The hook
Sweden's riding holiday offer is concentrated in one region and one breed: Lapland and the Icelandic horse. North of the Arctic Circle, in the country of the Sami (the indigenous reindeer-herding people of Sápmi), small family operations run multi-day trail rides through some of Europe's last genuine wilderness. The horses are sure-footed Icelandics, the guides are Sami, the food is reindeer and fish cooked over open fires, and the nights are spent in lávvu (Sami tepees) sleeping around the central fire under the midnight sun in summer or the northern lights in winter.
This is not a holiday in any conventional sense. It's an expedition into a culture and landscape that almost no one outside Scandinavia knows well, undertaken on horses bred for exactly this work. The summer trails wander through pathless mountain country toward the Kebnekaise massif (Sweden's highest peak); the winter rides cross frozen lakes and snow-clad taiga forest at temperatures down to minus 35°C. Both are bucket-list experiences for the right rider.
What Sweden offers that few other destinations match is the Sami cultural element. You're guided by people whose families have herded reindeer in this country for thousands of years.
Why Sweden
The wilderness. Often described as Europe's last remaining wilderness, Swedish Lapland has population densities lower than most of Mongolia. You can ride for days without seeing another person who isn't part of your group.
The Sami culture. The Sami are the indigenous people of Sápmi (the region spanning northern Norway, Sweden, Finland and Russia's Kola peninsula). Their language, traditions, food, dress and reindeer-herding way of life remain genuinely distinct.
Icelandic horses on Arctic terrain. Sweden's Icelandic horse population is robust and well-suited to the climate. The same five-gaited horses you'd ride in Iceland, but in dramatically different country.
Year-round riding. Summer for midnight sun rides through tundra and forest; winter for northern lights rides through snow-clad taiga and across frozen lakes.
Reasonable cost for the category. Cheaper than Norway across most categories. A multi-day Lapland trail ride often comes in below £3,000 all-inclusive, which is exceptional value for a true wilderness expedition.
Combined activity itineraries. Most Lapland operators bundle riding with reindeer sledging, dog sledding, snowmobiling, ICEHOTEL visits, and Sami cultural meetings.
Who it's for
Adventure travellers comfortable with simplicity. Sami tepee accommodation, communal fires, no electricity, no toilets on the trail, sleeping in reindeer skins and sleeping bags.
Confident intermediate or above riders for multi-day trails. Some experience of varied terrain and mountain country needed.
Travellers prioritising culture as much as riding. Without genuine interest in Sami life, the trips lose half their point.
Solo travellers. Excellent for solo bookings; the small-group format and shared accommodation create natural sociability. Single supplements often waived.
Bucket-list riders. Sweden Lapland sits on the list alongside Iceland highland tours, Mongolia and Patagonia.
Less ideal for: travellers wanting hotel-grade comfort, total beginners (multi-day expedition format requires baseline competence), riders allergic to reindeer or fur (sleeping arrangements include reindeer skins), anyone unwilling to help with camp chores.
When to go
June to September is summer riding season. Late June to mid-July is midnight sun period. Mid-July to August is peak summer season. September is shoulder.
December to March is winter riding season. Mid-December to early January is polar night. January to early March is peak Aurora season.
April, May, October, November are largely closed. Mud season in spring, freeze-up in autumn.
What to expect
Summer format: 1-2 nights at the host farm. 4-7 days on the trail with daily distances of 25 to 35km. 5-8 hours per day in the saddle. Sami tepees (lávvu) for overnight stops on the trail. Pack horse carrying communal kitchen and food. Personal kit in saddlebags. Sami host meals at the farm; trail food cooked over open fire.
Winter format: mostly farm-based with day rides outward. 4 nights at base accommodation (cabin, sometimes glamping). 2 to 3 hours of riding per day in cold conditions. Combined with reindeer sledging, dog sledding, snowmobiling, ICEHOTEL visit.
Critical: the rider weight limit on most Lapland operations is 85kg or 90kg. Confirm at booking. Mongolian-style "we'll figure it out" doesn't apply; the horses can't carry more.
Practical info
- Flights from UK: London or Manchester to Stockholm (2.5h direct), connecting to Kiruna (KRN), Luleå (LLA), or Skellefteå (SFT). Total UK to Lapland: 6-9 hours including connections.
- Visa: none required for UK passport
- Currency: Swedish Krona (SEK)
- Pack (summer): own boots, helmet, breeches, multiple layers (mountain weather), waterproofs, warm hat, insect repellent, travel sheet for sleeping bag, head torch.
- Pack (winter): all of above plus heavy thermal layers, balaclava, ski-grade gloves, warm boots, hand warmers, winter sleeping bag (operators usually supply outer layer; bring inner liner).
- Travel insurance: must cover horse riding, remote area evacuation, and cold-weather risks.
- Phone signal: patchy outside Kiruna; non-existent on multi-day mountain trails.
Saddl insider tips
- Honest weight declaration is non-negotiable. Lapland operators reserve the right to refuse riders who exceed declared weight at the farm. The horses cannot carry more.
- Mosquitoes in July and early August are intense. Bring strong repellent (DEET-based) and a head net for the worst days.
- The summer multi-day mountain trail is more physically demanding than the operator listings suggest.
- Combine winter Lapland riding with one ICEHOTEL night. The original ICEHOTEL at Jukkasjärvi is the highlight.
- Sami cultural elements vary in authenticity by operator. Sami-owned operations (HorseXplore, Ofelaš) deliver this as their cultural birthright.
- Don't try to combine Lapland with Stockholm city sightseeing in less than 10 days. The travel time alone is significant.
- Vegetarians and special dietary requirements should declare at booking. Some operations cannot accommodate.
