Fast Lava - ATV and horseback riding

by Arctic Adventures · ATV & buggy · Horse riding · Volcanoes & lava · Reykjavík

4.60· 5,195 Google reviews of the operator

Fine on your own
Self-guided

from €332.79 per person

Next departure: Sun 25 Oct

Book Sun 25 Oct · €332.79 Other dates

Fast Lava - ATV and horseback riding — Arctic Adventures

Horse riding on the Fast Lava day tour from Reykjavik

ATV riding as part of the Fast Lava day tour from Reykjavik

Fast Lava - ATV and horseback riding, photo 23

Fast Lava - ATV and horseback riding, photo 24

Fast Lava - ATV and horseback riding, photo 25

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Fast Lava - ATV and horseback riding, photo 27

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30 photos from Arctic Adventures. Tap any one for the full-size original.

Duration
8 hours
Difficulty
Moderate
Season
All year
Starts in
Reykjavík
Pickup
Hotel pickup included
Departs
09:00
Minimum age
8
Cancellation
Free until 24 hours before

About this experience

Trip difficulty: 2 out of 5 possible. Rated: Easy.

Combination Day Tour in Iceland. Quad Biking adventure in the back country of the Reykjavík area and Horse Riding on the Icelandic horse through the lava fields of Hafnafjörður.

Trip Highlights:

- Horseback Riding

- Bláfjöll Mountains

- ATV's

- Hafrafell

We start the day at Íshestar farm where we saddle up and go for a classic horseback riding adventure. We will explore the lava surrounding Mt. Helgafell volcano while riding through vast lava fields and across beautiful hillsides to Lake Hvaleyrarvatn. As we ride through this stunning scenery you will have the chance to see all of the different formations in the rough lava. The horses stroll along perfectly safe riding paths with the beautiful Bláfjöll Mountains towering above on the horizon. After the horse riding portion of the day, we will drop you off in Reykjavík downtown where you can have a nice lunch to refuel for our next ATV adventure.

We will find our 650 cc CanAm Outlander max Quad bikes waiting outside our base in the outskirts of Mosfellsbær town. We will start the ride on a gravel road along scenic lake Hafravatn before heading up a mountain trail to the top of Hafrafell. Upon arrival at the top of the mountain awaits an amazing panoramic view of the entire Reykjavik area and its surrounding mountain range. Mt Úlfarsfell, Reykjavik, the bay area, and the Reykjanes Peninsula all offer a beautiful atmosphere worth the trip. Driving these powerful machines is a great way to explore the hills and mountains on the outskirts of the city.

Disclaimer: All adventure trips and outdoor activities such as quad biking and horse riding are undertaken on the responsibility of its participants. Arctic Adventures & its partners (in this case Íshestar) do not assume any responsibility for accidents that are caused by its customers or can be traced to there own actions. Participants have to sign a waiver before undertaking all trips stating that they realize that all outdoor activities carry an inherent risk.

Description from the operator, Arctic Adventures. Prices and availability in the booking panel are live.

Where you go

Reykjavik
Íshestar Riding Centre
Safari Quads

Included

Pick-up from Reykjavík, 2 hours quad biking with two persons sharing a bike and horse riding.

Good to know

Warm outdoor clothing, headwear and gloves.

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 storm-force wind — rain and mud do not cancel it. Here is exactly what happens to your booking.

1Arctic Adventures 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 →

Who this is not for

Children under 8 cannot join this one.

Read off the operator's own conditions. If none of it applies to you, this is a good one.

Why we list it

Arctic Adventures is one of 207 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 Arctic Adventures

Read all 5,195 reviews on Google →

Operator rating 4.6/5 from Google — these are reviews of the company, not this specific tour. Shown as Google returns them, unedited.

Kai Gilchrist
★★★★★ · 3 months ago
This was a phenomenal trip with AMAZING sights. Our tour guide was informative, friendly, and easy to listen to. You will learn a lot and see nature at its greatest. We absolutely loved this tour and would recommend it to anyone. The car ride is comfortable and there is wifi as well! Shout out to our tour guide, Magnus (I hope I’m spelling his name correctly), who told us some hilarious stories.
Tatjana Kultaniemi
★★★★★ · 2 months ago
I spent six days on a bus tour around Iceland with a professional guide. It was an excellent opportunity to gain a comprehensive overview of Iceland's breathtaking nature while also learning about the country's history and the everyday lives of its people. Iceland's landscape and animals are truly unique, featuring magnificent waterfalls, geysers, whales, seals, puffins, volcanoes, glaciers, and mountains. Every day brought new and unforgettable experiences. Of course, none of this would have been possible without our guide, Viko. He not only drove the bus safely but also shared fascinating stories about Icelandic history, culture, and way of life. He was willing to tailor the itinerary to our group's interests and wishes, making the experience even more enjoyable. I am very grateful for his professionalism, knowledge, and enthusiasm in interpreting Iceland's natural and cultural heritage. He played a key role in making this tour such a memorable experience.
Chloe Lamm
★★★★★ · 3 months ago
I did the Iceland South Coast Full Day Small-Group Tour from Reykjavik. Such an amazing tour and one of the highlights of my trip to Iceland! Our guide, Erik, was incredibly knowledgeable and shared so much interesting information about Iceland throughout the day. We visited some of the country’s most beautiful sights, including stunning waterfalls, Vik, black sand beaches, and other breathtaking stops along the South Coast. The pickup process was simple and organized, making the day completely stress-free. The scenery was incredible from start to finish, and Erik helped make the experience even better with his knowledge, friendliness, and enthusiasm. If you’re visiting Iceland, the South Coast is a must-do, and I highly recommend taking this tour with Erik as your guide!
Nicole Y.
★★★★★ · 2 months ago
What a wonderful adventure! The 3 Day South Coast/Golden Circle tour included all of the sites we wanted to see and it did not disappoint. We were picked up at a bus stop in downtown Reykjavik and our journey began with about 16 other guests, a good group size. Our tour guide "Good" John did an excellent job teaching us about the history of Iceland and the sites we saw. The tour is well organized with just enough time at each site. He also made adjustments to the itinerary based on the weather as well as including sites not on the tour to give us more to see, which we loved! There were plenty of bathroom/food breaks as needed and we loved that we could just sit back, relax, and enjoy the views outside the window rather than worrying about driving and parking. Our multi-day tour included a 2 night stay at Adventure Hotel Geirland, which Arctic Adventures owns. Such a quiet hotel, convenient location with beautiful views. Our only complaints were that the shower leaked and made the floor wet, and that dinner at the restaurant was expensive with limited options. However the food was good and breakfast was included. The Katla Ice Cave was our favorite part, which was partnered with Southcoast Adventure, and our guide Inga was very friendly and knowledgeable. We did pay for a hiking boot rental for my husband but never received the boots. We did not ask our tour guide so we are not sure what happened with that. Overall we absolutely loved this tour and would highly recommend Arctic Adventures to anyone visiting Iceland for the first time!

Reviews from Google · updated 23 Oct 2026

Read before you book

ATV and buggy tours in Iceland: Reykjavík or DrangsnesQuad tours near Reykjavík come as half of a combo day. In Drangsnes you get an empty fjord and a mountain track for €128. Your route decides which one.
Best Horse Riding Tour in Iceland (2026): 4 PicksThe horse riding tours we would book ourselves: an easy lava-field ride near Reykjavík, the hot-spring valley, and longer rides for confident riders.
Guided day hikes from Reykjavík: which one to bookFour guided hikes from Reykjavík on the Reykjanes peninsula, €117 to €1,040: the Seltún trek, a volcano bus tour and two private options compared.

Reviews from our travellers

Only people who booked this tour through us can write here. We publish every review in full — good or bad.

Reviews arrive the day after each trip — none yet for this one. After your tour we send one email asking how it was, and what you write goes here, unedited.

ATV & buggy — questions people ask

Where can you ride ATVs in Iceland?

In two very different places on this site. Near Reykjavík, the Hafnarfjörður lava fields, twenty minutes from town, host the ATV combos with caving, horses and whale watching (/experience/292/, /experience/1603/). In the Westfjords, Activity Tours runs one-hour and three-hour rides from Drangsnes and Djúpavík on the Strandir coast (/experience/1176229/, /experience/1167831/), with fjord views and almost no other traffic. The Westfjords rides are better; Reykjavík is easier to reach.

Do I need a driving licence to ride an ATV in Iceland?

Yes, a full valid car licence to drive one. Passengers ride behind the driver and do not need a licence, but minimum ages apply for both; check the tour page. Bring the physical licence card. Standard pricing puts two people on one ATV, with a single-rider supplement if you want your own. Buggies (/experience/7689/) are side-by-side and more car-like, if you are unsure about balancing an ATV.

What do I wear for an ATV tour?

Old clothes and closed shoes. The operator gives you a helmet, overalls, gloves and often a balaclava, because Icelandic tracks are mud in summer and slush in winter and you will get sprayed. Wear warm layers underneath; you are sitting still in the wind. Sunglasses or goggles help with grit. Leave anything white at the hotel. A shower afterwards is not optional.

Is ATV riding in Iceland dangerous?

It carries real risk, which is why the licence rules exist. You ride in a line behind a guide at a set pace on marked tracks, so the danger is mostly in overconfidence on loose gravel or steep sections. Follow the guide's speed and keep your feet on the footrests. Travel insurance that covers motorised activities is worth checking before you book; some standard policies exclude ATVs.

Hotels

Where to stay for this tour

From the cheapest to the top end of what is near Reykjavík, from our hotel partners. Rooms are booked on our hotels site.

All hotels in Reykjavík →

One checkout, any number of operators
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If it falls short, we fix it

from

€332.79 per person

Arctic Adventures's own price. 3% off the whole trip when you book two or more tours together, in one checkout.

Your date

The next departure we can see — change it if this tour is for another day.

Pick a date to check departures.

Departs09:00

Reykjavík: light 08:46–17:38, 8 h 52 min of daylight.

✓ Free cancellation until 24 hours before
✓ Instant confirmation by email
✓ If Arctic Adventures cancels for weather or safety: a full refund, or another date
✓ Card — Apple Pay or Google Pay where your device offers it — through Stripe; the charge is made in Icelandic krónur
✓ Price promise: Arctic Adventures's own price, or we refund the difference
✓ One checkout, even with tours from several operators
✓ Vetted operator — the six checks every operator passes

Pairs well with

Add any of these to this tour and 3 % comes off both at checkout — about €15 on the cheapest pair. One basket, one payment, however many operators they come from.