ABOUT US
Over 200 years ago, our family settled down on this land of lava, called Hraunkot, and has lived here for generations. In fact, the word “Hraunkot” means “a small house in the lava”. Somehow, our forefathers found a way to culture the land and explore the resources while keeping the wild Icelandic nature.
Here on the farm Hraunkot, we can offer you horseback riding and homemade handicrafts, using our own materials. Our aim is to let you experience Iceland in an authentic and natural way, just as generations before us have done.
Lava Horses is a family run company. Our family of four welcomes you and takes you out riding in the beautiful landscape surrounding our farm Hraunkot. Tora Katinka, our main guide and director, was born in Norway and moved to Iceland in 2003. Being from another country she saw the farm and its land with a tourist’s eyes and realised that Hraunkot was a natural pearl that other people should be able to experience.
We have always had horses on our farm. In the past, they were working horses – used to pull the plough and cut the grass, as well as gathering the sheep in the autumn, but we still use them for these purposes to this day.
We opened the horse rental in 2010 with 6 horses but the business slowly grew and today we use 20 horses for our tours, most of whom are bred and trained by ourselves.
Why choose us?
We are a family-run company!
We are a small company that offer tours for small groups. This means we can be flexible and provide a personal service.
We have experienced guides!
Our guides are experienced riders. They know the area inside out and will give you fascinating information about the landscapes you will be riding through.
We love and take care of our horses!
We pride ourselves on our horses and therefore we make sure they are well trained and taken care of.
Tours
AVAILABILITY
This tour is available from 1.April - 15.October
DEPARTURE
At 17:00 or 5 PM every day
INCLUDED
All safety and riding equipment, riding lesson and an English speaking guide.
BRING AND WEAR
A windproof jacket, closed shoes and other warm clothes according to weather.
DURATION
1 hour
PARTICIPATION
Maximum 8 persons
OTHER REQUIREMENTS
Riders must be under 110 kg / 220 Ibs. Age requirement for this tour is 5 years.
PRICE
6.000 ISK per person
Family Riding
We start by giving you a short riding lesson inside of a paddock so you can get to know the horse and get comfortable in the saddle. Then we go on and into nature. This is an exciting riding tour through birch forest and special volcanic landscape; easy tour, perfect for non-experienced riders and families.
Meeting point is at our farm, Hraunkot 1.
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AVAILABILITY
This tour is available from 1.April - 15.October
DEPARTURE
At 10:00 and 14:00 every day
INCLUDED
All safety and riding equipment, riding lesson and an English speaking guide.
BRING AND WEAR
A windproof jacket, closed shoes and other warm clothes according to weather.
DURATION
2 hours
PARTICIPATION
Maximum 8 persons
OTHER REQUIREMENTS
Riders must be under 110 kg / 220 Ibs. Age requirement for this tour is 10 years.
PRICE
10.000 ISK per person
Enjoy the differences.
Perfect for those who want to experience the diverse landscapes of Iceland on horseback. We will take you through lava landscape, birch forest, along a riverbank and we even cross a small lake. If you want to try the tölt, this is a good tour to start with. This tour is suitable for both beginners and more advanced riders.
Meeting point is at our farm, Hraunkot 1.
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AVAILABILITY
Upon request
INCLUDED
Riding lesson, English speaking guide, WiFi on board of the boat, coffee, hot chocolate and cookies, as well as warm overalls and raincoats if needed.
BRING AND WEAR
A windproof jacket, closed shoes and other warm clothes according to weather.
DURATION
2 hours riding, 3 hours whale watching.
PARTICIPATION
Maximum 8 persons
OTHER REQUIREMENTS
Riders must be under 110 kg / 220 Ibs. Age requirement for this tour is 10 years.
PRICE
17.000 ISK per person
Flukes and Hooves.
Are you going whale watching? You can combine one of our two-hour tours with a three-hour whale watching tour from Salka Whale Watching.
The Riding tour
When in Iceland, it would be a shame not to experience one of Iceland's specialities, the Icelandic horse. At Lava Horses, we will introduce you to our prided fleet of horses. Have a look at our tours to find out what will suit you before you order and do not hesitate to ask us advice, we will do our best to advise you.
The Whale Watching Tour
There really are few things that beat the fresh smell of the ocean on a beautiful day in Skjálfandi Bay, aboard our traditional oak boats.
Our experienced crew will give you a unique adventure, whether you are an early bird, enjoy the daytime at sea or if you’re up for a whale watching the spectacle in the midnight sun!
This fantastic 3-hour tour takes you to traditional whale watching areas in Skjálfandi Bay. Here you will get the chance to experience whales, dolphins and birds in their natural surroundings. Every tour is different and you never know what amazing species and wildlife show you will get to see during the trip. The most common whale and dolphin species in Skjálfandi Bay are humpback whales, Minke whales, white-beaked dolphins, porpoises and in the beginning of summer blue whales and fin whales.With our years of experience and knowledge from sailing through the bay of Skjálfandi, we guarantee your utmost comfort, enjoyment and authentic adventure, on each of our tours.
Please be aware that we are sailing on The Atlantic Ocean. The weather in Iceland can be unpredictable and change rapidly, therefore the captain can decide to cancel the tour on short notice for safety reasons. In case of cancellation of the trip due to weather conditions, an appropriate reimbursement will be found for you.
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Private tours / Custom-made tours
Lava Horses are happy to offer private and custom-made tours. If you have any special requests, don't hesitate to contact us and we will custom-make your dream riding adventure.
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Lava Horse Apartment
Lava Horses offers a beautiful and spacious studio apartment for rent. The studio features a double bed and a sofa bed. An extra bed is available upon request so the apartment can accommodate up to five persons. Other features include a private bathroom, a fireplace, a small kitchen and free parking outside the apartment.
The studio is ideal for families and smaller groups. The studio is located on the Hraunkot Farm where you can find a variety of farm animals, such as sheep, rabbits, chickens, cows, dogs, cats and of course, horses. Our guests are free to interact with the animals.
Please contact us for bookings.
Lava Horses photo gallery
We are on YouTube!
Check out our YouTube channel where you can have a look at videos from our horse riding tours.
Phone
Address
Directions
From Akureyri
Take road number 1 as you are going to Húsavík, After about half an hour you get to a crossroad where you take off from road number one and into road 85. Follow road number 85 and the sign to Húsavík for about 20 minutes. Take a left turn into the gravel road number 852, drive 4 km and then you are here!
From Húsavík
Take road 85 as you are driving to Akureyri. Drive for about 10 minutes, 14 km. Take a right turn when you get to a gravel road number 852, drive 4 km and then you should find us!