3 min read
Published 18. February 2024
Experience dog sledding in the North
Home to two of the world’s most famous sled dog races, Norway has a long history of working with doggos as a means of transportation — and certainly the terrain for it. Whether you’re a newbie or have tried your hand at sledding or mushing before, the north of the country is the ideal place for you to revel in this unique experience. Soon, you’ll be traversing the snow-covered wilderness while happy huskies run in front of you.
Here’s what you need to know about experiencing dog sledding in Northern Norway:
It’s a time-honored tradition, and you’re becoming a part of it
Dog sledding has very old traditions as the most important means of transport among Inuit in the polar regions of Alaska, Canada and Greenland, as well as in northern Russia. From around 1830, sled dogs were also used on many polar expeditions, including the ones by the Norwegian explorers Fridtjof Nansen and Roald Amundsen. Dog sledding became ingrained in Norwegian DNA through stories and tales from the Norwegian polar expeditions.
Today, every March, the Finnmark Race (Europe’s longest dog sled race) takes place in Alta, with people from all over the globe traveling here for it. The race lasts for several days, but your own dog sledding adventure can be as long or as short as you want it to! The dogs used in dog sledding are Alaskan huskies, born to run and eager to explore with you.
It’s the best way to explore the terrain… and catch the Aurora!
While the ideal time to go on such an adventure is between December and March, you’ll find dog sledding opportunities from September onward: dog sledding in the autumn takes place using wheeled cards, and you’ll have the opportunity to roam the changing terrain as the trees don their gold and red colors.
Later on, in December and January, where the blue hues of Polar Nights sink into the world, dog sledding at night is actually one of the best ways to witness the Aurora Borealis! The dancing lights in the sky will certainly make for an unforgettable evening, and you can even camp on certain sites and take in the views — the doggos will be thrilled at the opportunity to cuddle next to an open fire and get snacks.
In February and March, as the daylight becomes slightly longer once more and the temperatures are milder, it’s the ideal time for longer excursions. Places like the mountainous expanse around Tromsø, the endless plateaus of Finnmark and the snowy expanse of Svalbard will take your breath away, and you’ll be able to take some great pictures of the vistas … complete with wagging dog tails, of course!
It can be as active or as relaxing you want it to be
One of the great things about going dog sledding is that you can really customize the trip to fit your needs and your fitness levels. If you prefer a relaxing trip, you can lounge under warm blankets while an experienced musher leads the dogs — or, if you’d rather a more high-octane experience, you can try doing your own dog mushing! Just be aware that the latter requires being able to have a good balance and grip on the reins, and be able to jog uphill through the snow. In any case, an expert will be with you to teach you all you need to know.
