WINTER WONDERLAND - FINLAND
more photos | enquiry | availability check | ride reviews
In the winter Lapland, on the artic circle, becomes a winter wonderland. It is a beautiful forested wilderness with the magical northern lights. This ride is equally suited to adventurous riders who want something completely different or families wanting to visit the home of Santa Claus while seeing the real Finland en route. You stay in a typically Finnish home to experience the culture of the Sami and Finnish people, ride on Icelandic horses, which are perfectly suited to this challenging climate, at all paces including the comfortable tölt. Enjoy typically Lappish food dishes, the northern lights in the winter and the sauna – a central feature of any Finnish home! See reindeer, moose, arctic hares and much more. In season you can enjoy reindeer sledding, husky safaris, snowmobile trips, ice fishing and visit Santa Claus. There are many activities for non riders to enjoy so this holiday is also ideal for mixed ability groups or non riders.
SAMPLE ITINERARY - WINTER WONDERLAND
Day 1
Arrival and transfer to your base. Time to acclimatise, meet the horses. After that there will be a typical Lappish dinner over an open fire in the grillikota getting your horse riding holiday off to a great start.
Day 2
On your first day in Lapland we will take you on a wonderful 2 hour husky safari, and after some instuctions you can drive them yourselves! After a snack in the forest we will head back to the stables and have a riding lesson in the afternoon.
Day 3
This morning is snow mobiling! We have an introduction-tour including safety information and tips on driving the snowmobiles followed by a drive along an easy track for beginner riders. This will take around 3 hours and we will all have lunch together in the forest. After lunch another riidng lesson in the paddock.
Day 4
This morning we will drive to Ranuajärvi to learn about the reindeers. The people of Lapland have generations of knowledge of these wonderous animals. After a few activities, we depart on a reindeer sled ride and the reindeers bring us through the silent snow covered forests for about 3 hours. A unique experince and chance to enjoy the silence of nature! Lunch will be around the campfire and we will also have the chance to buy some souvenirs too.
Day 5
In the morning, you meet some very special horses, all Icelandic horses. They look like ponies especially with their long and thick winter coats, but are really horses and are very strong and friendly. After a short riding lesson, we will ride into the forest. If there is too much snow we can ride in the paddock only. In the evening, we embark on a snow-shoe-safari at Aavasaksanvaara hill nature reserve, with beautiful views over Finland and neighbouring Sweden. The guide is, as always, on hand to give you all the historic and natural information about this park. The first steps may be difficult but after a while, you will be glad to have snowshoes…. We will also try some ice fishing and learn some important basics about bushcraft.
Day 6
Optional day
Today is a rest day or we can travel to Rovaniemi and meet Santa Claus in his own village headqurters. His village is situated at the Arctic Circle. The atmosphere is very festive with large outdoor christmas trees, piles of snow, lights and music. The nearby post office is in the middle of it's busiest period - 11 million letters are received and answered yearly with those from England being the most! After a visit to all the souvenirshops, An alternative activity is to go cross country skiing or down hill skiing.
Day 7
Departure in time to catch your flight back home.
NOTES - WINTER WONDERLAND
Riding and weather:
In March some overnight trips as in the summer programme are also possible. Because the weather in Lapland can change very quickly and because it can be really cold the guide may decide for safety reasons not to go riding on a particular day if it is considered too dangerous for riders and horses. Of course should this be necessary an alternative program will be offered that day instead.
The weight limit for this ride is 14 st/198 lb/90 kg, please enquire if you are an experienced rider exceeding this weight.
WHAT IS INCLUDED
The ride includes return transfers from the meeting point, all accommodation and meals on a full board basis, snowmobile excursion (3 hours), husky sled ride (2 hours), reindeer sled ride (3 hours), visit Rovaniemi museums and Santa Claus centre, icefishing, horseriding, snowshoewalking at Aavasaksanvaara, English speaking guide and thermosuits.
WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED
Alcoholic drinks, canned drinks, extra safaris/activities and flights and transport from your home to the meeting point.
FURTHER DETAILS
As we are specialists in our field we have extensive knowledge of all our products from details of accommodation and meals to number/size/type of horses to pace of riding ... and much more.
Should you wish to receive further details of this ride please click here.
more photos | enquiry | availability check | ride reviews
