Flatmoen Natur

Flatmoen Natur is a farm on the Alta River, ten minutes from Alta city centre with wilderness on three sides. First cultivated at the end of the 18th century, it has run cattle, sheep and hogs over the years; today it operates as a working stable and touring base. The land sits at the edge of the Finnmarksvidda plateau, and guides lead rides out from the farm through forest and along the riverbank on Norwegian Fjord horses, a breed used in the country for centuries. Tours range from a two-and-a-half-hour taste ride to a three-day trip across the plateau, sleeping in a mountain cabin. Winter brings horse-drawn sleigh rides and husky-team runs under the northern lights, each ending at a wilderness shelter for a three-course meal by the fire. You can watch for the aurora from the shelter's half-wall if the sky clears, though nothing here is guaranteed. Accommodation on site includes a lodge with a kitchenette, private bathroom and spa bath, plus a sun terrace for the quieter hours. Guests can also hike or cycle the surrounding countryside between rides. Family-run since its founding, the farm is staffed by riders who trained in Montana and southern Norway alike, and the pace, deliberately, stays slow.