Discover Dog Sledding in Lapland

Overview

Duration: 8 days/7 nights.

Accommodation: 2 nights at Husky Lodge, 4 nights wild camping, 1 night in mountain cabin.

Required: Good health and level of fitness. Previous experience of dog sledding and winter camping. Minimum age 18.

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Dog Sledding Across Jämtland is the ideal dog sledding tour for those who have done some previous dog sledding and are looking for the next step - a real "once is a lifetime" mushing adventure, a challenging dogsled tour with winter camping taking you across the roof of Jämtland in north-west Sweden.

"Spring winter", as the later part of the winter season is known in northern Sweden, is the ideal time for winter camping, offering longer hours of daylight and generally milder temperatures. Beginning with a night of comfort at the Husky Lodge, over the following 6 days you will be running a team of your own Siberian Huskies through some of Sweden's most spectacular mountain landscapes. Along the way you will be camping wild in the mountain wilderness on most nights, with one night at a mountain station for a taste of civilisation!

Each night you will tend to the needs of the dogs, building snow shelters when necessary to protect them from the mountain winds and melting snow for them to drink. Each participant drives their own dogsled with team of Siberian Huskies. You will be working very closely with your dogs during the tour, and by the time you return to the Husky Lodge for your final night and farewell dinner, you should have made some close new four-legged friends.

Dog Sledding Across Jämtland is a tough but hugely rewarding dog sledding adventure holiday - by the end of the tour you should be justly proud of your dog sledding skills and will feel like a real musher! Some previous experience of dog sledding and winter camping is required.

Combining dog sledding with winter camping is a unique and challenging winter holiday - spending your days on the trail with your dogsled team, your nights under canvas with the dogs sleeping just outside beneath the stars. A magnificent human-animal partnership in the winter wilderness! Groups are very small with a maximum of just 4 participants, making Dog Sledding Across Jämtland a very personal experience.

Itinerary

Day 1

Arrival at dogsled camp, check in to accommodation at Husky Lodge, located adjacent to the kennels. Introduction to the dogs you will be using during the tour and instruction in how to harness the dogs, sled-handling technique and safety considerations. You will go through your equipment and pack for the tour before having dinner together with your guide. Accommodation is at the Husky Lodge in 2-person rooms. There are two rooms at the lodge, both comfortable standard with private TV room and WC.

Day 2

Early in the morning after breakfast you will pack the vehicle for transfer to the start point in the Jämtland mountains, where you will unload and harness your dog team. You will work very closely with your team of Siberian Huskies over the coming days in the mountains, sometimes assisting the dogs on uphill sections by running/scooting behind the sled. You should quickly gain confidence in handling the sled. Today will be the shortest dog sledding day, approx. 1-2 hours, to allow additional time for setting up camp, which will take longer when everything is new. You will be instructed in use of the tents and stoves, how to stake out and tie your husky team onto lines at night, etc. When it's time to set up camp, some participants will see to the needs of the dogs while others put up the tents and assist in preparing food. Dinner around the fire. Accommodation is wild winter camping.

Depending on the exact route followed, which will depend on factors such as weather, snow and trail conditions, the landscape varies greatly. Sometimes your dogsled team will be drawing you over a frozen river, at others through dense forests, over hills or across frozen lakes. Along the way you will stop at a suitable spot for outdoor lunch. At the end of your first day's dog sledding through the Lapland forest wilderness, you will reach your cabin accommodation for the night. Everyone participates in the care of the dogs, preparing them for the night and assisting with feeding, etc, before retiring for the evening.

Day 3

You will wake your first morning in the majestic Jämtland mountains, feeding and seeing to the dogs before sitting down to breakfast. After a hearty breakfast for the day ahead, it's time to harness the dogs and head off for the day's dog sledding, taking you a mountain pass with magnificent cliffs, the Lundörrpasset. Emerging at the other end of the pass you will lose altitude and pass into a forest landscape. Dog sledding in this terrain can be quite technical and you will need to make use of your mushing skills! The dogs are still fresh and full of energy - think ahead as you go around the twists and turns of the forest tracks, there may be a moose or a reindeer standing just around the next corner! At the end of the day you will stop at a suitable camp spot to pitch camp, as always seeing to the needs of the 4-legged members of the expedition first of all!

Day 4

This day is one of the most physically challenging phases, taking you out of the valley and up onto the mountains. Both dogs and humans will be working hard, but the magnificent views are ample reward! You will check over your dogsled team to make sure paws, claws and muscles are in good order and reward them with some additional treats for their efforts! At the end of the day, some will pitch camp and prepare food while others melt snow for both dogs and humans to drink.

Day 5

The landscape on this day is more open, and in bad weather can be very exposed. As with any mountain environment, weather conditions can change suddenly and unpredictably, from clear blue sky and sunshine to storm and blizzard. If visibility is poor, it is important to keep the group closely together - you may even need to take shelter for a time in one of the emergency cabins along the route. Windy conditions are challenging and tiring both for dogs and humans, and the weather will dictate the distances that can be covered each day. But at the end of this hard day, it's time for a bit of luxury! Your accommodation for the night is at a fully-equipped mountain station with restaurant, sauna, shower and a comfortable bed - something you will really appreciate after your nights camping in the wilderness! You will have a 3-course dinner of local dishes and a chance to reflect on the tour so far before retiring for a well-earned night's sleep.

Day 6

Before breakfast, you will feed and see to the dogs, who have not spend the night in such comparative luxury! They will need time to rest before taking to the trail, so the morning is leisurely with a breakfast buffet. Soon it is time to pack and head off once more into the wilderness. Tonight will be your last night's tented accommodation.

Day 7

Waking on Day 7, you should by now be feeling like a real musher and justly proud of your dog sledding skills! The Siberian Huskies who make up your team will have become close friends as you have journeyed together through the mountains of Jämtland. Today you will be travelling through the beautiful nature reserve of Vålådalen, a very attractive area with mixed terrain and a final chance to practise your technique and enjoy the scenery. At the mountain station you will say farewell to the mountains before driving back to the Husky Lodge for your final night together. Back at the kennels you can take a shower before having your last dinner together, a chance to share stories and reflect on your adventures in the mountains.

Day 8

After breakfast it's time to say goodbye to your dogs and your new-found friends during the tour before transfer to Östersund for departure.

Please note the standard itinerary may be subject to change depending on weather and snow conditions. For Day 5, in poor weather alternative accommodation at Sami cabin may be used.

Dates & Prices

Dates

• 28.03-04.04.12
• Additional tour dates can be added on request for minimum 2 persons.

Please note that some previous experience of dog sledding and winter camping is required for this tour.

The Price

Prices are in British Pounds. If you wish, you are also welcome to make your payment by bank transfer in Euros or Swedish Kronor. If this would be of interest, please let us know and we will be happy to provide prices.

Offer price £1753/person (normally £1846)

What The Price Includes

Accommodation

• 2 nights in shared 2-person rooms at the Husky Lodge, each with private TV room and WC.
• 4 nights in tent during mountain tour.
• 1 night at mountain station or in Sami cabin during mountain tour.

Meals

All meals from dinner on Day 1 to breakfast on Day 8, including 3-course dinner at mountain station or Sami cabin. Please let us know if you have any special dietary requirements.

Equipment and Clothing

• Your own team of Siberian Huskies with sleds and equipment.
• Warm outer clothing: jacket, trousers, cap, gloves (please let us know sizes in advance).
• Sleeping bag and sleeping mattress.

Activities

• 6 days' dog sledding in the mountains.
• Distance travelled each day typically 20-40km depending on terrain and weather conditions.

Guide

• Instruction in harnessing and sled handling.
• Experienced local guide.

Transfers

• Transfer to/from Östersund airport or train station.
• Local transfers for activities during the experience.

What The Price Does Not Include

Alcoholic drinks.

Optional extras

For private tours, it is possible to choose to spend the night at mountain cabins along the route as an alternative to camping for an additional supplement (price depends on season and availability). Please contact us to discuss your requirements.

Practical Info

Health requirements/experience

Dog Sledding Across Jämtland is a challenging experience. You should be in good health with a good level of fitness and enjoy the outdoors. You should also be comfortable living in close proximity with others.

Please note that some previous experience of dog sledding and winter camping is required for this tour.

Minimum age 18.

Equipment/clothes needed

A detailed recommended equipment list will be sent with your booking confirmation.

NB: We advise you not to buy equipment or clothes for your trip or to incur other non-refundable expenses such as flights until you have received confirmation of your booking from us in writing.

Groups

A total of minimum two persons is required for scheduled tours to run. You are of course welcome to book as a solo traveller.

Maximum group size 6 persons for scheduled tours. Groups can also book private tours on other dates by arrangement.

The Jämtland Mountains

Jämtland is one of Sweden's largest "landskap", or counties, occupying approximately 12% of Sweden's total land area, but is home to just 1.5% of the total population. Even by Swedish standards, this makes Jämtland a very sparsely-populated region.

Jämtland is a highland area, with its highest peak being Storsylen at 1,728 metres above sea level. Other well-known peaks in the area are Åreskutan, Helags and Sylarna.

Additional Notes

This provider is a member of the Swedish Ecotourism Society.

Location

Detailed information on travel options will be sent with your booking documentation. We are happy to advise on suitable connections and assist you with any aspect of planning your journey.

By Air

Fly to Stockholm then onward by train to Östersund (travel time around 5 hours). You can also travel from Stockholm to Östersund by domestic flight connection. Transfer to/from Östersund train station or airport is included.

Without Flying

Ferry from Harwich to Esbjerg (Denmark) for onward train connections to Östersund.

Map of Sweden