One good night can make your camera feel useless. This northern lights ride from Hov Gård is about two things, seeing the aurora and doing it on Icelandic horses. You start near stables on the edge of Gimsoya island and head toward an arctic beach where the sky opens up to the north.

I really like that the ride is built for comfort and access. You do not need any riding experience, and the pace is slow enough to let you actually look up instead of white-knuckling the reins. The guide also helps you understand what you are seeing and where you are in the landscape, so it feels less like random waiting and more like a plan.

One consideration: this is weather dependent. If conditions are unsafe, the tour may need to be rescheduled, and you cannot count on a lights show every time.

Key things to know before you go

• Low light pollution near Gimsoya for a better aurora view to the north
• Icelandic horses plus a slow, beginner friendly ride pace
• Small built-in “ride stops” with ocean sounds, then open north views, then beach and Viking landmarks
• Full cold-weather kit included like helmets, boots, gloves, and rain warm layers
• Safety first rescheduling if weather is unsafe, and no route changes for advanced riders

Northern lights from horseback at Hov Gård

This tour is a smart mix of two winter bucket-list ideas that do not usually go together. Yes, you are going for the northern lights. But you are also going for the experience of moving slowly through a dark coastal setting on an Icelandic horse while you scan the sky with the rest of the group.

The setting matters. Hov Gård sits on the edge of Gimsoya island, and that location is what makes the aurora hunt feel more promising. The tour specifically calls out almost no light pollution and an open, clear view to the north, which is exactly what you want when the sky is the main event.

You also get a guide during the whole thing. Even if aurora watching turns into a lot of staring upward (it will), you are not just standing around. You learn about the area and you get help connecting the views you are seeing with where you are on the island.

Why Gimsoya’s near-dark sky actually helps

Northern lights are not just about luck. Light pollution can bury faint auroras, and clouds can smother them. This tour chooses the kind of place that gives you a fair chance.

Here is what you should appreciate about this location: the tour starts on the edge of Gimsoya island, with almost no light pollution. Then it heads toward open areas, including an arctic beach, where you can keep your eyes trained north without buildings or bright ground lights ruining the view.

That “open clear view to the North” is a big deal because it means the staff are not trying to stage the event in a tight space. You are outside where the sky is the ceiling, not something you peek around.

Also, the route is slow and deliberate. That matters because aurora viewing works best when you have time to notice subtle color changes. If you are rushing, you miss the early phase.

The 90 minute ride, step by step on the way to the sky

You will spend about 90 minutes total, and the pacing is built around visibility and comfort. Here is how the ride unfolds, in plain terms.

First, you meet inside the stables at Hov Gård. You park by the road and walk up, and the stables are past the restaurant on the right. After you meet your guide, you get started from there on horseback.

Next comes the part that sets the mood fast. You head toward the arctic beach. Along the way, you can hear the ocean on your right, which helps you orient yourself in a very practical way. In the dark, sound becomes a navigation tool, and it also makes the whole thing feel grounded in the real world instead of a themed activity.

Then you get a gentle climb. This is where the tour starts to open up your sightlines. The goal is to give you more open views toward the north so you can scan the sky without constantly fighting angles.

After that, you circle back down across the beach. The ocean is still nearby, but the bigger point is the space you get to look upward. You are not trapped in a narrow corridor. You are on a route that keeps your gaze free.

Near the end, you pass an important Viking landmark before heading back home. That stop adds local context, so the ride does not feel like only chasing lights. It gives the night a storyline, a sense that you are moving through a place with older chapters than just winter.

Icelandic horses, and why the ride is designed to stay calm

You ride Icelandic horses, and the tour makes a key promise: you do not need experience. The pace is slow, and the ride is meant to be accessible.

That is great if you want the aurora to stay the focus. When people ride in a hurry, they spend the whole time thinking about balance and control. Here, the slow pace and beginner-friendly setup helps you look up at the sky instead of down at your footing.

There is also an important limit. The tour says it cannot be adapted for more experienced riders. So if you are the kind of rider who likes speed, advanced handling, or a more technical route, this one will feel intentionally simple. It is not built to be a challenge. It is built to be an aurora hunt you can actually enjoy.

One other practical tip from the experience details: you should plan to travel light. Backpacks are not allowed, so keep your personal items minimal.

The cold-weather kit: what’s included so you can focus on the sky

This tour does not play games with warmth. You get practical winter gear included: riding helmet, gloves, rubber boots, and rain or warm outfits for the ride.

That matters because the aurora hunt can mean long moments of stillness, and cold is a distraction. If your hands go numb, you stop checking settings or pointing out details. If your feet get cold, you stop enjoying the motion and start counting down minutes.

By supplying the key layers and grip gear, the tour reduces the amount of guessing you have to do. You can arrive without turning your suitcase into a winter gear store.

Bring your own common sense too. Even with warm clothes provided, wear what the cold needs from your side, and keep spare layers handy if you tend to get cold easily. The tour covers a lot, but your comfort is still personal.

What the guide does (and why it improves the viewing)

The tour includes a live English guide, and that changes the experience. You are not simply watching a natural event with zero context.

The tour plan is built around active scanning while you ride. That means you have stops where you look upward and check conditions, and you learn about the area as you move. The guide also frames the route, including why the beach and open views matter.

Even if aurora activity is quiet that night, the guide keeps you from feeling like you paid for “maybe.” You are learning while you watch, and that turns the time into something you can take home, not just a missed photo.

Price and value: what $166 buys you

The price is listed at $166 per person for a 90 minute tour.

On its face, that is not a cheap night out. But here is where the value comes from. You are paying for:

• an Icelandic horse ride in a dark winter setting
• a guide throughout the experience
• safety gear like helmet
• cold and rain protection items for the ride, including boots and gloves

So you are not just paying for someone to walk you outside. You are paying for guided access to a low light pollution viewpoint plus the equipment that makes winter survivable on horseback.

What is not included helps you plan realistically. Food and drinks are not included, and there is no hotel pickup or drop-off. That means you will want to eat beforehand or plan your own snack and water. If you are coming from farther away, you will also need to handle getting to the stables on your own.

If you already own decent winter gear and have ridden horses before, you might think you are overpaying. But the included helmet, boots, gloves, and warm or rain outfits reduce the friction of showing up unprepared. That is part of what you are paying for.

Who this horseback aurora hunt is for

This tour is a strong fit for people who want northern lights without needing riding skills.

It is especially suitable if you:

• want a beginner-friendly ride pace
• like the idea of watching auroras from open, dark areas
• want a guide to explain the area while you hunt the sky
• do not want to handle winter gear logistics yourself because key items are included

It is likely not a great fit if you are:

• looking for an advanced, technical ride experience, since the tour says it cannot adapt for more experienced riders
• traveling with a backpack, since backpacks are not allowed
• bringing kids under 6, since children under 6 are not suitable
• over 209 lbs (95 kg), since that is the stated weight limit
• pregnant, since pregnant women are not suitable for this activity

If you can meet those requirements, the ride is a clean way to combine nature and local character in one winter night.

Practical tips so you get the best chance to see something

You cannot control the sky. But you can control your readiness.

• Dress for winter even though gear is provided. The ride includes warm or rain outfits plus gloves and boots, but you still want to avoid getting overly cold.
• Keep your hands free. If you have a phone or camera, secure it so you can look up often.
• Expect a slow pace. This is a viewing tour, not a fast ride. Let yourself relax into the scanning.
• Plan for darkness. You are hunting lights at night from a rural, low light pollution area, so give yourself time to arrive and settle in before you mount up.
• Keep your baggage minimal. No backpacks means you should bring only what you can carry without bulk.

If the weather is unsafe, the company will reschedule. That is one of those “annoying but responsible” parts of winter tours. If you have flexibility in your schedule, you are in a better position.

Should you book the northern lights on horseback?

If you want northern lights with an extra layer of experience, I think this tour is worth serious consideration. The combination of almost no light pollution, a clear north view, and a slow, beginner-friendly Icelandic horse ride is a compelling way to spend 90 minutes outside when conditions line up.

Book it if you are excited by the idea of scanning the sky while riding toward an arctic beach, then coming back through a route that includes a Viking landmark. You are also getting the comfort piece handled, with helmets and warm or rain gear included.

I would hesitate only if you need a guaranteed lights show or you prefer advanced riding. This is about access and atmosphere, and it depends on the weather being safe and cooperative.

If you can be flexible and you meet the age, weight, and pregnancy guidelines, this is a smart, very winter-specific way to try for the aurora without making the whole trip feel like a complicated mission.

FAQ

Where is the meeting point for the northern lights horseback tour?

Meet your guide inside the stables at Hov Gård. You can park in the parking by the road and walk up. The stables are past the restaurant on the right.

How long is the tour?

The duration is 90 minutes.

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.

Is hotel pickup and drop-off included?

No, hotel pickup and drop-off are not included.

Do I need prior horse riding experience?

No experience is required. The tour is slow-paced and everyone is welcome to join.

Are backpacks allowed?

No, backpacks are not allowed.

What are the age and weight limits?

Children under 6 years are not suitable, and people over 209 lbs (95 kg) are not suitable.

Are pregnant women allowed to join?

No, pregnant women are not suitable for this activity.

What happens if the weather is unsafe?

The tour provides safety first. If the weather conditions are unsafe, the tour will have to be rescheduled.