Ishestar Horse Riding Tours

Ishestar Horse Riding Tours

Ishestar Horse Riding Tours
4.5
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
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About
The Ishestar Stables offers great facilities for riders. It’s set in beautiful surroundings just outside the town of Hafnarfjordur, about 10 minutes drive from Reykjavik. The facilities and its beautiful surroundings provide endless opportunities for riding, hiking, and other outdoor activities. We welcome individuals, families and all kinds of groups who want to enjoy themselves outdoors. The facilities offer people an easy way to enjoy our horses and the experience of our staff will ensure the safety of all our guests. The locker room of the Stables is well equipped. All customers are provided with warm overalls, rain gear, riding boots and helmets in all sizes. The Ishestar staff take pride in finding horses to suit individual needs as well as secure the safety of everybody. Ishestar offers daily riding tours at 10:00, 13:00 and 14:00 during the whole year, both for beginners and advanced riders. We offer pick up from all pick up points in Reykjavik.
Suggested duration
2-3 hours
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  • Chris D
    Edinburgh, United Kingdom6 contributions
    Lava field tour
    The cold weather did not detract from this wonderful experience. The safety video was clear and the helmets provided were good. We started off as a group of 16 and then split in to two groups depending on whether you wanted to tolt or not. The guide was friendly and the horses knew their jobs. The guide took photos of everybody on their horse. I arrived wearing several layers (one a ski coat) and I am glad I decided to wear one of their provided warm suits. Once we returned to the stables, there were warm drinks inside. We were also allowed to take a horse shoe as a souvenir. It was a lovely way to spend the morning.
    Thank you for taking the time to review us. I'm glad you felt in good hands with our guides and our horses and i hope you got some nice pictures of you and your horse to remember the day by. It is always good to wear as many layers as you can in the cold winter day's in Iceland. We say here in Iceland that there is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing. The overalls we have here really warm and should keep everyone nice and toasty, regardless of the weather. Hope to see you again sometime if you ever come back to Iceland.
    Written March 7, 2020
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited February 2020
    Traveled as a couple
    Written February 21, 2020
  • cutebluekitty
    Witham, United Kingdom84 contributions
    Been around the world and I, I, I...
    I have tried many horse-riding experiences around the word, (my wife is horse crazy and just books them up!). I can honestly say this was Simply the Best, by a long, long way. The horses were alive and open to being controlled and after the group split in two, the slightly more adventurous group were treated to some trotting. And OMG, the views while you are riding are soooooooooo amazing. We were lucky in that it was a lovely sunny, still afternoon and it had been snowing the day before so the sunset over the white was totally breath taking. (I'm not sure it would be so great without the snow but probably still good. They supply all in one body suits to wear over your clothes so we were nice and warm (although my feet did get a little chilly) Super great horses, and our guide was excellent.
    Thank you so much for this lovely review. I'm really happy to hear you had such a great time with us and enjoyed both the riding and the scenery. We aim to have horses suitable for all abilities and are very lucky with the beautiful landscape surrounding our stables. It is truly magical here when it snows but when we don't have the snow we can look over one of the biggest lava fields in Iceland surrounding the volcano Helgafell so it is beautiful here all year round and impossible to get tired of the view here due to the changing seasons. :) We hope to see you again someday if you ever come back to visit Iceland and the horses.
    Written February 10, 2022
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited December 2021
    Written December 7, 2021
  • Seth E
    4 contributions
    Great people, great experience
    My wife and I had an incredible time with this experience! We got to spend some time with the horses before our ride. Everyone was super friendly and made you feel welcome. There was a beautiful waiting area to sit and have a warm drink before your ride and they took great care to make sure riders of all experience levels were educated on how to ride before you got on a horse. You could tell how well they treat the horses and even take time to explain the history of the horses during your ride. My wife and I would definitely recommend this experience!
    Visited November 2022
    Traveled as a couple
    Written November 27, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
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10meijer
Amsterdam, The Netherlands5 contributions
Mar 2016 • Friends
I went on 2 rides. The first was the lava tour. There are too many people (most of whom can't ride) and too little guides on this tour. Our group consisted of 30 people. If one horse would have spooked and would have ran away, it would have been a disaster.
The second ride, The Viking Express, was much better group wise. But I did notice that they don't take proper care of their horses.
They are overworked.
They have small stables, sometimes even with 2 horses in one, and when they are let loose it is in a big group in a small paddock so they still don't have a lot of room.
On the ride a lot of muck was stuck in their hoofs. We were told they never clean their hoofs which could lead to the horses stumbling and they could even strain of break their leg that way.
When on coming back I took the saddle of I noticed a wound underneath the girth. She shouldn't have been saddled with that wound. The horses don't have their own saddle which means they aren't fitted properly for each horse.
It is a shame that they don't take better care of these beautiful horses. They should be more focused on the horses and less on making money.
Written April 3, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

scott H
3 contributions
Jul 2015 • Couples
I am shocked that people gave this a good review. After completing this, I realize that I will never go on a horse back riding excursion again. The excursion consists of you walkiing single file down a barren path up to a road and then turning around and taking the road back,. if you are not in single file then they run up to you and tell you to get back in the line. No stopping or they run up to you and tell you to move. Now, it may be better for experienced riders who have riden more than 30 times in the past, which is there requirement to do the more challenging course but only one person out of thrity did that. Essentially you are in a single file line with your horse's nose in the next horse's behind. Zero fun and no ability to go at your own pace at all. This might be good for people who have never riden a horse but for everyone else. LAME. Don't waste your money.
Written July 17, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Scott, thank you for taking the time to write to us. The reason why the horses are in a single file and close to each other on the trail is for safety. Besides, the horses all want to be close to their friends :) and if they get too far behind they may start running to catch up with the rest of the group and that may cause danger to the rider if he is not ready for the run. If you wanted to go at your own pace, you could have booked a private tour with just you and a guide. I hope you enjoyed your stay in Iceland. Best regards Silja Birgisdóttir
Written July 27, 2015
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

mich4230
New Jersey58 contributions
Mar 2019 • Couples
I read so many positive reviews that this was the first activity I booked when I planned my trip to Iceland and was what I was most looking forward to. I am guessing I just signed up for the wrong tour. I am a very experienced rider and many comments said that other experienced riders enjoyed this company. I found it to be way too crowded- may 40 people riding nose to tail over a small area. The guide didn't even tell us much about the horses, she couldn't even remember my horses name. I was hoping for a better ride, less people, and a more personal experience. A huge disappointment for this horse-minded person.
Written March 12, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ErlaVV
Thank you for your comment. We appreciate you taking the time to give us your feedback. Our horses are used to ride in a line in order if we meet other riders on the riding path. On our Lava Tour we split the group up in order for the experienced riders to be able to ride a little faster than the beginners. We do have a tour for more experienced riders, called Viking tour, perhaps that would have been suited for you. We hope you had a good time though and visit us again next time you come to Iceland.
Written April 17, 2019
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Ellie B
Lancashire, UK5 contributions
Apr 2016 • Couples
Ok so this might be a long one.

First thing I want to get out of the way: I have ridden before for a few years when I was younger and refresh my riding on holiday hacks almost every year, so I know a fair amount about horses but I'm not what you'd call an expert. However, I do know for sure that accidents can happen and are not always preventable. I am very aware of this as I write my review.

I took the lava tour (or some of it) with my boyfriend. We arrived to find about 30 other people taking the tour with us - a big group. We watched an informative video at the start, mostly petty standard how to hold the reins type information. It included a section on what to do if you panic, but not if your horse panics. This should be added as it could have saved me a lot of trouble.

We had to sign disclaimers about not suing them if we get hurt. I'm feeling a twinge of regret about this now. The staff were lovely, kind and helpful from the start which is always nice. We were assigned horses based on our riding ability. There seemed to be quite a few beginners in the group so I suspect I had been given something of a naughty horse, which proved true when he spent much of the ride refusing to go anywhere (which can't always be helped, I know). The ride was conducted with the horses nose to tail, which I understand when there are beginners riding, but my horse didn't seem too pleased about it and kept trying to lag behind, when the guides would instruct me to hurry him along.

We were split into fast and slow groups. I wanted to take the fast but opted for the slow so I could stay with my boyfriend who had barely ridden before and not for many years. The scenery was lovely and I found the ride very relaxing for most of it, and I was happy to have taken the slow route. My horse was a little skittish at some moments, and kicked his legs a few times, but overall I liked him and we seemed to have a nice bond.

I was riding towards the back of the group, when some other horses from outside the group came galloping behind us. The riders were shouting and my horse and the one behind spooked, and went galloping off after the others - I had no idea what to do as there wasn't much detailed instruction on what to do if this happens and I'd never experienced it before. My boyfriend's horse took off after us too. No one told us what to do.

All three of us eventually fell off. My boyfriend and the other girl got away with cuts and scrapes, but I fell badly and the next horse trod on my hip and I had to be taken away in an ambulance. While waiting for the ambulance, a staff member stayed with me and tried to help me stay calm - she was wonderful and I can't thank her enough, unfortunately I didn't get her name. My boyfriend was driven back to the centre to pick up my bags and was given a cup of tea while he waited for me to come in the ambulance, which was a nice gesture.

I repeat from above: not all accidents can be avoided. However, this one could have been had other, probably more experienced (and much faster) riders had not been sharing the track with beginners and those unfamiliar with their horses. I know from past experiences that putting different levels doing different things near each other is a recipe for disaster. If the company owns this land and it isn't public property (I'm not sure what the case is here), the riders should definitely be separated completely to avoid more accidents like this.

Would I have given this tour a better rating had it not ended in disaster? Probably, but I would not have noticed the little flaws that let this event happen. The staff are lovely, genuine people but the organisation needs to be improved for these tours to be as safe as possible.

I would recommend this company only if you are a very experienced rider, or if you are given the option of a private trail if this is available on other tours.
Written April 6, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

kmk415
Gorham, ME131 contributions
Aug 2011 • Couples
As far as the basics go, the intro video and equipment dispersal were adequate, the horses were nice and the lava field setting made for an interesting ride on a lovely late summer afternoon. It's more some of the customer service issues that make me unable to give Ishester more than a middling rating. And by customer service, let me clarify that I'm not talking about an entitled American "customer-is-always-right" mentality but more like if a complaint about unreliable transport is mentioned for the umpteenth time, maybe let customers know what you're doing to try and improve the issue. So yes, we also were picked up an hour late despite our repeated calls and reassurance that our ride was on its way.

Once we got there, things simply felt rushed overall within our large group-- rush to get into the long line to pay; rush to pick out your equipment while there's still a decent selection, rush to finish watching the safety video so you're not the last one in line to get matched to a horse, etc. I didn't think about it that much at the time, but when I experienced a more relaxed horse tour with a smaller outfit a few days later, I could certainly notice the contrast.

The one other thing I feel compelled to mention relates to my falling off my horse while on the trail. While I'm not an experienced rider, I've been on a horse at least 1/2 dozen times and did not go into the ride with any concerns regarding safety. We had several young adult guides accompanying our large (I'd estimate 30 riders) group designated as beginners.

At some point mid-ride, they wanted to give us more of a trotting experience on the horses. Unbeknownst to me, one of the guides behind me flicked my horse with something like a switch. My horse startled, I was caught off-guard, and despite my best effort to hold on for what seemed like an eternity, I slowly slid down the side of my horse (who thankfully was not moving) and was stuck suspended with one foot still lodged in the stirrup and both hands grasping the reins. A guide came and asked me if I was OK and I didn't seem much worse for the wear.

But I was left to my own devices as I figured out how to finish dropping the remaining 6-8' to the ground (there was no chance of pulling myself back up onto the horse from the position I was in) and landed squarely on my tailbone. At the time I thought it would result in little more than a bruise and few days discomfort, but 3 months later I can attest that I still experience residual pain. I did receive an apology at the time along with assistance remounting my horse, but I do think the young guides would benefit from greater focus on safety and how to handle situations like a fall.

I was too busy with my own situation to realize that another rider farther back in the group also fell off her horse. I don't know how often this happens, and I know we signed releases regarding damages & liability before our ride began, but I'd have to say that such safety concerns translate pretty readily into public relations concerns as well. I really try to focus on positive vs. negative aspects of touring experiences in general, but I do feel like in this situation that full disclosure is only fair for potential customers' consideration...
Written November 25, 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear guest, I want to start by thanking you for taking the time to write your review. Without good customers like yourself it is difficult to learn from mistakes made and improve service. We apologize that you experienced delays in your pick up, it is unfortunately difficult to timeset exactly, and it is an ongoing process that we are taking very seriously and working on. Regarding your comment of the rushed service, we do try to be efficient, but you are absolutely correct in that it may seem rushed. We want to make sure that each customer feels taken care of and that is something that we strive to do, however, the day you were here may have gotten a late start and therefore things may have been a bit hectic. We are fortunate to have many guests ride with us every year and thank goodness, we do not have many accidents because we do put safety first. We follow strict procedures if an accident happens. Part of that procedure is that we fill out an incident report. All our guides and office staff have taken a First Aid course that is updated every year. We are glad that you were not seriously injured. We are happy you came on a tour with us, and I would like to invite you to come ride with us from Hafnarfjörður again, complimentary, the next time you come to Iceland. If you have any questions or concerns, I welcome you to contact me directly at silja@ishestar.is
Written December 8, 2011
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Jeri F
Tulsa, OK297 contributions
May 2019 • Couples
We booked the half-day horse riding half-day whale watching tour. Our guides were locals who knew the personalities of each horse. Mine was the "hungry horse" who tried to eat all the time. I thought the instructional video was excellent. I'm not an experienced rider and when we have ridden in other countries, we just get put on a horse and go! Our guide was excellent at providing feedback about what to do to handle the horse, instead of the typical "don't do that." Some people were saying these horses weren't responsive, but I felt mine was, even when she was trying to sneak and eat at every opportunity. My spouse's horse was the alpha and bullied another low ranking horse in front of him, causing a brief rucus among the horses. Fortunately, none of them freaked out and they settled quickly.
Written June 2, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

heidiram
Burlington, Canada517 contributions
Jan 2019 • Solo
My hotel helped me book my morning outing to ISHESTAR - specifically the MEET THE HORSE tour. I chose the tour because I wanted to SEE the famous Icelandic Horses but knew I was not physically able to mount and ride a horse.

The hotel booked the tour for me.
Exactly as planned, the company picked me up from my hotel, on time at 9am. It was a beautiful morning drive (20minutes) with the sun slowing rising at 10:00am. Golden glow on the farm when we arrived. BEAUTIFUL PROPERTY.

All of the staff were welcoming and kind.

I had fun observing everyone else mounting horses and getting organized and noted that the staff are very organized and take safety first.

The farm has ALL THE EQUIPMENT NEEDED including rubber boots and winter clothing and helmets - which are required. A tourist just needs to show up.

Once they were on their way, I was given a tour of the farm and barns, and I met the horses, learned their names and history. I had an opportunity to help the Guide open the stables and let the horses out for their play time. I walked among the horse, took as many photos as I desired. IT WAS AN AMAZING MORNING.

When I was ready to have a break, I enjoyed their facility and had a coffee while I waited for the riders to return and the van to take us back into the city.

I can not say enough good things about this business.
GREAT to visit for kids and families whether you want to ride a horse or not.
Written February 3, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

dkdrex
Washington DC, DC6 contributions
Jan 2019 • Family
Absolutely terrible experience. We booked the tour online via TripAdvisor, and selected the hotel pick up option and our hotel before providing online payment. We also took many other tours during our trip to Iceland (via Reykjavik Excursions and Arctic Adventures—highly recommend), where we booked / paid for tours via similar mechanisms. Our TripAdvisor confirmation said “meet the horses with pick up,” beginning at 9:00 a.m. At 9:30, still no van had arrived. I called the tour operator, who curtly told me that I was supposed to call and confirm a pick up option with him (even though that was never mentioned anywhere on the confirmation form, and no other tour operator in Iceland required that), and that he had sent me a message via the TripAdvisor portal to confirm the tour an hour before it was scheduled to begin. I never received the message. The Ishestar employee told me that we had missed our opportunity for the morning tour, but could pay for our own transportation via a taxi if we wanted to come later to another tour. We declined-- taxis in Iceland are very expensive, the tour was far away from the city center, the above situation was not our fault, and the customer service and tone of the employee was absolutely unacceptable. They did not offer to refund our money for the tour. My daughter was really really disappointed that Ishestar had cancelled on us, so we booked another tour with a different operator (Laxanes—HIGHLY RECOMMEND, FIVE STARS). In conclusion: DO NOT BOOK WITH ISHESTAR, INSTEAD BOOK WITH LAXANES to save yourself the hassle, frustration, and disappointment we experienced.
Written January 21, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

dneumann
Cincinnati, OH58 contributions
Aug 2018 • Couples
My husband and I loved the experience of riding Icelandic horses even though we are not riders. We took the 1.5 hour Lava tour and it was great fun! They have a really helpful video on their website - they will play it for you before your tour but it's very helpful to watch it twice. The staff is great - they love the horses and want you to love them too! They have rain gear and riding helmets there (no extra cost), and they will pick you up at your downtown hotel and then take you back. If you are staying in Hafnarfjordur, the southern Reykjavik suburb, it's 10 minutes' drive. The ride was through a scenic, park-like setting, but it's not a ride out in rural Iceland among the glaciers and waterfalls. We loved it!
Written September 15, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your kind words! We are really glad you and your husband liked the tour and had a good time while you visited us. We hope you will visit us next time you come to Iceland.
Written October 8, 2018
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Horselover818
Sherman Oaks6 contributions
Aug 2018 • Solo
If you have the chance to ride with Ishestar Stables, run, don't walk, to do so. (Actually, they have a van to pick you up, so you don't even have to run.)

Everything about the experience is first rate. Examples:

1. The stables: extremely well-run and organized. When you arrive, you're shown a helpful instruction and safety video, given access to any kind of clothing you'd like to borrow to make your ride more comfortable, and then divided into groups based on your riding experience and preferences.

2. The horses: taken care of as well as you'd treat your kids. Ishestar ensures that their 180 horses are rotated, given plenty of vacation time and not overworked. They treat their horses like valued members of their family, and it shows in the attitudes of the horses themselves—mellow, well-behaved and eager to give you the ride of a lifetime.

I was paired with Dreki (means "Dragon" in Icelandic), but despite the ominous-sounding name, he was a dream mount: smooth as silk to ride, responsive to my commands, and charmingly sneaky (he started at the back of our four-rider group, but every few minutes would work his way up in line, so by the end of our tour, he was right behind the guide/lead horse).

3. The guides: knowledgable, amiable and professional—and totally dedicated to a safe ride for you and your horse. I was lucky enough to be paired with Snorfridur (aka Snaja). She was infinitely patient with all of my questions and geared the ride perfectly to our ability (I was in the advanced/fast group with plenty of cantering and tolting, plus a nice photo op with the horses when we stopped to let them rest and graze for a few minutes).

4. The ride: through the largest lava field in Iceland, complete with a volcano (safely dormant!) in the background. There was plenty of greenery around as well, but the lava field was especially memorable, looking like the moon. Evidently, NASA must've agreed, since they trained our astronauts here for the lunar-landing missions.

I've ridden all over the world on vacations, but had always wanted to experience a ride on an Icelandic horse (yes, they're horses, not ponies!). Now I've had my wish granted—by the best stables I could have imagined. No matter your level of riding—from never been on a horse, to riding regularly—do yourself a favor and pick Ishestar when you visit Iceland.
Written August 12, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you very much for your kind words towards Íshestar. We are so glad you got to experience our beautiful horses. We do our uttermost so everyone gets to enjoy both the scenery and our horses. We hope you will visit us again next time you will come to Iceland!
Written October 4, 2018
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

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Ishestar Horse Riding Tours - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

Ishestar Horse Riding Tours Information

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