Icelandic Horse Vacation & Husky Sled Tour in Scandinavia

Experience the snow-covered nature around the Paljakka Nature Reserve on with an Icelandic horse vacation and a chance to ride on your own dog sled. The trip includes three horse rides and a dog sled tour through Finland's fabulous winter landscape. Experience the most beautiful landscape in the far north on horseback.

Icelandic horses in Lapland: The itinerary

Day 1: Arrival
Arrive via Kajaani airport and transfer to the accommodation. Dinner will already be waiting for you and you will receive all the information about the planned activities and adventures ahead of you. Look forward to eventful days in the far north with huskies and Icelandic horses!

Day 2: The dog sled tour
After breakfast, you will receive detailed instruction on how to steer and brake the dog sled independently. Afterwards, the excited sled dogs will be prepared for the upcoming tour and harnessed. Glide through the beautiful winter landscape of Finland, over frozen lakes and through dense forests. After about 1.5 hours you will return but will have enough time to pet the dogs. After a warm lunch, you will head out again on a guided snowshoe hike (approximately 1-2h) in the Finnish forests. With a little luck, you will discover a dipper or beaver or at least its traces in the wilderness.


Day 3: On Icelandic horses through Finland
After the breakfast buffet, you will meet the friendly Icelandic horses. Each guest gets his own horse, which he will ride throughout the tour. The horses will be prepared for riding and then you can head out into the snowy surroundings of the protected Paljakka nature reserve. The riding time is around 1 hour, in which time you can enjoy different kinds of flora and natural wonders. After lunch, relax in the sauna or explore the area with a traditional sled. Sleds are a common means of transport in Finland, used by anyone from children to retirees.

Day 4: Happiness is on horseback
The second ride on your Icelandic horse vacation will be about 1.5 hours, and will take you to a mountain, from which you will have the most breathtaking view. After the horses have been cared for together, drive to a traditional kota to enjoy lunch. After you have rested, go with snowshoes or forest skiis back to the accommodation (about 3 hours).

Day 5: On snowshoes through Lapland
Today you get to go snowshoeing to lake Iso Särkijärvi (3.5km). Here you can have lunch around the campfire and then enjoy a typical Finnish sauna. And if you dare, take a refreshing bath in the ice-hole after the sauna! Let the day fade away in a cosy atmosphere and keep your eyes open: with any luck you will see the magical auroras dancing in the night sky!

Day 6: A ride through snowy forests
Today the ride takes you (about 2 hours) to a wooded mountain, where you can admire snow-covered and ancient spruce trees. After the horses have been taken care of, there will be lunch. The afternoon can be spent according to your wishes, e.g. cross-country skiing, ice fishing, or just relaxing.

Day 7: Journey home
After a hearty breakfast and a last visit to the horses and dogs, we head to the airport so that you can make your onward journey. You will home, with many unforgettable memories of Icelandic horses, excitable huskies, and aboslutely stunning winter landscapes.

Group size: Very small groups of only 1-3 persons (prerequisite: preparation of a horse, riding in the basic gaits, no experience in tölt required, up to 85kg body weight).

Accomodation: The small guesthouse in traditional Finnish country house style is in the middle of nature on the edge of the Paljakka nature reserve, far away from tourism and a great place for nature lovers. Meals prepared are primarily natural food. Sauna and gym available. Accommodation in a double room, or single room reservation available at an additional € 400 - / p.

With Icelandic horses through Finland: Many more activities await you!

In addition to horseback riding and dog sledding, other on-site activities are available at no extra charge. Ice fishing, skiing and snowshoeing are included.

Important information: A German-speaking guide is available. The safety of the guests comes first. For this reason, we reserve the right to change itinerary if weather conditions or the needs of guests, horses or dogs so require.