Dog sledding in Norway

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 pack of dogs for several days, or enjoy the view as a passenger on a one-day dog sledging trip.

Huskies, the breed commonly used for dog sledging, are strong dogs. On a typical trip, they will pull you at high speed through the white wilderness. And as the wind slaps you gently in the face, you will get a taste of what life was like in the old days, when dog sledging was a much more common mode of transportation.

Joining a dog sledging tour is a great opportunity to feel the strong bond between man and dog. You will often get the chance to feed and look after the Huskies yourself, something that will appeal to dog lovers everywhere.

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

And 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 sledging 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.

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

A short break at Svalbard.
Photo: Renato Granieri / visitnorway.com

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

A dog sledding trip on wheels in Tromsø.
Photo: CH / visitnorway.com

A female passengers on a dog sledding trip is cuddling with a Husky in Northern Norway

A group of dogs in front of a sledge in the snow-covered landscape of Svalbard in Northern Norway

A group of dogs in front of a sledge in the snow-covered landscape close to Røros in Trøndelag, Norway

A couple on a dog sledge on wheels in Tromsø, Northern Norway

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 biggest race and is known for being extremely challenging. 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 to participate in Finnmarksløpet – Europe’s longest dog sledging race. For several days the white, freezing desert is their home. Hundreds of kilometres later they get a warm welcome from the audience at the finish line, also in Alta.

Popular dog sledging operators on TripAdvisor

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 sledging. Many local suppliers, most of them small family businesses, offer a range of set and tailor-made dog sledging 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 sledging experience with a northern lights adventure.

Central and Eastern Norway
Dog sledging 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.