Bodø: Midnight Sun Horseback Ride with Nordland Horses｜Norway

Just outside Bodø, on a farm at Tverlandet, we breed the Nordland horse, also known as the Lyngen horse. It is one of Norway's oldest native breeds, still classed as endangered, and a living piece of Northern Norwegian cultural heritage. In summer we ride late in the evening, when the sun stays above the horizon and the forest is as bright at ten at night as it is at noon.

The evening starts in the stable. Your guide introduces the farm and the breed and gives a safety briefing, then matches you with a horse suited to your experience. You groom your own Nordland horse and get to know it before setting off. Every horse here is calm and used to first-time riders, and the entire ride is done at a walking pace.

You then ride out for around an hour on quiet forest roads. This is the best time of day to be out. The light is low and golden, the air is still, and the wildlife is active. Moose are often seen along the treeline at this hour, and eagles and other large birds are regular sights overhead.

Unlike the northern lights, the midnight sun is not a matter of luck. From early June to mid July the sun does not set in Bodø, and the weeks either side stay light through the night.

Back at the farm you help care for your horse and give it a carrot. You then meet the rest of the herd, and there is usually time to spend with the foals and young horses, who are curious and well used to visitors.

The evening finishes with a hot drink and something to eat in the yard.

Groups are small, with a maximum of eight riders, so there is always time for questions about the horses and the breed. No riding experience is needed.

Please note that this is a walking-pace ride on gravel and forest roads. It is not suited to riders looking for speed or a faster trail ride.