Dog sledding

Do you want to go for a ride?

Dog sledging in Finnmark .
Photo: Sheriff Film Company

Woof woof!

You see wagging tails as the happy sled dogs manoeuvre their way through the frozen landscape.

Dog sledging in Finnmark .
Photo: Sheriff Film Company

A cool breeze brushes your face as you glide through the pristine snow-covered wilderness.

Sled dogs used to be the main form of transportation, connecting the arctic corners of the world.

Today, planes, snow machines and cars have taken over this job, but one thing will never change ...

Dog sledging in Finnmark .
Photo: Jørn Losvar / finnmarkslopet.no

... the joy and love the sled dogs show for running and being out in the cold, their true environment!

In Norway, there are many places you can go dog sledding, such as Svalbard, Tromsø, Geilo, Beitostølen and Sjusjøen.

Dog sledging, Alta .
Photo: Terje Rakke / Nordic Life / Visitnorway.com

Norway hosts two of the world’s most famous sled dog races, Finnmarksløpet, The Finnmark Race, in Northern Norway and Femundløpet, The Femund Race, in Trøndelag.

If you get the chance to see it, it's quite a show!

Dog sledding in Røros .
Photo: Terje Rakke / Nordic Life AS / visitnorway.com

Chances are you’ll find a four-legged best friend.

Dog sledding in Northern Norway .
Photo: Trym Ivar Bergsmo / www.nordnorge.com

Our four-legged friends up and down the country are ready to give you an experience of a lifetime. Try your hand as a musher and steer your own dog team for several days, or enjoy the view as a passenger on a one-day dog sledding trip.

The husky, the breed commonly used for dog sledding, are strong and enduring. Out on the trail, they will pull you at high speed through the white wilderness. As the wind blows, you'll get a taste of what life was like in the old days, when dog sledding was a much more common form of transportation.

Joining a dog sledding tour is a great opportunity to feel the strong bond between human and dog. You will often get the chance to feed and take care of the huskies yourself, something that will appeal to dog lovers everywhere.

During the winter months in Northern Norway, you may even experience a dog sledding excursion under the northern lights. The Arctic silence is interrupted only by the dogs breathing and the sound of the sled making its way through the snow. It is truly an experience of a lifetime!

Don’t worry if you can’t visit Norway during the winter. The dogs enjoy a good run even after the snow has melted, and several destinations offer dog sledding trips on wheels.

Alaskan husky

The choice of the world-class mushers

Alaskan husky is the most commonly used dog in dog sled racing. It is a blend of different kinds of northern breeds and is not considered a pure breed.

The huskies are strong dogs, and they are at their happiest when work is hard and the temperature is low.

In other words, huskies are the perfect choice as companions when you steer your sled through the wild and picturesque wilderness.

We love to run in the summer too!

Dog sledding in summer .
Photo: CH/Visitnorway.com

Dog sledding in summer .
Photo: CH - Visitnorway.com

Watch the elite in action

If you want to learn from the best, Norway is an ideal destination. Each year we host two world-famous races: Femundløpet and Finnmarksløpet.

Femundløpet is the world’s largest race, with participants from all over Europe, and is known for being hilly. It all starts in the cosy mining town of Røros, which is included on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The professional mushers and their dogs travel at high speed past the cheering crowds in the middle of the town, before disappearing into the wild and scenic surroundings.

A month later, mushers from all around the world travel to Alta in Northern Norway to participate in Finnmarksløpet – Europe’s longest sled dog race. For several days the white, freezing desert is their home, and total whiteouts can make it extremely challenging for mushers and dogs. Hundreds of kilometres later, they get a warm welcome from the audience at the finish line, also in Alta.

Popular places to go dog sledding

Alaskan husky

The choice of the world-class mushers

Alaskan husky is the most commonly used dog in dog sled racing. It is a blend of different kinds of northern breeds and is not considered a pure breed.

The huskies are strong dogs, and they are at their happiest when work is hard and the temperature is low.

In other words, huskies are the perfect choice as companions when you steer your sled through the wild and picturesque wilderness.

Where to try dog sledging?

Northern Norway
Svalbard and Finnmark are popular places for dog sledding. Many local suppliers, most of them small family businesses, offer a range of set and tailor-made dog sledding tours.

If you are heading north, but not as far north as Finnmark or Svalbard, operators near Bardu and Tromsø are ready to welcome you. Many operators combine a dog sledding experience with a northern lights adventure.

Central and Eastern Norway
Dog sledding tours are also available in other parts of Norway. Two operators are located in Røros, while several companies in or around the Hallingdal valley – such as Geilo, Ål, and Nesbyen – offer trips of varying duration.

Elsewhere in the east of the country, you could try your luck in Gålå, Trysil, and Beitostølen.

Southern Norway
In the south you will also find tours on offer in mountainous Telemark. Go to Sirdal, Rauland, and Hovden.