Dog Sledding and Northern Lights in Vindelfjällen (Sweden)

A mountain tour possible throughout the winter season

Unlike mountain tours in other areas, which can often take place only during the "spring winter" from late February to April, the Vindelfjällen region is suitable for sledding tours throughout the winter season.

Doglsed tours run between November and April and are of moderate level of challenge, suitable for adults and older children (min. age 15) with a general good level of fitness and love of the outdoors.

Tours are 5 days/4 nights (arrival + departure + 3 days' sledding).

As with any winter activity in Lapland, for dates up to early April, dog sledding in this region also gives you very good chances to see the spectacular Northern Lights, or Aurora Borealis. You will be travelling in areas far away from light pollution and habitation and may have the feeling that the lights are shining just for you!

The kennel owner is a European Champion for sled racing and two-time winner of Norway's most prestigious dogsled races.

Dog Sledding and Northern Lights in Vindelfjällen is ideal for those who love remote areas and will enjoy the opportunity to discover the vast mountain plains and wide horizons of western Lapland.

Getting Involved

As with all our dogsled tours, you will be involved in all aspects of the trip, and this is very much part of the experience. You will assist with caring for your dog team, including harnessing, feeding (and, yes, picking up poo!), as well as tasks around camp such as fetching water, chopping wood, preparing food, washing up, etc.

Wherever possible (typically except during periods in late January/early February and for the first half of March, when the Femundlöpet and Finnmarkslöpet dogsled races take place), you will be joined for dinner at the cabin on either arrival day or last day of sledding by the head guide at the kennels, one of Sweden's top mushers and two-time winner of the prestigious Finnmark race. He will be happy to share tales of his dogsled racing adventures and answer any questions you may have on the world of racing and the extensive training and preparation of both mushers and dog teams for these demanding events.

Arrival

Transfers will be included (approx. 2.5 hours) from Arvidsjaur airport in connection with fixed flight times. NB: Flight times vary depending on tour dates. Details for your chosen tour dates will be provided in response to your enquiry.

Guests arriving by flight to Arvidsjaur will be at the kennels in the evening or late evening (depending on dates). A light soup dinner will be served before retiring for the night, with the main tour introduction the following morning.

It is also possible to travel to Umeå and travel independently by bus to Slussfors. The bus then stops just 5 minutes from the kennels and you will be met from the bus for transfer to your cabin. You can travel to Umeå from Stockholm either by domestic flight or night train.

Guests arriving by bus will be at kennels earlier in the day than guests arriving by flight. A light soup lunch will be served, followed by an introduction to the equipment, meeting the dogs and helping to prepare for the tour ahead. Dinner is served around 18.30 and you then have the opportunity to enjoy a sauna at the cabin in the evening if you wish.

Following Days

As with any outdoor experience, itinerary may of course be subject to change depending on factors such as weather conditions, access to trails and seasonal changes.

Day 2:

After a hearty breakfast, you will prepare and pack, then harness your team to begin your tour. Your first day of sledding takes you approx. 30km towards your first wilderness cabin, located next to the river. The river has open water throughout the year. You will be sledding in Kirjesålandet Nature Reserve, part of the 5500sq.km Vindelfjällen (Vindel Mountains) reserve, Europe's largest protected area. You take care of your team before preparing a traditional Swedish evening meal together, which will typically be moose and potatoes fried on a traditional outdoor cooking pan, a "muurikka".

Day 3:

After breakfast and taking care of the dogs, you load the sleds and head into a beautiful mountain landscape, though silent pine forests shaped by the arctic environment. The tranquility and solitude of this area is inspiring. This section of Swedish Lapland is very little visited and you may feel as if you are the only persons on the planet! The afternoon brings you to the next wilderness cabin for the night, where you can enjoy a wilderness sauna - a very special experience and the ideal way to end a day's sledding!

Day 4:

You should find that you are confident musher by this time and know the different personalities of your dogs well. Your final day of sledding sees you sledding through ancient spruce forest on your way back to the husky camp, where you unharness your sleds and team before a final dinner together and chance to reflect on your adventure. You will have become much more confident in handling your sled and made some new four-footed friends, and should be justly proud of your mushing skills by the end of your tour! Accommodation at the guest house.

Departure

Breakfast and departure.

Transfers are included (approx. 2.5 hours) to Arvidsjaur airport in connection with fixed flight times. NB: Flight times vary depending on tour dates. Details for your chosen tour dates will be provided in response to your enquiry.

Depending on tour dates, guests departing by flight to Arvidsjaur will be back in Stockholm either in the afternoon (in which case it may be possible to plan for onward travel from Stockholm that day) or in the evening (when an overnight in Stockholm will be required).

It is also possible to travel independently by bus from Slussfors to Umeå. You will be transferred to the bus stop, just 5 minutes from the kennels. You can travel from Umeå to Stockholm either by domestic flight or night train.

Included

Accommodation:

Two nights' accommodation in comfortable cabin near the husky kennels, two nights' accommodation in wilderness cabins along the route. Accommodation during the tour is simple but cosy and comfortable, with no electricity or running water in the wilderness cabins. Everyone assists with tasks such as fetching water, chopping wood, preparing meals, etc.

Accommodation at the husky camp is in 2-person twin rooms. There are 3 x 2-person rooms in the cabin, so depending on the composition of the group, it may be possible for solo travellers to have own room for these nights (note that this cannot be guaranteed or specified in advance).

Sleeping accommodation in wilderness cabins for nights along the route is shared. Cabins have bunk beds/sleeping lofts.

Guests have access to sauna and shower for nights at the cabin at the kennels (Day 1 and Day 4) and sauna is also available at one of the wilderness cabins normally used during the tour.

Meals:

All meals from lunch on arrival day to breakfast on departure day (breakfast, lunch, dinner + coffee/snacks, etc). Please let us know if you have any special dietary requirements.

Equipment and Clothing:

• All necessary equipment during dog sledding tour including sleds with own dogsled team. Each participant drives their own sled with 4-5 Alaskan Huskies.
• Warm winter clothing for all activities: snowscooter overalls, winter boots and gloves (normally Hestra Army Leather Expedition Mittens). Warm hat is available to borrow locally if required.
• Working gloves for working with the dogs.
• Warm winter sleeping bag with liner.
• Headtorch.
• Thermos (1 litre).
• Waterproof, hardwearing holdall for carrying your personal packing on the sled during the tour.
• Towel.

Guide:

• Instruction in harnessing and sled handling.
• Services of local guide.

Transfers:

• Transfer is included between Arvidsjaur airport and the kennels (approx. 2.5 hours) in connection with fixed flight times at per itinerary.
• Local transfers for activities during the experience as required.

Not Included

• Travel: We do not arrange flights or domestic travel, but are happy to advise on suitable connections and assist you with any aspect of planning your journey. See under "Getting There" for general travel information.
• Alcoholic drinks.

Required

Health requirements/experience:

You should have a general good level of fitness and enjoy outdoor life in winter conditions. You should also be comfortable living in close proximity with others. Min. age 15 years.

No previous dog sledding experience is required. Dog sledding can be physically demanding, and to drive your own sled you must be able to brake the sled when going downhill and also assist the dogs during uphill sections by stepping off and running behind the sled for short distances. Tasks around the cabins (fetching water, chopping wood, etc) can also be physically demanding and participation in these aspects of the tour is also a core part of the experience.

If weight >95kg, please contact us to discuss suitability.

What makes this "Medium +"

As a 5-day (3 days' sledding) tour, the experience will normally be less demanding than a longer tour in similar terrain. However, as a mountain tour, level of challenge will generally be higher than for a lowland dogsled tour - you will normally need to assist the sled when going uphill more often, for example, and this can be particularly challenging if the snow is deep.

NB: Perception of difficulty is very subjective. What is hard to one person may be easy for another and vice versa, depending on factors including level of fitness, age and previous experience. Weather conditions/temperatures can also dramatically affect the actual level of challenge encountered.

Equipment/clothes needed:

For information on any equipment and/or clothing included as standard for this experience, please see under "What's Included".

A detailed recommended packing list for personal items to bring will be sent with your booking documentation.

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. Note of course that the most appropriate clothing to use as well as the level of challenge experienced during any outdoor activity may vary significantly depending on factors such as the time of year and the particular weather/temperature conditions during your trip.

Preparing for your trip:

For further reading, we also have a number of general information articles to get you ready for your trip, covering a wide variety of topics from what to do on a city break before/after your tour, advice on packing, eyewear for winter and considerations for female travellers.

Minimum number:

This experience has no minimum. Scheduled tours are guaranteed to run from the first booking.

Groups

Maximum group size 4 persons for public tours. For private tours, up to max. 6 persons may be possible.

Eco Info

Food served during the tour is mostly homemade and with a strong focus on ingredients harvested from the local area. Your local host has a small-scale farm in a remote village community.

This provider has a written environmental policy.

Vindelfjällen Nature Reserve:

Vindelfjällen is one of largest protected areas in Europe. It contains almost all types of regions that can be found in the Swedish mountains, from primeval forests with spruces and pines, to the moors, marshes and the alpine bare mountain regions. The area has many lakes, loved by a wide variety of birds. In the reserve there is extensive reindeer herding. The main river in the reserve is Vindelälven, with many rapids and waterfalls.

Wild, striking rapids rush through Vindelfjällen. The River Vindelälv is a National River, protected from being regulated for hydro-electric power.

Will I see the Northern Lights?

This experience is located in the north of Sweden, one of the world's best locations for seeing the Northern Lights, and offers good chances to see a display during your tour. Wonderful displays are regularly seen on the tours. However, it is important to bear in mind that the Aurora is a natural phenomenon and sightings can never be guaranteed in any location - it is not possible to search for a display. The skies may be cloudy, there may be no activity, or you may be fast asleep after a day of adventure on the trail!

"The whole trip was amazing. Our guide was brilliant, explaining everything and really helped make the trip what it was. Every part of the trip was well organised and really enjoyable. My trip was rather niche and Nature Travels provided all the right info at the right cost." Billy, February 2024

"The dogs were remarkable and very well cared for, which was excellent. Our guide and the gear provided were also excellent, as was the food, especially as we only had the stove top. I really like the dogs and the setup." Bruce, February 2024