Northern Lights Dog Sledding (Self-driving)

The tour begins with a scenic 40-minute drive from Kirkenes into the Pasvik Valley. At the kennel, you’ll meet Hannah and Eirik, a local mushing couple who lives and works here year-round with their dogs. The dogs are not only beloved family members but also well-trained racing athletes, actively preparing for long-distance races such as Pasvik Trail or Finnmarksløpet, the longest dog-sled race in Europe.

The dogs and sleds will already be prepared. After a short safety briefing and instructions on how to drive the sled, your adventure begins. Hannah and Eirik first drive the sleds out to the trailhead, giving you time to get familiar with the dogs and the terrain. From there, if you like, you can drive most of the tour yourself while Hannah and Eirik ride in the sled to assist and guide you. The route follows quiet dog trails through dark forests and across open, frozen landscapes, ideal conditions for spotting the Northern Lights. Parts of the Pasvik Valley are officially certified as an International Dark Sky Park, thanks to its minimal light pollution. The Pasvik Valley also forms the northwestern edge of the Siberian taiga, the largest forest in the world, stretching from Finland through Norway and into Russia. If the aurora appears, you’ll stop along the way to watch the lights dance above or take photos.

After the sledding, you can give the dogs a snack, pet them, help put them back into their houses, warm up by a bonfire, enjoy hot drinks, and look up at the Arctic night sky.

This is an intimate tour designed for animal lovers and travelers who want an authentic, hands-on husky experience with a chance of seeing the Northern Lights, without crowds or rush.