Lofoten: Guided Horse Riding Tour Over Hov and Hovsund

A calm ride across Arctic beaches and Vikings. A guided horseback tour from Hov Gård lets you follow the coastline of Gimsøya Island at an easy pace, with trained Icelandic horses and Viking-era stops worth slowing down for. The trade-off is the route is intentionally slow and cannot be adjusted for faster, more experienced riders.

You start by meeting your guide at the stables in Gimsøysand, where you get fitted with a helmet and walked through rein basics before you head out onto the sand. I love that the tour includes boots, gloves, and weather gear, so you can travel light, but double-check the 95 kg rider limit and the no backpacks, no pro camera rules.

Key highlights to look for

• Icelandic horses that are trained for calm riding, plus a real intro to reins before you leave the stable
• Arctic beach riding at a slow pace, often with bird life sightings in summer, including sea eagles
• Hovsund fishing village views, with a glimpse of traditional fish-drying racks from the saddle
• Viking remnants along the route, adding meaning to what looks like just coastline scenery
• Weather-ready kit included (helmet, gloves, rubber boots, rain/warm outfits), which is a big deal in Lofoten
• Guides with a patient teaching style, with names like Julia, Sarah, and Jess showing up in recent experiences

Entering The Ride at Hov Horse Farm in Gimsøysand

This tour is built for an easy start, which matters when you’re dealing with horses plus an Arctic shoreline. You meet your guide at the stables at Hov Horse Farm in Gimsøysand, so you are not hunting for a boat dock or a trailhead ten minutes from your lodging.

What you get right away is a focused, safety-minded setup. You’ll be fitted with a helmet, and you’ll get a quick briefing on how to handle the reins before you ride. This is the kind of prep that helps you relax, even if it’s your first time on horseback.

The tour runs for 1.5 hours, so it’s a solid “use your time well” activity if you want Lofoten flavor without committing to an all-day excursion. And because it’s guided throughout, you don’t have to worry about where to go next along the route.

Getting Matched With Icelandic Horses and a Simple Reins Lesson

A lot of horse tours sound friendly, but this one makes the mechanics part clear from the beginning. You meet your guide, learn how your horse will be handled, and get a practical intro so you know what to do with the reins and your posture once you’re moving.

Icelandic horses are a smart choice for this area and this style of riding. They’re known for being steady and cooperative, and the tour specifically uses friendly, trained Icelandic horses. That fits the slow, scenic pacing of the route, and it also helps first-timers feel like they’re in control.

Guides tend to be patient and tuned to rider comfort. In past experiences, riders have credited guides like Julia and Sarah for being especially calm and helpful, including support for first-timers who need extra reassurance. One rider also noted that a technique video was used to explain Icelandic horse riding basics, which is a nice touch when you learn better by watching first.

If you’re an experienced rider, this is where you should calibrate expectations. The tour does not claim to offer advanced handling or high-speed options, and it can stay slow even if you’re comfortable in the saddle.

Riding Over Hov: Arctic Beach Time at a Relaxed Pace

Once the intro is done, you head out over Hov, described as an Arctic beach. This is where the tour earns its “calm and scenic” reputation. You ride at a slow pace, which keeps things comfortable and makes it easier to actually notice the details around you.

The shoreline setting is part of the point. You’re on the coast near Gimsøya Island, so you get wide views and that Lofoten feel of wind, water, and open space. It also makes bird life easier to spot when conditions cooperate.

In summer, there’s a chance to see local birds, and one highlight mentioned is the sea eagle. No guarantees, of course, but the slow pace gives you time to look up and react rather than staying locked in on the trail.

This is also a good moment to understand the tour’s rhythm. You are not meant to sprint between viewpoints. You’re meant to move gently through the space, learn as you go, and absorb what the guide points out about the area.

Hovsund Fishing Village, Dried Fish Racks, and Viking Remnants

After the beach stretch, you ride toward the fishing village of Hovsund. Expect a gentle climb along the way, and then more expansive views as the route changes character from sandy shoreline to village-adjacent terrain.

This is when the tour shifts from scenery to stories. One of the stated highlights is seeing how the famous Norwegian dried fish is made, and the way you experience it is by passing traditional drying racks as you ride. Even if you don’t linger at the site, seeing the racks from the saddle connects the landscape to local work and food culture.

Then come the Viking remnants. The route passes ancient settlements that speckle the riding path, and the guide adds context so it doesn’t feel like random ruins. In a place as old as northern Norway, that small layer of explanation can be the difference between a pretty ride and a memorable one.

There’s a practical takeaway here. If you enjoy local history but don’t want a museum day, this ride gives you a moving version of interpretation. It’s not a deep, lecture-style tour, but it does give you anchors you can remember later.

What Gear Is Included, and What You Should Bring Anyway

This tour is set up to handle real weather. Lofoten can be windy and change fast, and you’ll be outside most of the 1.5 hours.

The good news: you get a lot of ride-specific gear included. That includes a riding helmet, gloves, rubber boots, and rain/warm outfits for the ride. With those provided, you are not forced into buying or packing heavy equestrian layers just for this one activity.

You still should bring a couple of essentials. Wear long pants and comfortable shoes. Long pants help protect your legs, especially around tack and the way horses move. Comfortable shoes matter because even with rubber boots, you’ll still be walking around at the stable.

Two rules are worth taking seriously. Backpacks are not allowed, and professional cameras are not allowed. If you’re the kind of traveler who likes to pack everything “just in case,” plan to travel lighter on this one.

Price, Value, and Why This 90 Minutes Feels Like a Lot

At $145 per person for about 90 minutes, this is not the cheapest activity in the region. But it is also not just a quick photo stop. You’re paying for a guided experience that includes horse time, instruction, and a full safety-and-weather setup.

Here’s what that value looks like in practical terms:

• A guide stays with you for the entire ride, including the pre-departure reins and handling intro
• You get the horse plus protective gear like the helmet
• You don’t have to figure out what to wear in cold, wet coastal weather, because rain/warm outfits are included
• The route includes multiple types of scenery and specific cultural sights, including dried fish racks and Viking remnants

If you have limited time in Lofoten, this kind of short, high-value activity can be a better use of your day than trying to piece together separate transport, a self-guided route, and a history stop. It’s also a good hedge if you want something outdoors but prefer guided structure.

One more value angle: solo travelers or couples often like this kind of setup because it doesn’t require you to be an expert planner. You show up, get fitted, learn the basics, and you’re riding.

Who This Tour Suits Best, and Who Might Want to Skip

This tour is described as not requiring riding experience, and that matches the way it’s taught. If you’re a first-timer, you’ll likely appreciate the slower pace and the chance to learn rein handling before you’re out on the coast.

It also suits people who want a classic Lofoten mix:

• coastline time
• local food culture (dried fish)
• historical context (Viking-age remnants)
• time outside in wintery, coastal conditions, with help from included gear

There are clear limitations, though. The tour is not suitable for:

• children under 8 years
• pregnant women
• people over 95 kg (209 lbs)

And even if you are within the weight limit, it’s important to know the riding style is fixed. It’s slow-paced and cannot be adapted for more experienced riders. One rider who came with riding experience felt it was still beautiful and not boring, but also noted the fastest moment was limited, with mostly trot only briefly near the end rather than a big gallop-style finale.

So I’d book this if your goal is calm, scenic riding plus guided interpretation. I’d skip it if your goal is advanced riding practice or a faster pace.

Should You Book the Guided Horse Ride Over Hov and Hovsund?

Book it if you want an efficient way to see Gimsøya Island coastline from horseback, learn basics quickly, and get guided context for Viking remains and dried-fish culture. It’s especially a good match for first-timers, and the included helmets, gloves, rubber boots, and weather gear make it a low-friction choice.

I’d think twice if you are chasing speed, big riding challenges, or freedom to control pace yourself. The tour’s slow rhythm is part of its design, and the experience is not meant to become a more advanced ride just because you can handle more.

If you’re deciding on timing, pick a day when you can tolerate wind and changing weather. The outfit support helps, but you still want to enjoy being outside.

If it helps with planning, the tour offers free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance and lets you reserve without paying right away, which reduces the stress of locking in your Lofoten itinerary.

FAQ

Where is the meeting point for the tour?

You meet your guide at the stables at the Hov Horse Farm in Gimsøysand.

How long is the horse riding tour?

The duration is 1.5 hours.

Do I need riding experience to join?

No, the tour does not require any experience.

Is the pace relaxed or fast?

It is slow-paced and cannot be adapted for more experienced riders.

What is included in the price?

The tour includes a guide, an Icelandic horse, a riding helmet, gloves, rubber boots, and rain or warm outfits for the ride.

What should I bring with me?

Bring comfortable shoes and long pants.

What are the weight limits?

The maximum weight for a rider is 95 kg (209 lbs).

Are children and pregnant people allowed?

The tour is not suitable for children under 8 years and for pregnant women.

End of review