Arctic Dog Sled Expedition

Itinerary

Day 1: Welcom to the Arctic, Meet the Team & Overnight in Sami Lavvu

Arrival in Tromso and transfer from the hotel to the wilderness center where our guides and 300 Alaskan huskies are waiting for you. We will give a full introduction to dog sledding and camping, and you will meet your four legged-coworkers who will be with you on the journey through Norwegian Lapland. The night will be on reindeer skins in a Sami tent.

Day 2: The Expedition Begins

After an early breakfast we pack the equipment, sledges, the dogs on to cars and drive towards Signaldalen (start and end point for the expedition) in Norway. The trip takes approximately 2 hours. Here you will prepare your husky team and start the expedition heading towards the border regions. Today’s stage is the most physically challenging so it’s very important that you take your part in the husky team. You need to push the sled up hills and encourage your four legged co-workers. When we arrive at today’s camp we take the harness off the dogs and give them food before we set up our own camp. This will be the routine every evening! You are now ready for your first night in the wilderness!

Day 3: Mountains of Lapland (Sweden or Finland)

After a good nights' sleep we have breakfast in the tent before the we take the camp down, pack the gear in our sledges, put harness on the dogs and go towards the border. We are now in an area with high mountains and the route will be decided depending on the weather, snow conditions and technical skill of the participants. This area is known as the Laplands and is home to many herds of reindeer. We cross the border and settle down in Sweden or Finland.

Day 4: Mountains & Lakes

Today’s terrain is high mountain driving and it´s very important that you remember to put on sunscreen! Even though the sun is not shinning it´s a big chance that you will get burned. We pass a lot of big lakes known for its fishing, and the camp will be by a fishing camp. A place with small surprises.

Day 5: Woodlands

This stage starts in the high mountains, but after a while we come into the woodlands and get challenging and technical dog sledding. We drive with very close to the Finnish border and will settle down either on the Swedish or Finnish side depending on the weather and snow conditions.

Day 6: Return to Civilisation

This day starts with many flat parts along a portion of lakes. We will have a lunch stop where Norway, Sweden and Finland meet before we start a tough climb before heading down a steep descent. Some nice kilometers and we are at the end of the expedition where the cars wait to bring us back to the civilization. We will arrive in Tromsø during the evening where you will check-in at your hotel for your last night in the arctic. The day to day program listed above is a regular expedition. Because of unpredictable weather and snow conditions we might have to change the route during the expedition. The expedition leader will decide this.

Day 7: Tromso at Leisure

Breakfast at your hotel and optional activities.

Day 8: Farewell Arctic Norway

Breakfast at your hotel and transfer to the airport for your return flight.

* The day to day program listed above is a regular expedition. Because of unpredictable weather and snow conditions we might have to change the route during the expedition. The expedition leader will decide this.

This map uses Google Maps, so you can zoom and interact with it as we hope it is familiar to you.

For a larger version of this map which opens in a new window, click here

The lines shown give you an indication of our destinations and are not the exact route used.

Will I see the Northern Lights?

Please scroll down to see the specifics for the country you wish to visit:

Iceland:
The Northern Lights are in the Northern sky from September through April but are only visible when the sky is clear and free of clouds. Like many of natures wonders, it’s ephemeral – they may be visible, they may appear for a bit and then be gone. But it’s worth it to be patient. Because they’re a winter event, you need to be prepared to wait outside, while looking for them. It’s best to dress very warmly, in layers, with good footwear, gloves, hats and whatever else will make you comfortable while you await this truly amazing event. The Northern Lights can be pretty spectacular, and for the best photos we recommend using a tripod. Much of Iceland offers a very a good chance to see the Northern Lights when conditions are right. Remember – the Northern Lights are natural phenomena, not guaranteed, but appreciated all the more for their elusive qualities.

Norway:
Northern Norway is one of the world's best places to experience the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis). In Northern Norway, Northern Lights occur in up to 90% of every clear night in the period from late September to late March. Most Northern Lights occur in the time span from 6pm to slightly after midnight, with an absolute peak at around 10-11pm. 

In Norway, the area north of the Arctic Circle is prime aurora territory. The various destinations in the High North have a distinct personality, and are well worth exploring. Major places in Northern Norway are Tromsø, Kirkenes, Alta, Bodø, Lofoten and Vesterålen Islands and Svalbard.

Finland:
The best place to see the Northern Lights in Finland is in the Northern Lapland region, which is almost entirely located within the realm of the Arctic Circle. During the dark winter months here, when the sun rarely peaks its head over the horizon, you can expect to see the Finland Northern Lights with regularity, and other peak seasons include February through March and September through October. The most common colours of the Northern Lights are greenish-yellow and red.

The Finnish term for the Northern Lights, Revontulet, meaning fox fire, comes from an old tale where the fox was believed to swish its bushy tail on the snowy fell landscapes, throwing sparks into the air.

As mentioned, Lapland is the best place to see the Finland Aurora Borealis, with the Kilpisjarvi area offering the most abundant opportunities. The best time of the day to see the Finland Northern Lights is between 9 pm and 11:30 pm, though they are certainly not restricted to this time frame.

Sweden:
In Northern Sweden, the Northern Lights usually occur during the winter months through late March or early April, but they can be spotted as early as September in the Northernmost parts. Your best chance of catching a glimpse of the Northern Lights is on cold winter nights when the sky is clear and cloudless. You need to be away from city lights, which dilute the effects of these natural phenomena, so head out into the countryside. On clear nights, the Northern Lights can be visible from most locations in Swedish Lapland, occurring between 6 pm to and 2 am, with the strongest shows happening between 10 pm and 11 pm. For those willing to brave the cold on winter nights, here are some of the best locations in Swedish Lapland for viewing these phenomena:

Abisko National Park
Abisko National Park, a couple of kilometers north of Kiruna, is a prime location for viewing the Northen Lights. The scientifically proven “blue hole” — a patch of sky over the Torneträsk lake that usually remains clear despite overcast weather in surrounding areas — gives Abisko its own micro-climate, which is suitable for catching the lights.

Jukkasjärvi and the Torne Valley
Not only does the village of Jukkasjärvi (population roughly 541) boast the world’s first ice hotel (rebuilt ever year from Torne River ice), it’s also one of the best regions to view the Northern Lights. ICEHOTEL organizes guided tours for guests which takes the to the Esrange Space Center located 30 minutes from Kiruna. You can dine at a wilderness camp and get the chance to scan the Arctic winter sky for aurora borealis.

Other regions in Swedish Lapland
As mentioned earlier, if weather conditions are just right (clear, dark, cold, and cloudless), you might catch a glimpse of the Northern Lights from any location within subarctic and arctic Sweden — even close to larger towns such as Luleå, Jokkmokk, Arvidsjaur, and Gällivare.

Greenland:
The northern lights - or Aurora Borealis as it is officially known - actually occur all year round, but cannot be seen during the summer months in Greenland due to the midnight sun. The phenomenon is often seen around midnight and is best experienced on a dark, clear night in the period from September to the beginning of April. If you are travelling during this period, you can see the Northern Lights from anywhere in the country, whilst in South Greenland the northern lights can be seen from as early as the end of August.