FAQs

Norway Horse Riding and Yoga Holiday

Travel

  • Step 1: Book Your Flights

    Arrival Flight: Book a morning flight to Oslo Gardermoen Airport. Aim to arrive at least 1 hour before the train departure at the latest.

    Departure Flight: Book an afternoon or evening flight from Oslo Gardermoen Airport. Allow at least 2 hours between the train arrival and your flight departure.

    Step 2: Book Your Train to Ringebu

    Arrival Day: Take one of the following trains from Oslo Gardermoen to Ringebu. Ensure at least 1 hour between your flight landing and the train departure, preferably more.

    • Depart 14:29, Arrive 16:53

    • Depart 16:29, Arrive 18:49

    On Saturdays: 

    • Depart 14:29, Arrive 16:53

    • Depart 15:59, Arrive 18:35 (This is a train to Lillehammer and then an easy change to bus VY710 to Ringebu)

    Booking: Use the Vy website (https://www.vy.no/en) or SJ website (https://www.sj.no) to book your tickets. Tickets are available 60-90 days before travel.

    Step 3: Transfer to Hotel

    We will pick you up from Ringebu train station at the arrival time you state in your Booking Portal and transfer you to the hotel (20 minute drive).

    Step 4: Departure from Ringebu

    Departure Day: We will transfer you to Ringebu. Take one of the following trains from Ringebu to Oslo Gardermoen. Ensure your flight departure is at least 2 hours after the train arrival time.

    • Depart 12:06, Arrive 14:21

    • Depart 14:27, Arrive 17:04

    Important Notes:

    • Train Station Location: The railway station is in the same building as Oslo Gardermoen Arrivals Terminal, downstairs.

    • Timetable Check: Train and bus timetables are finalized 60 days before travel. Verify the schedule for your dates before booking flights.

    • Web Check-in: Let us know your train details through your Web Check-in in the Booking Portal.

    This information is intended as a guide only. Flights and travel to Ringebu are not included in our packages.  You are responsible for getting to Ringebu station, where we will meet you. 

    What If I Miss the Recommended Trains?

    If you arrive too late for the recommended trains, check https://www.vy.no/en for later options.

    Note: Arriving later means you may miss dinner and need to pay for a taxi from Ringebu to the hotel (approx. NOK 275). We can book this taxi for you; email bookings@gutsygirls.co.uk.

    Contact Information:

  • We don't have recommended flights for these trips, you just need to book a flight to Oslo Gardermoen which lines up with our recommended train times (see "Arrival day and recommended train timings" and "Departure day and recommended train timings").

    You will need a morning flight to Oslo, to give you plenty of time to get the train to Ringebu, and an evening flight back from Oslo on the way home.

    On arrival day, we usually recommend a minimum of an hour between your plane landing and your train departing. The airport is efficient and the train station is right in the terminal. Guests have managed with less time but we don't advise it unless necessary in case of flight delays.

  • You are responsible for getting to Ringebu train station, where we will meet you. 

    Ringebu is easily accessible from from Oslo Gardermoen airport. Travelling by train is straightforward and rail services in Norway are excellent.

    Once your trip is confirmed and you know your flights please book your rail journey as soon as possible because the trains can become booked up. Tickets go on sale 60 - 90 days before travel.

    We will collect you from a choice of two departures from Oslo Gardermoen airport (these trains originate in Oslo Sentral so you can catch the same train from there if you wish). Please look at "Arrival day and recommended train timings" and "Departure day and recommended train timings" for the details of which trains we recommend.

    Book your tickets on the Vy website (https://www.vy.no/en) - which is easy to use and has an English version. Alternatively you can also use https://www.sj.no.

    At Oslo Gardermoen airport (lufthavn) the railway station is in the same building as the airport, downstairs. You’ll find that the station staff speak excellent English and everything is well signposted. 

    Take the train to Ringebu on the Dovre railway line. It’s a scenic journey of about two and a half hours from Oslo Gardermoen. Oslo city centre (in Norway this is called Oslo S or Oslo Sentralstasjon) and Lillehammer are on the same rail line (in opposite directions).

    We will pick you up from the railway station in Ringebu. The transfer time to the hotel from the station is about twenty minutes.

  • Please take a morning flight to Oslo, to give you plenty of time to get the train to Ringebu, where we will meet you.

    Train timetables are finalised 60 days before travel and trains cannot be booked outside of 90 days. Please arrive at Ringebu on one of these two trains. These two trains are on the timetable MOST days, but occasionally one or the other does not run. Please check the timetable for your dates before booking your flights:

    • Depart 14:29 Oslo lufthavn stasjon

    • Arrive 16:53 Ringebu stasjon

    • Depart 16:29 Oslo lufthavn stasjon

    • Arrive 18:49 Ringebu stasjon

    **On Saturdays the second train times are slightly different:

    • Depart 15:59 Oslo lufthavn stasjon

    • Arrive 18:35 Ringebu stasjon

    (This is a train to Lillehammer and then an easy change to bus VY710 to Ringebu)

    Please see "How to book your train to Ringebu" for information on how to book your trains. You are responsible for ensuring that there is enough time between your flight arriving and train departing. The train station is in the terminal and the airport is efficient. We usually recommend leaving at least an hour your flight landing and train departing.

    We will ask you to let us know which train you will be on in your Web Check-in in your Booking Portal. We will meet both trains, and it is a 20 minute transfer to the hotel.

  • If you don't land in Oslo early enough for our recommended trains, there are usually some later trains or train / bus combinations to Ringebu from Oslo Gardermoen airport. Please check https://www.vy.no/en for your dates to confirm this - remember it is your responsibility to make your own way to Ringebu!

    You are welcome to arrive on one of these later trains or buses, but you will miss dinner on the first night (no refund possible) and you will need to pay for a taxi from the station at Ringebu to the hotel as we are only able to collect from the two recommended trains; the cost of a taxi will be in the region of NOK 275 one way.

    We can book this taxi for you in advance and you can pay directly at the hotel on arrival - please email bookings@gutsygirls.co.uk to arrange this (we will not see requests in your web check in form).

  • Please book an afternoon or evening flight out of Oslo, to give you plenty of time to get the train from Ringebu back to the airport.

    We will transfer you back to the train station at Ringebu in time for one of these two rail replacement bus departures. These two buses are on the timetable MOST days, but occasionally one or the other does not run. Please check the timetable for your dates before booking your flights:

    • Depart 12:06 Ringebu stasjon

    • Arrive 14:21 Oslo lufthavn stasjon

    • Depart 14:27 Ringebu stasjon

    • Arrive 17:04 Oslo lufthavn stasjon 

    Please see "How to book your train to Ringebu" for information on how to book your trains. You are responsible for ensuring that there is enough time between your train arriving and flight departing on your departure day.

  • We will connect you with others on the trip via WhatsApp, so you may be able to arrange to travel together. 

Accommodation & Food

  • The hotel we stay at is a family run hotel, known in Norway as a "fjellhotell". This term conjures the image of a warm, cosy cabin in the mountains, down to earth and with a focus on its place in nature. It has a reputation for friendly hospitality and excellent food. The views of an open landscape of lakes, mountains and forest are spectacular.

    The rooms are plain and simple, but comfortable, light and airy with a mountain style and there are superb mountain views from the dining room and many of the bedrooms. There is a spacious lounge or ‘stua’ with an open fire and a bar. Complimentary teas and coffee are always available in the lounge.

    For those of you who may have dog allergies or simply don’t like dogs, please be aware that this hotel is dog friendly and there are at least three resident (very gentle) dogs. They won’t enter any bedrooms, but you are likely to encounter them in the lounge area, which is big and airy. There is no obligation to engage with them at all if you would rather not, but please be aware of this.

  • Yes!

  • No - you could bring some soap flakes / travel wash to wash your base layers if you think this will be necessary!

  • The delicious, traditional homemade food on this trip is a real highlight. We will have a three course meal (set menu) every evening, a sumptuous breakfast buffet and a plentiful buffet lunch.

    Good quality, local ingredients sourced from local producers and healthy, homemade food are important values ​​in the kitchen. Chefs use quality ingredients where the flavours speak for themselves.

    The hotel is committed to catering for all dietary requirements and allergies and offering safe – and tasty – food.

  • We can cater for all dietary requirements and we will request information prior to your arrival. 

    Please note the dinner is a three course set menu, so if there are foods you can't eat or dislike eating, please makes sure this is clear well in advance of your arrival!

Activities

  • Yes! This trip is set up for complete beginners!

  • Yes, during our lessons we can tailor our instructions to suit you if you have a bit of riding experience.

    If you're an expert though, this trip probably isn't for you!

  • Most of the horses at the stables are Dole horses (Dølahest in Norwegian), known for having a “cold head and warm heart”. This breed originates from the hotel's local area, Gudbrandsdalen, and is well suited for riding in mountain terrain.

    Their friendly nature is delightful and gives a sense of security to the rider.

    The horses we ride can be anywhere between 145 and 170 cm tall. They are heavily built and steady on uneven terrain.

    These working horses are strong and calm. They are relaxed around noise and obedient and able to think on their own: in the forest they are often working to voice commands, rather than with reins.

  • Yes, we aim for you to have one horse which you get to know, ride and care for during the trip!

    Of course, at times we might be forced to swap things around.

  • As well as learning to ride both in the learning arena and out on the trails, we will also learn about grooming, saddling and the daily care of the horses, as well as learning how horses communicate and how we can communicate with them.

  • Not if you don't want to! We will teach you about grooming, saddling and the daily care of the horse, but you don't need to do the mucking out if you don't fancy this :)

  • As this is a trip for beginners, we will start with gentle walking. If you are happy, we may introduce learning to trot in the arena and may take this onto the trails if we feel confident. We are unlikely to go any faster than a trot.

  • Yes! You can use a mounting block to get on and off.

  • We'll mostly be on flat or gently undulating terrain, gravel paths and in the trees.

  • The horses can comfortably carry riders up to 90 kg. If you are over this weight, please email us at bookings@gutsygirls.co.uk and we can talk to the stables to see if we can accommodate you!

  • This trip is not too strenuous, but we will be riding and working in the stables over 4 consecutive days, so we do recommend a good level of fitness to get the most out of the trip.

    Please contact us before booking (bookings@gutsygirls.co.uk) if falling off a horse would be a specific cause for concern due to an existing condition.

    The horses can comfortably carry riders up to 90 kg. If you are over this weight, please email us at bookings@gutsygirls.co.uk and we can talk to the stables to see if we can accommodate you!

  • Yes! You can find it here.

  • No, our rides won't be much longer than a couple of hours, so you won't need to bring much with you. We have some waist bags that you can borrow to put the essentials in!

  • Even in Norway's summer the weather can be fairly cool so we would suggest dressing as for the UK in autumn. Our packing list reflects this.

    We encourage you to check the forecast soon before your trip so that you can amend your packing list accordingly for a warm or wet week!

    You can check the weather here.

  • On this trip, everywhere you will visit accepts cards, so you don't need to withdraw any Norwegian Krone at all.

  • The yoga sessions are slow and restorative to help you recover from a day of riding!