Alhestar - Þorlákshöfn

Jóhann Hannibalsson

Þett skapaði goðar minnigar og lőngun i aðra ævintira ferð

Jon Ingi Halldorsson

Frábær þjónusta..... Bara gaman

Kristen Reed

Highly recommend booking a horseback riding trip with Alhestar. We originally booked just the one hour, but wanted to ride on the nearby black sand beach so we changed to the 2 hours tour. They were very accommodating. I am an experienced rider but the rest of my family (husband, 2 teenagers) are not. The horses were well trained and cared for and even our inexperienced riders felt safe. We all had a great time.

christiaan m

We hebben hier genoten, mijn vrouw eerste keer op een paard en ook zoon, we hadden veel lol met de eigenaar.
Stukje gelopen naar de zee met zijn paarden.
Boeken kon alleen per persoon, dus 3 keer aangegeven via visa kaart, en ook netjes afgerekend, maar werd door het tussenbedrijf niet meteen doorgezet naar de eigenaar, die belde later in de avond op, was toch allemaal goed gegaan.

Blake & Teresa Russell

Package: 2-person, 2 hour, lava tour.
Background: 1 brand new rider; 1 beginner rider. 2 hour trip with ~15 minute hail storm, half hour of high winds at the end. Most of the ride was perfect weather (see 'ugly' below). Find the good the bad and the ugly below.

Overall: friendly staff and beautiful landscapes come together to make for a wonderful experience, must experience for those who love animals and the outdoors.

Good: Breathtaking views of lava rock streams, volcanoes in the background, and pumice that looks like pitch black sand and collapses with each step of your horse. The lava experience is what I imagine the beach experience is (the lava rock/pumice is the same) but instead of a backdrop of waves, you have a backdrop of gorgeous mountain views. When the sun hit them, it was unforgettable, just gorgeous. The staff is also extremely friendly and clearly invested in making sure you have the best experience possible. Note that the owner, Magnus, does not speak English, although his other staff member, Ali, does - this didn't hinder us at all (despite not speaking any Icelandic ourselves), but just a heads up. Magnus is fluent in horse, however, and is able to keep them going even during tough conditions. The horses took a few minutes to grow accustomed to us, but once they did, we felt like we had gained new friends. They loved to nuzzle while we were dismounted and would gently vie for our attention.

The staff also kindly showed us true Icelandic hospitality. They were both friendly, welcoming, and passionate to show us the beauty of the landscapes and their horses! After we returned, Magnus brewed us a fresh pot of coffee to warm up, paired with cookies and laughter about the brief bout of hail. They also explained about their many horses in training, and let us go through and see the whole bunch.

Bad: 1) This is not a posh hotel or overly-prescribed "excursion" experience, it was perfect for us, but might not be what someone else is looking for. 2) Icelandic horses are also known for their intelligence--and being stubborn. For new riders this can be a difficult combination as the horse will test you. Be honest with staff and ask to be tethered to a guide horse if you are new! After some time being tethered at the beginning, I was able to develop some trust and go it alone. For those who saw the lengthy 1-star comment--it appears that the staff size has grown (we were 1:1) and new riders are now either tethered or followed closely. This was my wife's first time ever riding a horse and she felt safe and supported the whole time. The staff are very receptive to your comfort level, and we both felt very comfortable throughout the experience.

Ugly: Keep in mind the owners are not in charge of the weather; be prepared for high winds and snow/hail. We were well dressed for the occasion and stayed warm throughout, but our two-hour ride had a 15 minute hail storm toward the end. We enjoyed the brief stress it afforded us as it transformed the experience from idyllic to Icelandic.

Meaghan Gauger

My husband and I had an awesome time doing the Black Sand Beach horseback riding tour. Even tho it was raining we still enjoyed every minute of the ride. Once we got to the beach we were able to let the horses run along the shore. I would definitely go back and I will be telling people if you are looking for a place to go horseback riding in Iceland Alhestar horse rental and tours is the place to go.

Aimée Taylor

Fabulous ride! Mags is a fabulous host. Lava fields, through low water, gallop down the black sand beach. Wonderful horses and well looked after. Enjoy this treat and special find in southern Iceland.

Earl J Parent Jr

My wife has always dreamed of riding Icelandic horses on the beach, ever since she was a kid.
On a last minute trip to Iceland in September of 2018, the only way I could get my wife to agree to the trip, was to give in to that wish.
I called Alhestar Horse Rental, only several days before we arrived in Iceland, speaking with Dora, who spoke perfect English.
I chose one of the options that Dora laid out for us and agreed to the cost.
Our flight landing in Iceland was early (430am) we grabbed the rental car and headed for Alhestar. We stopped along the way to photograph the splendor of the Island. Dora called at around 8am just to confirm that we were still on schedule and said they would have coffee and some snacks for us when we arrived.
We arrived at 1030am, Dora was not there but our guide (the owner) was.
Magnús (the owner) offered us food and beverage and even suggested taking a nap for 20min before we departed. (It had been probably 30 hrs since we last slept)
We skipped the nap as my wife was too excited to wait...
Magnús does not speak English and we did not speak Icelandic, but I must say this was one of the best language walls I've ever had to climb!
Through hand gestures and lots of laughing we all did pretty well. Magnús understood that my wife has horses and was a great rider and that I rode a horse one time in my life for a total of 5 minutes (total novice)
There were no deal breakers for Magnús! Total novice to trained pro, he had it covered, thank goodness!
We mounted up and departed. Magnús kept a leash in his hands from my horse, as my horse rode side by side with his. He did this while letting me hold the reins and showing me how to control the horse.
After I was comfortable he let go and rode directly in front of me controlling the speed of my horse. After about 20min I was a pro and suggested to Magnús that "Ill take it from here"! He laughed!
Clearly his horses are exceptionally well trained and Magnús a fantastic horse instructor. I'm sure he gave me the horse that any child could handle but I felt like a pro in no time.
We rode through lava fields and along the ocean for 3+ hours, stopping along the way for photos and to let both us and the horses take a break.
We also stopped by Selvogsviti Lighthouse.
It was absolutely a great time. Perfect weather (50F / 10c) some drizzle, some sun, and some rainbows!
We stopped at the end where Magnús bought us a Coke at the Hot Dog stand, and we removed the gear from the horses. We put the gear in the truck that was waiting for us at the end of the trail (9 miles / 14km) from where we started.
Magnús then gave us a quick tour of the area, (totally off the beaten path) to Strandarkirkja, a 12th-century Protestant church overlooking the ocean.
The views were breathtaking!

Would I do this again, we already have plans to bring our daughter back there. And Alhestar is where I would take her.
Magnús exudes total confidence, he has the ability to get you totally comfortable when you feel totally out of your element (that was me).

Magnús, we’ll see you again soon, buddy!