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During this amazing safari we journey through spectacular wilderness landscapes with our own team of dogs.  We travel between 25 and 50Kms per day across Arctic tundra, mountain plateaus and through forested valleys.  We travel under the guidance of one of Europe's most renowned mushers, Sven Engholm. 

Either Sven or one of his dedicated guides will allow us to experience dog sledding and Arctic Norway in the most authentic manner.  The respect which the guides have for this landscape and their dogs is truly inspiring.

This journey enables us to meet with some of Europe's remotest communities as we spend time with the Sami reindeer herders whose livelihoods depend on this landscape and their animals.  Very few people are ever able to experience this way of life and so we really are privileged.

We spend our first and final nights at Engholm Husky Lodge the heart of Sven's operation and the ideal way to prepare for, and reminisce about, our adventures.

If you are prepared for adventure, if you want a truly wild dog sledding experience and if you want to experience a way of life that few people will ever be privileged enough to encounter then look no further.

This new trip for 2010 has been designed by one of the world’s best respected “mushers” and takes you into some of the wildest terrain anywhere in Scandinavia. You’ll drive your team of huskies through the Sámi heartlands and even spend a day with these remarkable people.

Day 1: Flights, arrival and introduction

You’ll fly into Ivalo in Finland where a taxi will transfer you to Karasjok Base Camp. After settling into your hand built log cabin you’ll walk over to the main building for dinner and an introduction from your guide.

Day 2: Mushing in Sámi Land

The morning will be spent preparing for your journey into the wilds and getting acquainted with your team of 4 to 6 dogs. And then you’re off with an immediate ascent to the plateau where your team will pull you across varied terrain including frozen lakes, ice covered marshes and hilly stretches before reaching your base for the night, Gradin mountain cabin.

At every evening halt you’ll care for the dogs before caring for yourself so that means making sure they are well fed (chopping frozen dog food with an axe is one of the tasks awaiting you). Only once the dogs are catered for will you settle down to your own meal.

Days 3: Safari to Mollisjok

Come morning the dogs will be eager to be off so, after breakfast, the journey continues.

The featureless tundra atop the plateau provides endless, windswept views far removed from the urban landscapes here in the UK. Apart from the wind, the only noise will be the panting of the dogs and the hypnotic swish of your sled’s runners. In the evening you’ll arrive at Mollisjok Cabin where again the dogs take precedence before settling in for the night.

Day 4: Safari to Soussjarve Mountain Cabin

After a good night’s sleep it’s ever onwards following the course of a frozen river and passing two remote settlements where the Sámi sustain themselves principally by fishing. Soussjavre Cabin situated at the head of a large lake is your resting point this evening.

Day 5: Amongst the reindeer

The next day you enter the important reindeer winter pastures so look out for small and large herds before reaching Baeivasgiedde wilderness cabin set next to a river in a snowy pine forest. You’ll spend two nights here.

Day 6: A day with the Sami reindeer herders

Today will be truly memorable.  You will travel to a winter settlement for Sami reindeer herders.  These herders pursue their livelihoods in this incredible winter pasture and today you will hopefully be able to gain an insight into exactly what their life entails and the importance of the reindeer in their culture.  Exactly how this day operated is dependent on weather conditions and the herders' timetable.

Day 7: Return to Base Camp

A long stretch today but by now you’ll be well prepared for such challenges. It’s mostly flat terrain following the river so keep an eye open for moose as they usually gather in the valley during the winter.

Back at Base Camp, dinner awaits your arrival with the additional bonus of a wood fired sauna and – if requested – an outdoor hot tub to soothe any aching bones.

Day 8: Departure, transfers and flights

Bid farewell to your faithful team before the taxi arrives to take you back to Ivalo airport.

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.