Ride Across Reindeer Country in Sweden’s Lapland
Ride deep into the Arctic Circle, where the midnight sun bathes Sápmi in golden light and Sámi guides lead you across tundra, forests, mountains and reindeer country on surefooted Icelandic horses. With nights spent in teepees and cabins, dinners cooked over open fires, and a wood-fired sauna waiting at ride’s end, this wilderness expedition offers an intimate, once-in-a-lifetime glimpse into Sámi culture and the raw, spellbinding beauty of Sweden’s far north.
Trip Highlights
-
Riding into the heart of Lapland’s untamed frontier
-
Swapping stories by firelight and waking to the silence of true wilderness
-
Following in the footsteps of ancient Sámi reindeer herders
-
Living like a local with wood-fired saunas and icy river plunges
-
Riding hardy, sure-footed horses bred for adventures like these
-
Tasting Sweden’s outdoor soul – wild berry snacks, campfire feasts, and that electric feeling of being truly free in nature
Details
-
Riding levels
Suitable for strong intermediate to advanced riders who have multiple years of riding experience, can control a horse in open terrain at all paces, and have good physical health (as you may be required to dismount and lead your horse on foot in some sections).
Not sure what your riding ability is? See the definitions below.
- Type of tack
Icelandic saddles (similar to dressage saddles).
Please be advised that this is a hands-on ride which includes pitching in to help at the end of each day. You will be required to catch, groom and tack up your horse each morning, as well as untack, feed and turn out your horse at the end of each day. For those accustomed to handing your horse to a groom, this might not be the right riding holiday for you. - Horse breed
Icelandic horses.
- Accommodation
2x nights in twin shared rooms at a farm house, 2x nights in a rustic, single-roomed cabin, and 2x nights in a Sami tepee, all sleeping around the fire in the middle. This is communal living, no privacy.
- Pace
The pace is variable depending on terrain. You are riding across landscapes with large areas of elevation and rarely flat ground. Whilst there are some good stretches for tölt and canter, this is not what the ride focuses on and as such, there is quite a lot of walking and time to enjoy the scenery and peace and quiet. Trust that your guide will know what is safe for you and the horses, and adapt speed thereafter.
- Weight limit
A maximum of 85kgs / 187lbs.
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
16 years of age
- Time in Saddle
On average from 4 to 6 hours daily.
- When to go
June to September.
- Languages
Instructions spoken in English.
Guides speak English, Swedish and Sami.
What’s included (and what’s not)
Included
- All food (from first day dinner through to last day breakfast)
- Accommodation
- Round trip transfers from Kiruna on the first and last days of the ride
- Riding activities outlined in the itinerary
Excluded
- International or regional flights
- Travel insurance (compulsory)
- Alcohol
Departure dates and prices
Ride length
7 days, 6 nights with 5 riding days.
Riding level
Strong Intermediate • Advanced
Booking fee
A fixed Booking Fee of €1,253 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 12 to 18, 2026
The fun bits
Payment details
- A fixed Booking Fee of €1,253 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 and may change at your guides’ discretion, particularly due to weather, which has a significant impact in Sweden. The route may run in either direction (Puoltsa to Ratekjokk or vice versa) and may even start or finish in Ratekjokk depending on conditions. Flexibility is essential, and your guides will always prioritise your safety.
*Please also keep in mind this is very much a ‘hands-on’ ride. You will be expected to help groom and tack up your horse each day, as well as assist with campfire cooking and washing up when out on the trail.
-
Day 1: Arrival
Non-riding dayToday we will arrive in Kiruna, where our hosts will collect us from the airport or a nominated meeting location in the town centre. A half-hour drive brings us to our base for the trip: a riverside farm on the banks of the Kalix, one of Sweden’s last wild rivers. We will have time to settle into our rooms and take a tour of the farm before sitting down together for a relaxed welcome dinner. Our guides will brief us on the adventure ahead and kit us out with any gear we need so that we can repack in readiness for tomorrow’s trek. This is also our last chance to shower until day 6, so make the most of it!
-
Day 2: Biellugis
4 to 5 hours in the saddleThis morning we’ll don our riding gear and head to the stables to groom the horses before the short vehicle transfer to the only bridge across the Kalix river. Here we will tack up, mount up, cross the river and officially begin our trek. From forest foothills to the bare mountain, this is one of our longest days in the saddle – around 23 kilometres (14 miles) – ending at our teepee camp, Biellugis. After tending to our beautiful, tough Icelandic horses, we will set up our communal teepee tent, help cook a campfire dinner, and soak up the peace of the mountains under the lingering northern light.
-
Day 3: Into the Mountains
4 to 6 hours in the saddleAfter a hearty breakfast at camp, we will brush and tack up our horses for a full day’s ride, with several route options depending on the weather and terrain conditions. Lunch will be stowed in our saddlebags and enjoyed at a particularly scenic spot en route. We will be back at camp in the late afternoon, with plenty of daylight left for reading, swimming, berry picking, relaxing by the fire, or even hiking up a mountain if you’re feeling energetic!
-
Day 4: Ratekjokk
4 to 6 hours in the saddlePacking our bags and loading up the packhorses, we will farewell Biellugis camp and forge a path down from the mountains, twisting and turning down into the birch forests lining the valley below. Eventually, in the afternoon, we’ll reach our one-room cabin in the tiny village of Ratekjokk. Once the horses are settled, we can unwind in a traditional wood-fired sauna or dip into the icy creek – the authentic Swedish way to shower and bathe!
-
Day 5: Woods & Marshes
4 to 6 hours in the saddleToday we will ride a loop through the woods and marshlands around Ratekjokk, home to the Sámi people and their reindeer for countless generations. Our guides will tell us more about this fascinating culture as we ride. There are also glorious views back to the magnificent mountains we’ve traversed on our plucky little horses. The sauna awaits on return, followed by another relaxed evening at the cabins or exploring our surrounds.
-
Day 6: Kalix River
4 to 5 hours in the saddleOur final ride promises more incredible scenery and fascinating discoveries before looping back to the cabins in the early afternoon. Then it’s time to pack our bags and say goodbye to our trusty steeds. Our adventure is not quite over, though: it’s a 30-minute hike to the bank of the Kalix River, where a short boat ride will deliver us back to civilisation. After a short vehicle transfer, we’ll return to our hosts’ farm in time for one last dinner together.
-
Day 7: Departure
Non-riding dayAfter breakfast, we’ll farewell the amazing team who made this incredible week possible, and take a transfer back to Kiruna for our onward travels.
Transfer information
Transfers are available from Kiruna Airport or city centre (a central meeting location will be arranged). From Stockholm, there are direct flights to Kiruna taking approximately 90 minutes. These are run by SAS and Norwegian Airlines.
On day 1, please ensure your flight arrives before 3pm. And on the final day, flights can be booked anytime after breakfast (11am or later preferred but not essential).
Please note
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.
Accommodation
The accommodation on this ride is varied, with 2x nights in twin shared rooms at a farm house, 2x nights in a rustic, single-roomed cabin, and 2x nights in a Sami tepee, all sleeping around the fire in the middle. Aside from the first and last nights, this is communal living, no privacy. You will have access to showers on the first and last nights only.
Food
Each day begins with a hearty breakfast of porridge, open-faced sandwiches and hot coffee, with a simple camp-style lunch cooked over the fire and carried on the trail. Evenings offer a 2–3 course dinner rooted in Sámi traditions, featuring local ingredients such as reindeer, moose, fish, wild berries and foraged herbs. You’ll enjoy breakfast, lunch, Swedish fika and dinner daily, with the option to bring extra snacks. Water, coffee, tea and juice are provided; if you’d like alcohol, please bring your own and keep it minimal, as all belongings must be carried in your saddle bags.
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.
