Trip Guide: Horse Riding Holiday in Norway for Experienced Riders

This guide covers everything you need to show up confident and prepared for three days of trail riding, stable work, and yoga recovery on the edge of the Rondane National Park.

You’ll partner with a Norwegian Døle horse for the week and ride through birch forests, across wildflower meadows, and up to traditional summer farms where your horse grazes while you feast on waffles and cured meats.

This is for experienced riders who can confidently canter, steer independently, and handle their horse over varied terrain. If that’s you, here’s what you actually need to know.

Getting There

Getting to Venabygdsfjellet is straightforward. Most people fly into Oslo Gardermoen Airport, then take the train to Ringebu (2.5 hours). We’ll pick you up from Ringebu station and transfer you to the hotel (20 minutes).

The train journey itself is part of the experience – you’ll watch Norway unfold outside your window as you travel north through changing landscapes.

Meeting Point: Ringebu train station
Pickup Times: 16:53 or 18:49 (18:35 on Saturdays)
Transfer Duration: 20 minutes to hotel

Fitness & Skill Level

This trip is rated moderate. You’ll be active for 4-6 hours daily with riding, stable work, and physiotherapist-led exercises. There’s also yoga and the chance to wild swim in the local lake. The main challenge comes from consecutive days in the saddle, handling horses independently on varied terrain, and long rides including the full-day summer farm trip.

You’ll need solid riding experience and a decent fitness level. If you currently ride regularly or used to ride regularly with experience on trails, you’ll manage fine. As long as you’re ready for hours in the saddle over consecutive days, stable work, and a full-day ride over two mountain peaks, you’ll be okay.

Experience Requirements

• • Confidence at rising trot and canter while maintaining control
  • Ability to steer independently at all paces
  • Mounting and dismounting without assistance (mounting blocks are available)
  • Comfort leading your horse on foot over rocky or uneven ground
  • Experience with trail riding, not just arena work
  • Understanding of basic horse care and body language

If you’re returning to riding after a break, you still need these foundational skills and the confidence to manage a horse independently.

Fitness Requirements

Medium to high-intensity cardio three times a week for around 45 minutes. Running, cycling and spin classes for example, activities that get your heart pumping. Walking and yoga alone won’t cut it for the demands of consecutive riding days and stable work, but they will help with your balance and flexibility.

The Horses

Most horses are Dole horses (Dølahest), native to this region and bred for mountain terrain. They’re calm, reliable, and steady on uneven ground. If you’ve previously ridden thoroughbreds or competition horses, these Norwegian horses are far more relaxed but still full of personality. They comfortably carry 90kg but if you’re over this weight and keen to join, email our bookings team and we’ll check with the stables to see if we can accommodate you.

Self-Sufficiency & Safety

This trip requires independent riders capable of handling their horse in various situations. Guides are always there for support, but you need to confidently manage your own mount; from navigating obstacles and adjusting pace, to responding to terrain changes. For safety and group dynamics, riders who don’t meet the required skill level can’t join.

If you’re unsure whether you’re ready for this trip, talk to our Bookings Team.

Sleep & Eat

You’ll stay at a family-run mountain hotel, where every window frames views over lakes, mountains, and forests. It’s full-on traditional Norwegian hospitality – a cosy lounge with open fire (yes, even in summer if it’s cool enough), a spacious yoga studio, sauna, and a lake access for wild swimming too.

The rooms are simple, comfortable, and light-filled with mountain-style decor and en-suite bathrooms.  There’s also good WiFi throughout, free tea and coffee always available in the lounge, and a bar for evening drinks.

Food

The food here is incredible, with a menu packed full of traditional, homemade Norwegian fare designed to fuel active days. There’s a generous breakfast buffet, a plentiful lunch buffet, and three-course set menu dinners featuring local ingredients and regional dishes. The kitchen prioritises quality and caters for all dietary requirements without scrimping on taste.

One Note About Dogs

The hotel is dog-friendly with 2-3 resident dogs. They won’t enter bedrooms, but you’ll see them in communal areas. Everything is cleaned thoroughly, but please flag to us before booking if you do have an allergy to dog hair.

Weather

Even in summer, the Norwegian mountains can be fairly cool – it’s more like late spring in the UK than Mediterranean heat. Days might be pleasant, but mornings and evenings can be chilly, and weather changes fast in the mountains.

Expect temperatures ranging from 10-20°C (50-68°F) depending on when exactly you go. You might also get sunshine and rain in the same day.

The terrain varies from forest trails and gravel paths to open meadows and rocky sections. You’ll be riding in the mountains through Rondane National Park, so conditions can shift quickly even when it looks clear.

Good to Know

Money: The hotel and local shops accept card, so you don’t need to bring cash. Most things on this trip are included, but you might want to budget for personal purchases, extra snacks or drinks with dinner.

Communication: Good WiFi throughout the hotel means you can stay connected. Phone coverage is generally good in Ringebu and at the hotel, though you might lose signal on some trail rides. That’s not a bad thing – it’s a chance to properly switch off.

Tipping: Tipping is not compulsory on our adventures, but if you’ve had a great trip and brilliant service, a tip for your guide or host is always appreciated. We recommend giving 200-300 NOK, or whatever you can or feel is the right amount.

Packing List

What We Provide

• • Riding helmets (all sizes)
  • Waist bags for essentials while riding

What You Need to Bring

Essential Riding Clothing:

• Riding boots or sturdy boots with heel (you won’t be allowed to ride without proper footwear)
• Jodhpurs or trousers without rough inner seams (no shorts and no jeans)
• Warm base layers for cool weather
• Long-sleeved shirts to protect your arms
• Warm jumper or fleece for cool mornings and evenings
• Waterproof jacket (essential as mountain rainstorms come in fast)
• Gloves for riding

For the Hotel:

• • Clean, non-riding clothes for evenings and lunchtime (hotel is relaxed, no need to dress up)
  • Yoga clothes
  • Swimwear for the sauna and wild swimming
  • Comfortable slippers for around hotel

Essential Kit:

• • Daypack for bringing layers, snacks and water to/from stables
  • Water bottle
  • Compeed/blister plasters
  • Personal toiletries and medications
  • Sun cream and sunglasses
  • Insect repellent

Packing Tips

Fabric Choices: Avoid cotton for riding – it absorbs sweat and stays damp. Choose synthetic or merino base layers that wick moisture and dry quickly. Your riding clothes will get dirty and sweaty, but that’s fine – rewear them the next day as they’ll just get dirty again.

Footwear: You need riding boots or sturdy boots with a heel. Boots should preferably have some grip and not be too chunky as they need to fit in the stirrup. Use what you usually ride in at home.

Layering for Variable Weather: Norwegian summer means layering. Pack versatile pieces you can add or remove easily.

Trip Code NORVENHRSE – Include this code in any message so we can find your trip straight away.