Lapland Husky Tour Experiences

Have you been dreaming for a long time of taking a multi-day husky tour in Lapland, in the far north of Finland, being pulled by huskies? I did and spent 5 days on a husky tour during the winter. It's not just one of the most popular activities in winter above the Arctic Circle, but also a great adventure. Plus, there's the chance to see the Northern Lights every evening. Sounds amazing, right?

In this report, I will tell you everything you need to know about a husky tour and share my experiences. At the end, you'll find my packing list for the cabin tour, as not everyone knows how the simple cabins are equipped.

This way, you'll be well prepared for your own husky adventure.

I booked my husky tour in Lapland (including 3 nights in cabins) through Diamir. I prefer to travel individually, but in winter, it's worthwhile to have a good partner for a package trip. That's why I like to use DIAMIR Erlebnisreisen, who took care of everything and provided top information beforehand - a clear recommendation! Diamir also ensures that the husky dog center is trustworthy and that the dogs are treated well (more on that later in the text). Take a look at Diamir; they also have offers for Swedish Lapland.

We opted for the 'less' strenuous tour and 3 nights in cabins. There is also a tour with 4 nights in cabins (here is the travel description).

Day 1: Arrival in Kittilä, public bus to Äkäslompolo (Äkäshotelli), then transfer by shuttle to the husky camp. Issue of clothing (winter overalls, winter boots, mittens, and fur hat) - overnight in a log cabin with the other people in our group (6 persons). Day 2: Introduction and getting to know the team of 4 dogs and a guide. First tour for acclimatization. Overnight in a log cabin at the camp. Day 3 - 6: Husky tour with 3 nights in simple cabins in the wilderness. Day 7: Free day (options like walking with an old dog, snowshoe hiking, snowmobile tour, skiing are available). Overnight in a log cabin at the camp. Day 8: Return trip via Äkäslompolo and Kittilä to Germany (or Austria).

As mentioned above, you can book this trip 1:1 with Diamir. Here is the link.

Info: At the beginning, you spend 2 nights in the dog camp and get to know your team right away. The fridge is stocked so you can prepare breakfast individually. There is coffee and tea. At the end, you will have 2 more nights in the camp in the same cabin. Luggage that you don't need during the husky tour can be left here. It will be available again in your cabin when you return. In the base camp, you will also be served dinner and can buy equipment, souvenirs, and postcards in the small shop.

The Äkäskero Dog Camp is located in northern Finland above the Arctic Circle, about 45 minutes by public bus from Kittilä Airport.

I booked this trip, as mentioned, through Diamir, who, in my opinion, always place great value on having good partners on-site. And that's exactly the case here at the Äkäskero Dog Camp: Over 411 dogs live here in several kennels (which changes according to litters). The four-legged friends have plenty of space, get daily free time (when not on tours), and after multi-day dog sledding tours, they get their well-deserved breaks.

They are also checked for paw injuries several times a day on tours, possibly fitted with booties (socks), and fed optimally. Injuries or inflammation can happen when dogs step on ice lumps. Experienced dogs rarely encounter this.

The dog sled guides are called mushers. Ours is Marc, originally from France, who has a deep love for four-legged friends. He has been at the Äkäskero Dog Camp for four years, caring for his charges from early morning until late at night. They love him. We notice that from day 1.

What is special about this dog camp is: In Finland, it seems common to kill young huskies if they are unwilling to pull sleds. Even older dogs are sorted out and euthanized to save money, as food is particularly expensive.

At the Äkäskero Dog Camp, it's different: There is a camp for 'Oldies' and 'Super Oldies'. Even puppies who don't want to pull a sled are allowed to stay here. They also rescue dogs from other camps, which we find excellent.

This is rare, as maintenance is costly. You can believe me, as I had a different (negative) experience with dog sledding tours on a previous trip to Lapland.

During the time at the base camp, you have a cabin like the one in the picture. Equipped with 2 bathrooms, 3 bedrooms (2 beds each), and a fully equipped kitchen, an open living area with a fireplace, table, and couch area. Very cozy.

Behind the house, there is a sauna barrel and a jacuzzi, which you share with the neighboring house.

Since I have grown so fond of the sled dogs, I want to briefly introduce them to you.

The little princess in the front right of the team has her moods. Sometimes overly motivated and at other times, she prefers to observe the landscape. Depending on the daily condition, she runs like clockwork or keeps veering into the deep snow. That's where Fennek comes in: He knows exactly where the best track is and keeps pulling it in the right direction.

Fennek, the 'Desert Fox', is a true leader. He knows where to go. Even when he and Mo Mo are hard to control early in the morning because they just want to run. He gives his all for you. With him replacing Kaamoz on day 1, my confidence in the team is established. Thanks to him as the lead dog, my sled rarely goes into an extreme tilt. I no longer have to free the sled from deep snow, and his cleverness and experience save me a lot of energy in the wilderness.

At 9 years old, he is the oldest dog in my team. Other dogs his age are already in the Oldie Camp. However, he still enjoys pulling sleds so much that I think he'll be doing it for a few more years.

The cuddly and smallest female in my team reacts first to my voice. From day 1, she keeps coming back for cuddles. Loni is 8 years old and runs on my right rear.

Saivo is a hardworking dog in the back left. If Loni wants cuddles, then he squeezes between us. Otherwise, he constantly rolls around in the snow and gets tangled up, which means I often have to untangle him. Musher Marc just grins and says, 'His brother is named Snow; he should have been called that since he rolls around in the snow so often.' He probably has a point. At 6 years old, he is the youngest in my team.

After we land punctually at sunset in Kittilä, we take about 45 minutes by bus towards Ylläs (tickets can be paid for by credit card on the bus for 19.20 euros) to Äkäshotelli. Then a shuttle takes us another 20 minutes in a minivan specifically provided for our fellow travelers and us to the husky farm. It's pitch dark and wonderfully snowy. The day before, there was more than 20 cm of fresh snow. Winter wonderland, we are here!

When we arrive, we are distributed among three cabins. Each cabin has 3 bedrooms for 2 people each. Thus, we get to know our team, with whom we'll be traveling for the next few days. Another German, two Austrians, and a French guy are joining us on our tour. There are two more groups that we will only see on the first two and last two days.

After we bring our things into our rooms, the outfitting follows: We receive super warm winter overalls, thick Sorell boots, leather mittens as outer gloves, and a fur hat. Phew, we are sweating.

Then we finally have dinner; we are really hungry and tired. But our team is great, and we look forward to the time together.

Back in our cabin, we build a fire in the fireplace, everyone contemplates what to wear the next day (how many layers, as it's -1°C, which feels like a heat wave for the end of January), and we go to sleep quite quickly.

After we make breakfast ourselves in our cabin (the fridge was filled upon arrival), it's time to go. Today, we'll embark on our first longer tour with the dogs. This will be fun after all the fresh snow.

Our guide Marc picks us up and takes us to the dogs in his kennel. Each person gets a sled along with the husky team that will accompany them in the coming days.

We receive instructions on how to behave on the sled, and Marc shows us how to put the harness on our huskies, how to secure the sled with a kind of 'anchor', and how to use the brake mat and brake claw. The rest is learning by doing.

Then we can start. For most of the fellow travelers, this is their first tour on a sled. For me, this is already my fourth, although the last one is not so fondly remembered as the dogs back then were 'out of control' and much less well-behaved than these here. My own insecurity from that experience was definitely felt by the dogs on day 1. They often did what they wanted. Fortunately, that would quickly change.

The dogs are also quite ready, as can be heard from the rising noise level. The barking is so loud that I can neither hear my brother in front of me on the sled nor Philip behind me. Crazy. They pull and jump and really want to go. They are eager!

Off we go through the beautiful snowy dense forest, over frozen lakes, and at some spots in very deep snow. At a few points, we have to assist and support the dogs, while at others, the sled stands so tilted in the deep snow that we must balance with both feet on one runner. I quickly get warm and can definitely not complain about a lack of movement.

After about 5.5 hours and 34 km, we make the last turn back into the husky camp. The dogs are exhausted - it's too warm for them, and for me, in the end, a little demanding. We take off the harness from sled to sled and let the dogs run free for a while before they return to their large kennels to be fed and examined.

We sort the harnesses - as everyone has their own - turn the sleds 90 degrees for tomorrow morning and are invited into a warm little cabin. There is soup, coffee, and tea. Here, we also meet one of the other groups and briefly exchange experiences. In the end, my Garmin watch shows 34 km.

Time for a shower before dinner. We have to pack for the four-day cabin tour. We recharge batteries and power banks, and decide to only take one camera on the tour. We save weight, and there won't be time for extensive photos with a camera anyway. The action cam and phone have to suffice. The focus is clearly on the dogs. Because they often jump around and get tangled up. Some like to gnaw on their booties or the leash. That's exactly what we need to prevent.

In the evening, there is cauliflower soup, lasagna with cabbage salad, and cake for dessert. Worn out and happy, we go back to our cabin, start a fire in the fireplace again, and go to sleep very early.

After the first test run as training for acclimatization, today marks the first of four days on the wilderness tour. The next three nights will be spent in simple cabins. Therefore, everyone packs small bags or backpacks that are loaded in the respective sled along with an 'anchor' and chains for securing the sled and the huskies and the frozen food for the dogs.

When we reach the sleds, I'm informed that my lead dog has been changed. Instead of Kaamoz, I got Fennek, 'a real pulling machine,' says Marc, our guide.

After that, I think about which harness belongs to which dog again. The smaller ones get black, the bigger ones yellow. I just have one yellow with a yellow rope and one with a red one. At first, I prefer to ask. But by the next day, I know exactly which harness belongs to which dog.

And that was it. It's amazing what a dog can mean for a team. While I had to prevent the sled from tipping over in the deep snow yesterday because the dogs simply trotted along, everything goes smoothly now. I'm much more relaxed as a result. The sun eventually comes up - a beautiful day.

I am thrilled and can enjoy everything much more than yesterday. The dogs trust me and I trust them. When we stop, they look at me hopefully until I give the 'Go'. The communication works. It's fascinating how quickly the dogs build trust with me. It goes uphill and downhill. Over frozen lakes and rivers and into dense forests.

It's amusing to see that -5°C is too warm for the dogs. They throw themselves in the deep snow during every little break.

During the breaks, especially Loni and Saivo want cuddles. Mo Mo, my princess, mostly just observes. 'She is a real Princess,' Marc also says with a grin and points out that she loves to be scratched on her belly. Fennek doesn't want to be left out and squeezes between us to get his share of affection.

After 40 km, we reach our destination: a small, cozy wooden cabin where we all sleep in one room. The dogs curl up into a perfect ball and rest until they are fed and examined.

Equipped with a fireplace, a small kitchen, and gas stove, 3 bunk beds, and large windows (which are of no use to us in winter in Finland as it quickly gets dark after our arrival).

Today, I am responsible for cooking. Right after arrival, we put lentil soup on the stove, set out tea water, and set the table.

After cooking, the other group cuts frozen meat for the dogs, while the other one fetches water from the frozen foot and heats the cabin and sauna.

We hang our damp clothes on clotheslines in front of the fireplace to dry, set up the beds (there are blankets and pillows, everyone brings a cabin or summer sleeping bag), and organize our luggage.

For dinner, we cook curry with rice, meatballs, and vegetables. Everyone enjoys our creation and is happy and satisfied with the day.

To finish off, we go to the sauna and afterwards jump into the snow. When we hear after the second sauna session that there are Northern Lights to be seen, we stop sweating and check out the faint but present Northern Lights.

Today, we have another longer round ahead. We wake up shortly after 7, make breakfast, pack up quickly, and take care of our dog sled team.

Since no one is helping us today, everyone is responsible for their own sled and leashing. Since my lead dogs in front are so active, I decide to harness them as the last pair. Time and again, we are amazed at how the huskies curl up into a perfect ball. Some emit so much warmth that the snow melts in holes up to 20 - 30 cm deep. The dog houses in the picture serve the dogs to curl up in during extremely cold nights; for us, it never got colder than -10°C at night.

They can hardly wait to run. With a beautiful sunrise, we start today's stage.

We all become more routine and are no longer reluctant to securely anchor the sled in the ground when the dogs become tangled or act up. Then, we have to untangle them, which is only possible when the sled is secure. Mine are so strong that the sled always jerks forward even when I'm standing on the brake with both feet. Crazy, because I'm sure not light myself.

When we glimpse our cabin, dusk sets in. The dogs are now also happy and would rather cuddle with me than have their harnesses taken off. Still, each task gets faster day by day, and a few minutes later, the dogs are freed from their harness, tied up for the night, and the sleds are arranged for the next day.

My job today: make a fire and refill fresh drinking water. What good luck it is that we surprisingly have electricity. Yet we still turn on the fireplace.

The days are indeed filled with dog sledding, making fires or cooking, and chopping food for the animals. There's still time for the sauna every evening. No one stays up very late; it's quiet for all of us quickly each evening.

Between dinner, we play games, tell stories, and write in diaries. I have my Kindle with me and read a bit until I close my eyes.

Later in the evening, we have Northern Lights again, but tonight I pass. I'm too spoiled and 'only' green I have seen many times. Most others go outside because anyone who has never seen Northern Lights is excited to see the shimmering green in the sky, even on a cloudy night.

At 7 a.m., we are awakened by a delicious smell: Marc is making pancakes!

After breakfast, everything is now running smoothly. Everyone knows what tasks they need to do before tackling their dogs. Every task is done right.

Except for Mo Mo, who will not budge today. I manage to get the little princess on her four legs. As soon as the harness is on, she would like to take off straight away. A 180-degree turnaround in 5 minutes.

Today we cover 40 km on narrow, partially snow-covered trails through the forest, frequently going up and down. The snow is quite deep. Mo Mo keeps glancing back at me as if to say, 'Help us.' As we later learn from Marc in the evening, the dogs exploit this gaze to get help. The more often they do that, the more they glance back. Ha. Clever.

Time flies today. Suddenly, the watch shows 20 km; I had expected less. This happens to everyone today because just a short while later, we arrive at our last cabin. Not as comfortable as yesterday, but bigger than on the first day.

I throw my bag inside quickly, as after freeing the dogs from their harness, I'm now responsible for chopping dog food. 36 kg of frozen salmon and chicken are waiting to be chopped into 250-gram portions.

This is tougher than I thought with a rather heavy axe. But it still goes quickly. The good thing about this job: you don't have to do anything again until the next day and take the used water away. Easy.

After a vegetable soup to warm up, a surprise awaits us: everyone is allowed to feed their dogs (if they want). Of course, we want to. In light snowfall, we go from team to team, since Marc divides portions for each dog. Some get a little more, some a regular portion.

For dinner, we have couscous, meatballs, and falafel. For dessert, ice cream, which surprisingly begins to melt at -5 degrees... You can't imagine how sticky the table looks afterward. Naturally, more ice leaks out of the package onto the plate than it can hold. It looks like a feed scene for predators: vanilla ice cream, sprinkled with cocoa powder and cinnamon. It tastes very delicious.

The usual trip to the sauna follows. Since it's lightly snowing, we have no chance of seeing the Northern Lights today and head straight to bed.

The last day on the dog sled has dawned. A bit sadly, we begin to harness the dogs. By now, they listen so well that I have no trouble holding them. They stand still and want to cuddle. They lift their heads and paws to quickly get into their harness. The change is incredible. It's as if we've known each other forever; each dog team only listens to their musher's voice.

When my brother calls to his dogs, 'Go,' mine do not respond. Only a sideways glance at me with the request 'Let's go' is tossed my way. I don't even have to say 'Go' anymore; the dogs see when I'm ready to push off and take off. Communication works.

Another trick is not to leave a large distance from my brother's sled. This prevents the dogs from getting into a trot and wanting to catch up with the sled in front of them. A natural instinct that helps minimize how much I need to push. Because Marc reassures us that the dogs have sufficient strength for that. It's just whims that make them (like Mo Mo did yesterday) stall and stop.

When we start out today, a thick snowfall begins. Unfortunately too late, as my ski goggles are stored in the sled. I squint my eyes just to see anything. It's beautiful, and the fresh snow crunches beneath the sled.

When we have already resigned ourselves to not seeing the sun today, the sky suddenly clears after our lunch break. First, the snowflakes disappear, then the clouds, and suddenly the sun shines. We experience the last 2 hours in beautiful weather on the dog sled. As we round the last bend, I have to hold back a tear. Saying goodbye is hard.

As we free the dogs one by one from their harnesses, they are allowed to run around as they please. Loni comes back one more time to gather a few cuddles. I have particularly grown fond of her. Such a lovely and sweet dog.

In the evening, there will be a group meal with musher Marc. Our team was really cool, and we ask him about the worst and best experiences with other guests. We buy him a beer and collectively give him a tip.

He tells us that we are welcome to visit the kennels of his dogs the next day if we want to see them again. Of course, we want to. He trusts us, and that is nice. We won't see him, as he too has two days off before the next group starts. What a unique experience that is slowly coming to an end.

During dinner, we are shown various options for how we can spend our free day tomorrow. We've seen nature extensively, and in a group, a snowmobile tour does not appeal to me. I have done that before, and after the loud encounters of the past days, we would rather enjoy nature in peace. We decide to rent snowshoes.

After we all had breakfast, we put on the snowshoes. Since the weather report for the morning was the best, we start around 10:30 a.m. The sun rises, and we look for ways in the deep snow off the roads. The previous night, so much fresh snow fell that the trails in the forest have a snow layer of about 40 cm.

Pretty exhausting. After 4 km, we return. Some borrow an old dog to take for a walk. The others heat the sauna. After that, it's time to return the equipment. We pack our bags before the last dinner because we have to vacate the cabin tomorrow morning.

This morning, we are only four people left. Our two Austrians had to leave at 6 a.m. for an earlier flight back home. We pack, have breakfast, and clean the cabin. We still have time and visit the super-oldies and our dogs again. Loni is already at the fence when she sees me. It nearly breaks my heart.

Afterward, we wait for our shuttle, which takes us too early to the Äkäshotelli in Äkäslompolo. At the hotel, I fortunately run into friends (the many travels have their advantages, as I get to meet people from all over the world), and we have a coffee at the hotel.

After that, we take the public bus directly to the airport. This runs hourly, and we have plenty of time. So we think. Since morning, it has been snowing again, with increasing intensity.

We don't consider that this could have consequences for our return flights at a place that must be used to a lot of snow. When we arrive at the airport, crowds are already piling up in front of the small building. When we later manage to get inside amidst the increasing snowfall, we see that all flights are delayed by at least an hour. There are far too few counters for the many passengers flying home every Saturday.

Today, the snowfall seems extreme. In the end, our flight is delayed by 3 hours. The snowfall is so heavy that four snow plows have to clear the runway parallel three times. De-icing the plane also takes its time. Nevertheless, all passengers remain calm, including us. We are happy that we are still able to get home. Although the night ends at 2:22 a.m. instead of 10 p.m. when I open the front door.

Overall, this trip was unique. An experience that we will not forget quickly. I can recommend that everyone should try this type of trip at least once in their lifetime. You have time to completely disconnect and focus only on the here and now. Something that is rarely done today, surrounded by external influences and distractions.

Before the trip, we debated what to pack back and forth. The documents specified that one should only pack 6 kg for the cabin tour. Other providers omitted this detail. Just the camera with lenses and tripod weighs almost 6 kg.

Therefore, we packed the following for the 4-day cabin tour:

Underwear for each day (for women: 2 sports bras)

2 Merino long sleeves

2 pairs of Merino long underwear

1 fleece buff (1 regular buff)

Ski jacket for the evenings

Fleece jogging pants (for the cabin in the evenings)

Fleece jacket or softshell (when it's cold under the overall)

2 warm wool hats - I didn't use the fur hat

1 balaclava (under the hat to keep the ears warm)

2 pairs of thin softshell or wool gloves under the outer mittens

3 pairs of Merino socks (some wear 2 pairs together; one pair was enough for me)

Shoes for the cabin (I had Birkenstocks and my own lined Sorell shoes)

1 large and 1 small microfiber towel (sauna)

Waterproof duffle bag or pack sack, small packing bags for clothes

Small (waterproof) pouch for snacks and camera for quick access

Sleeping bag (I brought my warm one; I don't trust the claim that a cabin sleeping bag is sufficient - a cabin sleeping bag would have sufficed here)

Headlamp

Ski goggles and sunglasses

Kindle or card games

PowerBank for phone and camera

Camera, tripod, and 2 lenses (to photograph Northern Lights)

Action cam (during the day, one hand must always stay on the sled)

Snacks like granola bars or nuts (you can prepare sandwiches for short breaks)

Thermos bottle for tea on the go and at the cabin

Hand warmers (for very cold days, not needed)

Toothbrush, toothpaste, comb, deodorant, and baby wipes (for body care)

Travel pharmacy

Tissues

Earplugs (if fellow travelers snore)

Note: Pack at least clothing for 2-3 days in your carry-on in case your checked luggage is lost. Make sure that the warm clothing for the trip is definitely in your carry-on.

In general, they are all Alaska huskies. This is a mix of Siberian husky, shepherd dog, and greyhound.

During the husky tour, you only have time to take pictures with your real camera during breaks. Therefore, we only packed one camera. I had my action cam (DJI with a long selfie stick) and phone in my overall for quick shots 'from the hip'.

With the proper camera, you can only take pictures before or after the day with the dogs. During the tour, you must always keep an eye on the dogs. They take priority.

In the evening, you have time to take pictures of the Northern Lights (with a tripod).

Before the trip, I thought long about whether to bring a thin silk sleeping bag for cabins, a summer sleeping bag, or my proper sleeping bag. I brought my proper sleeping bag (which can be made compactly small). This way, I didn't have to snuggle under the available blankets. They are covered but also used by other guests with cabin sleeping bags.

I simply felt more comfortable in my warm sleeping bag. My brother brought a summer sleeping bag (fleece) and sometimes got hot in the upper bunk. In theory, a thin cabin sleeping bag would suffice.

No, you can pay for everything in Finland with a credit card. From bus tickets to expenses (soft drinks or alcohol) in the base camp, no cash is needed. Only the tip for your guides and the staff at the dog camp should be provided in cash.

Before the trip, it was said that there would be no electricity on the four-day tour. However, on day 3 there was a surprise: a cabin with electricity. However, we didn't have a plug for the socket. A large power bank sufficed.

Did I enjoy it? Definitely. Would I do it again? Yes, but not for 4-5 consecutive days. This kind of trip is a unique experience for me, but one that I only need to do once. The days on the dog sled, experiencing the trust of the dogs, seeing the Northern Lights, and growing together as a team. All these experiences must be done at least once in a lifetime. It was beautiful, and I want to cherish this experience.

However, I know from past travels that Lapland has so much to offer that I want to try more different activities next time (cross-country skiing, snowboarding, photographing reindeer, etc.).

I hope you liked this article and found it helpful for answering your questions about the husky tour in Lapland. If you have any ideas or questions, we would be very happy to see your comment here on the travel blog.

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