Europe > Finland

Horse Riding Trails in Finland and Lapland

Horse riding holidays in Finland offer the magical Northern Lights (November - March) or the midnight sun (May-June) plus thousands of reindeer. Experience the wildness and serenity of Lapland and meet the local Sami reindeer herders. Ride through a sweet blend of lakes and dense forests and spend your nights in tents or in remote cottages.
See all our trips

From the horse’s mouth

  • Wild Lapland in the Summer
    July 2018 Karl aged 70
    This was a trip of a lifetime! Päivi is an amazing horsewoman as she is a wilderness guide. To be clear, this is an honest, real Lapland wilderness trek. But, the rugged aspect is minuscule compared to the overall experience. Read the notes carefully and you will be fine. Another note: one really does need to be in... Read all
    More about this trip
  • Lapland summer riding trail
    Explore Finland on horseback this summer
  • Finland and Northern Lights
    Northern lights in the lapland sky
  • Finland and fjord horse
    Fjord horse in Finland
  • Riding with reindeers in Finland
    Getting close to wild reindeers in summer
  • Summer horseback trail in Finland
    The beautiful lakes of Lapland, refreshingly cool in the summer
  • Winter riding holiday in Lapland
    Huskies in Laphand

Visa & Health

Formalities

From November 2024, the new EU Entry/Exit System (EES) will start for all non-EU nationals travelling in or out of the Schengen area.
The EES is a digital border system which registers non-EU visitors travelling into the Schengen area instead of stamping their passports.
You will need to have your fingerprints and your photo taken when entering and exiting the Schengen area.

You may experience longer queues at borders when the new system starts. You can read more information here.

British citizens: other nationalities, please contact us.

Visas
The rules for travelling or working in European countries changed on 1 January 2021:

you can travel to countries in the Schengen area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa. This applies if you travel as a tourist, to visit family or friends, to attend business meetings, cultural or sports events, or for short-term studies or training
if you are travelling to Finland and other Schengen countries without a visa, make sure your whole visit is within the 90-day limit. Visits to Schengen countries within the previous 180 days before you travel count towards your 90 days

At border control for Finland, you may need to:
- show a return or onward ticket
- show you have enough money for your stay, and
- use separate lanes from EU, EEA and Swiss citizens when queueing
- Your passport may be stamped on entry and exit.

Passport validity
From 1 January 2021, you must have at least 6 months left on an adult or child passport to travel to most countries in Europe (not including Ireland).
If you renewed your current passport before the previous one expired, extra months may have been added to its expiry date. Any extra months on your passport over 10 years may not count towards the 6 months needed.
Check your passport is valid for travel before you book your trip. You will need to renew your passport before travelling if you do not have enough time left on your passport.

Please visit for the FCO website for up-to-date information - https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/finland/entry-requirements

Addresses of consulates

  • Paris - Ambassade de Finlande
    1, Place de Finlande
    75007 Paris
    Tél. : 01.44.18.19.20
    Fax :
    sanomat.par@formin.fi
  • Ambassade de Finlande
    Avenue des Arts 58
    B-1000 Bruxelles
    Tél. : +32 2 287 12 12
    Fax : +32-2-287 1200
    sanomat.bry@formin.fi
  • Ambassade de France en Finlande
    Itäinen Puistotie 13
    00140 Helsinki
    Tél. : +358 (0) 9 618 780
    Fax :
    ambassade.france@welho.com

Health

UK Citizens: A UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) gives you the right to access state-provided healthcare during a temporary stay in the European Union (EU).

https://www.nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/healthcare-abroad/apply-for-a-free-uk-global-health-insurance-card-ghic/

It’s important to take out appropriate travel insurance for your needs. A GHIC or EHIC is not an alternative to travel insurance and you should have both before you travel. It does not cover all health-related costs, for example, medical repatriation, ongoing medical treatment and non-urgent treatment.

Travellers should be up to date with routine vaccination courses and boosters as recommended in the UK. These vaccinations include for example measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine and diphtheria-tetanus-polio vaccine.

Insurance

It is a condition of your booking with Equus Journeys that you have travel insurance which covers you for the riding activities to be undertaken. Your travel insurance should cover you for medical expenses and repatriation. Your guides will require your travel insurance details before they allow you to ride and may refuse to let you ride if you cannot provide them. You should take your insurance documents with you.

Voltage

In Finland the power sockets are of type F. The standard voltage is 230 V and the standard frequency is 50 Hz.

Budget and money

Euro is the local currency. All major international credit cards are accepted in Finland.

Telephone and jetlag

Phone code: 00+358+number.

Country information

Country ID

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Geography

Finland, country located in northern Europe. Finland is one of the world’s most northern and geographically remote countries and is subject to a severe climate. Nearly two-thirds of Finland is blanketed by thick woodlands, making it the most densely forested country in Europe. Finland also forms a symbolic northern border between western and eastern Europe: dense wilderness and Russia to the east, the Gulf of Bothnia and Sweden to the west.

Finland is heavily forested and contains some 56,000 lakes, numerous rivers, and extensive areas of marshland; viewed from the air, Finland looks like an intricate blue and green jigsaw puzzle. Except in the northwest, relief features do not vary greatly, and travelers on the ground or on the water can rarely see beyond the trees in their immediate vicinity. The landscape nevertheless possesses a striking—if sometimes bleak—beauty.

The notion of nature as the true home of the Finn is expressed again and again in Finnish proverbs and folk wisdom. The harsh climate in the northern part of the country, however, has resulted in the concentration of the population in the southern third of Finland, with about one-fifth of the country’s population living in and around Helsinki, Finland’s largest city and continental Europe’s northernmost capital. Yet, despite the fact that most Finns live in towns and cities, nature—especially the forest—is never far from their minds and hearts.

Useful words

Hello : Huomenta
Goodbye: Näkemiin
Thank you (very much) : Kiitos (paljon)
Yes/No: Kyllä/ Ei
Entrance/Exit : Sisään/Ulos
I am sorry: Olen pahoillani
I don't understand: En ymmärrä
What's your name?: Mikä sinun nimi on ?
My name is: Minun nimeni on...
How do I go to...: Miten pääsen... ?
Please can you show me (on a map) : Näytä minulle (kartalta)
Is it far/close: Onko se lähellä/kaukana ?
(Go) straight : (Kulje) suoraan eteenpäin
(Turn) left/right: (Käänny) vasempaan/oikeaan
I am looking for a hotel/campsite : Etsin hotellia/leirintäaluetta
Is there a room available: Onko teillä huonetta ?
How much?: Paljonko ?
Breakfast: Aamiainen
Lunch/Dinner: Lounas /päivällinen
Restaurant: ravintola



Choosing the right riding holiday

Choosing the right riding holiday

The largest and northernmost region of Finland, Lapland is perhaps also its best known region… And not just because it is associated with all things Christmas and Santa Claus!

Home to the Northern Lights and the Midnight sun, Lapland is a beautiful region for a riding holiday – and as an added bonus, its flat terrain offers excellent riding opportunities.