Hestheimar Guesthouse
Surrounded by glaciers and beautiful wonders of nature such as Hekla and Eyjafjallajökull, the views surrounding the Hestheimar Guesthouse will leave you in awe. When we approached the guesthouses we all kept saying how pretty the area around it was and that we felt like we were in a postcard. The Icelandic horses peering at you from the fences, the mountains in the distance, and the sun starting to turn the sky a lovely shade of pink, made the experience seem surreal.
The guesthouses are in a convenient location for exploring southern Iceland. Only an hour drive from Reykjavik and an hour and fifteen minutes to the picturesque town of Vik, this is a wonderful location to act as your base for day trips. If you are on the hunt for the Northern Lights, the Hestheimar is the perfect location since it is away from bright lights.
After spending several nights in different hotel rooms, we were so excited about spending the night in a cozy cabin and we couldn’t wait to see what it looked like!
The cabins were the perfect size for a family and had all the comforts of home. Its large windows allowed you to take in the amazing views from all four sides. The sleeping area was perfect for us because it had a double bed for my husband and I, a pull-out sofa bed for my oldest daughter, and a cot for my youngest.
It had a kitchenette with everything you could need to cook meals, including a refrigerator, stove, coffee maker, pots, pans, cups, dishes, bowls, and utensils.
The bathroom was simple, yet functional, with a strong shower, sink, and toilet. The towel warmer was a nice treat since it was chilly the next morning.
Our favorite part of our cabin was our private patio. The night we were there it was a bit windy, but I can imagine how amazing it would be to sit out here in the summer as you relax and look at the surroundings.
The hotel has a quaint dining room with the most breathtaking panoramic of the countryside. The view includes three glaciers and is the perfect place to eat. When we were there they were not serving food in the dining room so instead they gave us a fantastic basket filled with food for breakfast. We could not believe how much they provided including bread, cold cuts, cheese, fruit, tomatoes, vegetables, apple juice, milk, and muffins. There was so much that we even packed ourselves a lunch for the next day.
Seeing the gorgeous Icelandic horses kept on the property was such a treat. They are well taken care of and they are so friendly. We all fell in love with them!
One of the coolest experiences we had in Iceland was the hour-long horseback ride at the Hestheimar. We opted for a short ride since it was very windy that day and the girls were a bit nervous when we first started, but we could have kept going since we were all having such an amazing time. When you arrive at the barn you are given a helmet and brought into a riding pen where a horse is specifically chosen for you. My daughters had the nicest, most adorable horses that they felt comfortable riding even though they have little riding experience.
We did a few laps around the ring to get accustomed to the horses and practice telling them to stop and turn and then we went out into the lovely countryside. It was hard to believe that we were riding these gorgeous Icelandic horses. You could see the mountains and glaciers cascading around you as your horse followed the horse in front of them. Really, your horse did all the work and you were just along for the ride, which was wonderful for us novice riders. The best part was when we rode our horses through 4-5 streams, several of them that were quite deep. It was an unforgettable memory we will always cherish.
I can’t say enough nice things about all the staff members we met during our stay. Check-in was smooth and easy and the breakfast basket was a generous treat. The staff in the stables were so accommodating to our family and helped the girls quickly become comfortable with their horses, making it a wonderful experience for all of us.
Tips on Planning Your Stay
-Your cabin includes free Wi-Fi
-Breakfast is served from 8:00-10:00 am.
-Dinner is served at 5:00 or 6:00 and is usually a three-course meal.
-Book your horseback ride ahead of time. You do not want to miss out on this incredible experience.
-We arrived at Hesteimar around 8:00 pm and were so exhausted that we did not get the chance to experience the hot tub. It is located near the main building.
Check-out: 11:00 am
Address: Ásahreppur, 851 Hella, Iceland
Phone number: (354) 487-6666
Website: http://www.hestheimar.is/
Email: hestheimar@hestheimar.is
A warm thank you to the Hestheimar Guesthouse for having my family as your guests. The cozy cabin accommodations, as well as the fun horseback riding, made it a stay that we will always remember. As always, all experiences and opinions are 100% my own.
