Dog sledding near Tromsø: a day with huskies

I'll never forget that moment. Forty huskies on the farm barking, howling and leaping into the air, because they know they're going. Then the musher releases the snow hook, the sled jerks, and suddenly it's quiet. The dogs run, only the snow creaks under the runners, and the pink light of the polar winter hangs over the valley. Dog sledding near Tromsø is an experience people come here for from all over the world.

Huskies: born runners

The farms around Tromsø are mostly home to Alaskan huskies: crossbreeds that don't look like the Siberian huskies of the films, but are faster and have more stamina. Running is a joy for them. Some of them race in the Finnmarksløpet, the world's northernmost sled dog race, up to 1,200 kilometres long.

How a ride goes

When you arrive at the farm you get a thermal suit and boots. The musher explains how to control the sled: you stand at the back on the runners, brake with a foot brake and balance through the bends. There are usually two people per sled: one drives, the other sits in the sled. You can swap halfway. Most trips are roughly one to two hours on the sled, plus time at the farm cuddling the dogs and puppies.

When to go

The dog sledding season near Tromsø runs roughly from late November to April, depending on the snow. In December and January you ride in the blue twilight of the polar night; from February there's more light and better conditions for photography. Some farms also offer evening rides under the aurora or multi-day trips with a night in a cabin.

Photographing from the sled

It's hard to take photos from a sled: it bumps and you're wearing gloves. A small camera or a phone on a wrist strap works best. Set a fast shutter (1/1000 s) so the dogs aren't blurred, and try shooting from a low angle to show the running paws. The dogs are most photogenic at the farm while being harnessed, when they're bursting with energy.

More winter adventures

Dog sledding combines well with other experiences. In the afternoon you can feed reindeer, the next day head out by snowmobile to Lyngen and in the evening go after the aurora. An overview of all the activities is in winter activities in Arctic Norway.

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