Golden Circle & Meet the Icelandic Horses | English Guide + Selected German Departures
by Magic Iceland Travel · Horse riding · cruise-excursion · Golden Circle
- Beginners welcome
- Fine on your own
- Suits older travellers
- Good with teenagers
- Eco-certified
Would this be cheaper direct? No — we sell at Magic Iceland Travel 's own price and take our commission from them, not from you. What you get here is one checkout across operators, one confirmation, and one place to change or cancel it. If you ever find it cheaper on their own site, tell us and we will match it or explain why we cannot.
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Duration
8 hours
Difficulty
Easy
Season
All year
Starts in
Reykjavík
Languages
EN, DE, ZH, KO, PT, EN, JA, IT, FR, PL, ES, ZH
Departs
07:00, 08:00, 09:00, 10:00 …
Minimum age
6
Cancellation
Free until 24h before
About this experience
Golden Circle & Icelandic Horse Farm Tour (English Guide)
Explore Iceland’s iconic Golden Circle and enjoy a special encounter with one of the country’s most beloved residents, the Icelandic horse.
Visit Þingvellir National Park, the Geysir geothermal area, the majestic Gullfoss waterfall, and the colorful Kerið volcanic crater. Along the way, stop at Brú Horsefarm, where you’ll get the chance to meet friendly Icelandic horses up close, pet them, take photos, and feed them special Icelandic Horse Candy, included in your tour.
There’s no horseback riding involved, making this a perfect experience for travelers who would love to meet and interact with Icelandic horses without having to get in the saddle. No riding experience is needed; just come and enjoy some time with these unique and much-loved Icelandic animals.
This full-day tour normally runs from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM and is available daily for all travelers.
On selected dates, additional departures are scheduled specifically for cruise ship passengers. These cruise-focused tours are timed to match individual ship schedules and are clearly labeled with the cruise ship name. Cruise passengers are kindly asked to select the departure that corresponds to their ship and port date to ensure appropriate pickup and return timing. On some of these selected cruise dates, German-guided departures are also available. Please select the German option during booking if preferred.
The itinerary is thoughtfully paced to give you plenty of time to experience Iceland’s most famous natural landmarks, while the visit to Brú Horsefarm adds a fun and personal encounter with an iconic part of Icelandic culture.
Highlights
- Visit Þingvellir National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
- Discover the geothermal activity of the Geysir area and watch Strokkur erupt
- Witness the raw power of Gullfoss waterfall
- Explore Kerið volcanic crater with its striking colors and crater lake
- Visit Brú Horsefarm and meet Icelandic horses up close
- Pet, photograph, and feed the horses
- Icelandic Horse Candy included
- Enjoy an Icelandic horse experience without horseback riding
- Daily regular departures operate from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, unless a different time is shown on your voucher
- Additional cruise-specific departures available on selected dates, aligned with ship schedules
Description from the operator, Magic Iceland Travel . Prices and availability in the booking panel are live.
Where you go
- Þingvellir National Park
- Geysir Geothermal Area
- Gullfoss Waterfall
- Kerið Volcanic Crater
Included
- Professional English-speaking guide
- Transportation by comfortable coach or minibus
- Entrance fee to Kerið volcanic crater
- Visit to Brú Horsefarm, including a close-up Icelandic horse encounter and Horse Candy for feeding
- Free Wi-Fi onboard, when available
Not included
- Food and drinks
- Optional extras
Good to know
- Warm and weather-appropriate clothing
- Waterproof jacket
- Comfortable walking shoes
- Camera or phone
• Pickup and meeting begin at the tour starting time shown on your voucher and may take up to 30 minutes.
• If you selected pickup, please be ready at your chosen pickup location from the starting time shown on your voucher.
• If you did not select pickup, please meet us at Bus Stop #12 - Höfðatorg (Þórunnartún 6, 105 Reykjavík). Our vehicle may arrive anytime within the 30-minute pickup window.
• The visit to Brú Horsefarm is a horse encounter, not a horseback riding activity. You’ll have the opportunity to meet, pet, and feed the Icelandic horses. Icelandic Horse Candy is included.
• Please remember that the horses are living animals. Always follow the instructions provided by your guide and the farm staff when interacting with them.
• Cruise ship passengers: On selected cruise days, we operate dedicated departures aligned with individual ship schedules. Please follow the pickup and meeting time shown for the specific departure you select, as it may differ from our standard tour time.
Cancellation for this tour
Free cancellation until 24 hours before departure; no refund after that. If the operator cancels for weather or safety, you get a full refund or a new date.
If the weather cancels this tour
Iceland's weather is real. What usually stops this one is a forecast the operator judges unsafe. Here is exactly what happens to your booking.
- 1Magic Iceland Travel decides, and tells us. Operators cancel when it is unsafe or pointless, and we back that call every time — we do not ask them to run anyway.
- 2We contact you by email, and by phone if your tour is the same or next day. You choose: another date if there is one you can make, or a full refund. There is no fee and nothing to argue.
- 3The refund goes back to the card you paid with, through Stripe, usually visible within a few working days. If this tour was one of several in your booking, the others are untouched.
What you do not get is the day back. If this is the only free day in your plan, put a spare day next to it — the planner leaves days free with the rest-day option. And if you want out because the forecast looks bad, that is your own cancellation: free until 1 day before departure, the operator's policy after that.
Questions on the day: [email protected] · +354 497 1373. How cancellations work in Iceland →
Sold out on your date?
Seats come back — a cancellation, or the operator adding a vehicle. Tell us the date and we will check once a day and email you if one opens. One email, then we delete the address; nothing else is ever sent to it.
Who this is not for
- Children under 6 cannot join this one.
- Not for late risers on your first morning — the earliest departure is 07:00, and Reykjavík pickups start before that.
Read off the operator's own conditions. If none of it applies to you, this is a good one.
Why we list it
Magic Iceland Travel is one of 154 operators we work with — chosen for reliability, honest descriptions and how they treat guests when weather changes plans. We don't list everything; we list what we'd book ourselves. The six checks every operator passes →
What travellers say about Magic Iceland Travel
Read all 177 reviews on Google →Operator rating 4.8/5 from Google — these are reviews of the company, not this specific tour. Shown as Google returns them, unedited.
★★★★★ · 3 months ago
What a great tour at such a reasonable price! Went on the Golden Circle 9 hour tour today with Daniel (the guide) and Pavel (the driver). We survived so Pavel's obviously a good driver 😉 but the amount of information Daniel knew (despite not being a native Icelander) was astounding and presented in a very accessible manner. We had the cruise ship terminal pickup tour but they also pickup all around Reykjavík. Highly recommended to anyone looking for excellent value for money and a really interesting tour. We'll definitely use them again when we return to Iceland.
★★★★★ · 3 months ago
I did the Golden Circle with Surprise Tour in Reykjavik with tour guide Viktoria and driver Pawel on June 10, 2026. The tour totally exceeded my expectations. Viktoria was engaging and energetic and gave us information throughout the tour that was interesting and filled with humor. An added bonus is that she is a very good singer. Our driver Pawel was very courteous and helpful. They went out of their way to route the tour to try to minimized crowds and this was greatly appreciated by all. I would highly recommend this tour to everyone.
★★★★★ · 5 months ago
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ An Unforgettable Icelandic Adventure👌 If you’re in Reykjavik, stop scrolling and book this Golden Circle tour. Seriously 😉 Our guide, Thales, was an absolute legend. The man is a walking encyclopedia of Icelandic lore, but with way better jokes. He turned a scenic drive into a full-on masterclass about the land of fire and ice. The amazing stuff: Þingvellir: Walked between continents Geysir: Got some epic "eruption" videos Gullfoss: Absolutely mystical and magical Kerið Crater: amazing view from the top The "Surprise" (The Legend of the Shark): 🦈 The itinerary mentioned a "small local surprise." Thales whipped out some fermented shark. Let’s just say it’s a... unique culinary experience that stays with you (mostly in your nose). 🤣It was the highlight of the trip and had the whole bus laughing. An unforgettable day with a world-class guide. 10/10 highly recommend! 🤌👌🫶
★★★★★ · 4 months ago
We today had a fabulous Golden Circle tour! Our lovely guide Daniel made sure everyone felt comfortable. He is like a walking encyclopedia and conversations with him are fascinating. The beauty on this tour is beyond comprehension. I highly recommend it! Greetings from Latvia, Miks
Reviews from Google · updated 13 Sept 2026
Read before you book
- Six hours in port is enough for one thing done well, not three done badlyShore excursions for cruise days in Reykjavík, Akureyri and Grundarfjörður — what fits inside a six-hour call and what to leave for another trip.
- Horse riding in Iceland — the tölt, the Golden Circle combos and who it actually suitsIcelandic horses have a gait no other breed in Europe has. Here's what a riding tour really is, which combo to book, and who should stay on the fence.
Reviews from our travellers
Only people who booked this tour through us can write here. We publish every review in full — good or bad.
No reviews yet from our travellers on this one. After your tour we send one email asking how it was, and what you write goes here, unedited.
Horse riding — questions people ask
Can complete beginners ride Icelandic horses?
Yes, and most people on the tours are beginners. Icelandic horses are small, calm and used to novices, and the one- to two-hour rides on the farm tours (/experience/164615/, /experience/170834/) move at a walk with a taste of tölt, the smooth fifth gait the breed is known for. You get a helmet and a short briefing. If you have ridden before, tell the guide; they will match you to a livelier horse.
Why can't I call it a pony?
Because Icelanders will correct you, politely. The Icelandic horse stands around 13 to 14 hands, pony height elsewhere, but it has been bred as a horse for a thousand years with no outside blood since the settlement. It has five gaits, including tölt and the flying pace. Once a horse leaves Iceland it cannot come back, to protect the herd from disease. Call it a horse; the guides will like you more.
Can I bring my own riding gear to Iceland?
Only if it has been disinfected. Iceland has strict rules to protect its horses from foreign disease: used riding clothing, gloves and boots must be disinfected before entering the country, and used leather tack, saddles and bridles are not allowed at all. The stables provide helmets and rain overalls, so most people bring nothing. Wear long trousers and closed shoes with a small heel if you have them.
Is there a weight limit for horse riding in Iceland?
Yes. Icelandic horses are small, and most stables set a rider weight limit somewhere around 100 to 110 kilograms, sometimes lower for longer rides. The tour page states the exact limit, and stables do enforce it on the day. If you are close to the limit, email us before booking and we will check with the operator. Minimum ages also apply, usually six to eight for a farm ride.
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