Wilderness Dogsled Adventure in Vindelfjällen (Sweden)

Top racing huskies make up the teams for the tour

You will be driving your own dogsled with team of 4-6 huskies and taking care of and working with your team during the tour is very much part of the experience. You will also be participating in the various tasks that are required at the cabins/camp in the evenings.

The kennels are home to Sweden's two-time world champion for long-distance dogsled racing and multiple winner of Europe's longest and most prestigious dogsled race, the 1200km Finnmarkslöpet in Norway. The dogs you will be using on this tour are highly trained athletes, including members of competition-winning race teams.

The route you will take for your husky tour is flexible depending on weather conditions and other factors, but sledding days may be more demanding and the distances travelled on some days may be further than on other dogsled tours you have previously participated in. You will typically be climbing to around 800-1000m above sea level with some challenging uphill sections.

You will normally be dog sledding in the wilderness of Vindelfjällen Nature Reserve and, particularly for the 9-day tour, along parts of the famous King's Trail (or "Kungsleden"). Vindelfjällen is the largest protected area in Europe, yet is very little-known and very little-visited.

Stay in wilderness cabins with winter camping

Accommodation during the tours is a combination of wilderness cabins and winter camping in tents, depending on weather conditions and the routes taken.

The 6-day tour will normally feature one night of winter camping, while for the 9-day tour the intention is to spend around half the nights under canvas. All camping equipment as well as specialist winter outer clothing is provided.

The element of winter camping further increases the level of challenge and adventure, particularly for the 9-day tour.

To participate in and enjoy the Wilderness Dogsled Adventure in Vindelfjällen, you should have a high level of fitness, endurance and both mental and physical stamina. You should be used to and enjoy the outdoors. As group size is very small, Wilderness Dogsled Adventure is also an ideal option for small groups of friends wishing to arrange a challenging private dog sledding expedition.

Group sizes are very small, with max. just 4 persons + guide, ensuring a personal and unique husky adventure in the Swedish wilderness.

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.

Day 2:

After breakfast, you will finish packing and preparing for your tour, then head off into the wilderness, crossing the river Kirjesån into the Kirjesålandet Nature Reserve, part of the larger 5500 sq.km Vindelfjällen reserve. When you reach your cabin in the afternoon, everyone assists with taking care of the dogs and other tasks around camp before spending your first night in the wilderness.

Day 3:

Today you'll be sledding on a section of the Mejsjövidda Challenge dogsled race route, used by some of Europe's top mushers. You sled across the long lakes of the Vindelfjällen reserve to reach Aivak cabin, where you will spend the night.

Day 4:

Today takes you into the mountains, climbing to around 800-1000m above sea level. There will be a lot of uphill today, and you will need to assist your team by pushing and maybe pulling the sled on the uphill sections - be ready for a demanding day today! As always, you'll stop for lunch outdoors, hopefully rewarded with a beautiful clear view of the Lapland wildernesss stretching to the horizon.

If conditions are suitable, tonight may be spent in tents.

Day 5:

Today you head for home, and your final day of ledding brings you back towards the kennels, passing through the forest. Once back, you unpack the sleds and organise everything after the expeditin, before enjoying a hot shower and sauna. In the evening, a special farewell dinner offer the opportunity to reflect together on your time in the wilderness and all you have experienced and learned during the trip.

Departure

Breakfast and departure. Please depart by latest 11.00.

Depart 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.

Day 2:

After breakfast, you will finish packing and preparing for your tour, then head off into the wilderness, crossing the river Kirjesån into the Kirjesålandet Nature Reserve, part of the larger 5500 square metre Vindelfjällen reserve. You will normally plan to camp this night in the area of the Väretsfjället mountain or, if conditions are suitable, you may continue further across the mountain to reach a cabin.

Everyone assists with pitching camp and taking care of the dogs before dinner.

Day 3:

Your goal for the day may be the cabin at Syterstugan, which lies along the King's Trail (Kungsleden), one of Sweden's best-known trails for hiking in summer and also ski touring in winter. This region has some of the highest peaks in Sweden, including Syter at 1768m. Alternatively, you may head for a different location further north.

Day 4:

This day is flexible depending on what itinerary alterations have been necessary on the tour so far. It may be a "catch up" day if you are lying behind schedule due to weather, or in good weather you may use this day for a day tour in the surrounding area - this is a wonderful opportunity to run with lighter sleds and really stretch your new mushing skills, before returning to the cabin for overnight or possibly camping at a different location.

In good conditions, you may end up crossing the entire Vindellfjällen Nature Reserve, following the Vindell river to its source, crossing into Norway or camping on the Arctic Circle!

NB: This built-in "buffer day" may not necessarily take place on this day and may be adjusted to any part of the tour.

Day 5:

You continue your dog sledding tour, with many different routes possible depending on the itinerary of the previous days, possibly continuing further along the King's Trail to the remote settlement of Ammarnäs. The kennels will by now seem very far away! It's time to consider planning a suitable route towards home.

Day 6-7:

If weather and trail conditions are suitable, during these tour days you will aim to reach the cabin at Magasjö. Alternatively, one or both of these nights may be spent winter camping along the trail.

Day 8:

You sled back towards the kennels across frozen lakes and through ancient forest, where you will unpack your equipment and see to the dogs before your final evening together with your guide and group. Accommodation in cabin near the kennels, with a relaxing sauna and dinner to end the trip and reflect on your experience of this unique adventure!

Departure

Breakfast and departure. Please depart by latest 11.00.

Depart 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.

Early Bird Prices (per person) for bookings made before 15/06/26
6-Day Tours	GBP
9-Day Tours	GBP

Standard Prices (per person)
6-Day Tours	GBP
9-Day Tours	GBP

Included

Accommodation:*

Two nights' accommodation in cabin near the husky kennels, three or six nights' accommodation (depending on tour duration) in wilderness cabins and/or tent/snow bivouac along the route as appropriate. You should expect to camp for at least half the nights of the tour. Cabin accommodation during the tour, where used, 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 kennels is in 2-person twin rooms. Sleeping accommodation on nights at cabins and when camping along the route is shared. Cabins have bunk beds/sleeping lofts.

Guests have access to sauna and shower for nights at the guest house.

* A second guest cabin at the kennels is in the process of being constructed for the 2026/27 winter season. Information here describes the existing accommodation. Accommodation for nights at the kennels may be at either of the two cabins and details of the new cabin will be added when complete.

Meals:

NB: Please let us know at time of booking if you have any special dietary requirements.

All meals from lunch on arrival day to breakfast on departure day (breakfast, lunch, dinner + coffee/snacks, etc).

There is a focus on home-cooked meals and using local ingredients, including moose, beef and home-made cakes. The tour takes place in a remote area where possibilities to source specialist provisions are very limited.

Meals offered can be either "vegetarian" or "no restrictions" (due to the nature of the tour, it is unfortunately not possible to accommodate vegan diets or general dietary preferences). Guests requesting vegetarian diet will have vegetarian food for all meals. If you have specific allergies, please provide detailed information at time of booking to confirm that these can be accommodated.

Equipment and Clothing:

• All necessary equipment during dog sledding tour including sleds with own dogsled team. Each participant drives their own sled with 4-6 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.
• Tents, bivvy bags (water/windproof cover for sleeping bags), insulated sleeping mat, cooking/kitchen equipment and snowshovels are provided for tours featuring camping. Tents used are 4-person tents used for max 3 persons in each tent.
• 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.

NB: Please be careful with the equipment and clothing provided! If items should be damaged or lost as a result of misuse or carelessness, you will be charged locally for the replacement cost, which may be significant. For example, please be very careful if drying gloves/boots by a fire or wood-burning stove, as these can be easily destroyed by excessive heat.

Guide:

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

Transfers:

• Transfer from bus stop to kennels (5 mins) on arrival and departure.
• 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:

Min. age 18 years, max. age 65 years (with suitable fitness). For guests aged 55-65 of if weight>95kg, please contact us to discuss suitability.

These tour have a high level of challenge both physically and mentally and participants should have a high level of fitness, endurance and self-discipline. Both the 6-day and 9-day itineraries are challenging expeditions, but the 9-day tour will offer an additional level of challenge.

All guests must have previously outdoor experience for this tour, including experience of multi-day camping in summertime. Previous dog sledding experience is not essential, but will be very beneficial and these tours are particularly suitable as "next step" tours for guests who have been dog sledding before.

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 and/or pushing/pulling the sled for short distances. These tours will typically involve climbing to around 800-1000m above sea level.

Tasks around the cabins and camps (fetching water, chopping wood, etc) can also be physically demanding and participation in these aspects is an essential part of the tour. Any nights spent winter camping will also add to the challenge level.

You should be used to and enjoy living in close proximity with others - all sleeping accommodation, including nights in tents, is shared.

What makes this "Hard(+)"?

The 6-day tour will often feature at least one night winter camping, while the 9-day tour may feature several camping nights. Winter camping significantly adds to the level of challenge compared to a cabin tour.

The tours also take place in a mountain landscape, where you will need to assist your dogsled teams on uphill sections more than when sledding in lowland terrain. As with any mountain experience, weather conditions can be very changeable. Daily sledding distances on these tours may also be longer than other tours you may have participated in before.

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:

6-day tours have no minimum and are guaranteed to run from the first booking.

For 9-day tours, a total of minimum two persons is required for scheduled tours to run. You are of course welcome to book as a solo traveller.

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.