Husky Sledding near Tromso

Dog sledding around Tromso runs from December to April, when snow cover is reliable in the valleys inland from the coast. Several kennels operate, most keeping Alaskan huskies, and the range of trips is wide: short introductory rides where guests sit in the sled, self-drive trips where visitors learn to handle a team, evening runs timed for the aurora, and multi-day expeditions with overnight stays in cabins or lavvu on the Finnmarksvidda. Norwegian and Sami mushers dominate the sport, and several operators are run by racers who compete in the Finnmarkslopet, Europe's longest sled dog race, which starts in Alta each March and covers over a thousand kilometres.

What you actually see

• The dog teams - Alaskan huskies harnessed and worked in the snow.
• The self-drive option - handling a team rather than riding as a passenger.
• The aurora trips - evening runs timed for the northern lights.
• The kennels - the working operations behind the trips.

When to go

December to April; January and February are darkest and coldest, March and April combine snow with returning light and are generally considered the best. Early winter can lack snow at low altitude.

Honest expectations

Standards of animal care vary between operators, and it is worth choosing carefully. The cold is severe and rides are static, so proper clothing matters even with loaned suits. Aurora is never guaranteed on an evening trip.

Nearby

Tromso is the base; the Lyngen Alps and the Finnmarksvidda plateau lie east and inland.