KIRUNA - in Swedish Lapland

To choose a longer tour with Icelandic horse in the mountains is a perfect way to see the mountains. You get to know the Icelandic horse, have an adventure, be out in the nature, sit round a campfire, learn about the Sami culture and sleep in a Sami tent (lávvu). The main things will be the horse, riding, nature, weather and food, a long way away from stress. This tour is for you who want to ride up in the mountains with great views, near the nature in an area where very few people are. Mostly we ride in pathless terrain or on small paths so we are mostly riding quiet slowly. This is also for you who do not mind helping out with camping chores and not mind to be without luxury to experience the natural way of being out in the nature.

The first day we start in the morning from the small village Orusjohka. You get a horse which suits you. We ride on the north side of the Kalix river and ride up to our overnight place close to a reindeer corral. After lunch we ride on a tour on the bare mountain and come back to our overnight place. After breakfast next day we pack and ride west over the bare mounatain with a fantastic view. This night we stay overnight close to the mountain range. We finish the riding day3 in the afternoon in Nikkaluokta down in the valley.

Mostly we ride in pathless terrain and on small tracks so the tempo is not so high. We ride on the bare mountain, in svamp areas and in the forest. Both nights we sleep in a Sami tepee (lávvu) where we sleep in sleeping bags round the fireplace. In the tepee we can make a fire in the middle if we want to. During the tour we have an extra horse carrying the food and other things, but everyone carries her/his own personal things in saddle-bags on the own horse. For washing ourselves we use the clean water in the mounatain creeks. It is good if you have some experience of camping.

We ride 15-25 km each day. The food we cook together over a fire when we are outdoors. The food is exclusive specialities from this area, for example reindeer meat and fish prepared in a traditional way. On the tour we help each other with the horses and with camp chores. Sometimes we need to lead the horses when the terrain demands it. Because we are riding in a mountain area we have sometimes to change the route because of the weather.

The Icelandic horse is a strong horse but not very big so the rider´s max weight is 90 kg. We lend you a riding helmet. Minimum age is 12 years. 3-8 persons/tour.

Length: 3 days and 2 nights (3 whole days of riding) (start first day in the morning).

Included: horse with equipment, guide (Swedish- and English speaking), full board and lodging (lunch day 1-lunch day 3), helmet, sleeping bag, transfer.

Riding experience: Yes, able to control a horse in open terrain, good physical health.

Dates: 2-4 August 2011 (other dates can also be reserved).