Icelandic Horse Riding in Sweden: Ride Icelandic Horses in Lapland

Photos: Helena Ifrig

The River Vindelälv

Wild, striking rapids rush through Vindelfjällen. The River Vindelälv is a National River, protected from being regulated for hydro-electric power.

Below its source, the small river passes the summer settlement of Gran Sámi at Vindelkroken. It then runs through the beautiful valley of Vindelådalen, which was used by settlers on the trade routes to Norway.

The river eventually gushes over the rapids at Vindelåforsen before reaching the Ammarnäs Delta. The River Vindelälv is an excellent river for fly-fishing.

Horse Riding > The Björkfjäll Tour

At a glance

Duration: 8 days

Dates/Period: 28.06-05.07.09, 12.07-19.07.09, 26.07-02.08.09

Price: from £702/person

Accommodation: Wooden wigwams plus choice of hostel, hotel or cabin accommodation.

Required: It is not necessary to be an experienced rider for this tour, but participants should feel that they would be willing to gallop. In saddle up to 7 hrs/day. Children 12 or over. Max 95kg. Good general health.

Map of Sweden

Discover the Lapland wilderness on horseback on this mountain expedition into Sweden's largest nature reserve

Icelandic horse riding holidays in Sweden: Vindelfjällen

Visit Sweden's largest nature reserve, stay in a beautiful mountain village and explore the surrounding mountains by Icelandic horse.

Vindelfjällen's Nature Reserve lies in remote north of Sweden and is one of Europe's largest protected natural areas covering an area of over half a million hectares. The mountain village is situated within the reserve on an old route to Norway.

In Vindelfjällen, nature displays not only its vastness and grandeur but also its small-scale wonders. The tiny drop of melt-water from a glacier that splashes onto the petal of a glacier crowfoot eventually forms part of a roaring national river - the Vindelälv.

Photo: Helena Ifrig

This is an 8-day experience amid the majestic mountainscapes and endless horizons of Lapland, including 3-day mountain riding tour, guided canoeing, beaver safari and cultural visits. You will ride along the Vindelälven river, on mountain plains and to altitudes of 900m-1000m. Up on the bare mountain, Björkfjöllet, the view takes in both steep mountains and wide expanses.

You will be riding on Icelandic horses. Sure-footed, keen and good-natured, these horses are a joy to ride and very beautiful, with unusual colours and long, shaggy manes and thick coats. They are compact, yet powerful, growing to between 12.2 and 15 hands high. Icelandic horses are willing and spirited animals to ride. In addition to the usual walk, trot and canter that most breeds have, these horses possess two unique gaits - the tölt and the pace, a faster version of the tölt for more experienced riders.

You will also get to enjoy a hot bath in an outdoor wood-heated barrel with a magnificent view over the surrounding mountains. This experience has it all: relax and just taking in the scenery, get to know an area rich in culture and history, and ride out on the mountain plains to experience the real wilderness of northern Sweden.

Read our blog post about the Vindel Mountains.