There are not many activities as cool as horseback riding in the Lofoten Islands that you can partake in when in this otherworldly part of Northern Norway.
If youʻre booking your trip to the Lofoten Islands at the last minute, we have you covered. Below are some of the top tours, hotels, and more!
🇳🇴 Top activities and tours in Lofoten:
- Guided Horse Riding Tour on Gimsøy (see more below; I loved it!)
- Sea eagle safari from Svolvær to Trollfjorden (my favorite year-round tour!)
- Northern Lights tour from Svolvær (great in winter!)
🛌 Best places to stay in the Lofoten Islands:
- Svinøya Rorbuer (Svolvær fishermen cabins – my fave!)
- Nusfjord Arctic Resort (Nusfjord)
- Eliassen Rorbuer (Hamnøy)
- Reine Rorbuer by Classic Hotels Norway (Reine)
🚗 Visiting Lofoten independently? Be sure to book your rental car ahead of time to ensure availability!
We have gone riding on Icelandic horses twice with Hov Gård in two different seasons and had two different experiences (but both were good!).
This post details our Lofoten horseback riding experiences, what to expect before you go, and other things to do on Gimsøy Island.
In this post...
Horseback Riding in the Lofoten Islands
The Lofoten Islands are easily one of the most beautiful places in the world.
I went once during winter and this trip was during the summer and I firmly stand by that remark as I really can’t think of anywhere similar or remotely comparable to these dramatic islands.
During my first trip, I went horseback riding in Lofoten with Hov Gård (formerly Hov Hestegård) and came down with the flu the day of the Lofoten excursion.
I was traumatized. It was set to be my first time on a horse, and I was definitely in no condition to be anywhere besides my hotel bed.
When I arrived at Hov Gård on Gimsøy Island, I could barely stand up. I attempted to get on top of my horse, Mimir, and the poor thing could quickly sense how tense and stressed I was, and we quickly discovered it was just not going to happen.
I sat on the beach that day and tried to hold back tears as I knew the flu would likely ruin a few days of my trip.
Hov Gård was awesome, and everyone who worked there was incredibly friendly. I was so bummed out to not get to enjoy the full experience.
Lofoten Horseback Riding with Hov Gård: Round Two
Aram and I recently went to the Lofoten Islands. It was my second time there and his first time. We were working on a tourism project in the islands and Northern Norway.
One thing to know about Aram is that he has such a fascination and admiration for horses. While I love all animals, he is drawn to horses and their relationship with humans.
I knew that this was the perfect time to hit up Hov Gård for a redemption ride and to introduce him to the most famous horses in the Lofoten Islands.
Not only does Hov Gård have Icelandic horseback riding, but they also now have a restaurant and some lodges along the seafront that are newer since my last visit.
This allowed us to see how the horseback riding in Lofoten experience could go during the summer and with more amenities on-site.
We arrived at Gimsøy’s Hov Gård on a gorgeous evening and were prepared to do a little horseback riding on the beach.
Before heading out on horseback, we were keen to enjoy dinner at the new eatery they had built since I was last there called Restaurant Låven.
We ordered a shrimp and mayonnaise open-faced sandwich (reker og majones smørbrød) and mussels in a spicy sauce. Both were extremely delicious and worth the trip alone! We also ordered a vanilla ice cream for dessert that was just as tasty.
I had the opportunity to ride Mimir again. Mimir and I had a bad introduction in 2017 as I was sick and he could sense how tense and awful I felt.
I soon realized that Mimir was the perfect fit for me because his curious personality and love for food were pretty much the same as mine. Aram had a chance to ride Lundi, one of the calmest and coolest horses at Hov Gård.
The ride was stellar. It took me a while to gain trust in Mimir as I had a bad incident in Kyrgyzstan on a horse while trekking Song Kul but once I was able to trust Mimir, we were the perfect match.
Aram hopped on Lundi and was like a pro. I was blown away as he hadn’t properly ridden a horse before our experience of horseback riding in Lofoten.
The entire Lofoten horseback riding excursion on Gimsøy lasted about an hour and a half and was an incredible experience. You will go on the beach as well as some trails right along the coast.
The trails were well-marked and we had an expert rider from Hov Gård leading the way. The horses know where to go and genuinely enjoy the trip around the coastal trails. I can not recommend horseback riding in Lofoten with Hov Gård enough.
I felt redeemed from my prior experience and Aram is still raving about his Lofoten horseback experience today.
An experience that I thought would cause me a bit of stress ended up being one of the most relaxing and calming experiences of our entire trip to Northern Norway.
About Hov Gård and its Icelandic Horses
Hov is on the island of Gimsøy in the Lofoten Islands and is one of the oldest settlements.
Hov Gård is located at Gimsøysand on one of the most beautiful beaches on all of the islands. The farm has around 48 horses (the number can change) and they take especially great care of them all.
Each horse has its own name, and the workers know each horse’s personality very well.
One thing that not many people know is that Icelandic horses originate in this area of Norway and were brought to Iceland by the Vikings and Norwegian people. Pretty interesting, huh?
Restaurant Låven at Hov Gård
When I was at Hov Gård a couple of years ago, there was no restaurant on-site, and once the horse riding experience on Gimsøy ended, you left and went to your next excursion or destination.
Fortunately, there is now a restaurant there called Låven and the food is so delicious. We had dinner there before our midnight sun horseriding experience.
We ordered mussels and a shrimp sandwich, as mentioned above. We also enjoyed a chai latte that was the best we had ever had.
We highly recommend stopping into Låven before (or after) your horseback riding excursion in Lofoten! We thoroughly enjoyed it and are certain you will too.
Lofoten Links Lodges
Also around the farm, you will find several lodges with large windows that face the sea and the north. These are part of Lofoten Links, a world-famous golf course owned by the same people that own Hov Gård.
These lodges vary in price depending on the size and location, but they are the perfect place to scope out the northern lights during the winter. If you’d like additional information on them, click here.
Riding Tours at Hov Gård
Several different tours depending on the season and your taste are offered at Hov Gård. I have participated in two different ones: Lofoten by Horse (I went in winter) and Horseback riding under the Midnight Sun (summer, of course).
Their tours are for beginner, intermediate, and expert riders, so don’t let your skill level put you off of riding! I am very much a beginner, and, of course, Aram is too. Hov Gård was able to put us on the right horses for our skill levels.
If you want to know all the Lofoten horseback riding tour offerings by Hov Gård, click here.
Getting to Gimsøy
The best way to visit Gimsøy Island is to drive there in a private car. Taking a Lofoten road trip is something you must engage in when in the Islands, and Gimsøy definitely should be on your list.
The island is easy to drive to and offers unique scenery, from wetlands and protected areas to sandy, picturesque beaches.
>> Click here to check out Lofoten rental car options
What to Bring on a Lofoten Horseback Riding Tour
Fortunately, Hov Gård has pretty much everything you need. During the winter months, they have insulated jackets and pants that will easily slide on top of your regular clothing.
During the summer, they have rain jackets that will keep you warm in the evenings and also offer protection from bad weather.
But, I do suggest you bring along the following things:
Warm gloves: They do have some gloves there, but if you’re like me and used to wearing a certain pair, bring your own!
I have a pair of handmade, Nordic mittens that I wear as I find gloves don’t keep me nearly as warm as I’d like. I used these when I was living in Norway and I swear by them still!
GoPro Camera: If you’re down to take some photos of your horseback riding tour, definitely bring along a GoPro camera, especially if you’re a beginner.
It takes some adjusting to ride the horse and moving around with a camera on top of it will be a bit difficult for the riders and the horse. I find a GoPro with a stick mount works best as you can still grip the harness while riding along the coastal trails.
If you’re looking for additional information about Hov Gård, you can call them at +47 975 59 501, email them at [email protected], or pay them a visit at Tore Hjorts vei 471 (8314 Gimsøysand).
More Lofoten Islands Travel Guides
- Best things to do in Henningsvaer
- Lofoten Islands in the winter
- What to know before visiting Lofoten
- Trollfjord sea eagle safari
- Best Lofoten rorbuer
- Staying at Hattvika Lodge
- Best Svolvaer things to do
- Sakrisoy Rorbuer review
Megan is a travel blogger and writer with a background in digital marketing. Originally from Richmond, VA, she now splits her time between Frankfurt, Germany and Arctic Finland after also living in Norway, Armenia, and Kazakhstan. She has a passion for winter travel, as well as the Nordic countries, but you can also find her eating her way through Italy, perusing perfume stores in Paris, or taking road trips through the USA. Megan has written for or been featured by National Geographic, Forbes, Lonely Planet, the New York Times, and more. She co-authored Fodor’s Travel ‘Essential Norway’ and has visited 45 US states and 100+ countries.