Huskies in Scandinavia: Top Supplier at NORDEUROPA 2024

Huskies in Northern Europe

The relationship between people and huskies in the region north of the Arctic Circle has always been a very special one. What is one of the most original means of transportation in Scandinavia and was even instrumental in the conquest of the North and South Poles, has now become a popular tourist attraction in Northern Europe: Dog sledding tours.

A companion and helper

It is believed that sled dogs were first used by indigenous peoples in northeastern Siberia. What the fewest know: The word "husky" represents a collective name for sled dogs, and by no means a breed of its own.

The word Husky comes from the term "Esky". This was the derogatory slang name for the Eskimos, and husky then referred to all dogs that had a thick coat, prick ears, a bushy tail, and were particularly good at pulling sleds.

- Rebecca from the dog blog LeWauz

Huskies were mainly used for hunting, traveling and resettling nomadic peoples in northern Europe or for trade, for which they transported goods. In addition to transport tasks, huskies protected tribes from polar bears and helped with navigation with their good sense of direction. 

© Ugur Arpaci | Unsplash

Dog sledding safaris as a tourist attraction

The feeling of whizzing through the snowy landscape of Northern Europe as part of a dog sled team is incomparable. Many travellers want to experience this and take it home with them, which is why a visit to a husky farm including a sled tour is part of almost every safari in Finland, Sweden and Norway in winter. Also at NORDEUROPA 2024 you can meet many providers and destinations that offer husky tours, but also guided tours of farms and background information about this special topic. Here we present some of them: 

Ruka Safaris

Ruka Safaris is a 35-year-old, well-known and experienced DMC in the Ruka-Kuusamo region in northern Finland. The DMC is a provider of accommodation and activities with a wide range of services in summer and winter for groups/incentives as well as for FIT customers. There is a wide range of accommodation for groups/incentives, cottages for families and wilderness hotels for individual travelers. In winter, a 3-hour excursion to the husky farm with a 10 km sledge ride is offered. On your return, you can thank the dogs for their work, stroke them and capture the moment with photos.

Jukkasjärvi Vildmarks Turer Ab

Jukkasjärvi Vildmarks Turer, just 4 km from the Ice Hotel and 8 km from Kiruna Airport, is a company that specializes in organizing a wide range of outdoor activities. An important part of the winter tours are the dog sledding tours with Siberian huskies, which offer an unforgettable experience in the breathtaking nature of Lapland.

© Karl Anderson | Unsplash

Hotel Iso Syöte & Safaris

Iso Syöte Arctic Hilltop Boutique Hotel includes arctic rooms, unique suites (with views of the Northern Lights), authentic cabins, an upscale restaurant, an arctic spa and full-service safaris. Iso Syöte Arctic Hilltop Boutique Hotel offers everything customers need for their Lapland vacation!  The hotel is located in Finnish Lapland in the triangle of the major airports of Rovaniemi, Oulu and Kuusamo. In both the summer and winter seasons, Hotel Iso Syöte & Safaris as a DMC offers unique and high-quality vacation experiences for customers. Winter safaris are offered, including dog sledding. Hotel Iso-Syöte offers various husky safaris: a full-day husky safari, a short safari lasting several hours and a safari combining the speed of snowmobiles and huskies.

Best Arctic 

Best Arctic is based in Tromsø, Norway, and is an activity provider and reseller of products in the wide area of Tromsø, Senja, Vesterålen and Lofoten. Best Arctic offers a wide range of services in Northern Norway all year round and operates from Tromsø and Narvik. Best Arctic organizes dog sledding tours through the winter wonderland of Northern Norway! A vacation above the Arctic Circle is incomplete without a husky sledding adventure with Best Arctic.

Header: ©  James Padolsey | Unsplash