Iceland Horse Trek Recap: Route, Stats, and Travel Tips

One final Iceland post and then it's back to business as usual over here!

After six unforgettable days riding across Iceland’s Snæfellsnes Peninsula, I’m still replaying the rhythm of tölt hooves against black sand beaches, the sweep of mist across volcanic hills, and the dramatic light and clouds of Iceland. This series has been my attempt to capture a little of that magic — the horses, the landscapes, the weather that changes by the minute, and the sheer joy of being part of it all. Whether you hope to plan your own adventure, dream from afar, or just see what riding Icelandic horses is all about, I’ve gathered everything from daily ride logs and maps to gear notes and travel tips in one place below.

The Week’s Ride at a Glance

Thanks to everyone who followed along on the entirety of my riding adventures in Iceland. In case you’re landing on this post and/or missed some of the adventure, all six days of my Iceland riding tour with Stori Kambur can be read/viewed at the following links:

Day 1 | First Tolt Along the Icelandic Coast

Day 2 | Riding Along the Cliffs to Arnastapi

Day 3 | Visa and the Magic of the Icelandic Coast

Day 4 | Of Rainbows, Wind, and Country Roads in Iceland

Day 5 | Over the Mountains

Day 6 | Through the Lava Fields, Into Mordor

And as a throwback to the days of yore when I was competing in endurance and was keeping track of mileage and riding stats, here’s a short summary of what this week across the Snæfellnes Peninsula entailed:

Total mileage: 78.73 miles (126.7 kilometers)

Average speed: 4.33 mph (6.96 kph)

Total elevation gained: 4,931 feet (1,503 meters)

All 6 days of riding on one map. Note: Google Earth makes the roads yellow, which makes it a touch confusing at first! Look along the southern coast and use the legend to see our days' tracks.

Zooming out a bit on the peninsula to get a better grasp of the areas we traveled.

And just for fun, here's a super zoomed out view. Look to the western peninsula to see where we were!

If you want to ride Icelandic Horses in Iceland…

If you’re interested in pursuing a similar adventure after reading my account, Stori Kambur is the way to go if you want to have an incredible experience on Icelandic horses in Iceland. As I mentioned in an earlier post, it is a family business with people who truly care about the animals and know the land and its history. You’ll enjoy not only a riding experience, but a chance to truly learn about this place, its people, its heritage, its culture, all while seeing and experiencing many of the unique environments that make up Iceland’s landscape. Stori Kambur will pick you up and bring you to their home base from Reykjavik, feed you three meals a day with locally-sourced ingredients, and provide incredible accommodations. I seriously don’t think there is a better value or experience in the rest of the country.

If you'd like to visit Iceland and experience non-horse things...

Reach out to Kristín! She has her own company called Ad Astra and can help you plan your perfect adventure to Iceland. She's a native Icelander and an incredible human, not to mention she's a horse person!, and I can guarantee you'll be in great hands.

An opportunity you may not want to miss - and honestly it has me wanting to dart right back north! - is the chance to witness the 2026 full solar eclipse. Kristín and Ad Astra with Stori Kambur look to have an incredible opportunity in the works! Someone go so I can live vicariously through you! The 2024 total solar eclipse was one of the most incredible things I've ever seen. Go to Iceland and witness it in 2026!

Siggi and Kristín

Tips and Recommendations

Clothing that made it all easy

Icelandic weather is unpredictable at best. Temperatures are very likely going to be cooler than you anticipate or experience at home and the wind is its own beast. Despite this, I remained very comfortable (and if anything, I was too warm due to poor choices in layering) the entire time. I attribute my comfort to breathable, wicking baselayers of merino wool and wind and waterproof outer layers with various combinations of middle insulation as needed. My tall boots were perfect - and waterproof! Here is a list of clothing that lent to my comfort on the trip:

Top and Midlayers

• Kerrits Coaches Coat (as a top layer to beat the wind and wet) I loved that the length of this jacket + my tall boots kept me covered head to toe in the saddle. I was dry and comfortable even in the downpour we experienced!
• Patagonia Nano Puff (my most used midweight insulating layer)
• Patagonia Down Sweater (I wore this maybe once? I run warm with the right layers and didn’t need the extra insulation it turned out)
• Fleece lined riding tights (my two pairs were purchased at a mad sale price from Horze years back)
• Summer weight riding tights (I had one pair from Horze (another sale) and a pair of Kerrits Ice-Fil - now “CoolCore”, it seems)
• What I had but didn’t end up using: a Patagonia 3L Goretex jacket. The Kerrits coat does a commendable job, but nothing beats 3L Goretex in wet weather. Fortunately, we didn’t have any super wet days where I thought I’d need this, so it remained packed.
• Dublin River boots

Merino Baselayers - the Unsung Hero

Let me get on my merino wool soapbox a moment, merino wool is a GAMECHANGER baselayer if you’re pursuing any outdoor activity. Solidly beats synthetics in my opinion. And of course beats cotton. You want something that wicks moisture and provides insulation against your skin. It is not itchy. And it doesn’t hold stench like synthetics. And if you buy quality, it will last you decades. And in my experience, Icebreaker outperforms Smartwool every time. Watch for sales - hell, search for sale pieces. Buy a little at a time. You won’t regret building a merino arsenal if you spend time outside. On my sweatiest summer days, I reach for my thin merino clothes over other layers that touch my skin directly. For winter pursuits, merino touches my body in first and second layers all the time. I add a new piece or two each year. 

Wool in general is fabulous. There is a reason so many Icelandics and other folks who live in the Arctic circle wear wool sweaters all the time. It is absolutely unbeatable. For me personally, I need to have something less itchy directly against my skin than traditional wool; I cannot cease scratching areas where traditional wool touches. I try all the time (and will continue to because I continue to hope my skin will just spontaneously get over its sensitivity), but alas, it just isn’t for me. Fortunately, it isn’t difficult at all to throw an intermediary layer between traditional wool sweaters and my skin!

Icebreaker merino layers I brought on this trip:

• Icebreaker merino mid- and light-weight long sleeves 
• Icebreaker merino underwear
• Icebreaker merino bras
• Icebreaker and Darn Tough merino socks 

One final — and very important — note on riding gear and clothing: used riding equipment is strictly prohibited from entering Iceland. This includes saddles, pads, bridles, whips, and riding gloves. Any clothing that has been in contact with horses outside Iceland must be thoroughly disinfected or purchased specifically for your trip.

As a biologist who works with bats, a group of animals devastated by disease spread via contaminated gear, I deeply understand why this rule exists. For my part, I washed all of my riding clothes in Lysol (the same disinfectant I use for decontaminating cave gear to protect bats) before traveling, and I purchased new boots and gloves for this trip.

Why all the precautions? To protect the Icelandic horse. No other horses may be imported into Iceland, and any Icelandic horse that leaves the country can never return. These strict biosecurity measures preserve the health of Iceland’s uniquely disease-free horse population. As Siggi explained to me, Icelandic horses are not vaccinated. They simply don’t need to be, thanks to the absence of introduced diseases and even common vectors like mosquitoes.

(And if, like me, you find yourself starry-eyed at the thought of a country without mosquitoes, just remember: Iceland trades mosquitoes for unpredictable weather, bracing winds, and a healthy dose of North Atlantic wildness; not exactly for the faint of heart!)

Thanks to Jacqueline for this photo!

Miscellaneous Tips

If you want to see lupine in bloom, come in July. 

If you want a chance to see the northern lights, your best chance is September through March. However, there is caveat to this, keep in mind that the sun has an ~11 year solar cycle. While the northern lights appear throughout this cycle, there is a noticeable peak to the cycle where they are more likely to appear. We are in the peak of the peak of that cycle right now. It’s why so many of us have seen the aurora at mid-latitudes in the last year or two. So while the darker months (Sept-Mar) are best chance for seeing the northern lights, the solar cycle may affect your chances, too.

If you drink alcohol, keep in mind that it’s quite expensive in Iceland. The best deal is at duty free in the airport before you go through customs. There is a limit to how much you can buy before you need to declare it in customs, so look that up. Both Kate and I purchased the limit for wine on our way through so we could enjoy it during our stay without further purchase.

What Iceland Left Me With

I’m endlessly grateful to Stóri Kambur and to the wonderful people who made this adventure what it was: equal parts riding, learning, and awe. This trip was everything I’d hoped for and more, not just because of the scenery or the horses, but because it reminded me how adventure can still feel new, even after years of riding. Between the long miles, unpredictable weather, and the stories shared around the table each night, I came home with a deep appreciation for Iceland’s people, their horses, and the care they take in preserving both.

If you’re even thinking about making this journey yourself, my advice is simple: go. Bring layers, bring curiosity, and bring a willingness to be changed by wind and weather and wide open space. Iceland will meet you there. There’s something extraordinary about seeing a place from the saddle and the Icelandic horse is the perfect partner for that kind of exploration. I know I’ll be back.

To everyone who’s read along — thank you. Writing these posts has helped me relive it all: the rides, the learning, and the adventure. I hope these stories inspire you to find your own version of this adventure wherever the trail leads.