Description
Combine two distinctly Icelandic experiences in one smooth summer day: riding the unique Icelandic horse through South Iceland and watching puffins from the water in Reykjavík. The morning is spent at Eldhestar with a horse selected for your experience level, followed by a light lunch and an afternoon puffin cruise from the Old Harbour.
This tour is especially well suited to travellers who want countryside, local horse culture and seasonal wildlife without arranging the connections between each experience themselves.
Itinerary
Pickup or arrival at Eldhestar
Begin the day at Vellir in South Iceland
Use the pickup option selected during booking or meet the group at Eldhestar, Vellir in Ölfus. Follow the confirmed time and location shown on your voucher.
Icelandic horse riding
Equipment, horse matching and a 1.5–2-hour ride
Meet the riding team, receive the necessary safety equipment and be paired with a horse suited to your experience. Ride through the South Iceland countryside and discover the friendly character and celebrated tölt of the Icelandic horse.
Light lunch and transfer to Reykjavík
From the countryside to the Old Harbour
Enjoy the included light lunch at Hotel Eldhestar before travelling to Reykjavík. Arrival at the Old Harbour is normally around 13:00, leaving time before the afternoon cruise.
Puffin-watching cruise
One hour on Reykjavík’s coastal waters
Depart at approximately 14:00 for a guided boat trip towards seasonal puffin colonies. Binoculars are provided on board, and the experience normally finishes at Reykjavík Old Harbour around 15:30.
What is included
- Pickup from the listed pickup areas, when selected during booking
- English-speaking riding guide
- 1.5–2-hour Icelandic horse ride
- Riding helmet and required safety equipment
- Rain gear for the ride, if needed
- Light lunch at Hotel Eldhestar
- Transfer to Reykjavík Old Harbour
- One-hour guided puffin-watching cruise
- Binoculars on board
What do I need to bring
- Warm layers suited to changing Icelandic weather
- Waterproof and windproof outer layer
- Sturdy closed shoes with good grip
- Gloves and a warm hat on cooler days
- A small camera or phone that can be carried securely
Good to know
Pickup or meet on location: Use the pickup option selected during booking, or meet at Eldhestar, Vellir, 816 Ölfus. Follow the exact time and location shown on your voucher.
- The tour operates during the puffin season, normally from May 1 to August 20.
- Minimum age is 7 years.
- Maximum rider weight is 110 kg.
- The experience lasts approximately 8 hours and normally finishes at Reykjavík Old Harbour around 15:30.
- Drop-off within Reykjavík after the puffin cruise may be requested on location for an additional fee.
- Share dietary requirements in advance.
- Wildlife activity and sea conditions vary, and the operator may adjust the cruise when necessary.
Highlights
- Icelandic horse riding
- 1.5–2 hours in the saddle
- Light lunch at Hotel Eldhestar
- One-hour puffin-watching cruise
- Two signature Icelandic experiences in one day
04F - Horses and Puffins – Frequently Asked Questions
The lagoon combines drifting icebergs, glacier views and the ever-changing shoreline at Diamond Beach, creating one of Iceland's most distinctive coastal landscapes.
Boat inclusion depends on the exact option you select. The booking flow and tour inclusions show whether an amphibian or Zodiac-style lagoon ride is part of your departure.
At the lagoon you see icebergs floating beneath the glacier; at Diamond Beach, pieces of ice wash onto the black sand shoreline nearby.
Dress warmly with a windproof outer layer, hat and gloves. The open coastline can feel colder and windier than Reykjavik.
Seals are often seen around the lagoon, but wildlife sightings are never guaranteed. Your guide will help you observe responsibly if they are present.
Light, weather, iceberg positions and boat operations change across the year, so the guide adapts timing and stops to current conditions.
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