Siberian Husky Dogsled Adventure
Interested in winter multi-activity including dog sledding? See Experience Lapland
"I had a fantastic time...the dogs, the hosts, the environment and equipment, the food and the accommodation were all great. Probably the highlight was simply to be travelling silently along behind the dogs through a beautiful snowscape under a blue and sunny sky." Sylva
Not sure which of our dogsled tours is best for you? Compare our range of dog sledding holidays in Sweden here.
Photos: 1,3-7:U.Svensson, 2:Nature Travels
Dog sledding in the wilderness of Jämtland in north-west Sweden is a wonderful experience. Siberian Husky Dogsled Adventure is a 5-day dog sledding tour (6 days for special New Year tour) ideal for solo travellers, couples or small groups of friends. The tour offers a mix of both comfort and adventure, combining nights at the Husky Lodge at the start and end of your tour with 3 days' dog sledding in the mountains with accommodation in simple but cosy mountain cabins.
The dogs used during the tour are Siberian Huskies - sturdy, dependable, powerful dogs ideal suited to dog sledding. Siberian Huskies are born to pull, and they love it! You can see the expectancy and anticipation in their eyes as the team is organised, the wild excitement in their powerful muscles as they strain at the harness ready for the off, and their sheer joy as the brake is released and the team surges forward as one.
You will be driving your own dogsled with your own team of four dogs. Under the tutelage of your expert guide, you will find that you quickly gain confidence in handling your dogsled team and by the end of your experience should be justly proud of your mushing skills. As you become more adept at handling the sled you will earn the trust and the friendship of your sled dogs. On your journeys through the wilderness you will become part of a dog sledding team, but a team with a difference: for you will be the only member on two legs!
Each day you will take a different route, exploring the deep forests and wide mountain plains of Jämtland. Groups are very small - maximum group size is just 4 - so you will have a very personal relationship both with your guide and your dog team. You will be working closely with your dogs and tending to their needs each day, and you should find you make some very special friends during your dog sledding tour in the Swedish wilderness. Lunch will usually be made over open fire out on the trail, with dinner in the evenings in the warmth of the cabins.
Dog sledding can be demanding, but it is not necessary to be exceptionally fit. Some strength is required when mushing, particularly when braking the sled and assisting the dogs on uphill stretches, but on the whole a willingness to participate fully in the experience, to work with the dogs, to learn their ways and the ways of the sled are more important than brute force. This dog sledding adventure is accessible to most people in good health and of average fitness/strength.
Siberian Husky Dogsled Adventure is an enjoyable dogsled experience ideal as a multi-day tour for novice mushers or for those who have done some day-tours but would like to experience the adventure and challenge of a longer dog sledding tour.
Your team of Siberian Huskies is waiting - it's time to answer the Call of the Wild!
Following itinerary is for standard tours. For variations for special New Year tour, please see below.
You arrive and check in at your accommodation, the Husky Lodge, next to the sled dogs kennels. After settling in you will have your first meeting with the dogs who will be your friends, companions and mode of transport for the coming days. The dogs used are Siberian Huskies, active, energetic, resilient and friendly dogs ideal for dog sledding. You will go through the sleds, harnesses and other equipment you will be using during your tour before going in out of the cold for dinner, a chance to get to know your guide and talk over the week ahead. 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.
Today you make an early start for transfer up to the mountains, where you will harness your dogsled team and prepare them for the tour. Siberian Huskies love to pull, and they make their excitement and anticipation very audible as you get ready for the off. Suddenly, as you release the brake and the dogs surge forward, everything goes quiet - now the dogs put everything they have into the pull. The initial stages are uphill as you climb into mountains, and you will need to assist your dogsled team by running and kicking for short stretches. After about 3 hours you will stop for lunch to let the dogs rest - by now you should be gaining in confidence in your mushing skills! At the end of the day, you will tether the dogs and have dinner around the fire together. Accommodation for the night will be in mountain cabin.
Waking to the majestic landscape of the mountains around you, you will begin the day with breakfast (4-footed team members first!) before putting on your snowshoes for a short morning tour in the area. Hopefully the sun will be shining and you can sit down to take in the view and absorb the silence. Weather conditions in the mountains can be changeable, offering dramatic views and skyscapes, from bright sunshine and cloudless skies to snowstorms - if conditions are windy, you will find the wind takes a lot of energy both from humans and dogs. The area is home to populations of lynx and wolverine, and with luck you may see tracks and other signs in the snow. Wolves also often pass through the area.
Then you will return to the dogs to harness your team and set out through the stunning mountain landscape of Jämtland. By now you should be gaining confidence in handling your sled and developing a real relationship with your dog team! Your accommodation for this night is a Sami camp (the Sami are the indigenous people of northern Sweden) with cabins and a small personal restaurant. Here you will be served a 2-course dinner prepared from traditional ingredients. After dinner you can refresh yourself with a shower and soothe your muscles in the wood-fired sauna - a wonderful Swedish experience!
Breakfast will be in the restaurant at the Sami camp, before taking the trail once more for a day of dog sledding through the majestic Jämtland mountain wilderness, stopping for lunch perhaps by an open creek for a taste of fresh running mountain water. At the end of your day's sledding, you will head down from the mountains and drive back to the Husky Lodge, where a warm shower is waiting and an evening of sharing photos, stories and memories.
After breakfast you will say farewell to the dogs and guide, who you will have come to know closely over the last few days. You may only have spent a few days in the Jämtland mountains, but the memories should last a lifetime!
Please note the standard itinerary may be subject to change depending on weather and snow conditions.
The New Year tour is a 6-day/5-night tour, with additional night at the Husky Lodge on Day 2. The New Year tour follows a different itinerary as follows:
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.
All meals from dinner on Day 1 to breakfast on Day 5 (Day 6 for New Year tour). Please let us know if you have any special dietary requirements.
Alcoholic drinks.
You should have a normal level of fitness and enjoy the outdoors. You should also be comfortable living in close proximity with others.
No previous dog sledding experience is required. Dog sledding can be physically demanding. You must be able to brake the sled when going downhill, which can be hard when you are working against gravity and the pull of four Siberian Huskies and also assist the dogs during uphill sections by stepping off and running behind the sled for short distances.
Minimum age 18.
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.
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 4 persons.
Siberian Huskies are a working breed originating from eastern Siberia and are related to the Spitz family. They are characterised by dense fur, triangular ears and a sickle-shaped tail.
Siberian Huskies are energetic, active and resilient and are ideally suited for cold environments, making them excellent sled dogs.
This provider is a member of the Swedish Ecotourism Society.
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.
Fly to Stockholm then onward by train to Östersund (travel time around 5 hours). You can also travel from Stockholm to Åre Östersund airport by domestic flight connection. Transfer from Östersund airport or train station is included.
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