South Iceland Highlights – Horseback Riding Destinations
Iceland is world-famous for its dramatic landscapes — glaciers, waterfalls, volcanic valleys, black sand beaches, and colorful mountains. These natural wonders are the heart of every journey through the country.
At Hestar og Fjöll, we take you beyond ordinary sightseeing with unforgettable Iceland horse tours. Riding steady, sure-footed Icelandic horses, you’ll connect with nature and culture in a way that few visitors ever experience. Each tour takes you deeper into the land — past world-famous landmarks like Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss, across the black sands of Reynisfjara, beneath the glaciers of Eyjafjallajökull and Mýrdalsjökull, and into hidden treasures like Þórsmörk, Holtsós, and Vík í Mýrdal.
Our farm is within easy reach of Reykjavík, making it simple to experience these breathtaking destinations on day tours or multi-day rides. This page is your guide to Iceland’s highlights and hidden gems — the unforgettable places that make our horseback tours so unique.
Black Sand Beach (Reynisfjara)
Few places capture Iceland’s raw power like Reynisfjara, the world-famous Black Sand Beach. Stretching beneath basalt cliffs and the roaring Atlantic, it feels both endless and untamed. The black sands are the result of ancient volcanic eruptions, polished by the sea into a landscape like no other on Earth.
On horseback, the experience is extraordinary. The horizon seems infinite, the sea stacks of Reynisdrangar rise dramatically offshore, and every step across the volcanic sands connects you to Iceland’s elemental heart.
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Vík í Mýrdal
The charming village of Vík í Mýrdal is Iceland’s southernmost settlement, a place where everyday life meets extraordinary nature. Nestled between towering cliffs, black sand beaches, and distant glaciers, Vík has always been a refuge for travelers along the South Coast.
Riding near Vík reveals a softer side of Iceland. The village church overlooks the sea, puffins nest in the nearby cliffs, and the views stretch from coastline to glacier in a single sweep. It’s a reminder that even in Iceland’s wildest landscapes, life and community flourish.
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Holtsós
Hidden just inland from Vík lies Holtsós, a shallow coastal lagoon that feels like a secret. Shaped by glacial rivers and the tides of the Atlantic, it shifts constantly with the water. At high tide it becomes a vast mirror, reflecting glaciers and sky. At low tide, sandbanks appear, transforming the scene entirely.
Holtsós is also alive with birdlife, making it a paradise for nature lovers. For riders, it offers gentle trails and quiet reflections — a place where the landscape feels timeless, and where the Icelandic horse moves with ease through its serene surroundings.
Seljalandsfoss
Among Iceland’s countless waterfalls, Seljalandsfoss holds a special magic. Its 60-meter cascade drops into a misty pool, and a path behind the curtain of water allows visitors to stand inside the fall itself. Few experiences feel more immersive than watching the evening sun glow through the spray.
Every multi-day tour with Hestar og Fjöll passes Seljalandsfoss, making it a moment of wonder shared by all our riders. To see it from horseback is to feel the rhythm of the land and water together.
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Skógafoss
Just down the road lies Skógafoss, one of Iceland’s most iconic waterfalls. Thundering 60 meters into the Skógá River, its power is matched only by its beauty. Rainbows often shimmer in the mist, arching across the spray in dazzling color.
Skógafoss has long inspired Icelandic legends, said to hide treasure in its waters. For riders, it is both a landmark and an experience — the sound of hooves mixing with the roar of the falls, the cool mist brushing against your face.
Eyjafjallajökull
The name may be famous for grounding flights in 2010, but Eyjafjallajökull is far more than a tongue-twister. It is a glacier and volcano combined, towering above the South Coast in icy silence. Its slopes hold stories of eruptions and resilience, of fire and ice shaping the land together.
Riding at the foot of Eyjafjallajökull, you sense its scale immediately. Trails wind past farmlands, glacial rivers, and lava fields, always under the watchful presence of the ice-capped volcano. It is one of the most dramatic backdrops for horseback riding in all of Iceland.
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Mýrdalsjökull
South of Eyjafjallajökull lies Mýrdalsjökull, Iceland’s fourth-largest glacier, covering the mighty Katla volcano. Beneath its 600 meters of ice, Katla has erupted many times, carving black sand plains and shaping the South Coast itself.
The glacier dominates the horizon for riders on multi-day tours. Crossing glacial rivers, skirting moss-covered lava fields, and riding toward the ice, you feel the living connection between volcano and glacier — a balance of beauty and raw power.
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Þórsmörk
Named after Thor, the god of thunder, Þórsmörk is one of Iceland’s most beloved valleys. Sheltered between glaciers, it is a green oasis where birch forests grow, glacial rivers twist through gravel plains, and trails lead to hidden viewpoints.
Horseback riding in Þórsmörk is unforgettable. The Icelandic horse moves confidently across rivers and forest paths, carrying you deeper into a valley that feels both enchanted and alive. Many riders say Þórsmörk is where they feel closest to Iceland’s wild spirit.
Landmannalaugar
High in the highlands lies Landmannalaugar, a place like nowhere else on Earth. Its rhyolite mountains glow in shades of red, orange, green, and gold. Steam rises from geothermal valleys, and natural hot springs invite tired travelers to rest.
For riders, reaching Landmannalaugar is the reward for days of adventure. Crossing black lava fields and vast mountain valleys, you arrive in a landscape that feels both otherworldly and deeply grounding. A soak in the hot springs beneath the painted mountains is the perfect ending to a journey on horseback.
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Other Landscapes You’ll Encounter
Beyond Iceland’s most famous highlights, Hestar og Fjöll tours also lead you through landscapes shaped by fire, ice, and ocean. These places may not always be in guidebooks, but they are what make riding in Iceland so unforgettable:
Glacial rivers, from the mighty rivers flowing off the glaciers to gentler crossings like the River Irá near Holtsós.
Moss-covered lava fields, soft and green, spreading across ancient volcanic ground.
Geothermal valleys and hidden hot springs, where steam rises from the earth in the highlands.
Black sand plains, vast and windswept, where horse and rider feel the power of Iceland’s volcanic past.
Coastal meadows and valleys, dotted with birch groves and wildflowers in summer.
The rugged volcanic ridges of Tindfjöll and the dramatic wilderness of the Fjallabak Nature Reserve.
These landscapes change with the light, the seasons, and the weather, meaning no two rides are ever the same. They are the hidden threads that tie together Iceland’s great highlights — surprising you with new textures, colors, and moods at every turn.
Ride Iceland’s Highlights and Hidden Gems with Hestar og Fjöll.
From Seljalandsfoss to Skógafoss, from Mýrdalsjökull to Landmannalaugar, every Hestar og Fjöll tour is designed to connect you with Iceland’s most breathtaking highlights and hidden gems. Whether you’re looking for a short day tour or a longer multi-day trek, the journey is as unforgettable as the destination.
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Want to know more about horseback riding in Iceland? See our Horseback Iceland guide for background tips and rider FAQs.