Huskies in Scandinavia: Top suppliers at NORDEUROPA 2022

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: sled dog tours. 

Man's friend 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. 

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 travelers 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 2022 you can meet many providers and destinations that offer husky tours, but also guided tours of farms and background information about this special topic. We present some of them: 

Visit Lyngenfjord

People who lead a dog sled are called mushers. A musher guides the team almost exclusively by shouted commands, which in turn have to be implemented by the lead dog of the team. In the Lyngenfjord region north of Tromsø in Norway there are not only excellent conditions to try yourself as a musher. One of the most famous mushers in history, Leonhard Seppala, was born in Skibotn in the region in 1877. After a visit to the museum Seppalatunet, which among other things presents the history of the musher and the region, it's off on the dog sled in breathtaking surroundings. 

Salonki Travels

Salonki Travels is a Finnish DMC of a new and different kind. Everything from accommodation to activities has been designed with a discerning customer in mind.
It focuses on boutique destinations in Lapland, where they have a network of valued partners. Salonki Travels knows the best places to visit away from the big crowds, allowing for a more intimate and exclusive experience. Husky tours are offered daily in various lengths and usually include a visit to the farm, where mushers talk about life with these lovable Arctic dogs. Each husky team has room for two guests in their sled.

Jukkasjärvi Vildmarksturer

Jukkasjärvi Vildmarksturer realizes and distributes nature-based experiences and offers all its guests a unique nature experience in Swedish Lapland. The dog sledding tours in northern Sweden pass through national parks, nature reserves, bird sanctuaries and through the pristine forest close to the mountains. Guests learn about the history of Lapland, Kiruna and the history of the Sami people on the tours from experienced guides. The longer the tour, the more history and environment participants can experience and marvel at.

Header: © K. Chae / Visit Finland
Small picture Visit Lyngenfjord: © Baard Loeken / www.nordnorge.com
Small picture Jukkasjärvi Vildmarksturer: © Jukkasjärvi Vildmarksturer