Our Dog Friendly Sledding Tours In Tromsø
What are you doing for your next vacation? Why not try the thrill of a dog sledding tour with our company Dog Sledding Tromsø?
Known as the “Paris of the North,” Tromsø is a vibrant city in Norway and the gateway to the breathtaking views of the arctic scenery. Set against the backdrop of beautiful fjords and towering mountains, Tromsø offers you a location that’s perfect for winter sports and cold-weather adventures.
Dog sledding is a tradition in Norway and one of the oldest forms of transportation. Learning to ride a dog sled is a thrilling experience and something everyone needs to try at least once in their lifetime.
Dog Sledding Tromsø brings you a dog sledding experience that will live on in your memory forever. Enjoy time out on the snow with your friends, family, and our furry companions as you traverse over scenic landscapes and watch the Northern Lights dance in the sky overhead.
We bring you a range of dog sledding packages for your holiday. Choose from self-driven, half-day, or full-day husky sledding tours with guides that take you through the amazing landscapes around the untouched natural beauty of Tromsø, Norway.
Does a dog sled tour sound like an exciting way to spend your next vacation? Sign up for one of our packages for a magical metaphysical experience guaranteed to be one of the highlights of your life.
You don’t need any experience, and the guides will walk you through everything you need to know about getting out on the snow with the huskies!
A quick overview:
- Self-Driven Husky Dog Sled Adventure
- Half Day Husky Tour With Lunch
- Husky Tour With Dinner at Camp Tamok
- Husky Dog Sledding Under The Northern Lights
Self-Driven Husky Dog Sled Adventure
Our self-driven tour package offers you the opportunity of driving a husky team across the amazing beauty of the arctic wilderness. Our experienced guides help you navigate the trail and lead your dog team like a pro.
You get all the equipment you need in your tour costs; all you have to do is arrive, and we’ll take care of the rest. Our husky kennels are home to 130 dogs that can’t wait to hit the trail with you.
Highlights
- Drive your own team of huskies across the Arctic wilderness
- Learn how to control your sled and follow an experienced guide on the trail
- Be provided with all the necessary equipment to keep you safe and warm
- Enjoy Hege’s famous homemade chocolate cake and a hot drink around the cozy fireplace in the Sami Lavvo
- Interact with the kennel of over 130 Alaskan huskies before and after your trip
What does your day look like?
Your adventure begins at the rendezvous point in Scandic Ishavshotel. Hop on the tour bus and take a trip out to our kennel on the island of Kvaløya.
We’ll introduce you to the dogs, and you can spend some time making friends with your new furry companions.
Then, it’s onto the trail briefing, where our professional guides break down everything you’re going to do on your trip. We’ll discuss how to behave around the dogs and give you a brief, informative demonstration on how to operate the sled and your husky team.
After the briefing, it’s time to start the adventure! We’ll take you to the starting point where your husky team is raring to go. Each sled gets a passenger and driver, and you have the opportunity to swap between the roles during your tour.
Our guides help you off from the starting line, ensuring you’re comfortable with the sled and the dogs. During the 90-minute trail, you’ll see some spectacular Tromsø scenery with arctic landscapes stretching as far as the eye can see – remember to bring your camera; there’s going to be plenty of photo opportunities!
After you complete the trip, our staff take care of the husky team and the sled while you head over to the Sami Lavvo for some hot beverages and a slice of Hege’s legendary homemade chocolate cake.
What a way to end the day! Share your stories with the other tour members before heading back to the bus pickup.
Your tour comes with everything included, and there are no extra costs.
Half Day Husky Tour With Lunch
For those adventurers that want to experience more of what Tromsø has to offer, we have a half-day tour that will take you through some of the most spellbinding scenery in Norway.
This trip lasts four hours, and we guarantee that the time will fly by as your experience the adrenaline-rushing intensity of navigating the sled and dog team.
Highlights
- Marvel at the beautiful mountains and fjords of Norway
- Meet 200 Alaskan huskies and cuddle with the puppies
- Enjoy a hearty meal around a cozy fire
- Lunch included
- 4-hour trip
What does your day look like?
We collect you from the rendezvous point via bus and drive you to our dog kennels. You have time to spend with the huskies and their adorable pups before kitting yourself out for the adventure with all gear included in your tour costs.
We’ll introduce you to your professional sled driver, or “musher,” as we like to call them. After the introductions, it’s time to start the trip. You’ll be sharing your sled with one or two other people on tour, giving you plenty of opportunities to discuss the amazing scenery while snapping photos of the natural beauty surrounding the landscapes.
Your tour involves a smooth ride through the mountain ranges surrounding the city of Tromsø, stretching as far as the Malangen peninsula and the Balsfjord before heading back to camp.
After you arrive at headquarters, you get time to talk to the drivers and cuddle with the dogs and their puppies. We’ll share information with you on training the dogs and caring for them, and we’ll also give you a lesson on the history of dog sledding in Norway.
When the day is over, we’ll head to the camp to enjoy a tasty traditional meal of “bidos” featuring reindeer, vegetables, and broth. We promise it will be a delicious taste experience that lingers in your mind for a lifetime.
Huddle around the campfire, sharing stories of the day with your fellow travelers over a warm cup of coffee.
Husky Tour With Dinner at Camp Tamok
For those that want the most authentic dog sledding experience possible, we invite you to join us for a full day on the snow with your sled and huskies. You get the opportunity to “mush” a sled of your own, giving you the authentic sledding experience you’re looking for on your trip to Tromsø.
Take in the scenery and enjoy the local wildlife as you blaze a trail through the snow with your huskies in full flight. Embrace the cold winter wilderness of Norway during your seveb-hour trip, led by professional mushers that know every inch of the land.
Highlights
- Enjoy a 7-hour long expedition into the Arctic
- Mush a sleigh of your own huskies, making sure to spot any creatures that roam
- Taste traditional Norwegian food, featuring fresh reindeer meat
What does your day look like?
This trip starts at Camp Tamok and takes you out on a mesmerizing tour through the natural arctic landscapes. There are plenty of opportunities to stop along the way and take pictures to remember your trip, and our guides are always at your side to help you troubleshoot any issues with your sled or dog team.
Sledding is easier than you think, and you’ll be a master of navigating your husky team by the time you return to camp.
After the 7-hour journey, you’ll feel energized and full of life, invigorated by your time in the cold, the breathtaking scenery, and the energy of the huskies driving your sled through the snow.
After the dog sledding adventure, you will be served a hot meal in a traditional Northern Norwegian setting around the open fire in a reindeer herder’s tent.
After relaxing and warming up, you can board the bus back to the city and reflect on a memorable adventure.
Our dog sledding adventures are fully inclusive, with transportation, gear, dog teams, and guides all provided for you.
All you have to do is show up, and we’ll take care of the details for you. There’s no experience necessary to enjoy the time of your life on the sled.
Other Tours
Most Popular Whale Watching Safari
Explore the beauty of the Kvaenangen Fjord by Skjervoy and see orcas and/or humpback whales chasing large amounts of herring fish. Hop into a rigid-inflatable boat (RIB) for a once in a lifetime experience in a small group of between 4-12 people.
Meet Reindeer Up Close & Personal
If you’ve ever wanted to meet reindeer, Tromsø is also one of the best places to visit to do it: With the right guide by your side, you can get close enough to feed them and go reindeer sledding: Who hasn’t ever wanted to do that?
Catch The Northern Lights In The Norwegian Wilderness
Tromsø is one of the best places in the world you can visit to catch a glimpse of the Northern Lights. Just like whale watching, time is crucial, and it’s important that you book your stay during the right time.
FAQ
Q: What is the best time to go husky sledding in Norway?
A: The best time to go sledding in Tromsø is from November till mid-March.
Q: Do I ride the sled myself, or is a musher (dog driver) available?
A: You have the opportunity to drive the sled yourself on the shorter tours, with professional guides to help you along the way. The longer trips require a professional musher to navigate the trail and control the dog team.
Q: Do sled dogs enjoy pulling sleds?
A: Yes, sled dogs live for the thrill of the chase. They are working dogs by nature, and they start feeling frustrated if they don’t get time out on the trail.
Q: Why are sled dogs kept on chains?
A: As working animals, sled dogs like to run. As a result, the tour operators keep the dogs on chains mounted to a post. This setup allows the dogs to run around in circles to burn off energy when they start to feel frustrated. If huskies can’t run, they begin to exhibit bad behavior, and they will howl in frustration.
Q: How long can sled dogs run without a break?
A: The average husky sled dog team can run for around 100-miles without taking a break. These athletic animals live for the mush. Due to the huge amount of energy they expend on a trip and the cold weather conditions, the dogs have huge appetites and require excellent care from their handlers to stay fed, fit, and healthy.
Q: How many dogs can pull a sled?
A: Sled dog teams vary in size depending on the requirements for distance and weight carried on the sled. You get sledding teams of two, four, six, and eight dogs, with racing teams including up to 16 dogs blazing the trail.
History of Dog Sledding in Norway
Dogs are man’s (and woman’s) best friend and for a reason. These domesticated animals are critical to life in Northern Europe and throughout the arctic circle. The thick fur of the Alaskan husky and Malamute let them spend days out in the cold weather without any problems.
As a result, sled dogs played a significant role in shaping life in arctic countries around the globe. Dog sledding was critical for transportation, hunting, and working throughout the arctic circle, especially in Norway.
It’s safe to say that, without sled dogs, Norway would not be the prosperous nation it is today.
The First Records of Dog Sledding
The oldest records in human history pointing to the use of dog sleds extend back to 1,000 A.D. According to archives discovered by archeologists, the Innuit people were the first to utilize dogs for sledding. The dogs would help the people with their lives in the Great White North, assisting them with getting to fishing grounds and bringing home the catch to their families.
Sled dogs were an important part of life to the Innuit, and they would care for the dogs like family members. It wasn’t long before dog sledding spread to other parts of Canada and around the arctic circle.
The first examples of dog sleds don’t look anything like the models used today. The Innuit would harness a single dog to a light sled for pulling lightweight cargo across the frozen terrain. Typically, the dogs would transport firewood and basic supplies for the villages.
Eventually, sledders started using larger dog teams and bigger sleds capable of hauling more cargo and weight. Today, sledders use teams carrying more cargo weight and passengers. However, the teams were still smaller than those in use today, typically using six dogs to haul the sled.
Dog Sledding Around the Globe
As European settlers arrived in the Great White North, they found the local people’s use of dog sleds intriguing, taking the practice back to their homelands, where they integrated it into their daily lives. It wasn’t long before dog sleds became interwoven into European culture, especially in the frozen lands of Norway.
Fun Fact: Did you know the French-Canadian military relied on dog teams during the Seven Year’s War?
Dog teams grew in popularity across Northern Europe due to the low cost of keeping and caring for the dogs compared to horses. The dogs offered the same utility to life as horses, carrying the same loads while reducing costs associated with maintaining the mode of transport.
Dogs were also better equipped to handle the freezing climate, allowing all-weather use in all seasons. Their dense coats and wide, thickly padded paws permit them to run through the snow without succumbing to the cold conditions.
Polar adventurers also used dog sled teams to navigate their travels around the arctic circle. Roald Amundsen, a legendary Norwegian explorer, was the first man to reach the South Pole. He did it with the help of a dog sled team, writing the relationship between people and dog teams into the history books.
Dog Sledding Competition
Norway played a huge role in popularizing dog sledding throughout Europe and the world, founding the world’s longest competitive dog sled race, “the Finnmarkslopet.” Three mushers participated in the first race in 1981, and the race grew over the next 40 years into classes for track events featuring eight-dog and 14-dog teams.
The race continues today, with each event covering 310-miles and 620-miles, respectively. The race occurs on the 10th week of the new year, usually in mid-March. Today, local Norwegians compete with teams from around the world.