Lovely trek on Icelandic horses. Very relaxed atmosphere, horses were happy. Guides were brilliant.

An amazing family adventure, riding Icelandic horses with viking genealogy. We booked for a family of 2 adults and 3 teenagers, some never ridden a horse before. We were welcomed warmly with coffee and hot chocolate before being shown the safety and information video. We were then provided with a correctly sized riding hat and offered waterproof clothing should we have wanted it. However the weather was glorious and ☀️. We were then matched with our horses, introduced by name and helped to bond with them before being guided on how to mount them. Once everyone was safely in saddle the horses all moved without instruction to the gate, eager to start the adventure. The horses were friendly and mostly easy to command, occasionally stopped for a nibble of the foliage but generally well behaved. After about 15mins of inline riding, the group was offered to split into a walking group and a more advanced trotting group. Both groups rode for about another 1/2hr or so through the lava fields, some commentary provided by our guides, whom also offered to take photographs with your own phones along the route. As we rode we were extremely lucky to see and arctic fox hunting. It's coat is brown during the summer months to help with camouflage before turning pure white during winter months. After 30mins more of riding we stopped at a grassy opening to allow the horses their legal requirement of 15min break, allowing them to forage and enjoy the rest before our return journey. During the break the guides were answering questions and extremely approachable and friendly. Everyone of us had an amazing experience and fell in love with horses 😍.

Amazing!!! 8 days of riding. 6 through the highlands and 2 on the coast. The terrain and scenery were breathtaking. They fed us like royalty, the horses were excellent, and the staff was outstanding. They really looked out for us to make sure we had a wonderful experience. I have horses and ride regularly but was still a little concerned about going 8 days straight.(I'm 70), but the horses are such a pleasure to ride I had no soreness. that includes my niece who does not get to ride regularly. I'm already thinking about arranging my next tour. Rode new horses, saw new scenery and made new friends. Awesome!

I decided to go on a ride for two reasons, the most important being to make my expert rider wife jealous. I opted for a private ride as I am almost a total novice - the kind of rider who is probably better classified as cargo than rider. There was a video on what to do and what not to do, I was matched with a good looking sturdy horse whose name I can't pronounce, let alone spell, and I set off behind my Romanian/Icelandic guide. I was given the option of how to approach the ride and I chose to go with maximum efficiency, by which I mean I sat on the horses back like a Spaghetti Western actor on their first day, pretending to hold the reigns whilst the horse did all the work and I enjoyed the scenery at a leisurely pace. Usually I find having a conversation with people has become almost impossible, even bartenders seem reticent to say more than two words nowadays - my guide however engaged my in an interesting conversation about the Icelandic horse and Iceland in general for the whole ride. On our return I was able to spend as much time patting the horse as I desired. The facilities were clean and the horses looked hoppy and well to my novice eye - all in all it was a great experience and even if you are a novice like me you will be fine.

Booked a 2 hour private hack for my 15 year old daughter, who is a competent rider Arrived at the very nice venue to a nice welcome The ride was good and my daughter enjoyed it, but can’t score more than 2 stars as we booked and paid for a 2 hour hack and the whole thing was only 1 hour 40 minutes I really don’t like being short changed. We could have booked a shorter hack but we explicitly agreed and paid for 2 hours A great pity as everything else was pretty good

Icelandic horse is a big part of icelandic culture, so when in Iceland, you need to experience a horse ride. I am a regular rider and I love horses. I was happy to see how they take care of horses at Ishestar. Horses were calm, comfortable and very friendly. Before the ride, they asked everybody their level of experience and found a proper horse for all of us. My horse was called Tigull which means diamond, and that he really was. We started the ride with a group of 20, but soon divided into a faster and a slower group. They made sure that all in a faster group were prepared for the pace and could handle their horses. So the ride went smoothly and we experienced several long toltrides. The views were amazing and we also made a photostop where the guides took photos of everybody on a horse. The guides also told us many interesting things about Iceland and icelandic horses. All in all, it was a very nice experience and I highly recommend Ishestar.

My wife and I had an incredible time with this experience! We got to spend some time with the horses before our ride. Everyone was super friendly and made you feel welcome. There was a beautiful waiting area to sit and have a warm drink before your ride and they took great care to make sure riders of all experience levels were educated on how to ride before you got on a horse. You could tell how well they treat the horses and even take time to explain the history of the horses during your ride. My wife and I would definitely recommend this experience!

We went on the Southern Highland tour arranged by Ishestar from the 18th of August to the 23th of August 2022. This trip was absolutely fantastic and definetly one of our biggest riding experiences ever. The trip could not have been arranged any better or more professionally than it was. We will for sure come back and ride with Ishestar again! Our tour guide Patrycja and tour leader Kiddi were so sweet, friendly and serviceminded! They always tried to give each person a horse that was a match for the specific rider and they always did their best to accomdate the wishes of the group. The Icelandic landscape was indcredibly beautiful and the horses were happy, healthy and always up for the job. So we can for sure recommend to travel with Ishestar!

Undoubtedly the best horse riding center to visit in Iceland! Customer service was honestly outstanding, the people over there were so nice. In fact, the guy who helped my sister and I let us experience the horses without riding them and incurring additional fees. The horses are adorable, unique, and quite curious.

Picked up from accommodation, there were only three of us plus guide, had a quick briefing and off we went. Very quick to pick up 'tolt' lovely horses and amazing experience. We all had our own horses at home so were able to make the most of the ride. Highly recommended

I have tried many horse-riding experiences around the word, (my wife is horse crazy and just books them up!). I can honestly say this was Simply the Best, by a long, long way. The horses were alive and open to being controlled and after the group split in two, the slightly more adventurous group were treated to some trotting. And OMG, the views while you are riding are soooooooooo amazing. We were lucky in that it was a lovely sunny, still afternoon and it had been snowing the day before so the sunset over the white was totally breath taking. (I'm not sure it would be so great without the snow but probably still good. They supply all in one body suits to wear over your clothes so we were nice and warm (although my feet did get a little chilly) Super great horses, and our guide was excellent.

I'd like to begin that I am at fault for misreading the instructions for pick-up, it was the last day in Iceland and I was completely exhausted. Also to note with how timing on check-in and stuff, I was without wifi or cellular data. I had chosen hotel pick up, and didn't realize that the instructions were at the "bus stop" 3 steps outside the hotel (not a regular bus stop since theres no roads, it is meant for excursion pick up). What further confused me was that (I started waiting at 12pm for the 1-130 pickup) other tour groups were coming into the hotel checking on people or finding missing people. Had the hotel give them a call around 135 and by the time I reached them it was 15min before the tour started and they informed me it was not possible to go. They did ask if theres another day and I told them its my last day, (although I wasn't planning for it) I asked if it can be pushed for next year (as a student I dont have much choice) and not once did I ask for a refund. They said they'll check with their supervisor how flexible they can be with dates and email me back. Ended up being a "there's nothing we can do for you cause our instructions are on the ticket". It's not there's nothing, the company chose not to do anything at all for this situation and pocket ISK36800. I'm not sure why any travel excursion company would assume people out of country has data at all times as well as they said my phone number was disconnected, its not, its my home phone in Canada and I checked at home and they never received a call. Pick-up was also ISK 5000 for 2, so its not free. I'd be alot more understanding if the bus stop was across the street or further from the hotel. But it was literally right outside the front door, it would have taken less time and hassle if the driver had just poked their head into the hotel. The logic behind it doesnt make any sense to me, specially from other excursions I've done in other countries and seeing it here too. An extra paid service and you couldn't have the decency to take 2 steps to check in person like the other tours? No alternate booking, not flexible, no refund of any kind, pretty much gave us a big F-you on our last day in Iceland, for ISK36800.

It was the first time i had such an experience,i can say that it was wonderful.i rode a horse named Piano a 15 year teenager 🤭☺ very gentle that made my day! And last but not least,great thanks to the guide Mackenzie from North Carolina😊(hope that i have spelled correctly) she was amazing and very patient with a beginner like me 🙃. She even took time to take photos !😊 Professionalism 100% Highly recommend!!!

Did the Nature Comfort ride and for my first time on a horse it was great! The guides took their time and explained everything. They also provided interesting information during ride. The ride itself was on wide, well maintained trails through the lava fields. The horses walked and for the most part required very little guidance. Therefore if you are an experienced rider this particular tour will be too tame for you but they offer others. They offer riding gear which includes helmet, and offer insulated coveralls, rain gear, and rubber boots. Take them up on the coveralls and the boots if you don't want to get yours "muddy". Do note the refund policy before booking. Because of a flight change I did have to change the date of my ride and Jenny was very accommodating. Meeting her in person she is very friendly and helpful getting everything lined up before you are turned over to the guides. The facility is clean and they provide warm beverages.

We had very exciting trip called "Lava Tours" from ISHESTAR with English-Polish speaking trainer Alicja. We ( 60+yrs) are begginers with horses and we have safe andrelaxing tour with plenty of pretty pictures. We had very beautiful, kind and friendly horses. After the trip we could, in addition, play and take photos with all horses on the paddock. Thanks a lot for good time. It's very good place to relax with pretty horses and kind trainers.