Explore Winter and Ice Hotel
2 March 2024
The Riding
The Accommodation
Do you have any comments about the accommodation and food?
Hearty breakfasts with lots of choice.
Strong coffee to kick-start the day.
Great lasagne, followed by rhubarb crumble for supper one evening - yummy !
One cook made a sensational wild mushroom sauce and I could have made a meal of just that and her creamy mashed potatoes.
Catered for food preferences (no fish for me).
I never went hungry.
I put on 5lbs (yikes) !!
Accommodation was very cosy throughout the stay.
Before Your Holiday
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I took far too much clothing as I wore most of the same stuff (as nowhere to go to dress up) and there was great access to outdoor cosy overalls, good footwear at the ranch.
I did not need to take chaps.
I'd have taken far less clothing in hindsghte. i.e. just needed slippers for the house, stout slip-on boots for getting from chalet to stables/dining area at the ranch. 2 pairs of riding trousers and a few layers of upper clothing. You were welcome to borrow their footwear to the Ice Hotel, the dog sledding and reindeer sledding, snow mobiling as well as use it at the ranch each day.
Because the schedule of activities was extensive, one did not have time to get changed into 'civvies' in between. So, jodphurs and warm layers were the order of the day 🙂 I loved this, because I could be ME (casual and practically attired).
How could we improve the way we handled your booking and payment?
No improvement needed.
A1 service from start to end.
Thank you.
Do you have any other feedback for us?
If, like me, you normally spend far more hours in the saddle riding horses - take a gamble and try this holiday. You won't regret it.
There was still plenty of riding - but not as far (conditions were snowy and hard-going for the ponies and you could not fairly ask more of them). The tolting was fab and I could not stop grinning as we sped along effortlessly - with the ponies manes and fluffy forelocks blowing in the breeze.
Take the chance on challenging yourself to other activities …. I absolutely L-O-V-E horses and riding them but thrilled that I did this holiday with its other adventures included. My face ached from smiling so much when I did the husky sledding. It was exhilarating !!
[Becky from In The Saddle replies: Thank you so much for your wonderful feedback, we are so pleased that you enjoyed your holiday in the snowy wonderland.]
Debs who has been on 6 In The Saddle rides. ABSOLUTELY MARVELOUS !! | Don't be fooled by their size, these Icelandic ponies would put a 17hh warmblood to shame.
Our ponies were strong enough to carry us, forward going, very light to the aids, sensible and well adapted to their surroundings and snowy terrain.
They were polite in the stables to groom and tack up. Responding to gentle aids to ask them to move over, pick up a foot etc. They came to call and led in willingly from their paddocks.
Because they had the natural freedom to interact and play in their paddocks, they all just seemed to rub along together. Amiable, well-adjusted and happy ponies !