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Types of Skiing Explained: Alpine, Nordic, Touring & SkateNorway
Jun - Sep
Learn to ride through birch forest, open meadows and mountain plateaus, in one of Norway’s wildest national parks.
Beginner
Moderate
Home Comforts
From
£1,649
(USD $2,588.93)
Explore Norway on Horse Back
Always dreamed of having your own pony? This riding holiday for beginners lets you explore a national park on your own horse, through winding valleys and open countryside, with Norway’s peaks as your backdrop. Learn everything, from grooming and saddling to building confidence on forest trails. This is trail riding where every route comes with scenery that’ll stop you mid-step.
Stay in a cosy mountain hotel with sauna sessions, yoga classes and wild lake swimming (for the brave). It’s small groups with experienced guides – the kind of riding that’ll leave you browsing horses for sale online.
An Active Agenda
No Hidden Costs
Arena lessons and guided trail rides - perfect for beginners
Sessions to stretch out after active days - all levels welcome
Lake access and traditional Norwegian sauna sessions
Traditional Norwegian lunch experience with local farmers sharing mountain history
Helmets and waist bags for riding, plus all stable gear and horse care equipment
Family-run mountain hotel with panoramic views
Hearty breakfasts, packed lunches, and three-course Norwegian dinners
Professional riding instructors for all lessons and tours, plus your Gutsy Girls host
Pick-up and drop-off at Ringebu train station
Activity Overview
Learn to ride in the Rondane National Park, where the backdrop changes from forest to meadow to mountain peaks with every trail. Build horse riding skills while exploring Norwegian mountain landscapes from the saddle.
Each day starts with hands-on lessons on the ground to build your equine knowledge, then there’s time in the arena to refine your skills before venturing out on the trails.
You’ll get your own Døla horse for the week and learn essential horsemanship – reading body language, grooming, and saddling. Time in the stables is as much of a highlight as the rides themselves, as you get a chance to bond with your horse.
Activity Overview
Stretch out any saddle-sore muscles with yoga sessions designed for post-riding recovery. Three sessions help your body recover from long days in the saddle and at the stables. When weather allows, take your practice lakeside for mountain views to accompany your warrior pose.
Activity Overview
Take a break from the saddle and explore Rondane National Park on foot. This 12km hike takes you through wildflower meadows to a rustic summer farm where you’ll enjoy a traditional Norwegian lunch and learn local folklore from the farmers who still works the land.
Expect rough, uneven terrain with 270m of ascent and descent – your legs will appreciate the break from riding, even if they’re working in different ways.
Activity Overview
Follow Norwegian tradition with sauna sessions and wild lake swimming (if you’re brave enough for mountain water that’ll wake every nerve ending.)
The Destination
Your Adventure Starts Here
Board the train from Oslo Gardermoen Airport to Ringebu and watch Norway unfold outside your window. At the station, hop on the transfer bus for the final 20 minutes to the hotel. Your week starts now.
Three course dinner with the group to kick things off. Afterwards, meet your expert guide who will talk you through the week ahead.
After breakfast, you'll meet your horse for the week and learn the basics - grooming, tacking up and how to read your horse’s body language. Then saddle up and head to the arena to get the essentials down.
Fuel up at lunch, then head out for your first proper ride. Back at the hotel, stretch it all out with a much needed yoga session.
Enjoy a three-course dinner and toast a successful first day.
Start with yoga, then breakfast. Head down to the stables to groom your horse and learn more about how to read equine body language, followed by another arena lesson to sharpen your skills.
Lunch, then it's time to go out on the trails. Stunning countryside, growing confidence, and that connection with your horse clicking into place.
Swim or sauna, maybe both. Then dinner featuring traditional Norwegian fare where you'll learn more about the culture and history of this incredible area.
Lakeside yoga if the weather plays nice, studio if it doesn't. Breakfast, then swap your saddle for hiking boots and trek to Lykkjesetra summer farm - 12km through landscapes that'll stay with you. Learn local folklore along the way, then lunch at the farm.
12km
Back on horseback for a longer ride through the national park. This is the big one. Then it’s time to say goodbye and thank you to the horses for an incredible week.
If there's time enjoy a sauna and wild swim before another hearty three-course meal. You'll sleep well tonight.
Breakfast, then pack a lunch for the train. One last morning to buy souvenirs and take any final photos before starting your journey home.
Transfer back to Ringebu station to catch your train back to Oslo.
Rest & Refuel
Stay in a family-run mountain hotel, with views for days over the mountain-strewn landscapes. Spacious basic rooms with ensuite bathrooms, a yoga studio for morning stretches, a sauna to ease tired legs, and a lounge with an open fire. It's cosy, welcoming, and exactly what you need after hours in the saddle.
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Enjoy a buffet breakfast and lunch, as well as three-course dinners every evening - the food is unbeatable here. All dietary requirements are catered for, plus you’ll get the chance to taste test some local Norwegian dishes.
Please get in touch before booking if you have a severe allergy.
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Book now
The Essentials
| Accommodation |
Home Comforts A family-run mountain hotel with basic cosy private and shared ensuite rooms.
|
|---|---|
| Food |
All meals included. While care is taken to minimise cross-contamination, we can’t guarantee allergen-free dishes – if you have a severe allergy, please contact us before booking.
|
| Fitness Level |
2
Moderate Learning to control a 500kg animal across mountain terrain while spending up to three hours daily in the saddle, handling stable work and fitting in a proper hike works your body in ways that are harder to predict than a standard active holiday. Core strength and balance matter more than cardiovascular fitness here, and the 12km hike with 270m elevation gain through rough terrain adds a different kind of effort on top. If you’re regularly active and back-to-back physical days suit you, you’ll handle this well. You'll Need To Be
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| Skill Level |
1
Beginner No horse riding experience needed, this is a trip designed for first-timers. You just need a willingness to learn and the confidence to build a relationship with a large animal. Beginner is the skill level. It’s not an easy trip. Check the Fitness Level above. Not sure what level you are? Our Trip Rating Guide explains how we score fitness and skill. |
| Packing List |
Below is an indication of the specialist items you will need, and might have to invest in before your adventure! For a full list of what you’ll need to bring, check out the trip guide. We Provide
You'll Need
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| Travel |
The meeting point for this trip is Ringebu train station. Alternative routes and travel information are in our trip guide. |
| Not Included |
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| Trip Code |
NORVENHRSB |
The Answers
None at all. This trip is designed for complete beginners who’ve always wanted to learn. We start with the basics – how to groom, tack up, and read your horse’s body language – all before you even get in the saddle. You’ll have your own horse for the week and learn the skills to build your relationship from day one.
You need a moderate level of fitness. You’ll be riding 2-3 hours daily plus another 3 hours working at the stables, with one day hiking 12km in the surrounding national park. If you can handle consecutive active days and don’t mind muscle soreness, you’ll manage fine. The yoga and sauna help with recovery.
You’ll move your body every day, but you don’t need to be an athlete. It’s not a gentle hack around a paddock, but we’re not exactly jumping cross-country either. Think active holiday with proper physical challenges.
Yes, the majority of the horses at the stables are Norwegian Døla horses, known for being calm and sure-footed and built for mountain terrain. Our experienced instructors also start you slow with arena work before any trail rides. You’ll also wear a helmet and learn horse riding basics from day one.
Riding helmets are included – we don’t compromise on safety. You’ll need your own boots with a small heel (riding or walking boots work), comfortable trousers that won’t rub (no inside seam!), and layers for changing weather. Full kit list provided after booking.
You’ll get three yoga sessions designed for post-riding recovery. All levels are welcome – the focus is on stretching out those saddle-sore muscles and building core strength to help with your riding.
Fly into Oslo, then it’s about a 2.5 hour train ride up to Ringebu station to meet our set-time mini bus for the short transfer to the hotel. The journey through Norwegian countryside becomes part of the adventure.
Our transfer runs from Ringebu train station to your hotel on arrival and departure day. You are responsible for getting to Ringebu station – train tickets can be purchased 90-60 days in advance from vy.no/en.
Transfer timings:
We recommend getting to Ringebu and booking a private transfer from the station to the hotel. This ranges in cost depending on the time of day – from 150 NOK to 750 NOK. Get in touch with the booking team to book.
Norwegian mountain weather changes fast. Expect anything from sunshine to sudden rain showers, with temperatures ranging from 10-20°C. You might need a fleece in the morning and be in a t-shirt by lunch. Check the packing list and come prepared for everything.
Absolutely. Our guides adjust daily plans to ensure the best (and safest) experience, depending on the weather. Trail rides might move indoors to arena work, or hiking could switch to stable time. Don’t worry – you’ll still get your full adventure!
Card payments are accepted everywhere, and you may need to budget a bit more for any extra drinks, snacks and any souvenirs.
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