Where to Find Wild Horses in Iceland

Icelandic horses are one of the country’s most iconic & significant features.  They were originally introduced to the island in 900 A.D. by the Vikings!  More compact, yet stronger than the average horse, they’ve evolved to withstand extremely harsh conditions (that WIND!!) that living in Iceland requires.  With 300,000 people in the country, & 100,000 horses ~ chances are, you’ll run across them whether you’re looking for them or not.  But here, I’ll give you a helping hand & tell you “Where to Find Wild Horses in Iceland,” outlining all the places where we experienced the most horse sightings. 

Where to Find Wild Horses in Iceland, Girl Who Travels the WorldI came across these beautiful horses while driving around the Keflavik Peninsula.

GWTW Tip: The ONLY times we came across wild horses roaming free were while we were driving our rental car.  Thus, I highly recommend renting a car in Iceland, as it allows you to stop alongside the road & take all the time you need to photograph these beautiful creatures.

 

Where to Stay: Icelandic Horseback-Riding Hotels

On the map below, you’ll find three hotels that offer horseback-riding directly from the hotel.  The first two are located in southern Iceland, closer to Reykjavik ~ while the third is in northern Iceland, outside of lovely Akureyri.

Skalakot Manor, Best Iceland Horseback-Riding Hotels, Girl Who Travels the Worl

Take in the Northern Lights at luxurious Skalakot Manor Hotel, located by popular Skogafoss Waterfall.

  • Hotel Eldhestar ($68+), by Selfoss: My friend & I rode horses here, & it was the wettest ride of my life! Just a 30-minute drive from Reykjavik, Eldhestar offers pretty rooms on ample grounds.  You’re in the countryside here! They offer half-day, full-day, & multi-day horseback rides. 
  • Skalakot Manor Luxury Hotel ($279+, in Southern Iceland: If you’re looking for a more luxurious stay with cozier rooms ~ book here.  A two-hour drive from Reykjavik, & just 18-kilometers from one of the country’s most popular waterfalls, Skogafoss, this family-farm is an excellent place to unwind & relax.
  • Hestaport Cottages ($154+), in Northern Iceland: Stay in cozy wood cottages surrounded by misty mountains & pastoral, country views ~ & hop in their open-air natural hot springs after a hard day’s ride!  This place is GORGEOUS.
 

Skalakot Manor Hotel

Hotel Eldhestar

Hestaport Cottages

Where I Personally Found the Most Wild Horses

  • On the side of the road, en route from Vik to the Jokulsarlon Lagoon: we saw multiple large packs of horses roaming freely.
  • Near the lighthouse by Sandgeroi, on the Keflavik Peninsula (at sunset, which was stunning).
  • At local farms & homesteads in & around Hafnir, a small town on the west coast of the Keflavik Peninsula.
  • All along Highway 1 (also known as the “Ring Road) in Southern Iceland, typically right alongside the highway.
  • If you want the chance to ride Icelandic horses, there are numerous horse riding centers in & around Selfoss: we took our very wet horseback ride at Eldhestar ~ but there’s also Solhestar Horse Rental, Nupshestar Tours, & closer to Reykjavik, you’ve got Islenski Hesturinn.
Where to Find Wild Horses in Iceland, Girl Who Travels the World

We saw the most wild horses while driving along Highway 1 in southern Iceland, en route to popular destinations like Vik, Skogafoss Waterfall, & Jokulsarlon Glacier.

Where I Did Not Find Horses…

  • We drove ALL around the (impossible-to-pronounce) Snaefellsnes Peninsula, which is north of Reykjavik: & I don’t have one photo of any horses from this entire drive, which took several days.
  • We also drove the country’s most popular circuit, known as the Golden Circle, & similarly, saw no horses along the road.
  • Up in Akureyri, I rented a car solo & drove to two of the country’s most beautiful waterfalls ~ Godafoss & Detifoss, covering a distance of many hundred kilometers, & didn’t see any horses during this drive.

 

 Wild Horses on the Keflavik Peninsula…

The Keflavik Peninsula is an underrated & often less-traveled part of Iceland.  But it’s also where I had my favorite wild horse sighting, on wild lands near a gorgeous orange lighthouse by Sandgeroi.  I never would have made this discovery had I not rented a car, & I highly recommend doing so, in order to have more off-the-beaten path adventures.  Driving in Iceland was extremely easy, as traffic is virtually unheard of, & the roads are practically empty ~ particularly on the Keflavik Peninsula.

Where to Find Wild Horses in Iceland, Girl Who Travels the World

This lighthouse, near Sandgeroi, was a treasure trove in multiple ways: I not only found a band of roving horses (some who liked to nuzzle my neck), but I also found one of the “Top 5” best sunsets of my life….which I’ll show below.

Where to Find Wild Horses in Iceland, Girl Who Travels the World

The nuzzler.

Fun Fact: Many of Iceland’s horses are actually half-wild, half-tame. In the summer months, many farmers drive their horses into the highlands, & let them survive on their own for months. Then in September, farmers gather together to retrieve their herds from the mountains. Most owners simply know their horses by sight.

Where to Find Wild Horses in Iceland, Girl Who Travels the World

Horses & sunset.

Where to Find Wild Horses in Iceland, Girl Who Travels the World

Icelandic sunset.

Where to Find Wild Horses in Iceland, Girl Who Travels the World

This particular horse isn’t wild ~ but it does belong to a roadside farm I came across in Hafir, on the Keflavik Peninsula.

Another Fun Fact: Icelandic horses are known for having a unique gait, & a different “speed” than other horses, which is known as the “tolt.” This is somewhere between a trot & a full-out gallop. It’s known for being a smooth ride, but when we tried it at Eldhestar, I actually found it quite bumpy!

Where to Find Wild Horses in Iceland, Girl Who Travels the World

Spectacular lighthouse sunset.

Spectacular Sunset in Iceland, Girl Who Travels the World

Final sunset shot.

Wild Horses in Southern Iceland

While traveling along the Ring Road in Southern Iceland, you’re bound to encounter plenty of wild horses.  Always remember to approach slowly & with caution, so as not to frighten them; some groups will approach you, while others will want to be left alone, & they will make that clear. 

Where to Find Wild Horses in Iceland, Girl Who Travels the World

My friend Nina prepares to take a selfie with her newfound friends…

Where to Find Wild Horses in Iceland, Girl Who Travels the World

An apple may bring the horses nearer..

Wild Icelandic Horses, Girl Who Travels the World

Their shaggier manes give Icelandic horses a more distinctive look.

Where to Find Wild Horses in Iceland, Girl Who Travels the World

You can see how close we are to Highway 1 in southern Iceland here: the road is right next to us, & the horses.

Where to See Wild Horses in Iceland, Girl Who Travels the World

So glad my friend caught this lovely, quiet moment.

 Where to Find Wild Horses in Iceland

I’ve written extensively on Iceland, including where to find the best budget accommodations (in a famously expensive country!), how to fix dreaded “Blue Lagoon” hair, how to pack ~ & finally, my friends & I created a moody playlist to perfectly accompany any Icelandic road trip….

Read Next: Iceland Travel FAQ: Plan Your Trip

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Where to See Wild Horses in Iceland, Girl Who Travels the World