4 days with huskies through Finnish Lapland

Our dog sledding season begins in early December, during the polar night, and lasts until the end of April, when it is light most of the night. 

We drive the tours unaccompanied by a snowmobile. We glide at the feet of snow-capped mountains through pine, spruce and birch forests, crossing open swamps and frozen lakes. We drive over the fells of Lapland with their fairytale snow-covered trees. This landscape in the national park is considered the most beautiful in all of Finland. 

On our trails covered in deep snow you can still feel the real touch of wilderness.

 

Our dogs are Alaskan Huskies. Alaskan Huskies are the most common sled dogs, they are bred primarily for their enthusiasm for running, their motivation and their social nature.

There are 40 sled dogs living in our camp and we are very proud of them. Already in a short time you will get to know your dogs. By being together on the trails, as well as thanks to your care, the four-legged friends build trust with you, and you with the dogs - a special team spirit! 

 

Please note when booking one of our 4 day husky tours that this is a physically active vacation. Therefore an average fitness level is necessary. You should be able to support the dogs running shorter distances on climbs. More important is the balance and coordination of your body while standing on the sledge, and especially the ability to react quickly should you or the sledge get out of balance.    

During our tours the motto is "teamwork". This includes cooperation with the dogs - that you take care of them - but also cooperation among the participants.

 

From the end of November, the snow remains and is about 40 cm deep until the beginning of December. The dogs are happy about the freshly tracked, new routes. 

From December 4th, the sun disappears behind the horizon for a month. Nevertheless, we get 5 to 6 hours of daylight. In Finnish, this time is called "Kaamos". The special thing about Kaamos is the strong colors of the sky and the bluish tone of the light.

 

Also, there is a high probability of seeing auroras during the long dark evenings. 

 

The weekly program

Our weekly program starts on Sunday and lasts until Friday morning. It includes 4 day trips with the dogs. Each participant leads their own team.

Pallas Husky farm in Rauhala
Pallas Husky farm in Rauhala

All nights are spent in a wilderness cabin by Lake Madejärvi. This simple but cozy cabin is a typical Finnish log cabin without electricity or running water. For meals we meet in the local “Kota” with an open fire. There is also a sauna directly on the shore of the lake, with easy washing facilities. An ice hole right next door ensures that you can cool down afterwards. The toilet is outside.

Madejärvi wildernes  cabin
Madejärvi wildernes cabin
Madejärvi wilderness cabin
Madejärvi wilderness cabin
Kota in Madejärvi
Kota in Madejärvi

Sunday: Arrival

Transfer from the Kittilä airport to Rauhala/Madejärvi. Pick-up from Kittilä airport or Levi possible from 2:00 p.m. You spend all five nights in the “Madejärvi” wilderness cabin in a shared room with an outside toilet and daily sauna.

Dinner and overnight stay.

 

Monday: Outfitting, instruction and first husky tour

After breakfast there is a five-minute transfer from “Madejärvi” to our husky farm. Then equip yourself with the necessary winter equipment (winter jacket and trousers, winter boots, gloves, hat). Afterwards there is an expert briefing on how to handle sleds and dogs. Your finished dog team awaits you with a deafening noise and is ready for the first ride through the wintry moor and forest landscape. During the tour we will stop for lunch by the open fire with warm drinks and grilled sausages on a stick. The tour ends in the already well-known wilderness hut in Madejärvi.

After the work is done, the dogs happily accept your petting as a reward. Everyone is responsible for their own team and also helps with feeding and caring for the dogs.

Afterwards we have soup with coffee and tea in our Kota. We heat up the sauna and later in the evening we come together in our Kota for dinner around the open fire.

 

Tuesday - Thursday: Husky tours in Pallas National Park

Teamwork is required in the morning. In a wilderness camp there are some daily tasks. This includes caring for dogs as well as refilling sauna water and cabin wood.

Today you will learn how to put on the harness and harness the dogs to the sleigh. Dealing with “your team” becomes more and more familiar every day. The dogs can hardly wait to leave, which they indicate loudly by barking. When everything is ready, it starts: the silence literally explodes when the dogs stop barking and finally start running. As we get to know Pallas National Park by dog sled, we enjoy the silence, which is only accompanied by the crunch of the runners in the snow. During the breaks around the campfire there are again warm drinks, bread and sausages.

Every day we return to the rustic, cozy wilderness cabin to spend the night, go to the sauna and enjoy typical Finnish home cooking, which is freshly prepared every day. The husky adventure ends on Thursday at the husky farm in Rauhala, where the dogs take their well-deserved break. This is followed by the handover of the winter equipment provided, followed by a transfer back to the wilderness camp. After the sauna, we can remember our favorite moments of the past few days at the final dinner and make plans for the next tour...

 

Friday: Departure

After breakfast, transfer to Kittilä Airport or Levi.
More fotos

The price includes: 

  - transfers from/ to Kittilä Airport

  - 5 nights in a log cabin

  - 4 days with the huskies

 - full board

 - high quality winter equipment (winter boots, thermal jacket and trousers,

fur hat, gloves + inner mittens, sleeping  bag)

 - guiding in English, German

For your personal use you should bring: 

 - warm, fast drying thermal underwear or merino longsleeve/ pants

 - mid layer for insulation: warm garments that are flexible and comfortable

 - thin fleece gloves/ working gloves (for handling and feeding the dogs)

 - several pairs of wool socks

 - a balaclava and/ or a buff

 - sauna utensils (towels, biodegradable shower gel etc.)

 - hut shoes

 - cotton or silk liner for the sleeping bag

 - headtorch

 - sunglasses/ sunscreen (in March and April)

nice to have:

 - ski goggles, bathrobe, bathing sandals, hot water bottle


dates and prices 2024/2025

 Date   

Price €  Availability

15.12 - 20.12

1 580 

2

22.12 - 27.12

1 670  Fully booked

29.12 - 03.01 

1 670 

Fully booked

05.01 - 10.01

1 580 

1

12.01 - 17.01

1 580 

Fully booked

19.01 - 24.01

1 580 

Fully booked

26.01 - 31.01

1 580 

1

02.02 - 07.02

1 580 

1

09.02 - 14.02

1 580 

2

16.02 - 21.02

1 580 

Fully booked

23.02 - 28.02

1 580 

Fully booked

02.03 - 07.03

1 580 

Fully booked
09.03 - 14.03 1 580  Fully booked

16.03 - 21.03

1 580 

Fully booked

23.03 - 28.03

1 580 

4

30.03. - 04.04

1 580 

5

06.04 - 11.04

1 580 

5

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