We know...

Our mushing partner's credentials speak for themselves - an 11 time winner of Europe's longest dog sled race and a top ten finisher in North America's epic 1800km "Iditarod". You couldn't be in better company.

This holiday is one of our most popular tours at Karasjok as it gives you a real wilderness experience and a great adventure in a short space of time.

You will spend three days and two nights out on the trail covering between 25 and 50km per day.

You know...

"The whole experience was fantastic.  I'd thoroughly recommend it to anyone thinking about it - don't think, just get on and do it - you won't regret it!"  Sally Mills - February 2010

"So much better than expected, can't wait to go again!" Jayson Noble - February 2010

Day 1: Flights, arrival and introduction

This husky safari allows you to experience a real wilderness adventure in a short space of time. You’ll fly into Ivalo in Finland for the taxi transfer to Karasjok Basecamp in Norway (around 2 – 2.5 hours). You’ll be shown to your log cabin accommodation before dinner in the main building and a meeting with your guide.

Day 2: Preparation and departure

The morning will be spent preparing for two nights in the wilds of Norwegian Lapland. You will be provided with your cold weather gear before meeting the huskies. Your team will consist of up to six dogs depending on the guide’s assessment of your ability to handle and drive the sled and the conditions.

Once the sleds have been carefully packed your safari commences. From the husky farm you will almost immediately encounter a hilly stretch which provides an early opportunity to earn both the respect and confidence of your team. You can help the dogs by pushing off with your feet on the upwards slopes and there is a certain satisfaction as they double their efforts in response to your assistance.

You’ll cross lakes and frozen marshland en route to your accommodation for the next two nights, a remote wilderness cabin. Given the nature of the elements and the terrain this far North, the weather and trail conditions may dictate where you spend the night. The quality of wilderness cabins can vary but once the fire is blazing and everybody is helping to prepare dinner you’ll begin to appreciate just how exciting it is to be so distant from “civilisation”.

Days 3 and 4: Wilderness husky safari

The route is kept flexible and your guide will decide where you will head based on the local weather conditions and the trails.

You may spend more than one night in the same camp/cabin which means that you travel light and can potentially explore greater distances.

Look out for signs of wildlife wherever you travel and especially reindeer as this region provides an important winter pasture for the Sámi herders. Your lunches will be cooked over an open fire each day.

After two days exploring the winter landscapes you’ll spend a second night in the wilds before the long mush back to Basecamp. Keep your eyes open for wild moose which are very common in this area. Once back at Basecamp a farewell dinner awaits.

Day 5: Departure

After breakfast, your taxi will transfer you in good time for your homeward flights. For experienced mushers we have more outrageously exciting Karasjok husky safaris on our website.

Tourism in Norwegian Lapland has become a main source of employment and income, replacing traditional industries such as forestry. Working within this growth industry in rural and remote areas means that we must take a great deal of responsibility; socially, environmentally and economically. We fully appreciate the impact of tourist visits on local communities and their residents and strive to ensure that we are having a positive effect.

Karasjok is the centre of Sámi culture in Norway. A great deal of time and money has been invested in this area to educate both visitors and young Sámi people in the traditions and skills that have been passed down for generations. We have included a great deal of interaction with the Sámi culture and include a visit to the Sapmi Cultural Centre.
In addition we encourage our clients to get involved in local events and activities whilst staying in Karasjok which help to sustain traditional values and customs. We always encourage our clients to respect and embrace the lives and culture of local inhabitants by learning a few important words: hello, goodbye, please, thank you etc.

In all of our destinations we ensure that we use local suppliers, enabling locally owned businesses and the economies in which they work to benefit directly. The hotel Rica, although part of a larger chain of hotels, is Scandinavian owned and provides a vital source of employment throughout Norway in areas where employment opportunities can be scarce. Their restaurant serves a traditional menu with many local dishes available and the décor throughout the building takes inspiration from the Sámi culture.

Through the tourism multiplier effect, this all helps to generate incomes and employment where the drift might otherwise be towards larger employment areas such as towns and cities. Our use of small businesses means that the tourism income, generated by our presence, stays where it should, in the local economy. We firmly believe in paying a fair price for all the services provided by our suppliers regardless of where they are in the world.

Our holidays rely on visiting beautiful and un-spoilt areas. Naturally we wish to maintain the natural settings in which we work, not just for the future of our company, but also for future generations. We always insist that our local providers are equally conscious of this need.

We do appreciate that some may feel that snowmobiles should not be included in such itineraries however in areas such as Karasjok they are a way of life. The alternatives to snowmobiles would in most cases be large, gas-guzzling off road vehicles. All snowmobiles are regularly serviced and kept as fuel efficient as possible. The snowmobile service industry is also another vital source of employment in this remote area.