(Self-driving) Dog Sledding

Feel like a real musher: Together with Hannah and Eirik — a local couple living in the Pasvik Valley — you step into their everyday life as dog mushers and become an active part of the husky experience.

Your day begins at their kennel, located about 40 minutes by car from Kirkenes, in the Pasvik Valley. The Pasvik Valley itself is truly unique: extending from Finland through Norway and into Russia, it forms the northwestern edge of the Siberian taiga — the largest forest in the world.

After a thorough introduction to safety, equipment, and the dogs, you’ll help prepare the sleds and harness the dog teams. The dogs are well-trained racing athletes, actively preparing for long-distance races such as Finnmarksløpet — the longest dog-sled race in Europe — while also being beloved family members.

The tour usually starts with tandem sleds, where two sleds are connected. This allows you to get familiar with the dogs and terrain together with a guide or partner. During the journey, you travel through endless pine forests, frozen lakes, and untouched Arctic wilderness on quiet dog trails — not busy snowmobile routes. If conditions allow, the sleds can be separated during the break, giving you the opportunity to drive your own dog team independently on the return leg.

Midway through the tour, you stop in nature for a warm break around a campfire. Hot drinks and simple food are prepared over the fire while the dogs rest in the snow. Distances and duration vary depending on weather, daylight, and temperature — life in the Arctic sets the pace, not the clock.

This tour is ideal for animal lovers and adventurous travelers who want a genuine, hands-on Arctic experience — guided by professionals who live this life every day.