Hestaland Riverside Cottage

It was quiet, clean, and modern, with a well-equipped kitchen for guests and a big dining room. The beds were comfortable, and the curtains were good. I slept well despite the white nights.

I’d really wanted to ride horses on our trip, and the team delivered. Our guide was patient, the views were stunning, and my family and I had a pleasant ride despite being beginners who’d hardly ever ridden before. My mom’s horse was stubborn and didn’t want to walk much, so the guide tied its reins to her horse and chatted with her throughout the ride. It felt like Mom got an exclusive tour haha! We booked an hour-long ride, with half an hour of prep and training first. They had us do a few small loops indoors to practice controlling the reins. At the farthest point, the guide took a family photo for us, then we headed back.

There were hairs on the sheets, which made us wonder whether they had been changed and cleaned properly. We were in room 6, and every flush sent water from behind the toilet onto the bathroom floor. We never saw a staff member during our stay to let them know.

We kept waiting outside in the dark and checking the sky, and it paid off: we watched about ten minutes of dancing northern lights in several colors. It was magical, and I really recommend staying here if you want to see them. The guesthouse itself was more mixed. We booked three rooms, and one hadn't been cleaned; someone had used the bathroom before us, and it was still dirty. The kitchen was messy too, and the washrooms lacked basic toiletries. Still, it's a nice place to hang out with friends.