Jordana organises our Lapland Dogsled Safari, and wanted to let you know why it is such a special experience. If this doesn’t leave you thinking about mulled wine, log fires and snow, I don’t know what will!
“WAF! The dogs are barking…ready to take me on the adventure of a lifetime.
I have selected my team and placed the harnesses on them. They are so excited and thrilled to go they just don’t want to waste a second! I step on my sled, hold on steady, release the anchor and I’m off….All of a sudden it is completely silent. I hear nothing apart from the soft panting of the dogs and the runners on the snow. It takes a few breaths to comprehend the feeling of freedom and exhilaration as I pass the trees beside me and immerse myself in Europe’s last wilderness…
Experience the beautiful wilderness
The first day of our tour is informatory and instructive to learn about a few important details such as how to handle the dogs (so they don’t run off without you!), how to correctly put on their harnesses, very importantly how to use the break and to never let go of your sled (you don’t want to be running after your dogs and sled! Especially, considering they can run even faster than 30 km an hour!).
Learn to dogsled
We all get our teams ready for take off and start our adventure to the lake cabin. We learn to balance on the sleds in the curves and corners, use the breaks when going down hills and through forest trails arrive at luongasjarvi lake. From here you can see the sauna and the lodge where we will be spending a few days. We stop and unpack but not before we give the doggies a treat and tell them how good they have been!
Improving your dogsledding skills
We make a fire in the sauna and in the cabin to heat things up before a well deserved dinner of reindeer meat is served. And of course it’s not only a feast for us, the dogs outside get dinner too!
On our second day we are all a little more confident! We pack a day sack and get back on our sleds. Today is devoted to driving around the pretty area and make it to the Torne River which, is the river where the ice blocks for the ice hotel come from. At the end of January the sun is back after not showing herself for 3 weeks. We are lucky with nice weather and enjoy a simple meal and hot wilderness coffee on our homemade fire! When we return by the end of the day to the lake cabin we get a lesson of ice fishing! Super fun when you see the fish through your own drilled ice hole looking at your bait! Hmm fish for dinner anyone?
The sun just peeks above the horizon
Our next day is spent mushing towards our next wilderness cabin, Jakala.
On route we even get the chance to see moose and reindeer. Don’t stop! The moose might have calves which they like to protect… Unlike in Alaska we don’t have bear spray with us! Not to worry, you get to see moose up close and personal in the moose park later on in the week!! Upon arrival at our wilderness cabin we first take care of our dogs, un-harnessing them and getting them settled and even give them a snack before we unpack our own bags and heat up the cabin and sauna. Moose stew is waiting with some mashed potatoes and a nice glass of wine!
Learn about reindeer and Sami culture
Early morning we feed our doggies and scoop up their poop. Checking up their poop is very important! Ahem, I won’t expand on the topic…I’ll let your guide do that for you! Today we get to mush towards a Sami settlement on our last day of mushing! It’s a great day of variable trails, mostly on an easy route, which can however change at any time depending on the weather conditions! We arrive in the afternoon and are greeted by our Sami hosts, Per Nils and Britt Marie. Eager to give us coffee and tell us stories we sit by the fire place and enjoy a homemade Sami dinner, before we have the option for a traditional sauna with a well deserved cold beer!
Bonding with the huskies
We say goodbye to the doggies today and take our last pics with them!
From the Sami settlement, Ovre Sopporo we head towards the exciting Ice Hotel! The hotel is constructed of building blocks of ice and snow taken from the Torne River and decorated by magical ice-art created by artists from around the world. But before heading to Jukkasjarvi to see the Ice Hotel we get to meet Foppa, Tuva, Mooses, Hilma, Tage and Ture at the Moose Park!! We get to learn about these incredible animals from Lars Bjork!
At the Icehotel
A husky safari holiday is something truly special. You learn about yourself, you learn about the dogs and you learn about the wilderness lifestyle! You get the opportunity for one week to have an insight into a world which is so different from the ordinary. I think it is an absolute MUST of things to do in your lifetime…”
If you would like to join us for a husky safari in Lapland, check out the dates and prices for our Lapland Doglesd Safari.
Tags: adventure holidays in lapland, adventure holidays in sweden, dog sledding, husky dogsled safari, stay at the icehotel
Looks like a great lot of fun, I’ve yet to go on one, but have visited the IceHotel, which is a fantastic experience. I’m planning on booking one next time I go to Lapland, thanks for the great article!
We visited Lapland in April and had the time of our lives, we went on a a husky dog safari and just looking at these pictures makes me want to go back again now. The husky dog safari was fantastic and just being around the dogs and their puppies was lovely, the children loved it. We had the chance to see and interact with the husky puppies which was an added extra for he kids. We organised our own holiday from the flights to the accomodation with the website above. Love Lapland and everything about it.
Great blog post. I’am not the one who often comment on blog posts, but this post is really good. Thx, your blog will be bookmarked. Regards