Sleigh ride under the northern lights

About This Experience

Flatmoen Natur collects you in Alta and drives you to its farm in the countryside nearby. There you climb into a sleigh, wrap up in blankets, and set off behind a Norwegian Fjord horse, a sturdy, patient breed long used in Norway. The ride goes through the forest and along the Alta River to the sound of sleigh bells. The evening takes about three and a half hours, with up to 12 guests.

At the end of the ride you stop at a wilderness shelter or the farm’s fire house, depending on the weather and time of year. A three-course meal of appetizer, dinner and dessert is served around the fire, behind the shelter’s half-wall, with hot drinks, conversation and local stories. If the sky clears, this is when you might get a few photos of the aurora before heading back to the farm and on to Alta.

It suits couples, families and anyone who wants a slow, warm-hearted evening with a meal, where the aurora is a possibility on top. Hosts speak English.

The operator says plainly that it cannot guarantee the northern lights, and there is no refund for a cloudy night. If there is no snow, the sleigh is swapped for a horse-drawn carriage, which matters early in the season.

Reviewers praise the hosts, the food and the friendly horses. One mentions reindeer meat cooked over an open fire, and another, who visited in late October, plans to come back when there is snow. Several saw the aurora, one only faintly, and some none at all, but they still enjoyed the evening for the hospitality and the setting.

Highlights

• Ride in a sleigh pulled by a Norwegian Fjord horse
• Glide through the forest and along the Alta River to sleigh bells
• Eat a three-course dinner around the fire in a wilderness shelter or fire house
• Hear local stories from your hosts
• Watch for the aurora over the countryside when the sky is clear

What's Included

• ✓ Free transport from and back to Alta
• ✓ Horse-drawn sleigh ride (carriage if there is no snow)
• ✓ Blankets in the sleigh
• ✓ Appetizer, dinner and dessert
• ✓ Hot drinks
• ✓ English-speaking hosts, group of up to 12

Not Included

• A guaranteed aurora sighting
• Thermal suits (blankets are provided in the sleigh)

What to Bring

• Warm winter clothing in layers
• Hat and gloves for sitting still in the cold
• A camera or phone for aurora photos

Good to Know & Caveats

• The northern lights and clear skies are unpredictable, and the operator says it cannot guarantee you will see the aurora.
• If there is no snow, the ride uses a horse-drawn carriage.
• The meal is served in a wilderness shelter or the fire house, depending on weather and time of year.
• Start times vary by date, so check availability; your pickup point and time are confirmed on your voucher.
• Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start.

Meeting Point

Pickup in Alta with free transport to the Flatmoen farm and back; the exact stop and time are on your voucher.