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Photo: Karen Windle

Discover Dog Sledding in Lapland (Sweden)

A Northern Lights husky holiday in Lapland for both families and adults

  • Guided
  • Easy-Med
  • From £/adult, £/child
  • Nov-Apr, 4 days/3 nights
  • Adults, Families (min age 6), Groups, Solo

Highlights:

  • Multi-day tour for adults or families (in separate groups)
  • Adults drive own dogsled
  • Good chances for Northern Lights
  • Twice-weekly from November to April
  • Just 20 minutes by transfer from Kiruna
  • Combine with optional snowmobile or reindeer activities

Description »

An accessible multi-day dogsled adventure with adult or family tours

Bookings now also open for winter 2024/25! In addition to some remaining dates for tours for this winter, bookings are also open now for the winter 2024/25 season. We strongly recommend booking immediately if you wish to travel for next winter, as availability is typically limited very far in advance.

Dog sledding is a wonderful winter holiday experience for adults and families alike. Discover Dog Sledding in Lapland is an enjoyable and flexible husky sledding tour suitable for a very wide range of participants, whether you are a solo adult traveller, couple, group of friends or family with children.

Max. group size is 6 persons + guide for public tours, but this experience is also ideal as a private experience for adult or family groups of 5-8 persons.

Discover Dog Sledding in Lapland takes place in the far north of Sweden near Kiruna, 200km inside the Arctic Circle, and offers a real taste of the wilderness and of the excitement of a multi-day dog sledding tour - with the added bonus of good chances to see a display of the spectacular Northern Lights during your adventure.

Making friends with your husky team

Huskies are sociable and affectionate and you should become good friends! Photo: Kathi Otreba.

You will be dog sledding through a magical winter landscape of snow-clad forests and frozen lakes. This 4-day/3-night itinerary has arrival Day 1 followed by two days' sledding and short sled back to the kennels in the morning of Day 4.

Accommodation each evening is in simple but comfortable cabins, with sauna available on some nights.

A dogsled adventure is not only about the sledding!

Accommodation during your tour will normally be at the kennels for the first night and in one or two other cabins during the tour, including at lakeside wilderness camp. You will head out each day to explore the surrounding landscape.

The cabins are warm and cosy and offer simple, traditional accommodation - you will be eating dinner by candlelight and fetching water from holes cut into the lake ice!

End your day relaxing with a traditional Swedish sauna - if you dare, you may even brave a roll in the snow afterwards!

Work closely with your husky team

Adults will enjoy the challenge and adventure of driving their own dogsled with their own team of 3-4 Alaskan or Siberian huskies. Depending on age, size and strength, children will either drive their own sled shared one per two persons or travel on a parent's sled. Adults who are unable or do not wish to drive their own sled may also choose to share a sled or travel with the guide.

Your guide will give you full instruction in handling your sled and caring for your husky team, and you should find that your mushing skills improve quickly.

Northern Lights in Swedish Lapland

The Northern Lights can be seen throughout the season up to early-mid April. Photo: Filip Dejaegher.

Offered throughout the winter season and convenient to combine with a visit to the Ice Hotel

Winter in Lapland arrives early and stays late. The season for Discover Dog Sledding in Lapland extends from mid-November to late April, with tours offered weekly Sunday-Wednesday and Thursday-Sunday, including Christmas and New Year.

With snow cover for more than five months of the year, there is plenty of opportunity to enjoy the beauty of a Lapland winter in the company of your team of huskies.

The kennels are located just 15 minutes from the world-famous Ice Hotel, making it a convenient option to visit the Ice Hotel on your arrival or departure day if you wish. Transfer from the Ice Hotel on arrival day or to the Ice Hotel on departure day can be offered as an alternative to transfers from/to Kiruna.

Dog sledding is a captivating and seductive adventure - after catching the husky sledding bug on a Discover Dog Sledding tour, you may well be back for an extended trip next year!

Winter clothing for dog sledding

Specialist outer clothing is provided to keep you warm and comfortable as you experience the Arctic winter! Photo: Tomas Kralik.

Snowmobiling

Snowmobile tours (daytime or evening) and are available to add as optional extra activities on your arrival/departure days.

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.

 ...

Itinerary »

Arrival

Arrival time is flexible depending on your travel plans - transfer (approx. 20 mins) is included from Kiruna airport or train station, from accommodation in Kiruna if staying locally before your tour, from the Reindeer Encounter experience mentioned below, or from the Ice Hotel if you are visiting there before going to the kennels.

Guests will normally arrive at the kennels anytime from early afternoon onwards.

If you are arriving in Kiruna early in the day (for example with the night train from Stockholm), there are a number of ways to spend time in the area before having transfer to the kennels:

  • Reindeer Encounter and Sámi Experience in Lapland is just nearby and makes an excellent option for an afternoon activity on your arrival day. Tours start with pick up from local accommodation in Kiruna or the Tourist Information Office at 13.10, or from the Ice Hotel at 13.30 and your dogsled hosts will collect you from the Reindeer Encounter for transfer to the kennels.
  • Visit the Ice Hotel or spend some time in Kiruna town. More information on these options will be provided in booking documentation.

Once at the kennels:

  • There are no organised activities as part of the tour this day (sledding begins on Day 2), but cross-country ski equipment and snowshoes are available to borrow free of charge for self-guided activities in the surrounding forest. Please ask your local hosts on arrival if you would like to borrow equipment.
  • Evening snowmobile tours are available to add as optional extras in connection with the start day of your dogsled tour. Morning snowmobile tours also make a very good choice for an activity on your departure day. See under "Prices > Optional Extras" for details.

Following Days

Day 2:

Your first meeting with your team. If you have not received your winter clothing the day before, you will be issued with this now and also meet your guide. The dogs used are Alaskan or Siberian Huskies, ideally suited to dog sledding in this Arctic environment. You will be given full instruction in how to harness your dogs and handle the sled. Each participant will drive their own dogsled with team of 3-4 dogs (normally 3 dogs per team if using Alaskan huskies). The dogs are very friendly and affectionate, and you will soon find you form a close bond with your team.

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, everyone participates in the care of the dogs, preparing them for the night and assisting with feeding, etc, before retiring for the evening, and with general tasks around the cabins such as chopping wood, fetching water, etc.

Day 3:

The day begins by taking care of the dogs followed by breakfast. It is then time to load the sleds and set off once more for a day's mushing through the silence and majesty of the Lapland winter. Accommodation in the evening in cabin and a chance to reflect on your experience - 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 the day's sledding!

Departure

Your last opportunity for sledding, with and early start and a short dogsled tour in the morning ending around 09.00-10.00.

At the end of the tour, you will take care of the sleds and equipment, say goodbye to your dogs and return your winter clothing.

Before departure, why not take the opportunity to add a morning snowmobile tour? See under "Prices > Optional extras" for details.

You will then be transferred to Kiruna airport or train station for departure. Depending on timing of onward travel, there may be time to visit the world-famous Ice Hotel in Jukkasjärvi (see under "Transfers" below) or to spend some time in Kiruna.

You should plan departure time from Kiruna no earlier than lunchtime (unless of course you are adding snowmobiling as an optional activity on your departure day, in which case departure time must be later in the day depending on the duration of your snowmobile tour).

(Please note that the above is a preliminary itinerary and may vary due to factors such as weather conditions, access to trails and seasonal changes and local reindeer herding activities. In the event of very bad weather, a reserve day itinerary is also possible including sight-seeing in Kiruna and a visit to the Ice Hotel.)

Information for guests adding snowmobile tour as optional extra on departure day:

If you are doing a snowmobile tour in the morning of your departure day and leaving Kiruna that day, you must plan onward travel times appropriately:

  • For guests doing Snowmobile morning tour 2.5 hours, flight departure time from Kiruna must be no earlier than 14.30 or train departure time no earlier than 14.00 (suitable for the earlier of the two daily night trains to Stockholm, which normally leaves just after 14.00). Transfer will leave from the kennels around 12.30.
  • For guests doing Snowmobile morning tour 3.5-4 hours, flight departure time from Kiruna must be no earlier than 16.00 or train departure time no earlier than 15.30 (the later of the two daily night trains to Stockholm does not normally leave until around 18.00). Transfer will leave from the kennels around 14.00.

Dates & Prices»

Dates 2023/24

Discover Dog Sledding in Lapland is a 4-day/3-night tour with arrival Day 1, 2 days' sledding Days 2-3 and a short sled in the morning of Day 4.

This tour is offered twice weekly between mid-November and late April* except for special tour dates around Christmas and New Year as below:

  • Every Thursday-Sunday and Sunday-Wednesday from 19th November to 21st April (tours slightly earlier/later may also be possible depending on conditions).
  • Special tour dates around Christmas and New Year:
    • Pre-Christmas tour 20.12-23.12.23 (Wednesday-Saturday)
    • Christmas tour 23.12-26.12.23 (Saturday-Tuesday)
    • "Between" tour 26.12-29.12.23 (Tuesday-Friday)
    • New Year tour 29.12.23-01.01.24 (Friday-Monday)

Dates 2024/25

Discover Dog Sledding in Lapland is a 4-day/3-night tour with arrival Day 1, 2 days' sledding Days 2-3 and a short sled in the morning of Day 4.

This tour is offered twice weekly between mid-November and late April* except for special tour dates around Christmas, New Year and February Half Term as below:

  • Every Thursday-Sunday and Sunday-Wednesday from 17th November to 20th April (tours slightly earlier/later may also be possible depending on conditions).
  • Special tour dates around Christmas, New Year and February Half Term:
    • Christmas tour 23.12-26.12.24 (Monday-Thursday)
    • Other tour dates around Christmas/New Year as normal (Sunday-Wednesday and Thursday-Sunday)

*The Northern Lights are visible from around September to early/mid April. The deep midwinter period of November-January offers the longest hours of darkness, which is of course required for the Northern Lights to be visible, while the "spring winter" of March and April offers longer hours of daylight and typically milder temperatures. The Northern Lights can be visible at any time during this period, including during March to mid-April. While March and April have shorter nights, on the other hand these months can also have a greater incidence of clear skies.

Prices 2023/24

Standard Prices 
Per adultGBP 729
Per child under 16GBP 365

Prices 2024/25

Standard Prices 
Per adultGBP
Per child under 16GBP

Private tours: Groups of minimum 5-6 persons can also book private tours for this experience, which can then be extended with one or more additional dog sledding day(s) + night(s) at wilderness camp to make a tour of total 5 days/4 nights, for example. Price per additional day for private tours: GBP per adult, GBP per child under 16. Max. group size for standard tours is 6 persons, but for private tours larger groups can be accommodated. Please contact us to discuss your requirements.

Dog sledding for families:

This experience is suitable for both adults and families. As standard, adult participants drive their own sled with 3-4 Alaskan or Siberian Huskies. However, participants who are unable or do not wish to drive their own sled for all or part of the tour may opt to share a sled or travel on guide's sled.

All participants who wish to drive own sled must be aged 16 or over and weigh more than 50kg. It is not permitted for children under 16 to have own sled regardless of size/strength.

Children aged 12-15 will share sled with adult and, depending on factors such as size and strength, will normally be able to take turns driving.

Younger children will travel on a parent's sled or on guide's sled depending on conditions and the ratio of parents/children in the group. Children aged 7-12 are often able to try driving for certain parts of the route (for example standing with an adult behind the sled to drive) where the terrain is level and easy-going and the guide is able to easily supervise the group. While age is a helpful guideline, a number of other factors such as physical strength and weather/trail conditions will also influence the suitability for children to try driving.

Safety is of the highest priority and possibilities for children under 16 to drive will be at your guide's discretion.

Optional Extras per person (see description below)

NB: If adding a snowmobile tour, you must plan travel times for your arrival or departure day appropriately. Please see description below for start times for the tours.

Snowmobile morning or afternoon tour 2.5 hours (shared one per two persons) 
AdultGBP
Child under 16GBP
  
Snowmobile morning tour 3.5-4 hours (shared one per two persons) 
AdultGBP
Child under 16GBP
  
Snowmobile evening tour 2.5 hours (shared one per two persons) 
AdultGBP
Child under 16GBP
  
Snowmobile evening tour 3.5-4 hours (shared one per two persons) 
AdultGBP
Child under 16GBP
  
Supplement to drive own snowmobile (all snowmobile tours) 
AdultGBP
  • Snowmobile tours: An ideal extra activity for your arrival or departure day in connection with the start/end of your dogsled tour (depending on your travel plans), or on another day if you are staying extra nights locally before/after your tour. Evening tours give good possibilities to see Northern Lights if conditions are suitable. Min. age 10 years. Children will ride as passenger with adult or may ride with guide or on sled pulled by guide if necessary (e.g. for families with three children). When booking your snowmobile tour, please specify:
    • Date and time (morning, afternoon or evening). Typical start (pick-up) times are: Morning tours 10.00 (you will be back at the kennels in time to do a Morning tour on your departure day if you wish), Afternoon tours 14.00, Evening tours 18.00 (up to 25th March) or 20.00 (from 26th March onwards).
    • Duration (2.5 or 3.5-4 hours - note that afternoon tours are 2.5 hours only). Duration given is approx. total tour duration including pick-up, initial instruction and breaks. 2.5 hour tours include snack/coffee, 3.5-4 hour tours include lunch (daytime) or dinner (evening).
    • Whether driving own snowmobile or sharing per 2 persons (if 2 or more adults). Solo travellers must choose drive own snowmobile option. Participants wishing to drive must be min. 18 years, hold full driving licence and be able to show licence locally.

What's Included »

Included

Accommodation:

Accommodation in simple wilderness cabins. Accommodation for the first night will normally be in simple cabin at the kennels (cabin accommodation at other locations nearby may also be used during peak periods).

For the other two nights during the tour, accommodation will normally be in simple wilderness cabin at lakeside camp and sometimes one additional location.

You will have access to sauna on some nights.

There may also be other persons staying at the overnight accommodation used during the tour.

Cabins at kennel for dog sledding

Example cabin accommodation at the kennels that may be used for arrival night.

Cabin during dogsled tour

Example main cabin accommodation during tour (may also be used for arrival night), shows interior, grill cabin and sauna.

The cabins are located in a fairly remote area, where standard of accommodation is simple (no running water or electricity) but cosy and comfortable. The cabins are heated by wood-burning stoves and lit by candles, and water is drawn from nearby rivers and lakes.

Everyone assists with camp duties such as chopping wood, fetching water and washing/tidying up.

Sleeping accommodation on all nights during the tour is shared. Cabins will typically have one or two sleeping rooms, each with bunk beds.

Wilderness cabins for dog sledding

Further example of typical cabin accommodation 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. As standard, each adult participant drives their own sled with 3-4 Alaskan or Siberian Huskies. However, children or adults who are unable or do not wish to drive their own sled for all or part of the tour may opt to share a sled or travel on guide's sled.
  • Warm winter clothing for all activities: snowscooter overalls, winter boots, hat, gloves, inner and outer socks.
  • Sleeping bag, sleeping sheet and pillow case.
  • Towel.
  • Thermos for hot water (there is no need to bring a separate water bottle).
  • Bag for personal items and clothing.

(additional items such as long-johns may be available on request - please ask if there is a particular item of clothing or equipment you require)

Winter clothing for dog sledding in Lapland

Winter clothing provided

Guide:

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

Transfers:

  • Return transfer between Kiruna airport or Kiruna station (or from accommodation locally) and the cabins in connection with your tour. For guests, wishing to visit the Ice Hotel (entry charge payable locally) on arrival or departure day, pick-up from the Ice Hotel on arrival day or drop-off on departure can be offered as an alternative (guests will then travel independently between Kiruna and the Ice Hotel).

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.

Good To Know »

Required

Health requirements/experience:

You should have a normal level of fitness and enjoy outdoor life in winter conditions. You should also be comfortable living in close proximity with others. This experience is suitable for both adults and families. There is no minimum age, but the tour will typically be suitable for children aged 6+.

All participants who wish to drive own sled must be aged 16 or over and weigh more than 50kg. It is not permitted for children under 16 to have own sled regardless of size/strength. See under "Prices > Dog Sledding for Families" for more information.

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 (note, however, that this tour runs in a landscape of frozen lakes, rivers and forest so will be less demanding than sledding in mountain terrain). Tasks around the cabins (fetching water, chopping wood, etc) can also be physically demanding.

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

What makes this "Easy-Medium"?

As a relatively short tour (2 days' sledding + short sled in morning of Day 4), this tour will be less challenging than a longer tour in similar terrain and is suitable for both adults and families. Itinerary may be based at same accommodation for all nights, which removes the requirement of packing/unpacking each day, or may move between overnight accommodation for one night. The tour takes place in a lowland landscape, though assistance the sled on uphill sections or in deep snow will still be required.

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:

A total of minimum 2 persons is required for scheduled tours to run. You are of course welcome to book as a solo traveller.

Combine This With

This experience makes a good combination with the following:

Groups

Maximum group size 6 persons.

This experience is also available as a private experience for groups. For private tours, larger groups can be accommodated. Please contact us to discuss your requirements.

Eco Info

This provider has a detailed environmental policy and has received Swedish Tour Quality certification.

The sleds are made in a local workshop just 100m from the kennels, while many of the dogs' harnesses are sewn by a local family.

Lapland:

Lapland (or Lappland in Swedish) is the northernmost province of Sweden, occupying an area of 109,000 square kilometres, around 25% of Sweden's total land area, yet with just 100,000 inhabitants. This is just over 1% of Sweden's total population, currently around 9 million.

Lapland borders Jämtland to the south, Norway to the west and Finland to the north-east. This huge area contains 8 of Sweden's National Parks: Abisko, Björnlandet, Muddus, Padjelanta, Sarek, Stora Sjöfallet and Vadvetjåkka,

Will I see the Northern Lights?

This experience is located in the far 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!

Getting There »

Getting There

See below for a summary of travel options. To learn more about how to travel to this experience, please get in touch!

Detailed information on travel will be provided in response to your enquiry. We are happy to advise on suitable connections and assist you with any aspect of planning your journey.

NB: Please ensure that you make a booking with us first and wait for confirmation that your spaces are reserved before making any travel arrangements.

Travel Summary:

By Air:

Fly to Stockholm then onward to Kiruna by night train or domestic flight connection. Transfer from Kiruna airport or train station is included.

Without Flying:

Ferry Dover-Dunkirk or Newcastle-Amsterdam for onward train connections to Kiruna.

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