ship, provide the ship name, docking time, time you can leave the ship, and the required re-boarding time when booking. That information allows the operator to judge if the schedule works. I would not book this tightly against the ship’s departure, since weather and riding conditions can affect the timing.

Confirmation arrives within 48 hours, subject to availability. The tour is often booked well ahead, with an average lead time of about 70 days. If you have fixed Reykjavík dates, reserve early rather than hoping for a last-minute opening.

Clothing, safety, and practical limits

Dress for Icelandic weather, not for a polished stable photograph. Wear comfortable trousers, layers, and footwear that will stay secure while riding. Good sneakers are accepted, though riding shoes are the better choice if you have them.

Do not bring unwashed riding gear from abroad into Iceland. This biosecurity rule matters because foreign soil and organic material can carry pests or disease. If you have ridden elsewhere before your Iceland trip, clean your boots and equipment properly or use local gear.

The operator can cancel the ride without a refund if you cannot safely mount, dismount, or follow directions. That is a strong reason to be realistic about injuries, fear, balance problems, or limited mobility before booking.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start time. Within 24 hours, the amount paid is not refunded, and changes are not accepted. The cut-off follows local Iceland time.

Who should book this ride?

I would choose this for a couple, family, or small group that wants a personal introduction to Icelandic horses. It works especially well when the riders have different levels of experience, since the guide can offer a gentler or more active outing within the same private booking.

It is also a strong choice for experienced riders who want more than a slow nose-to-tail trek. The possibility of trying the tölt or cantering gives the ride extra appeal, though neither should be treated as guaranteed.

You may want a different activity if you are looking for a cheap, short excursion, cannot mount without assistance, have a horse or grass allergy, or prefer a fully predictable indoor plan. Weather, rider ability, and horse welfare all affect the final pace.

The experience has received a five-star rating from 41 people, with 100 percent recommending it. That strong record fits the main strengths: kind horses, attentive guides, attractive scenery, and a genuinely private format.

Final call: book it for the horses, not just the view

I recommend Icelandic Riding if you want meaningful time with Icelandic horses and value personal instruction. The lake, fields, and mountains make a beautiful setting, but the best part is the connection between rider, horse, and guide.

Book it early, especially for a fixed Reykjavík itinerary, and confirm transport from the city. Check the age, weight, allergy, and mounting rules before paying. If those conditions suit you and $210.26 feels reasonable for a private outing, this is one of the more personal ways to meet Iceland’s famous horses without spending a full day away from Reykjavík.

FAQ

Where does the horse ride begin and end?

The ride begins and ends at Icelandic Riding, Akrar 1, 271 Mosfellsbær, Iceland.

How long does the experience take?

The full visit takes about three hours. Riding time is usually around two to two and a half hours, with some variation based on riding ability.

How long do I spend preparing the horse?

The activity begins by meeting and preparing the horse. This can include learning basic handling and getting comfortable before leaving the stable, but an exact preparation time is not specified.

Is the tour private?

Yes. Only your group and the guide participate in the activity.

Is the ride suitable for beginners?

Yes. The guide can adjust the outing for beginners and provide help with mounting, dismounting, balance, steering, and basic riding gaits.

What is the minimum age?

The minimum age is 12 years.

Is there a rider weight limit?

Yes. Riders must weigh less than 105kg. Passengers over 105kg cannot take part because of the horses’ comfort.

How can I reach the farm from Reykjavík?

The easiest public transport option listed is bus number 15 from Reykjavík to the farm. The farm can also be reached by rental car.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes, if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start are not accepted for a refund.