Get ready for Dogsledding

What is it like Dogsledding? Get prepared for your dogsledding adventure with the first in our new series, Get ready for....

Dogsledding is a great way to experience both the magnificent landscape and nature of our region's isolated areas and to get a feel for the traditional Arctic way of life. For travellers experiencing dogsledding for the first time, you will be surprised by the speed at which you will travel - an exhilarating experience!

Dogsledding is available on, well, nearly every trip we have running in Scandinavia & Finland in winter, summer on the glaciers in Iceland & Greenland – from a quick spin to mega eight-day expeditions...
Dog sledding

There are generally two different versions of dogsledding on offer in our region. There is the dogsledding tour where you are a passenger on a sled pulled by the huskies with a local guide driving. You are wrapped warmly and it is a fun way to experience the forests and picture perfect landscapes – but remember to wiggle your toes now & then.

Alternatively there is the more active version of dogsledding where you drive the dogs.  The speed, effort & distance involved varies depending on the facilities & husky team. Commonly, you share the driving of the huskies with a partner and take in turns either sitting or steering, see Hurtigruten video below for examples.

You receive instructions on how to drive your husky team before departing and practice a little in a safe area before heading off into the forests, onto the glacier or out to the mountains. These tours generally go for a few hours with a lunch or warm drinks break during the activity. Some of our tours include overnight journeys with a cosy cabin stay in the forests.

Greenland Dogsledding - photo Mads Pihl, Visit Greenland

Dog sleds travelling between Tasiilaq and Sermilik Fjord in East Greenland

When you are doing this active dogsledding excursion, it does require a good level of fitness and in particular, arm and upper body strength. And this is where some prior training and preparation comes into your pre-departure planning. Think through the type of exertion that will be required to hold onto the sled and steer your huskies along a snow path. Increasing your shoulder, back & arm strength will make your dogsledding adventure more enjoyable & get you back out there the following day for your next winter activity.

If you are a gym member, talk to your fitness consultant about what activities might suit your frame & fitness level.

Have a search around on the web for 'get fit for skiing' videos that you can do at home or in the gym to get you fit for your holiday. Have a search for videos about upper body strength, which we think can be transferred easily to dogsledding.Finland Dogsledding

Good luck and we look forward to meeting you on the tracks.

Image credits: Dog sleds travelling between Tasiilaq and Sermilik Fjord in East Greenland, Visit Greenland, Photo by Mads Pihl.

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