Skeble Mountain Tour

Overview

Duration: 5 days/4 nights.

Accommodation: 1 night in hotel accommodation, 3 nights in traditional wooden tipis along the route.

Required: Basic riding experience to be able to handle a horse at walk, trot and canter. General good health and level of fitness, used to outdoor life and able to walk over rough terrain. Max weight 90kg. Normally suitable for participants 15-55 years, other ages possible by arrangement.

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The vast wilderness areas of Lapland in northern Sweden offer marvellous horse riding with a very special atmosphere - wide sweeping views to the horizon, crystal clear lakes and rivers and endless mountain plains.

Skeble Mountain Tour is suitable for riders of a wide range of age and ability, including novices. Using sturdy and good-natured Icelandic horses, which are ideally suited for riding in this terrain, you will spend three days exploring the Lapland mountain wilderness with accommodation in traditional huts with open fire, locally-produced food and the opportunity to fish for char and salmon trout.

Horse riding in this area gives you an excellent opportunity to come close to nature, with good chances of seeing both reindeer and elk. Notable birds include the golden eagle and sea eagle. The Vindelfjällen nature reserve is also home to one of Sweden's most important populations of the endangered Arctic Fox.

Vindelfjällen is one of the largest protected areas in Europe. It contains almost all landscape types found in the Swedish mountains, from primeval forests with spruces and pines, to the moors, marshes and the bare alpine mountain regions. The area has a number of lakes loved by a wide variety of birds. The main river in the reserve is Vindelälven, with many rapids and waterfalls.

Skeble Mountain Tour is an enjoyable and accessible horse riding holidays and the ideal option for those who would like to discover the unique pleasure of a multi-riding tour in a wilderness region.

Itinerary

Day 1

Arrival in Ammarnäs. Check-in to your hotel accommodation for the evening from 15.00. Please note that dinner for this night is not included.

Day 2

After breakfast, you will meet at 10.00 for an instruction meeting, where you will discuss your coming week in the mountains and have an opportunity to ask your guide any questions. You will go through equipment and weigh and pack your personal items into "pack-rolls". You will then select your horses for the tour and make ready for your tour. You check out from your accommodation and at 12.00 eat lunch together at Ammarnäs Wärdshus. Your experience in the wilderness begins with a ride of approx. 8km to the camp at Tjaskal.

Day 3

From Tjaskal up onto the bare mountain, you ride northwest along Stuore Jåppe. Below is the protected area for birds, Marsivagge. There are a lot of arctic birds in this area and you may see Golden Eagles. If the weather is fine, you climb the highest plateaus of the mountain peak Urtstjåkke. After about 20 km you reach Lule Skeblejaure. Accommodation in "kåta", a traditional Lapland rigid tipi.

Day 4

Today you ride through the Skebleskalet Valley up onto the long mountain of Jåppen/Gieråive, with a chance to try out the various gaits of the Icelandic horse. After 20 km you arrive at the camp at Tjaskal, where you overnighted on Day 2.

Day 5

After breakfast, you ride the remaining 8km back to Ammarnäs. You will be back around 12.00, where shower and sauna facilities (for additional charge payable locally) are available at the hotel. Lunch is also available for purchase at the hotel or at Ammarnäs Wärdshus. If you wish to stay longer in Ammarnäs before for your journey back towards "civilisation" to continue to explore the area, for example with some days' hiking, you are welcome to extend your stay with additional nights at hostel accommodation as an optional extra.

Dates & Prices

Dates

24.06-28.06.12, 15.07-19.07.12, 05.08-09.08.12, 19.08-23.08.12

The Price

Prices are in British Pounds. If you wish, you are also welcome to make your payment by bank transfer in Euros or Swedish Kronor. If this would be of interest, please let us know and we will be happy to provide prices.

£511/person (based on 2 persons sharing a room on Day 1). Single supplement: £16/person

What The Price Includes

Accommodation

One night in 2-person room in hotel in Ammarnäs, 3 nights in traditional wooden tipis along the route.

Meals

All meals and drinks from breakfast on Day 2 to breakfast on Day 5. Other drinks/snacks may be brought with you as required. Food served is from the local area and will include elk, reindeer and fish.

Equipment

Horse and riding equipment will be provided. Your personal equipment will be packed into pack-rolls, which hold approx. 40 litres. Pack-rolls will be supplied by your host.

Guide

Experienced and knowledgeable local guide.

What The Price Does Not Include

• Alcoholic drinks
• Dinner on Day 1

Optional Extras

Extra nights: You are welcome to extend your stay in the area with additional nights at the hostel in Ammarnäs before and/or after your tour. Please contact us for more information.

Practical Info

Health requirements/experience

Basic riding experience required, that is, you should be able to handle your horse at walk, trot and canter. You should have good physical condition/stamina and be used to the outdoors. Sufferers from asthma or allergies should note that you will be exposed to both hay and smoke during the tour. Dog(s) may also accompany the group on some tours. You should be reasonably flexible as you will need to lift your leg approx. 30cm over the pack rolls (which sit at the back of the saddle) without assistance. You should be able to walk without difficulty in pathless terrain. Max. weight 90kg, standard age range 15-55 years. Younger or older participants with suitable experience are also welcome by arrangement.

During the tour everyone helps with tasks such as fetching food and water and helping to lift the gates to the paddocks.

Equipment/clothes needed

A detailed recommended equipment list will be sent with your booking confirmation.

NB: We advise you not to buy equipment or clothes for your trip or to incur other non-refundable expenses such as flights until you have received confirmation of your booking from us in writing.

Groups

Max. group size 10 persons. This experience is open to travellers from all over the world. Groups may be made up of participants from a number of countries, around 70% of whom are likely to be from Scandinavia.

It is also possible to book this experience as a private tour for groups. Please contact us to discuss your requirements.

The Arctic Fox

The Arctic Fox is critically endangered, but Vindelfjällen is one of its most important ranges. Through conservation measures and supplementary feeding during winter, efforts are underway to rebuild the population.

Additional Notes

This tour has received a prestigious Swedish Ecotourism award for its commitment to high standards to cultural and environmental sensitivity.

Location

Detailed information on travel options will be sent with your booking documentation. We are happy to advise on suitable connections and assist you with any aspect of planning your journey.

By Air

Fly to Stockholm. Night train + bus connections to Ammarnäs. Total travel time from Stockholm around 15-17 hours.

Without Flying

Ferry from Harwich to Esbjerg (Denmark) for onward connections to Ammarnäs.

Map of Sweden