Wellness and horse riding in Iceland

Riding is one of the oldest ways to move through Iceland, and it is still one of the kindest on the body and the mind. The Icelandic horse is small, calm and remarkably steady, bred over a thousand years to carry people across rivers, moor and mountain. You do not need to be an experienced rider to enjoy it. A short trek at a walking pace, out across open country with the reins loose in your hands, asks little of you and gives a great deal back. Pair that quiet effort with a warm soak afterward and you have the heart of a wellness day: gentle movement outdoors, then rest in hot water.

Why riding feels so restorative

There is a particular calm that comes from sitting on a moving horse. Your attention settles on the rhythm beneath you and on the ground ahead, and the small worries of the day tend to fall away. The pace is unhurried, the views open slowly, and you cover just enough distance to feel you have travelled without ever rushing. The Icelandic horse adds something special here with the tolt, a smooth four beat gait that glides rather than bounces, easy on the back and gentle for anyone new to the saddle.

It is good for the body too. An hour in the saddle works the core and the legs softly, improves balance and posture, and leaves you pleasantly tired in the way that a calm walk does. Best of all, it puts you outdoors and unplugged, eyes on the horizon and hands busy, which is the same quiet attention you find in mindfulness in Icelandic nature.

The soak that finishes the day

A ride and a soak belong together. Time in the saddle asks your muscles to hold and steady, and hot geothermal water is the perfect reply. The warmth loosens the hips and lower back, the minerals soothe, and a slow float lets the whole body release. This is the same logic behind our recovery soaks for hikers: move gently outdoors, then let warm water do the rest. Plan your day so the ride comes first and the bath comes last, and you will sleep deeply that night.

Riding in the east, then warm water

The quiet east is ideal for this kind of slow day. The valleys around Hótel Breiðdalsvík open onto wide riding country, and the trails are calm enough that you often have the landscape almost to yourself. Spend a morning in the saddle among the fjord hills, then drive on to float at Vok Baths, the warm pools that rest right on the surface of a clear lake near Egilsstadir. For a wilder finish in summer, when the highland routes are open, point toward Laugarvellir, the warm waterfall and natural pool above the eastern valleys, and let falling hot water close the day. Either way you have moved gently, breathed fjord air, and rested in warm water, all from one calm base.

Walk pace on a steady horse, then a long soak. The day asks little of you and gives back a great deal.

For first time riders

Most stables welcome beginners and match the horse and the route to your comfort, so you can start with a short trek at a walking pace and build from there. Wear long trousers and bring a warm layer and a light waterproof, since the weather shifts quickly and the air is cool even in summer. Helmets are provided. Listen to your guide, keep your shoulders soft and your weight in your heels, and let the horse do the work. After a gentle hour you will be ready for the water, and a warm soak will keep your legs fresh for the next day.

Making it a wellness trip

A ride and a soak slot neatly into a longer journey. String several together and you have a soft, varied rhythm: a morning trek one day, a slow soak the next, a fjord walk in between. The east forms the wild heart of our Ring Road wellness loop, and a riding morning sits beautifully inside it. Keep a swimsuit and a small towel in the car so the bath is always within reach, drink water between hot soaks, and leave room in the plan to simply look at the view.

Keep planning with our guide to the hot springs of East Iceland, or browse every bath in the country on the Hot Springs Map.