Hestheimar Riding Tours
Hestheimar Riding Tours
4.5
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Full view
About
Hestheimar is a horse farm located in South Iceland between the towns: Selfoss and Hella - only 3 km from the ring road and 1 hour's drive from Reykjavik. Hestheimar offers 1-5 hours riding tours in the astonishing nature surrounding the farm. Our horses are well educated and we have horses for both beginners and experienced riders. All Hestheimar's riding tours are private and we specialise in rides for small groups - but we also have the capacity to welcome bigger groups. Departure times depend upon our guests' wishes, we are very flexible. We provide helmets and you will have a chance to get to know your horse in our riding hall before we leave for our ride - riding instructions will be provided if needed. In the winter season we offer our visitors coffee, tea or hot chocolate in our cozy stable after the ride. Plenty of toilettes are on the premises. Hestheimar offers riding tours all year - we look forward to hear from you!
Hella, Iceland
Meets animal welfare guidelines
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Hestheimar Riding Tours
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
85 reviews
Excellent
66
Very good
14
Average
3
Poor
2
Terrible
0
Helicopeters
Malmö, Sweden91 contributions
Dec 2022 • Couples
We had a private tour and a very nice experience. Very welcoming and serviceminded. They had listen in to what experience we had before to pick suitable horses. It is only 1, 15 hour from Reykjavik. Well worth the drive. Then from there only 30 minutes to the secret Lagoon. The owner of the stable has won a lot of major prices, you can tell this is a great stable.
Our guide Caroline is adorable.
Our guide Caroline is adorable.
Written 4 December 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.
Laura H
Irvine, CA95 contributions
Jul 2022 • Family
How did we get so lucky? My daughter & I love Iceland and ride Icelandics frequently. This is our 5th time in the country (we came for Landsmót) and I can honestly say this was the best private riding experience ever. This farm is owned by legendary champion Siggi Sig, and his horses & staff did not disappoint! Our guide Katharina was beyond kind, patient and knowledgeable. The tour itself was in lush valleys, hills and rivers, full of tölting, cantering, galloping and even flying pace…we can’t wait to come back this week! Takk fyrir!
Written 3 July 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.
Voyage19874344448
4 contributions
Aug 2022
My friend and I enjoyed a beautiful 3hr ride on ponies perfectly suited to our different riding abilities. Our guide was friendly yet allowed us to just soak up the peace of the Icelandic countryside. She also gave us the opportunity to try the famous tolt of the Icelandic ponies.
I would definitely return and book a much longer ride next time.
I would definitely return and book a much longer ride next time.
Written 11 October 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.
Curious33991085331
1 contribution
Aug 2023 • Family
This review concerns the horse riding tours, not the hotel.
I really cannot recommend the experience.
The guide made zero effort to make it an enjoyable ride, didn’t say a word during the entire ride, only allowed us to toelt for a minute after we explicitly asked twice. We came back 20 minutes before the time was up and still paid the entire price. The stables are run down.
I really cannot recommend the experience.
The guide made zero effort to make it an enjoyable ride, didn’t say a word during the entire ride, only allowed us to toelt for a minute after we explicitly asked twice. We came back 20 minutes before the time was up and still paid the entire price. The stables are run down.
Written 12 November 2023
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.
Kathryn T
1 contribution
Nov 2023 • Solo
I'm a very experienced rider and wanted to experience the Icelandic horse and their unique gaits. My guide matched me with a perfect horse to match my experience. My guide gave me guidance and instruction to ride the 5 different gaits including the tölt. I had an amazing authentic experience which was exactly what I wanted. Challenging, learning and exciting. Would definitely recommend.
Written 18 November 2023
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.
Rainey N
Sammamish, WA1 contribution
Sept 2022 • Family
My mom and I (with varying levels of riding experience) had a very enjoyable ride on two cute horses. The guide was very friendly and knowledgeable and easy going. Highly recommend! The little dog followed us the whole way, it was so cute:)
Written 8 October 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.
Jo H
London, UK4 contributions
Feb 2020 • Couples
This was great fun. My husband and I are almost complete beginners but the whole excursion was professional and well organised and we felt very well looked after. Luckily there was a gap in the torrential rain and we enjoyed a 2 hour scenic ride with lots of information about Iceland and Icelandic horses. The horses are well looked after, very calm and very friendly! I would highly recommend this
Written 8 February 2020
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.
Australialynx
Jandakot, Australia317 contributions
Aug 2018 • Couples
This horse riding place demonstrates a poorly run, unprofessional money making organisation.
The countryside & river crossing made a beautiful outlook for our leisurely ride. The horses were lovely natured. The problem was with the human staff, they weren’t good in explaining the procedures, the equipment provided was shoddy. Frayed reigns & loose saddles didn’t make it comfortable. If you do choose (or have it chosen for you) wear gloves so your hands are protected. As with most riding places the horses do have a mind of their own & need firm control. The young person accompanying us talked incessantly about herself with very limited knowledge of the country area in which we rode. 2 hours was 1hr too long.
The countryside & river crossing made a beautiful outlook for our leisurely ride. The horses were lovely natured. The problem was with the human staff, they weren’t good in explaining the procedures, the equipment provided was shoddy. Frayed reigns & loose saddles didn’t make it comfortable. If you do choose (or have it chosen for you) wear gloves so your hands are protected. As with most riding places the horses do have a mind of their own & need firm control. The young person accompanying us talked incessantly about herself with very limited knowledge of the country area in which we rode. 2 hours was 1hr too long.
Written 15 August 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.
Tasiilaq
Zurich, Switzerland27 contributions
May 2018 • Family
We booked a riding tour for the entire family incl. our 7-years-old daughter and 4-years-old son, and had a blast. It was such a great experience to see our kids so happy and independent on their horses. The 60 minutes went by so quick. Definitely a recommend - only, make sure you bring good clothing. It was cold and windy in April...
Written 6 May 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.
melle
2 contributions
Sept 2016 • Couples
We ended up arriving very early for our tour (2 hours) and they were very accommodating and even let us go early! The staff was very friendly and the tour guide was great! We did the 1 hour tour which was nice, easy (I hadn't ridden much before and not for a while) and scenic. We will have to come back for one of the longer tours!
Written 25 September 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.
sunhaws
Des Moines, Iowa
Hello. I just booked a room at Hestheimar through a third-party website, and am interested in booking some riding as well. But I can't get the official Hestheimar website to load, so I'm not sure how to book the riding? Can you provide an e-mail address, so I can contact you? Thanks, and looking forward to our visit!
Written 30 January 2018
Hestheimar offers pick up and drop off at hotels in the vicinity for 1-14 persons, in areas further away, it has to be a minimum of 4 persons, extra fee is charged for this service.
All Hestheimar´s riding tours are private and we go with 1-30 riders at a time.
Departure times depend upon our guests´ wishes, we are very flexible.
Hestheimar riding tours provide warm overalls, riding trousers and jackets, helmets and gloves.
After each riding tour, guests are offered, free of charge, warm cocoa, tea or coffee, served with home baked pastry.
Plenty of toilettes are on the premises.
In the stables we have our stable cat, called, Tía, which often has kittens.
Hestheimar offers riding tours all year.
Hestheimar offers Stable visits for small and big groups all year.
In Iceland it is always best to dress warmly and in layers.
Written 10 December 2015
sunhaws
Des Moines, Iowa
Hello. I just booked a room at Hestheimar through a third-party website, and am interested in booking some riding as well. But I can't get the official Hestheimar website to load, so I'm not sure how to book the riding? Can you provide an e-mail address, so I can contact you? Thanks, and looking forward to our visit!
Written 30 January 2018
Hallo :) We are so sorry to hear that you were not pleased. We have a good selection of horses here in Hestheimar, for all riders, among them competition horses. Also our riding tracks are very popular, among them the one crossing the river and another one to the top of the hill with panorama view over whole South Iceland ( weather permitting naturally). Which route did you have ? Did you tell the guide you were experienced rider? Did you ask for a more suitable horse for you ?We would really appreciate it, if you could answer those questions for us. Thank you for your review, it is very helpful and urges us to do even better. Hopefully you will come again to Hestheimar. Regards from the owners, Lea Helga and Marteinn.
Written 20 August 2015
Hallo :) We are so sorry to hear that you were not pleased. We have a good selection of horses here in Hestheimar, for all riders, among them competition horses. Also our riding tracks are very popular, among them the one crossing the river and another one to the top of the hill with panorama view over whole South Iceland ( weather permitting naturally). Which route did you have ? Did you tell the guide you were experienced rider? Did you ask for a more suitable horse for you ?We would really appreciate it, if you could answer those questions for us. Thank you for your review, it is very helpful and urges us to do even better. Hopefully you will come again to Hestheimar. Regards from the owners, Lea Helga and Marteinn.
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Written 20 August 2015
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