Venture Across the Lofoten Islands on Horseback
Norway’s Lofoten Islands are pure magic — jagged peaks, turquoise seas, midnight sun and brave Icelandic horses carrying you across beaches, mountains and secret coves in endless daylight. Based on peaceful Gimsøya with cosy rooms, gourmet meals and a steamy sauna for Arctic plunges, you’ll explore this wild archipelago exactly as few ever do, from midnight beach rides to mountaintop picnics high above the shimmering sea.
Trip Highlights
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Riding beneath the midnight sun along hidden Arctic beaches where sea and sky blur into gold
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Feeling your horse’s smooth tölt along deserted stretches of white sand
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Taking a refreshing dip in the cool waters of the Arctic Ocean after a cosy wood-fire sauna
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Tasting local delicacies at the on-site restaurant
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Tackling high ridge lines and winding valleys where reindeer graze and eagles circle overhead
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Climbing mountain trails to panoramic lookouts over the Lofoten Islands
Details
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Riding levels
Suitable for strong intermediate to advanced riders only. All guests must be in good physical shape as some steep sections will require you to walk on foot leading your horse.
Not sure what your riding ability is? See the definitions below.
- Type of tack
English and/or Icelandic saddles (similar to dressage saddles). Saddle bags are provided.
- Horse breed
Icelandic horses.
- Accommodation
Twin share rooms in a cosy guesthouse.
- Pace
The pace varies on a daily basis when the terrain permits. You will get to experience the Icelandic horses at a walk, trot, tölt and canter.
- Weight limit
A maximum of 95kgs / 210lbs.
It is VERY important that you provide your current weight accurately when booking. If your weight is not accurate, we cannot guarantee that your hosts will have a horse for you to ride.
- Group size
A maximum of 10 guests.
- Minimum age
12 years of age
- Time in Saddle
On average from 4 to 6 hours daily, except on day 1 which is an introductory 2-3 hour ride. There is also one rest day in the itinerary.
- When to go
July
- Languages
Instructions spoken in English.
Guides speak Norwegian and English.
What’s included (and what’s not)
Included
- All meals (from day 1 dinner through to day 8 breakfast)
- Accommodation
- All riding activities outlined in the itinerary
- Round-trip transfers from Leknes or Svolvær Airports within certain timeframes on the first and last days of the ride
- All ground transportation throughout the itinerary
Excluded
- International or regional flights
- Travel insurance (compulsory)
- Beverages (other than water)
- Any additional activities outside the itinerary
Departure dates and prices
Ride length
8 days, 7 nights
Riding level
Strong Intermediate • Advanced
Booking fee
A fixed Booking Fee of €90 EUR
Payment plans
Lock in your ride with a 10% deposit and pay the rest over time – interest-free in 10 easy payments. Learn more.
Accommodation types
Single
Private accommodation for one guest (room, tent, or similar). A supplement may apply on departures where a sharing option is available.
Share
Willing to room share with the same gender or travelling with a companion.
Couple share
Sharing a bed with companion.
Non-rider
Sharing a room with a riding companion.
Per person
2026
July 19 to 26, 2026
The fun bits
Payment details
- A fixed Booking Fee of €90 EUR
- All bookings are charged in the local currency of the ride destination.
- Accepted payment method is by credit or debit card only.
Cancellation policy
We understand that plans can change. If you need to cancel your ride, please let us know as soon as possible. Cancellation fees apply based on how close your departure date is, and deposits are non-refundable. We strongly recommend travel insurance to protect your booking. Read our full cancellation policy.
International fees
If you're paying in a currency different from your own, your bank may charge a conversion or international transaction fee.
Itinerary
Please note, this is a sample itinerary only. It is subject to change at your guides’ discretion due to weather conditions and other influencing factors.
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Day 1: Arrival & Midnight Ride
2 to 3 hours in the saddleWelcome to Norway, globetrotters! Having arrived in Oslo a day or two early, today you will fly into either Leknes or Svolvær, where your hosts will collect you for the drive to our home for the week, a gorgeous guesthouse in a truly otherworldly setting on the island of Gimsøya. Prepare to gasp as you set eyes on the white sandy beach just steps away from the front door, and Hoven Mountain rising straight up out of the lowlands behind. After settling in, we will head to the pasture and meet the friendly herd of Icelandic horses, then visit the on-site restaurant for a relaxed evening meal of fresh, local cuisine, and a discussion of the week ahead with our knowledgeable guide.
Thanks to the midnight sun, it’s not too late for a ride! Mounting up at 10pm, we will ride out to a hidden beach – the perfect place to test the Icelandic horses’ unique paces – with the most memorable midnight snack of our lives along the way. Returning to the stables at 2am, we will already have around 15 to 20 kilometres under our belt!
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Day 2: Storknubben
4 to 6 hours in the saddleAfter our late night adventure, a sleep-in is on the cards. We’ll have a late breakfast and mount up at midday for a ride towards Storknubben, a nearby peak offering sweeping views over the Lofoten archipelago. The 20-kilometre ride climbs steeply up to around 300 metres above sea level, where we will have our lunch, then either sit back and enjoy the view or take a guided hike to the summit, 300 metres higher again. Afterwards, we will descend to Gjendalen, the valley where the horses will stay overnight. A short vehicle transfer brings us back to base for a well-earned dinner at the restaurant.
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Day 3: Vinjestranden
4 to 6 hours in the saddleFollowing breakfast, our hosts will drive us back to Gjendalen to rejoin the horses. Today’s ride takes us through the countryside to Vinjestranden, a pristine, solitary beach where we can savour our horses’ smooth gaits on the firm sand. We will dismount for a simple lunch at a small store nearby, soaking up the relaxed atmosphere of island life. Returning to the guesthouse, we’ll take full advantage of the traditional steam sauna, followed by a bracing dip in the Arctic Ocean for those feeling brave!
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Day 4: Veten Mountain
4 to 6 hours in the saddleToday we’re heading to the neighbouring island of Vestvågøy, connected to our home island of Gimsøya by a short bridge. Here, the horses will be waiting for us in the valley of Tjønndalen. We will ride up to the top of Veten Mountain (400 metres above sea level) for another spectacular panoramic view across an entirely different region of Lofoten. Riding back down to the lowlands, we will visit Aaland farm for a scrumptious lunch featuring their award-winning goat and cow cheeses. Finally, we will tölt our way back to Tjønndalen, where the horses will spend the night while we’re driven home for another tasty dinner.
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Day 5: Kamman Mountain
4 to 6 hours in the saddleAnother big day is planned on Vestvågøy, once again starting from Tjønndalen, but this time heading west. Our guide will lead the way across valleys, over wetlands, down quiet country roads and up mountains, all mind-bogglingly unique and beautiful. Lunch will be enjoyed near the summit of Kamman Mountain (400 metres above sea level). Once again, the horses are staying in the green pastures of Tjønndalen.
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Day 6: Sightseeing
Non-riding dayToday the horses get a break while we enjoy a late breakfast and spend the day at our leisure. Options include joining a guided hike to one of several nearby mountains, exploring the charming fishing village of Henningsvær, or simply soaking up the serenity in this stunning, remote pocket of Lofoten.
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Day 7: Lofoten Gardsysteri
4 to 6 hours in the saddleThis morning, we will return to Tjønndalen for the final leg of our riding journey. More scenic valleys pave the way to the tiny seaside village of Bøstad, then the trail veers east across the mountains to Lofoten Gardsysteri, a family-run dairy known for its fabulous goat cheeses. After lunch at the dairy, we’ll take the old road to the village of Unstad, where one last thrilling beach tölt caps off our incredible week in the saddle. Back at base, the chefs will present a celebratory tasting menu while we share laughs and memories our incredible Norwegian adventure. If we haven’t yet made use of our second sauna session, now is the time! There’s no curfew under the midnight sun, so let the good times roll.
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Day 8: Departure
Non-riding dayAfter a final unhurried breakfast at the restaurant, and perhaps a dip in the sea, we will check out at noon and take a transfer to either Leknes or Svolvær, hearts filled to the brim by hearty Norwegian hospitality, small-but-mighty horses, and the unforgettable beauty of Lofoten.
Transfer information
Transfers are available from either Leknes or Svolvær Airports between 8am and 6pm on the first and last days of the ride at no extra charge. Collection outside these times can be arranged at an additional cost. For environmental reasons, the hosts will try to co-ordinate pick ups as much as possible, meaning if you arrive quite early there may be some waiting time, but they will inform you of this.
Self-driving via rental car is also an option. Hov is about 45 kilometres southwest of Svolvær and about 50 kilometres northeast of Leknes. Follow the E10 motorway and exit at Sundklakkbrua bridge on Gimsøy and follow signs for Hov. About 1 kilometre past the well-known Lofoten Links golf course, Hov Gård is on the left-hand side of the road.
Check in is after 4pm on day 1, and check out is by 12 midday on the final day. Remember to give yourself plenty of time to coordinate your flights and transfers – the ride location is not a particularly easy place to get to and you’ll need a few hours of travel time depending on where you choose to fly in/out of.
Please note
From Oslo Gardermoen you can fly via Bodø to Svolvær or Leknes. We recommend that you book your ticket all the way through one provider, at www.sas.no or www.wideroe.no. That way, you’re covered if your flight across the fjord is delayed or cancelled. It’s also possible, and more predictable, to fly to Evenes and take a bus or rental car from Evenes to Svolvær.
Accommodation
You will be in a cosy guest house where there are 6x twin share rooms spread over two floors, and 3x bathrooms (two with showers and one with a bathtub), a living room, kitchen and a spacious hallway with a reading corner. All bathrooms are on the ground floor as well as one bedroom, the other five bedrooms are on the second floor. There is also a laundry room with both a washing machine and tumble dryer. The location of the guest house sees you enjoying a view of either the mountains or the sea, no matter which window you look out of.
Guests will also have use of the woodfire sauna two times during their stay, after which you can enjoy a refreshing cold plunge in the sea.
Food
All breakfasts and dinners will be eaten at Låven Restaurant, an unpretentious, genuine and relaxing place with flavoursome local food rooted in the farm’s history and food traditions. Lunch will be enjoyed out whilst on the ride, both in nature and also at a local cheese farm. Only water is included in the ride price. All other beverages can be purchased onsite at Låven Restaurant.
What's my riding level?
Not sure what your riding level is? Watch our videos to see all our levels.
Beginner
Reasonably confident riding a horse at a walk, a rising trot, and learning to canter.
Intermediate
Confident and in control riding at all paces outside an arena, but not riding regularly. Comfortable and competent using aids {the language of your leg, seat and hands} to communicate with your horse.
Strong Intermediate
An intermediate rider who is currently riding regularly outside of an arena and is fit enough to ride for at least six hours per day. Strong intermediate riders are comfortable and competent in all three gaits; able to post or sit to the trot; have an independent seat while cantering (don’t hold onto the saddle); and can pick up the correct canter lead. They can also navigate more complex terrain, including asking a horse to sidestep and jump over a small obstacle.
Advanced
A frequent rider who is very fit, comfortable in the saddle for at least six hours per day, and has an independent seat and soft hands. Advanced riders are confident on a forward-moving horse at all paces over rough and variable ground on open terrain. They can ride over small jumps and know the techniques used to collect a horse
Not sure? Contact our team to help you figure out your riding ability.
