Finland - Lapland Wilderness Ride

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Day 1
Upon arrival at the farm, riders are welcomed into the serene beauty of Lapland. The experience begins with an introduction to the farm and its Finnish horses, offering an opportunity to become familiar with the animals and the upcoming adventure. A short familiarization ride follows, allowing riders to adjust to their horses and take in the surrounding landscapes. After returning from the ride, enjoy lunch before settling into the charming wilderness cabins, nestled deep in the forest. The cabins sleep 2 and feature large windows and skylights that provide breathtaking views of the Lapland sky. Relax over dinner that showcases local delicacies, followed by a traditional sauna in the heart of nature.

Day 2
Following breakfast, riders embark on a full-day horseback trek through Lapland’s beatiful and diverse landscape. The journey winds through forest trails and across fells, immersive riders in nature’s tranquility. Stop for a picnic lunch along the way while the guide shares fascinating insights into the local environment and history. In the afternoon, riders return to the Wilderness Cabin to freshen up nd relax before dinner and a sauna. 

Day 3
The final morning begins with breakfast before setting off on one last trek, venturing even deeper into Lapland’s pristine wilderness. Stop for a picnic lunch and take a moment to reflect on the journey and appreciate the natural beauty of the Arctic. On returning to the farm say a fond farewell to the horses and the friendly hosts before departure.

Please note: All itineraries are given for your guidance only and it may be altered on the ground and in accordance with the prevailing conditions by the organising team.

There are 5 Finnish horses available for riding, each one is regarded as a member of the family! They are all good-natured, calm and forward-going. Finnish horses are a hardy, cold-blooded breed who are used to the harsh conditions of Lapland. They have been used for centuries for agricultual draught work and although they are seen as 'robust' they are light underhand. Finn horses have an average height of around 15.1hh.

The pace of the riding is steady, mostly walking with short busts of trot or tölt and some cantering where terrain allows. The tack is English with leather saddles and snaffle bits. They are ridden in a loose-rein style. You are asked to help groom, tack-up and look after your horse.

All abilities can be catered for on this holiday. There are canters where terrain allows. Minimum age is 13 years old; maximum rider weight is 90kgs.

The weight limit for this ride is 198 lb/90 kg, please enquire if you are an experienced rider exceeding this weight.

Each cabin sleeps 2 and is well equipped with an eco-toilet, a small sink with a water tank for hand washing, and a pellet stove that provides warmth. There’s also a USB socket powered by a small generator to charge your devices. There is no electricity in the cabins. Breakfast and dinner are served in the nearby “Metsola” wooden house. A traditional Finnish wood-heated sauna is also close to the cabins.

Vegetarian or other dietary requirements within reason can be accommodated with advance notice. Please contact Unicorn Trails with requests before booking.

Please note that it is your responsibility to ensure you have the correct documentation in place for your trip. NB: Be sure to check the COVID status of the country you plan to visit including entry procedures and requirements while travelling. Passport and Visa requirements can change regularly depending on diplomatic relations. Please request information from the appropriate Consulate in your home country. Unicorn Trails will assist with any questions you have or supply any necessary supporting documents as required by the consulate should you need a visa. In the UK the British Foreign Office gives advice: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/finland In the USA: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Finland.html In Canada: https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/finland

Another useful resource is Sherpa - this summarises any travel and vaccination requirements based on when you are travelling simply by entering your home country followed by your destination country: https://apply.joinsherpa.com/travel-restrictions

Your hosts have experienced a wealth of weather conditions in this part of Finland. In Enontekiö you may experience snow in August, or, as in 2013, +20 degrees!
In the summer, there is 24 hours of daylight, and for a number of weeks in June and July there is midnight sun. The warmest month is usually July.
Autumn is a time of bright colours in nature, and the spectacular “ruska” period begins in September. Please note that it can be snowing in September. It heralds the berry picking season shortly followed by the mushroom gathering season.
Winter usually brings a good deal of snow (average of 1.9m), with starry night skies and northern lights.

Winter comes in two stages, first the dark period which is called Kaamos – the darkest time of year. This period lasts until January. Then comes the light period of winter. By the end of January, the light and sun return. In early spring, the sun rises on sparkling seas and lakes still covered by thick ice. This is a time of ice fishing and skiing. The ice on the River Tornio dramatically breaks up at the end of April or beginning of May, while the ice on normal sized lakes remains until around 15 May.

Here are the typical dates for the start of the different seasons of the year: Spring 20th April, Summer 1st June, Autumn 5th September and Winter 25th October. The division of the seasons is based on the climate, where winter is defined as the period when the average temperature over 24 hours is below zero, and summer is when it is above +10°C. Spring and autumn are when the average 24 hour temperature is between 0°C and +10°C.

COVID: Be sure to check the latest COVID regulations for travelling in any country you visit.

Please refer to your country’s latest health guideline for travel in Finland and contact your own GP for up to date advice on vaccinations and prophylaxis prior to travel.

In Finland the supply voltage is 230V. If the appliance is a single voltage rated appliance, it will need to operate at the same voltage as the supply voltage of the country i.e. 230V. If this is not the case it should be used alongside a voltage transformer or converter to allow the appliance to work safely and properly.

There is no electricity in the cabins but there is a USB socket powered by a small generator to charge devices. If using a GoPro please ensure that you have the permission of the group to be filmed.

Pack as you usually would for a holiday, for e.g. sunglasses, toiletries, casual clothes, and then these are your Horse Riding holiday essentials. If you are unsure, please speak with your Travel Consultant:
ESSENTIALS FOR ALL RIDING HOLIDAYS
- Riding helmet – complying with current EU & British standards (some locations can provide them but if possible bring your own for comfort and correct fit)
- Riding boots designed for riding and walking
- Riding gloves
- Chaps
- At least 2 pairs of riding trousers – jodhpur’s/breeches are best for anything, except western riding (Jeans)
- Long sleeved shirts
- Lightweight waterproof
- Water bottle
- Mobile phone
COLDER CLIMATES
- Layers are best
- Waterproof coat, gloves & trousers
(Seat savers will soak up water in wet weather so bear that in mind)

3d / 2n programme with 3 riding days available on set dates.

2025: 2, 12, 19, 26 Jun; 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 Jul; 7, 14, 21, 28 Aug; 4, 11, 18, 25 Sep; 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 Oct

Riders must be comfortable in all three paces

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Finland (Travellers)  - Jon Sparks

The Sami of Northern Europe - Deborah B. Robinson

Lappish cooking from fire and fell - Päivikki Palosaari

For the equestrian traveller who would like to see what is possible on horseback visit www.thelongridersguild.com.

Another excellent source of equestrian travel books is www.horsetravelbooks.com

Finland is an outdoor country in summer and winter and there is a whole host of outdoor activities on offer here, for riders and non-rider alike.
Your hosts are qualified wilderness guides and can speak English, Finnish, Swedish, French and German. There are many other activities on offer such as fishing, canoeing, mountain biking and hiking.

There is an abundance of birds, moose, foxes and reindeer in Enontekiö but it is largely a case of they can see you but you can't see them!
Finland is Europes most forrested country and also boasts lakes over 10% of its surface areas and within those, more than 100 000 islands. With a very low population density and an open access to all land (including privately owned), the wildlife has a free rein in Finland. The range is similar to the pine and birch forests in the rest of Scandanavia and northern Russia including: reindeer, moose, foxes, ermine, deer, snow hare, bears, pheasants, partridges, owls, cranes, wild swans, lemmings, salamanders, rare butterflies.
There are also many varieties of edible berries, which are all freely available for picking in the vast forests in September. As well as the more common blueberries, cranberries, loganberries there are more exotic ones such as the yellow clouberries. Just after the berries the mushroom season starts – it is advised to take a local expert guide to distinguish the many edible varieties from the few very poisonous ones!

Pasi has been a qualified nature wilderness guide for over 30 years and alongside his horses he also loves his dogs and their welfare. Amongst his many jobs Pasi is a 'musher', sled-dog breeder and the head of a pack of 40 Huskies. 

Finland (Finnish: Suomi, Swedish: Finland) is in Northern Europe and has borders with Russia to the east, Norway to the north, and Sweden to the west.

The country is a thoroughly modern welfare state with well-planned and comfortable small towns and cities, but still offers vast areas of unspoiled nature. Finland has approximately 188,000 lakes (about 10% of the country) and a similar number of islands. In the northernmost part of the country the Northern Lights can be seen in the winter and midnight sun in the summer. Finns also claim the mythical mountain of Korvatunturi as the home of Santa Claus, and a burgeoning tourist industry in Lapland caters to Santa fans.

Despite living in one of the most technologically developed countries in the world, Finns love to head to their summer cottages in the warmer months to enjoy all manner of relaxing pastimes including sauna, swimming, fishing and barbecuing. Today, Finland has a distinctive language and culture that sets it apart from the rest of Nordic Europe.