Tölt Under Iceland's Midnight Sun
From the moment you swing a leg over an Icelandic horse, you’ll tölt in sync across black volcanic earth, shifting valleys and milky-blue river deltas, always riding alongside a free-running herd that turns the landscape into a living saga. With horse herding in Iceland becoming a rare art, joining this herd beneath the midnight sun is a once-in-a-lifetime privilege that will transform you forever.
Trip Highlights
- That moment when you first experience the extraordinary gaits of the Icelandic horse, especially the famous tölt
- Relaxing in the piping hot natural hot tub at your mountain cottage
- gasping at the ever-changing vistas you’re presented with as you ride deep into the Icelandic highlands
- Descending into the dramatic and steep Merkigil Gorge and taking a quiet moment to appreciate the unique beauty of your pristine surroundings
- Tölting along with a free-running herd of Icelandic horses, your travel companions for this adventure
Details
-
Riding levels
Suitable for strong intermediate to advanced riders with good physical fitness. You must have had previous experience riding in English tack. You’ll need to be up for an adventure and able to handle up to 6 hours’ riding a day.
Not sure what your riding ability is? See the definitions below.
- Type of tack
English all-purpose saddles.
- Horse breed
Icelandic horses - the jewel in the crown of this itinerary!
- Accommodation
Accommodation varies between comfortable shared cottages for five nights (2 – 3 bedrooms with shared bathrooms) and one night in a remote mountain hut with simple shared rooms for 2 – 4 guests and warm running water.
- Pace
The pace varies on a daily basis but it’s a fast-paced ride. Expect to mostly trot and tölt with the occasional canter. The pace is dictated by the herd of horses in which you are driving.
- Weight limit
A maximum of 100kg / 220lbs (depending on height, physical condition and riding ability).
It is VERY important that you provide your current weight accurately when booking. If your weight is not accurate, we cannot guarantee that your hosts will have a horse for you to ride.
- Group size
A maximum of 12 guests.
- Minimum age
16 years of age
- Time in Saddle
On average, 4 to 6 hours in the saddle per day (this is also dependent on the weather, which could see you in the saddle for up to 8 hours).
- When to go
July & August
- Languages
Instructions spoken in English.
Guides speak English and Icelandic.
What’s included (and what’s not)
Included
- All ground transportation throughout the riding tour
- Private bus transfers between Reykjavik and Varmahlíð on days 1 and 7
- Full board during the tour, starting with a light meal for lunch on the first day and ending with breakfast on the final day
- All riding activities outlined in the itinerary
- Sleeping bags, mats, helmets, rain gear and saddle bags
Excluded
- International and regional flights
- Travel insurance (compulsory)
- Alcoholic beverages
- Additional activities outside the itinerary
Departure dates and prices
Ride length
7 days, 6 nights
Riding level
Strong Intermediate • Advanced
Booking fee
A fixed Booking Fee of €90 EUR
Payment plans
Lock in your ride with a 10% deposit and pay the rest over time – interest-free in 10 easy payments. Learn more.
Accommodation types
Single
Private accommodation for one guest (room, tent, or similar). A supplement may apply on departures where a sharing option is available.
Share
Willing to room share with the same gender or travelling with a companion.
Couple share
Sharing a bed with companion.
Non-rider
Sharing a room with a riding companion.
Per person
2026
July 26 to August 1, 2026
August 23 to 29, 2026
The fun bits
Payment details
- A fixed Booking Fee of €90 EUR
- All bookings are charged in the local currency of the ride destination.
- Accepted payment method is by credit or debit card only.
Cancellation policy
We understand that plans can change. If you need to cancel your ride, please let us know as soon as possible. Cancellation fees apply based on how close your departure date is, and deposits are non-refundable. We strongly recommend travel insurance to protect your booking. Read our full cancellation policy.
International fees
If you're paying in a currency different from your own, your bank may charge a conversion or international transaction fee.
Itinerary
Please note, this is a suggested itinerary only and subject to change at the discretion of your guides due to weather (let’s be honest, this is Iceland) and other influencing factors.
-
Day Before: Arrival
Non-riding dayWe strongly recommend all globetrotters arrive in Reykjavik the day before the ride begins, so that you have time to recover from jet lag and have a look around this gorgeous city before heading off into the wilderness. It’s also quite the trip into town from the airport (approximately 1hr on the FlyBus) so to arrive the morning of day 1 and then try to meet the transfer service in town is not practical.
-
Day 1: Varmahlíð
2 hours in the saddleYou will be picked up in Reykjavik this morning and transferred via private bus to Varmahlíð, where you’ll be met by your guides and taken to the cottages where you’ll spend the night. Here you’ll settle into your rooms and have a light lunch before heading to the stables and meeting the much anticipated mob of Icelandic horses for your FIRST ride on Icelandic terrain {insert squeals of delight!}.
For your debut ride, your guides will take you to the amazing natural paradise of the river delta of Héraðsvötn. The terrain offers the best possibilities to fully experience the gaits of the Icelandic horse, especially the legendary tölt. After an exhilarating ride, you’ll enjoy dinner before taking a relaxing bath in the natural hot tub under a dusky night sky (it doesn’t get dark until 10pm). I think it’ll be at this moment that you’ll pinch yourself just to make sure that all of this isn’t a DREAM.
-
Day 2: Mælifellsrétt
4 hours in the saddleToday is the beginning of your EPIC Icelandic adventure. After a hearty, stomach-sticking breakfast you’ll be driven to the stables, saddle the horses and, together with your herd of free-running horses, you’ll start your six day riding adventure. The accompanying herd allows your group to change horses during the day, so your mounts can have a well-deserved rest and run free with their friends.
Today you’ll be riding through the stunning landscape of the river delta towards the pen known as Mælifellsrétt. The herd will get a slight head start with their journey towards the pen, and you’ll meet them there around noon. After lunch, you’ll ride with the herd along a low-traffic road towards the south, deeper into the valley. You’ll end the ride at the farm Gilhagi, where the herd of horses will stay overnight.
You’ll be transferred back to the cottages, where a delicious dinner will already be waiting for you upon arrival. A hot shower, flushing toilets and WiFi will be available. These are the perks of The Touch of the Highlands Ride: if you end up riding in less than ideal weather conditions, you know you’ll soon return to a warm and cosy cottage with a hot shower.
-
Day 3: Galtará Hut
6 to 7 hours in the saddleYou’ll be heading out this morning to spend one night in the highlands, so make sure you pack your luggage – a small backpack with just your essentials for two days will suit perfectly, and everything you don’t need can be left at the cottages until your return. After a short drive back to Gilhagi farm, you’ll mount up and ride through the scenic canyon Gilhagadalur and into the highlands. The lush meadows on the verge of the canyon are a welcome treat for the horses.
Your destination is the mountain hut Galtará located near the Blöndulón Reservoire in the wide moor, Eyvindarstaðaheiði {try and pronounce that!}. The horses will also spend their night here – only a few steps away from your hut! Even though it’s remote, the Galtará hut has the added luxury of running hot water and showers – yay! You’ll enjoy a delectable dinner with all your new friends in the mountain hut. If you’re lucky, you’ll be able to see the Hofsjökull and Langjökull glaciers shimmering in the soft light of the midnight sun.
-
Day 4: Svartárdalur Valley
4 to 5 hours in the saddleAfter breakfast at this charming, valley-perched mountain hut, you’ll prepare for an adventurous day. Leaving the peaceful Galtará and the stillness of the highlands behind, you’ll follow wide riding trails that allow for endless tölting. Depending on the weather, you may even be able to pick crowberries, the aromatic wild thymian, or the healthy Iceland moss. As you descend from Eyvindarstaðaheiði further into the Svartárdalur valley, you will see the corral Stafnsrétt, where the sheep are collected every autumn. This corral is your destination today. Your horses will retreat here for the night and you’ll drive back to the cottages.
-
Day 5: Kiðaskarð Mountain Pass
5 hours in the saddleAfter being transported back out to Stafnsrétt this morning, you’ll be reunited with the herd and begin the journey towards home. The paths alternate between soft riding trails that are perfect for tölting and more challenging, rugged terrain. You’ll gasp in amazement at the horses’ strength and stamina as they climb uphill on rocky mountainsides. From the mountain pass Kiðaskarð you’ll be able to catch one last glimpse of the faraway highlands and the majestic glaciers – just a glimpse into the stunning natural wonderland this country has on offer.
You’ll continue your descent towards the pen Mælifellrétt, which you might remember from the lunch break on the second day. It’s here that you’ll leave the horses and retire back to your comfortable cottages to wait in anticipation for the last exciting riding day to come.
-
Day 6: Glaumbær
3 hours in the saddleIt’s time for a good dose of history, globetrotters, because after breakfast you’re visiting Glaumbær, where you’ll see how Icelanders lived many years ago. Then it’s time to saddle your own horses for the last time. With their heads turned for home, it will be a fast and exciting ride. On the way, you’ll stop for lunch at Stokkhólmi farm. Now you’re in for a real treat: having perfected the art of riding the tölt, with the expert help of skilled instructors and well-trained pacing horses, you’ll get to experience the famous ‘flying pace’!
Finally, you’ll ride back to the stables at Vindheimamelar, were you’ll say a VERY SAD farewell to the trusty Icelandic mounts who have carried you on this incredible journey. Then it’s back to the cottages, where a final feast awaits. For an even better way to finish the ride off in true Icelandic style, you can jump into the stone hot tub while reminiscing about the incredible memories you’ve made in the Icelandic Highlands.
-
Day 7: Departure
Non-riding dayAfter breakfast, you’ll say goodbye to your wonderful guides and hosts, who will undoubtedly have become lifelong friends. You’ll then be transferred back to Reykjavik via private bus.
Departing flights home can be anytime after 8pm this evening, or you might like to spend another night in Reykjavik.
-
The Horses
The Icelandic horse is a unique breed of smallish horse that came to Iceland with the first settlers from Norway 1,100 years ago. Archeological digs in Europe have revealed that the breed is a descendant of an ancient breed that is now extinct outside of Iceland.
The Icelandic, as it is commonly referred to, is known for being sure-footed and able to navigate rough terrain with ease. It displays two gaits in addition to the typical walk, trot, and canter/gallop commonly displayed by other breeds. The first additional gait is a four-beat lateral ambling gait called the tölt. The tölt is known for its explosive acceleration and speed; it is also comfortable and ground-covering. The breed also performs a pace called skeið, or “flying pace”. Skeið is used in pacing races, and is fast and smooth, with some horses able to reach speeds of up to 50 kilometres per hour. It is not a gait for long-distance travel. The Icelandic horse comes in almost every imaginable colour, and the Icelandic language includes more than 100 names for the various coat colours and patterns.
The Icelandic breed is extremely popular internationally, and for good reason: you need to ride these horses to understand. A sizeable population exists in Europe and North America, but NOTHING beats riding Icelandic horses in their natural habitat, Iceland. In their native country they have few diseases, and as a result Icelandic law prevents horses from being imported, and exported animals are not allowed to return. In Iceland, the breed continues to be used for farm work in addition to showing, racing and recreational riding.
Transfer information
We recommend guests arrive in Reykjavik, the capital of Iceland, one to two days prior to the start of your ride, so that you have time to recover from jet lag and have a look around this gorgeous city before heading off into the wilderness.
Private return bus transfers between Reykjavik and Varmahlíð (where the ride is located) are included in the ride price.
You’ll be picked up from your hotel accommodation between 9-10am on day 1 of your ride.
You’ll arrive in Varmahlíð around 2pm where you’ll be met by your Icelandic guides and enjoy a light lunch before heading to the riding stable, which is located 8km outside of Varmahlíð.
On day 7, you’ll be transported back to your Reykjavik accommodation, arriving between 2-4pm. Should you wish to begin your return journey home this day, you’ll be dropped off at the Flybus Airport bus stop where you’ll be able to make your own way to the airport. Please don’t book departing flights home before 8pm this evening.
Please note
If you choose to stay in Reykjavik city centre, a designated meeting location will be advised via email approximately 1-week prior to departure, because buses are no longer allowed to drive in the centre of Reykjavik.
Accommodation
On 5 of the 6 nights, you’ll stay in comfortable cottages made up of 2 to 3 bedrooms, each with a shared bathroom. Although you may share a bathroom with just 1 other guest, please be prepared to share with up to 5 other guests. Assignment of rooms is at the hosts’ discretion, although special requests will be considered.
On the remaining night you’ll stay in a remote, rustic mountain hut with 2 to 4 guests per room. There is warm running water for showering in this mountain hut. #winning
Food
Meals are a highlight of this tour, with a generous breakfast buffet each morning, packed lunches prepared at breakfast and carried in your saddlebag, and hearty evening dinners that leave you well-fuelled for the next day. Water, tea, coffee, juice and soft drinks are always available, and a simple beer-and-wine bar operates on a tally system payable in cash at the end of the ride. If you prefer spirits, you’ll need to bring your own — alcohol in Iceland is very expensive, so it’s best to buy it at Duty Free on arrival.
Reviews
Richard S
2 rides with Globetrotting 
Linda M
Loretta B
7 rides with Globetrotting 
Kimberly B
1 ride with Globetrotting 
Stéphanie J
1 ride with Globetrotting 
Sharon Rosh
1 ride with Globetrotting 
Frances Lipschitz
2 rides with Globetrotting 
Kate Testerman
Thea Evans
1 ride with Globetrotting 
Jackie Mathison
Lindsey Barnes
1 ride with Globetrotting 
Kathy Dusek
What's my riding level?
Not sure what your riding level is? Watch our videos to see all our levels.
Beginner
Reasonably confident riding a horse at a walk, a rising trot, and learning to canter.
Intermediate
Confident and in control riding at all paces outside an arena, but not riding regularly. Comfortable and competent using aids {the language of your leg, seat and hands} to communicate with your horse.
Strong Intermediate
An intermediate rider who is currently riding regularly outside of an arena and is fit enough to ride for at least six hours per day. Strong intermediate riders are comfortable and competent in all three gaits; able to post or sit to the trot; have an independent seat while cantering (don’t hold onto the saddle); and can pick up the correct canter lead. They can also navigate more complex terrain, including asking a horse to sidestep and jump over a small obstacle.
Advanced
A frequent rider who is very fit, comfortable in the saddle for at least six hours per day, and has an independent seat and soft hands. Advanced riders are confident on a forward-moving horse at all paces over rough and variable ground on open terrain. They can ride over small jumps and know the techniques used to collect a horse
Not sure? Contact our team to help you figure out your riding ability.
Stories from the saddle
Reykjavík: Your First Stop on an Icelandic Horse Riding Adventure
For intrepid adventurers who have taken the plunge and booked our Touch of the Highlands Ride, your first port of call in this extraordinary land of fire and ice is Reykjavík. Few capitals are as delightful as Iceland’s — charming, quirky,
Globetrotting Guest Horse: Moldi
Guests on our Iceland Ride might just be lucky enough to ride Moldi, a sweet gelding who is a favourite among all the staff and guides! We chatted with Gergö and Gracina to find out exactly what makes Moldi such
