Dog Sledding in Tromsø: Best Tours, Expectations, & Tips
No trip to Tromsø would be complete without a husky safari! In this guide, I tell you what to expect when dog sledding in Tromsø, including the best tours, tips, and what to know before your trip!
Below, you will find my top picks for ethical husky safaris in Tromsø. I will also include a husky experience that you can do if the winter has not quite arrived (or you’re traveling off-season).
Quick Tromsø Travel Guide
If you’re traveling to Tromsø last minute, ensure you have lodging and tours booked ahead of time (as much as you can)! Below are some of my top picks:
❄️ Best tours and activities from Tromsø:
- Self-guided dog sledding in Tromsø adventure (top husky tour!)
- Best northern lights tour from Tromsø (my favorite aurora tour in Tromsø)
- Sami reindeer feeding and northern lights (best aurora combo option)
🛌 Top hotels and lodging in Tromsø:
- Clarion ‘The Edge’ (Tromsø’s most beautiful hotel – on the sea!)
- Thon Hotel Tromsø (I’ve stayed here twice and recommend it)
- Radisson Blu (many tours leave from here – by the harbor)
🍲 Popular places to eat in Tromsø: Fiskekompaniet, Bardus Bistro, RUDA, Smørtorget, Størhus, Full Steam
✈️ Want to get from the airport to Tromsø hassle-free? Find the best airport transfer option here!
At the end, I will also answer some FAQs about dog sledding tours in Tromsø (and Norway as a whole). If you have any questions, please let me know in the comments. Thanks!
Table of Contents
Should you go dog sledding in Tromsø?
I was pretty apprehensive about going dog sledding the first time (nearly a decade ago) as I wasn’t sure if it was an ethical experience. As soon as I saw the dogs and their eagerness to run, I knew it was something that they loved doing and I was excited to join in!
There is something about dog sledding trips that people just LOVE. These tours tend to be the highest ranked in Tromsø and have been consistently ranked as such for years. It is truly an experience that the entire family (except very young children) can enjoy!
I think dog-sledding is a must for every Tromsø itinerary! But, it is one of two types of tours that book up the quickest (the other being reindeer and Sami experiences). So, be sure to book this tour immediately once confirming your Tromsø trip!
Self-Guided, guided, mushing… what do they mean?
Below, you will see four tours and each of them operates a bit differently. Here are a few terms you should know before booking your husky trip:
- Self-guided: This means that you will be in charge of the sled! You will have a partner and you will take turns with them throughout the duration of the trip ‘mushing’.
- Mushing: This simply means to steer and guide the sled. You will be in charge of starting and stopping. It can be a bit demanding physically so you will need to be in okay shape. There will be someone in your sled.
- Guided: These types of tours just mean that you will have someone doing the mushing for you and you will not have the opportunity to do it. These are best for kids and families.
Tromsø Dog Sledding Tours in This Guide
Every tour on this guide is operated by a family or people who love what they do. Please note that some of these tours may be booked through a third party but you will be taken to a local husky farm with experts.
Here is a quick overview of the Tromsø dog sledding tours I recommend in this guide:
- Dog sledding excursion (half-day, 4.5 hours in total with 2 hours of sledding; most booked dog sledding adventure in Tromsø!)
- Guided dog sledding adventure (half-day, 4 hours in total with around 1 hour of sledding; best for kids!)
- Self-guided dog sledding adventure (half-day, 4 hours with only 1 hour of mushing)
- Meet the husky puppies (only available in summer)
If you have any questions, let me know! Without further ado, here are the best dog sledding tours in Tromsø, Norway (with booking details).
1. Dog Sledding in Tromsø Day Excursion (Most Popular Option)
Duration: 4 hours
Languages: English
Seasonality: November-April
Meeting Point: Scandic Ishavshotel in Tromso
➡️ CHECK PRICES HERE
This is the most booked dog sledding tour in Tromsø currently and it is organized by Arctic Adventure Tours.
Your day will start at the Scandic Ishavshotel before you’re transported out into the Norwegian wilderness to a husky farm!
When booking, you will notice several time slots and I recommend a morning slot if you’re planning northern lights tours later that evening (or a later slot if you have a northern lights tour the evening before).
No experience is needed as you learn how to be a musher (driver) of the husky sled.
You and your team of huskies will adventure through the snowy landscapes for 90 minutes before making your way back to enjoy some tasty chocolate cake and coffee/tea. The bus will then take you back to Tromsø.
Bring a hat, gloves, and warm socks. But, you will be given a snowsuit and boots. The minimum age is 7 and you will be taking turns mushing on your slide. If you have uneven numbers in your group, you will be sharing a sled with another person.
2. Guided Dog Sledding in Tromsø (Best for Kids)
Duration: 4 hours
Languages: Norwegian, English
Seasonality: November-April
Meeting Point: Radisson Blu in Tromso
➡️ CHECK PRICES HERE
This husky safari is an excellent choice if you’re seeking a half-day trip option and have kids (or simply want a chilled-out tour).
Your trip will leave from the Radisson Blu and you will be taken out to the husky farm. Once there, your group will get dressed in warm suits before heading out into the Norwegian wilderness!
You will be a passenger and there will be no mushing on this trip. The husky adventure will last for about one hour. Once you’re done dog-sledding, you will have a chance to meet and hang out with the dogs! That will be followed by a delicious, traditional lunch around a fire.
This trip is wonderful for those with kids or who don’t think they are able to do the mushing. I also think it is a great one for photographers as it can be extremely challenging to photograph on self-guided tours.
3. Morning Self-Guided Husky Safari in Tromsø
Duration: 4 hours
Languages: Norwegian, English
Seasonality: November-April
Meeting Point: Radisson Blu (Sjogata) in Tromso
➡️ CHECK PRICES HERE
Upon meeting at the Radisson Blu, you and your group will be transported to the Tromsø Wilderness Center where you’ll get briefed and geared up for an exciting journey through Arctic landscapes.
The tour will last for an hour (give or take 10 minutes) and once you’re done, you will have a chance to meet the dogs (including the puppies).
This will be followed by Bidos, a reindeer stew. Vegetarian options are available if you give notice.
You must be 16 or older to take this tour and will need to be in decent physical condition. If you’re active, you should be okay! Outdoor clothing is provided but do wear warm socks and a hat.
4. Tromsø Husky Puppies Experience (Off-Season)
If you are visiting Tromsø in the low season, you still have a chance to meet and learn about huskies on this puppies experience!
With a guide, you will be able to take the puppies on a hike through the Arctic countryside. Along the way, you will play games with them that will help their development and training.
Once done on your hike, you will receive a lunch before being transported back to Tromsø. The excursion lasts for 4.5 hours.
Do note that you cannot book this tour in the high season so it may not even show as available then. Once the low-season returns, it shows back up.
Dog Sledding FAQ & Practical Information
Is dog sledding in Norway ethical?
Honestly, I didn’t think so before going. I was extremely hesitant to embark on this type of tour as a person who shuns animal tourism and can’t even step foot inside an aquarium or zoo. However, I felt differently as soon as I arrived at a husky farm.
The dogs genuinely seemed excited about their work and their eagerness was palpable! I think that is why these tours are consistently the best-rated kind in Tromsø and other places!
Another thing that I loved is that the husky farm names each and every dog according to its personality. This makes me feel confident that they are treated well and the handlers really take the time to get to know each and every animal!
While I do think that dog sledding is ethical, I do not think that reindeer sledding is. I tested that myself too.
When is dog sledding season in Tromsø?
Dog-sledding season really depends on the snow in Tromsø. It can start as early as November or can be delayed until December depending on conditions.
It usually will be available until mid-April but a few years back, I remember the snow melting early and even some February tours were canceled.
I would say, to be safe, consider a trip to Tromsø from December to February if dog-sledding is a must for you.
What is the temperature going to be when dog sledding in Tromsø?
It will be COLD. While Tromsø city center never feels that bad to me, as soon as you leave and get into the valleys and wilderness, the temperature plummets!
I would prepare for temperatures around -20C (about -4F).
You will be given a suit, boots, and gloves, but please dress warmly underneath them and have wool socks. If dressed properly, you should stay pretty warm. There is a cozy fire to sit by after the excursion.
Can kids go dog sledding in Tromsø?
Yes, but they need to be accompanied by an adult (or an expert musher on a guided tour). I would recommend the guided husky tours as the best option for children and families.
Self-guided tours tend to not allow kids under 16 to join them unless with a parent who will be doing the mushing the entire time.
Can you go dog sledding in the summer?
No, but you can join a husky training tour where you get to meet the puppies! These tours are particularly important as it is critical to get the puppies trained for the upcoming season.
It also keeps business going throughout the spring, summer, and autumn months, which is far more sustainable for the husky farm.
If you have any questions about dog sledding in Tromsø, please let me know! I think it is one of the best tours to add to your trip itinerary.
More Tromsø Activity Guides
- Whale watching in Tromsø
- Northern lights in Tromsø
- Best whale watching tours in Tromsø
- Best northern lights tours in Tromsø
- Reindeer farms in Tromsø
- Tromsø snowmobile tours
Pin this Tromsø Husky Safari Guide
