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Deacon Horse Riding Tour

Recommended by 95% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Akureyri, Iceland
Great choice
5+ bookings last month.
  • 2 hours 15 minutes (approx.)
  • Mobile ticket
  • Offered in: English

Why travelers loved this

4.9
·
· Ramesh_M ·
Aug 2025
It was a magical one, according to their standards as well. We saw so many whales and dolphins with their classical fin move and swim. We even saw one sleeping and then woke up. The host were very knowledgable about marine life in general and we learned a few new things .. amazing tour and amazing guys.
· Carrie_S ·
Jun 2025
We had a wonderful ride with Ann Marie and the other members of the Deacon Tours team. The horses are beautiful and the guides very knowledgeable. This was certainly the highlight of our trip. They were accommodating for beginner to advanced riders with appropriate horses for all levels. Amazing and highly recommend!!!

Overview

This horseback riding tour in north Iceland takes you into parts of the countryside that tour buses can't reach. In a small group of no more than six travelers, you'll head into the mountains and enjoy the unique experience of riding an Icelandic horse, known for its distinctive tölt gait.
  • Horseback riding tour in north Iceland: Explore the mountains by horse
  • See parts of the countryside that tour buses can't reach
  • Small-group tour (maximum six travelers): A more personal experience
  • Suitable for all levels of horseback riding experience

What's Included

  • Coffee and/or Tea
    You will have light refreshment in the barn when we arrive from the riding
  • Snacks
  • Light refreshments

    Meeting and Pickup

    Meeting point

    • Ytri Bægisá
      Ytri-Bægisá, Þelamerkurvegur, 604, Iceland

      Go to the big white building, the stables and you will find us there.

    End point

    This activity ends back at the meeting point.

    What To Expect

    Additional Info

    • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
    • Not wheelchair accessible
    • Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
    • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 8 travelers

    Cancellation Policy

    You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

    Traveler Photos

    Gallery picture 1 (from a traveler's review)
    Gallery picture 2 (from a traveler's review)
    Gallery picture 3 (from a traveler's review)
    Gallery picture 4 (from a traveler's review)
    Gallery picture 5 (from a traveler's review)

    Featured review

    Cynthia_Q
    We were a family of four. We all had the most amazing day filled with picturesque memories that felt like a fairytale. The Icelandic horses were beautiful and perfectly trained. The staff were welcoming and friendly creating a wonderful day for us to remember. I highly recommend this experience.

    Reviews

    4.9
    based on 42 reviews
    Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

    Amazing experience and...

    Courtney_W, Oct 2025
    Amazing experience and very hands on with the horses. The guide was very kind and helpful. May want to consider additional instructions for where to park and enter on arrival.

    Iceland Adventures

    Julie_B, Sep 2025
    A beautiful ride through gorgeous scenery including wooded trails, mountain backdrop and rushing stream. Our guide was very good and truly cared about our experience.

    Response from Host, Sep 2025

    We’re delighted to hear you enjoyed the ride, the scenery, and that our guide made your experience special. It means a lot to us to know you felt well cared for. We’d love to welcome you back for another ride whenever you’re in Iceland again!

    Icelandic horse experience Great fun

    Craig_K, Aug 2025
    Unique experience on Icelandic horses. Slow walk with a bit of faster tolk at the end. Wish it would have been a faster ride. Nice leaders. Very personable.

    Response from Host, Sep 2025

    Thank you for sharing your experience with us! 🐴 We’re glad you enjoyed the Icelandic horses and our friendly guides. We understand the wish for a faster pace—safety and comfort for both riders and horses come first, but next time let us know and we’ll do our best to match you with a ride that has a bit more speed and tolt. We’d love to see you again!

    Friendly team with well...

    Nikhil_R, Aug 2025
    Friendly team with well Kept horses. The trail is exceptional . However they were overbooked and underprepared with saddles , number of horses etc .

    Response from Host, Aug 2025

    Thank you for your feedback, Nikhil. We’re happy to hear you enjoyed the trail and our horses. On the day of your tour, we had 12 guests — which can be on a busy day our group size — and we strive to ensure everyone is well-equipped and comfortable. Occasionally, there may be a short wait while matching riders to the right horses and saddles, as we prioritize both safety and the best possible fit for each rider. We’re glad our guides reported that you enjoyed the ride, and we hope you’ll join us again in the future for another experience on our trails.

    Horseback Riding in Iceland - A Dream Come True

    Donnah_C, Aug 2025
    Horseback riding in Iceland was, without a doubt, one of the most unforgettable highlights of my trip. As someone who had never ridden a horse before, I approached the experience with a mix of excitement and nerves. Climbing onto the back of an Icelandic horse felt like stepping far outside my comfort zone—but what a beautiful leap it turned out to be. The first few steps were thrilling and a little scary. I could feel every movement, unsure of what to expect. But almost instantly, something shifted. My horse—gentle, patient, and incredibly intuitive—seemed to sense my apprehension. I kept whispering to her, “Please be careful with me, this is my first time,” and somehow, I truly believe she understood. Her calm demeanor helped me relax, and soon I was riding with a sense of peace and joy I hadn’t anticipated. Icelandic horses are perfect for beginners. They’re not too tall, which makes mounting and riding feel more approachable, and their famously smooth gait—the tölt—makes the ride incredibly comfortable. But more than that, they have a quiet strength and kindness that makes you feel safe. I fell in love with my horse that day. She carried me through Iceland’s stunning landscapes with grace and patience, and gave me a memory I’ll treasure for the rest of my life. If you’re considering horseback riding in Iceland—even if you’ve never ridden before—don’t hesitate. It’s a one-of-a-kind experience that will stay with you forever.

    Response from Host, Aug 2025

    Hi Donna, Your words truly touched our hearts — thank you for sharing such a beautiful reflection on your first horseback ride. We could feel the connection you described with your horse, and it means so much to know Gunnvör helped you feel safe, calm, and joyful out on the trail. Icelandic horses have a special way of looking after their riders, and we’re so glad you experienced that magic. We’re honored to have been part of a memory you’ll treasure forever, and we hope one day you’ll return to ride with us again — your gentle four-legged friend will be waiting. Warmest wishes, AnnaMaría Malmquist Stable Stop Iceland

    A must do experience

    Ramesh_M, Aug 2025
    It was a magical one, according to their standards as well. We saw so many whales and dolphins with their classical fin move and swim. We even saw one sleeping and then woke up. The host were very knowledgable about marine life in general and we learned a few new things .. amazing tour and amazing guys.

    Response from Host, Aug 2025

    Thank you so much for the amazing review — we’re thrilled to hear you had such a magical time (even if you were briefly mixing us up with the whales 😄🐋)!. We’ll be sure to pass your compliments on to the team — they’ll be over the moon to hear you appreciated their knowledge and enthusiasm. You’re always welcome back for more unforgettable moments — whether on land or sea 😉 Warm regards, Anna María Malmquist and the Team at Stable Stop

    Gorgeous experience

    Cynthia_Q, Jul 2025
    We were a family of four. We all had the most amazing day filled with picturesque memories that felt like a fairytale. The Icelandic horses were beautiful and perfectly trained. The staff were welcoming and friendly creating a wonderful day for us to remember. I highly recommend this experience.

    Response from Host, Aug 2025

    It means a lot to hear that your day with us felt like a fairytale — that’s exactly the kind of memory we hope to create. We’re so glad you and your family enjoyed the horses and felt welcome with our team. Thank you for the recommendation, and we’d love to see you again someday! Warmest regards, Anna María & the Stable Stop team 🐴

    Brilliant horse riding experience!

    Kelly_F, Jul 2025
    The volunteer girls at the ranch were amazing, we had Amelie guiding us, she was very knowledgeable and supported us through our experience having not ridden for around 10/15 years!

    Response from Host, Aug 2025

    Thank you so much for your kind words! We’re thrilled to hear you enjoyed the ride, and we’ll be sure to pass your compliments along to Amelie and the rest of my friends that joined you on the tour. It’s always especially rewarding to help guests reconnect with riding after time away. You did great, and we’d love to welcome you back anytime! Best wishes, Anna María & the team at Stable Stop 🐎

    Great experience!

    Carrie_S, Jun 2025
    We had a wonderful ride with Ann Marie and the other members of the Deacon Tours team. The horses are beautiful and the guides very knowledgeable. This was certainly the highlight of our trip. They were accommodating for beginner to advanced riders with appropriate horses for all levels. Amazing and highly recommend!!!

    Response from Host, Aug 2025

    Thank you so much for your lovely review! It was a real pleasure riding with you. We’re so happy to hear it was a highlight of your trip — and that everyone, from beginner to experienced, felt comfortable and well matched with their horses. We truly appreciate the recommendation and hope to welcome you back someday! Warm regards, Anna María & the team at Stable Stop 🐴

    It was a wonderful...

    Kelly_P, Jun 2025
    It was a wonderful experience. Our guides were very knowledgeable and patient. The view was amazing.

    Response from Host, Aug 2025

    Thank you so much for your kind words! We’re really glad you enjoyed the ride and the views. Our guides will be happy to hear your feedback. Hope to see you again someday! Best, Anna María & the team of Stable Stop

    Wonderful experience

    Beth_V, Sep 2024
    Monica and Britt (hope I’m spelling right) were amazing. Would definitely recommend this tour to everyone. Lots of fun. Wish we had time to do it again tomorrow

    Response from Host, Sep 2024

    Thanks for your review Beth. Monica and Britt give you all their best greetings.

    Wonderful horseback riding in Akureyri!

    linda_k, Sep 2024
    What a great company to use to have an experience riding Icelandic horses! We began at a lovely horse farm outside of Akureyri. The horses were beautiful and the ride very scenic. We loved that it was a small group (on this day, it was just the 2 of us!) and our guides were very friendly and knowledgeable. They gave us several photo stops to record our experience. We didn't have much recent experience riding horses but they gave us some lessons in the beginning and we were fine. It was one of our best excursions we took during our Icelandic cruise.

    Response from Host, Sep 2024

    Linda it was our pleasure taking you horseback riding and we hope to see you back soon 🤠

    Great experience!

    Tammy_W, Aug 2024
    Anna, Berber and Marta were wonderful. Great guides- very interactive and talkative, beautiful scenery and Anna even had homemade cake and coffee and water for us when we finished.

    Response from Host, Aug 2024

    so nice to meet you and your family Tammy, hope to see you back soon :)

    Beautiful views, sweet animals

    Ramsey_K, Jun 2024
    We had the best time with Berber on our 1.5 hour tour! The scenery was beautiful and the horses (Gunnvör and Leikur) were kind and patient. We were both first time riders and felt safe and secure the entire time. There was a bit of a mix up with dates with the owner and we had paid for transportation to and from the stable, but had to take a taxi to the stable instead. The owner apologized profusely and made sure we made it back to the ship on time. Mistakes happen! We had an amazing time and would recommend it to anyone we know traveling to Iceland.

    Response from Host, Aug 2024

    Dear Ramsey thanks for your understanding and your review. Greetings from Berber

    Best tour EVER!

    Terri_S, Jun 2024
    This was the most incredible ride. We are experienced riders and we had a wonderful guide Anna Marie - We got to trot and gallop - the horses were exceptional - so comfortable and well behaved - a dream to ride , the scenery was magical - The only complaint is the ride was too short (I could have ridden for hours rather than the 1.5 hours scheduled.) Stable Stop Iceland was so accommodating - they picked us up and brought us back to the port. We highly recommend this tour. Five Stars +

    Response from Host, Aug 2024

    Thanks Terri I loved taking you horseback riding. Hope your trip was nice and you are always welcome back.

    A magical day!

    Diana_P, Jun 2024
    A most magical day! Our two women guides made our day so special! The weather cooperated & to top it off they had made homemade “happy marriage cake” as a snack at the end. Best day of our whole trip!

    Response from Host, Aug 2024

    Thanks Diana for your nice review.

    Awesome views and friendly people!

    Arlynn_A, Sep 2023
    The view was awesome. The people were so helpful and friendly. They even invited us in for coffee and snacks afterwards. I was never in a horse before and they we so understanding and patient with me. Would definitely recommend this tour. What a great experience!

    Response from Host, Aug 2024

    Arlynn thanks for your lovely review.

    Overall good time

    Brandon_P, Sep 2023
    Very friendly and accommodating staff for our group of six. Had a good time. The only negative was in the description of the tour. It said horseback riding in the mountains of northern Iceland. We rode up and back a dirt and gravel road with a view of the mountains. A touch misleading.

    100% recommend!

    Peter_O, Aug 2023
    Anna Marie and her team were outstanding, knowledgeable, and friendly. They were very attuned to everyone’s individual needs.

    Response from Host, Aug 2024

    Thanks Peter hopefully we see you again for the horseback riding ;)

    Amazing experience

    anna_u, Aug 2023
    It was amazing. We have great time and still have great emotions. The host and instructors were very nice and helpful. We'll definitely come back next August. Enjoy!

    Response from Host, Aug 2024

    Thanks anna for your nice words.

    Bucket list checked off.

    Melissa_T, Jul 2023
    We lucked out with the most beautiful day for a horseback ride. They select a horse for us, we had a short lesson for newbies in a pen, and then we were off into the meadows, forests, over the river, and under the road. We stopped on a hillside for rest and photos. Perfection! There was an extra charge for port pickup, but probably the same or less than a cab and they were on time both ways! Highly recommend!

    Response from Host, Jul 2023

    Thanks for your nice words in your review. We really loved horseback riding with you. Hope we will see you again one day ;),,,, Hope you will have a nice travelling <3

    Such a great experience....

    Matthew_R, Jul 2023
    Such a great experience. Guides were fabulous and horses were well behaved. Scenery really made the trip special.

    Response from Host, Jul 2023

    Thanks so much Matthew for your nice review. We loved taking the three of you horseback riding last week. Hopefully we will see you back here at the farm on day.

    Brilliant day

    Angela_N, Jul 2022
    Although we booked via Deacon tours we went to Stable Stop . It was a most wonderful day . Thank you Stable Stop . Cannot recommend enough

    Response from Host, Jul 2022

    Thanks so much for your nice words 🤠 we really loved taking yiu on á riding Tour. Hope we will meet again one day ❤️

    Great Time!

    Shad, Sep 2021
    This was a great experience! Our guide, Lara, was knowledgeable and friendly, especially for some beginner riders. We rode through beautiful scenery, and were able to take a few short breaks throughout the tour. Afterwards we were served tea and a delicious cake, which was a lovely way to wrap up the tour. The experience was well worth the reasonable price. Highly recommend!

    Response from Host, Sep 2021

    Great thanks for booking a Deacon Horse Riding Tour at Stable Stop. We where so thrilled how much you liked the horse riding tour. We hope to see you again in the Future ;)

    Ausritt mit tollen Leuten

    Jeannette_S, Sep 2024
    Wir haben kurzfristig übers Internet gebucht. Hat alles geklappt. Sehr freundliche Leute haben uns empfangen und wir sind zusammen ausgeritten. Hat viel Spass gemacht. Danke. Grüsse aus der Schweiz

    Response from Host, May 2025

    Thank you so much for your kind words! We're thrilled to hear that your spontaneous booking went smoothly and that you enjoyed the ride. It was a pleasure to welcome you, and we're delighted that you had fun exploring the beautiful surroundings with us. Warm greetings back to Switzerland, and we hope to see you again on your next visit!

    La passeggiata è molto...

    Elisa_B, Aug 2024
    La passeggiata è molto suggestiva, si attraversa un piccolo ponte per arrivare nel bosco. Al rientro offrono una torta eccezionale!

    Response from Host, Aug 2024

    Thank you dearly for taking time to maka a review. Hope to see back one day.

    From $157.25

    per person

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    Book ahead!
    On average, this is booked 46 days in advance.

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