Live Like a Musher in Finnmark (Norway)

Develop your skills and confidence as a musher

Tours will typically take place on the Finnmark Plateau, gradually building up daily distance and level of challenge through the week, with the flexibility to adapt depending on your abilities, interests and of course on weather and snow conditions.

Daily sledding distances will typically be from 25-60km, though the emphasis is not on covering a particular distance but on being out with the dogs, improving your skills and confidence as a musher, and expanding your knowledge of sled dog care and handling.

You'll be driving your own dogsled team with 4-5 huskies. Photo: GH.

As well of course as offering five days of wonderful husky sledding, the daily training tours help to build up the dogs' fitness in preparation for multi-day expeditions later in the winter season, while the inclusion of an overnight tour accustoms the dogs to sleeping out on the lines and to the overnight routines of an extended trip.

The intention is to include an overnight expedition staying in wilderness cabin or camping wild. The overnight tour helps accustom the dogs to sleeping out on the lines. Photo: GH.

The Northern Lights and the magic of the Polar Night

With tour dates between late November and mid-February, Live Like a Musher in Finnmark gives you the opportunity to experience the Arctic during the very special Midwinter period.

The Midwinter period offers very good opportunities to see the Northern Lights. Photo: GH.

You'll be far from light pollution, giving very good chances to see a display of the Aurora during your time with the dogs - provided of course that the skies are clear, there's activity and you're not fast asleep after an adventurous day on the trail!

You're far above the Arctic Circle here, and from late November to mid-January the sun does not come above the horizon at all! This is the "Polar Night" period, a very special time to be in the far north.

In mid-January, the sun rises for the first time since late November! Photo: GH.

But though you may not see the sun, it's by no means dark all the time. There is a beautiful dusky twilight during the main part of the day, often with a magical "blue" quality, and the snow, moon, stars and of course hopefully the Northern Lights all play their part in bringing light to the winter darkness.

As mid-January arrives, the sun makes its appearance again, with the days lengthening rapidly until by late May, it's the Midnight Sun period and the sun will not set again for another two months!

Take some extra days to discover the Alta region

As Live Like a Musher in Finnmark features sledding on all five days of the tour, you will need to overnight locally in the Alta area before and after your dogsled tour.

Alta, the "Gateway to Finnmark", is the regional administrative capital and offers wonderful opportunity for additional activities (arranged independently) if you wish to extend your stay. There are many possibilities, including winter fat-biking, snowmobiling, Northern Lights tours, boat tours on the fjord, snowshoeing, Sámi cultural experiences, fishing or visiting the Sorrisniva Igloo Hotel.

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.

Included

Accommodation:

• Three nights in simple cabin at the kennels. Shared sleeping arrangements. The cabin has self-catering facilities where guests will prepare own meals using the provisions provided.
• One night in wilderness cabin or winter camping during overnight expedition. Cabin will have very simple facilities with no electricity or running water, dry outside toilet. Winter sleeping bag and mat is provided for this night. Shared sleeping accommodation.

Meals:

Provisions for meals from lunch on Day 1 to lunch on Day 5. Food is provided, but guests will prepare meals themselves using the self-catering facilities at the kennels.

You may wish to bring additional snacks for energy between meals when sledding, etc. Please let us know in advance if you have any special dietary requirements.

Equipment and Clothing:

• Husky sledding equipment including sled dog team and services of local guide. If conditions are not suitable for sledding on snow (e.g. at the start of the winter season), training tours may used wheeled carts and/or ATVs.
• Warm winter outer clothing: Thermal snowmobile suit, winter boots, warm hat and mittens.
• Goggles and headtorch.

Guide:

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

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.
• Transfers: Transfer between Alta and the kennels at the start/end of your tour is not included. The kennels are located approx. 25km from Alta town. Local taxi services are available, typical fare around 900 NOK (around £65) one-way.

Required

Health requirements/experience:

General high level of fitness and stamina. No previous dog sledding experience is required, but you should be comfortable spending extended periods outdoors in a range of winter conditions.

Minimum age 18 for public tours (younger persons with suitable fitness may be possible for private groups by arrangement). Dog sledding can be physically demanding and the daily distances during the tour may require long hours on the sleds. Daily distances may vary from 25-60km or more.

You will need to assist your team when going uphill by pushing or "scooting", especially in deep or soft snow, and will need moderate strength and balance to brake the sled effectively when going downhill.

In addition to the sledding, you will be taking part in all aspects of dog handling and care during your stay, including assisting with feeding, cleaning and general tasks around the kennels and around the camp/cabin during expedition night.

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

What makes this "Medium-Hard"?

The Finnmark region is a remote area and you will be sledding in exposed terrain where weather conditions can be variable and change quickly. You will be driving your own dogsled and be fully involved in all aspects of dog care and training during the week.

Accommodation for the main part of the tour is simple but comfortable standard for nights at the kennels. The intention is to spend one night on overnight expedition with accommodation in simple wilderness cabin or winter camping, which will add to the level of challenge.

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:

There is no minimum number of persons required. Scheduled tours are guaranteed to run from the first booking. You are of course welcome to book as a solo traveller.

Groups

Maximum group size 4 persons for public tours.

For private tours, slightly larger groups may be possible by arrangement. Please contact us to discuss your requirements.

Eco Info

This provider is a small-scale, family-owned local operator.

Will I see the Northern Lights?

This experience is located in the far north of Norway, 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!