Husky Sled Experience in Northern Jämtland (Sweden)

With max. group size just four persons, this is a very personal experience. The tour combines three nights in simple but comfortable accommodation in cabin or guest room at the kennels with an adventurous overnight expedition staying in heated tipi or wilderness cabin.

A wilderness accessible by direct train from Stockholm

Jämtland is one of the undiscovered gems of Sweden - with the exception of the well-known ski region of Åre (which lies 200km away from the kennels to the south-west), this beautiful county of remote forests, myriad lakes and rolling mountains is surprisingly little visited.

Jämtland offers the additional advantage of being very easily and affordably accessible from Stockholm, with direct trains to Östersund taking just 4-5 hours. For those preferring to fly, there are also regular domestic flight connections.

Husky Sled Experience in Northern Jämtland is located in a very remote region in the north of the county, close to the border with Swedish Lapland.

The skies here are wonderfully dark with no light pollution, giving stunning views of the night sky. With the Arctic Circle about 350km to the north, the Northern Lights are also seen here - Aurora displays in this area occur most frequently between January and early April but can be seen as early as late August.

Overnight expedition to tipi or wilderness cabin with snowshoeing and ice fishing

Your experience begins with an easier day of sledding from the kennels, where you will begin to work with your team and gain confidence in driving the sled. Each person will drive their own sled, typically with 4-5 huskies per team.

For Day 3 and Day 4 of your tour, you're ready to head out into the wilderness, covering greater daily distances as you sled to an overnight spot where you will sleep either in heated tipi (the most common option) or simple wilderness cabin to experience the silence of the forest and the beauty of the night sky. There are a number of routes and trails which can be chosen to offer the best experience depending on temperature and weather conditions.

You will bring snowshoes and ice fishing equipment with you for the trip. Snowshoes are an ideal way to explore the winter landscape - perhaps for a night-time star-gazing (or Aurora-gazing) hike?

The majority of spots which may be used for the overnight expedition are located next to a lake, giving the opportunity to try some ice fishing when the day's sledding is over. Ice fishing is a straightforward and fun activity - using the ice drill, you make a hole in the ice, put down your line, and with a little luck, you may soon have a bite!

Husky Sled Experience in Northern Jämtland is ideal for adults (recommended min. age 18 with guests aged 16 and 17 possible by arrangement) seeking a small-scale, authentic dogsled adventure with a moderate level of physical challenge and some simple homely comforts. The heart of Sweden awaits for you to discover!

Getting Involved

As with all our dogsled tours, you will be involved in all aspects of the trip, and this is very much part of the experience. You will assist with caring for your dog team, including harnessing, feeding (and, yes, picking up poo!), as well as tasks around camp such as fetching water, chopping wood, preparing food, washing up, etc.

Day 1 - Arrival

Transfer from Östersund airport, train station or accommodation in town to the kennels (approx. 2 hours). Transfer time will be set to offer the most convenient option once all guests' arrival arrangements are known, but will typically be as follows:

• For tours with arrival day Monday-Friday or Sunday: Transfer will meet the SAS flight from Stockholm Arlanda (ARN) arriving Östersund (OSD) in the afternoon (normally 15.30 on weekdays and 14.25 on Sundays). Guests arriving by train from Stockholm may arrive with the night train arriving Östersund around 06.30 or with the morning train arriving around 13.15, to spend some time in Östersund before pick-up in the afternoon.
• For tours with arrival day Saturday: Transfer will meet the morning train from Stockholm arriving Östersund around 13.15. Guests wishing to arrive by flight may arrive with the morning flight from Stockholm arriving Östersund 08.55 to travel independently into Östersund to spend time there before pick-up in the afternoon.

On arrival at the kennels, you will settle in to your cabin or guest room accommodation, where you will stay for total three nights during the tour. Some of the huskies may well say hello!

Home-cooked dinner together with your local hosts in the welcoming atmosphere of the farmhouse kitchen and an introduction to the days ahead.

Day 2 - Getting to grips with mushing! Introduction and dog sledding day tour from the kennels

Breakfast followed by instruction for your tour. This will cover not only how to harness your team and control the sled, but how to communicate with and relate to your dogs in the best way, how to care for their feet during the tour and even how to give them a massage! You will be working closely together over the coming days and caring for your team before, after and during each day's sledding.

When ready, you set off for your first dogsled tour into the Jämtland wilderness. If this is your very first time sledding, the day will normally be divided into two short tours, one in the morning and one after lunch, while you gain confidence and get used to the basics of mushing on different trails and terrain. If appropriate, you may do one longer tour instead. Distance covered this day will typically be shorter than for the following days, around 10-15km.

Dinner with a focus on local specialities followed by planning and preparation for the overnight expedition to come.

Day 3 - Overnight dogsled tour with accommodation in heated tipi (or wilderness cabin) and ice fishing

Having gained confidence on your introductory tour the day before, today the sledding will be longer and more challenging, typically around 25-35km or so depending on weather and trail conditions.

There are many possible routes which can be taken. The terrain varies from thrilling narrow forest tracks to more open areas of marshland and frozen lakes. On uphill sections or in deep snow, you may need to assist your team by "scooting" or helping to push/pull the sled.

You will stop to have lunch around the campfire around halfway, before reaching your overnight spot in the afternoon.

This night will usually be spent in heated tipi tent - a unique and adventurous winter experience! Where appropriate, a simple wilderness cabin (no electricity or running water) may be used as an alternative.

You will bring ice fishing and snowshoe equipment with you on the tour, giving the opportunity to explore your surroundings on a snowshoe hike and/or to try your hand at ice fishing.*

After taking care of the dogs, you prepare dinner together in the tipi or cabin. You will be far away from light pollution, and with luck the Northern Lights may greet you in the night sky.

*Ice fishing will be offered wherever possible but cannot be guaranteed. The majority of overnight locations that may be used are close to a lake to allow possibilities for ice fishing , but it may in some cases be necessary to camp at a spot away from a lake where ice fishing will not be available.

Day 4 - Sledding to the kennels

Breakfast and taking care of the dogs, before packing and preparation for another full day of sledding as you make your way back towards the kennels, stopping en route for lunch around the fire.

On your return, the first priority as always is to take care of the dogs - feeding them, checking and treating their paws, and giving them a massage (and of course plenty of husky hugs).

Dinner together with your hosts to reflect on your adventures before retiring for your last night at the kennels.

Day 5 - Departure

Transfer to Östersund airport, train station or accommodation in town to the kennels (approx. 2 hours). Transfer time will be set to offer the most convenient option once all guests' departure arrangements are known, but will typically be as follows:

• For tours with departure day Monday-Friday or Sunday: Transfer will meet the SAS flight from Östersund (OSD) to Stockholm Arlanda (ARN) in the afternoon (normally 16.10 on weekdays and 15.05 on Sundays). Guests departing by train from Stockholm may take the day train to Stockholm departing Östersund 12.17 or of course a later connection if preferred.
• For tours with departure day Saturday: Transfer will meet the afternoon train from Östersund to Stockholm departing 12.17. Guests wishing to depart by flight should overnight in Östersund to travel the following day, as the flight to Stockholm on Saturdays departs too early.

Included

Accommodation:

• Three nights' accommodation at the kennels (Days 1, 2 and 4). Accommodation may be in cabin or guest room in main house. The cabin is 15 sq. metres with 4 beds (2 x bunk beds with bottom bed 120cm wide and top bed standard single width). The cabin has no running water - guest bathroom with shower/WC is located in the main house 15m away with private entrance. The same part of the main house also has a guest room with 2 beds (bunk beds, same specification as in the cabin) and one sofa bed, to accommodate solo traveller(s) or couple*. Bed linen and towel are provided.
• One night in heated tipi or simple wilderness cabin (Day 3). Tipi is most commonly used, with wilderness cabin (no running water or electricity) also a possible option depending on the route taken and weather conditions. All participants will share sleeping accommodation in the tipi or cabin. Sleeping bag and liner are provided. Wilderness cabin has bunk beds with table and chairs and is heated with wood-burning stove.
• Everyone assists with general tasks around the tipi or wilderness cabin accommodation such as collecting water from the lake, tidying up, perhaps chopping wood, etc.

*Solo travellers and couples: For the 3 nights at the kennels, there are 2 separate sleeping areas in total and max. group size is 4 persons. Couples will have own room for these nights. Depending on the number of guests and the composition of the group, solo travellers may have own room or share with another participant. All sleeping accommodation for night in tipi or wilderness cabin is shared. Possibilities cannot be guaranteed in advance, but accommodation will always be arranged to offer the best experience.

Meals:

All meals from dinner on arrival day to breakfast on departure day (breakfast, lunch, dinner + coffee/snacks, etc). Please let us know if you have any special dietary requirements.

Equipment and Clothing:

• All equipment necessary for dogsled tour including dog sled and team of huskies. The kennel has around 50 huskies. All participants will drive own dogsled with typically 4-5 dogs per team.
• Warm winter outer clothing: thermal snowmobile suit, winter boots and musher's hat. Heat packs to use inside your gloves and/or boots are provided (please bring own gloves).
• Snowhoes and ice fishing equipment.

Guide:

• Instruction in harnessing and sled handling.
• Services of local guide during the tour.

Transfers:

• Local transfers between Östersund train station, airport or accommodation and the kennels in connection with arrival/departure for your tour as per itinerary.

Not Included

• Travel: We do not arrange flights or domestic travel, but are happy to advise on suitable connections and assist you with any aspect of planning your journey. See under "Getting There" for general travel information.
• Alcoholic drinks.

Required

Health requirements/experience:

You should have a general good level of fitness and enjoy the outdoors.

Recommended minimum age 18 years. Participants aged 16 or 17 are also welcome by arrangement.

No previous dog sledding experience is required. Dog sledding can be physically demanding. You must be able to brake the sled when going downhill and also assist the dogs during uphill sections by stepping off and running behind the sled for short distances.

If weight >95kg, please contact us to discuss suitability.

What makes this "Easy-Medium"?

The tour features three nights at the kennels with accommodation in cabin or guest room (access to shower/WC), and one expedition night where accommodation will be in heated tipi or wilderness cabin.

The tour takes place in a remote area in varied terrain with a moderate level of challenge.

The first day of dog sledding is a training tour from the kennels with the opportunity to gain confidence and covering a shorter distance. For beginners, this day may be split into two shorter tours. The overnight expedition has longer daily distances. This itinerary will typically have a more accessible level of physical challenge compared to tours moving location each day.

NB: Perception of difficulty is very subjective. What is hard to one person may be easy for another and vice versa, depending on factors including level of fitness, age and previous experience. Weather conditions/temperatures can also dramatically affect the actual level of challenge encountered.

Equipment/clothes needed:

For information on any equipment and/or clothing included as standard for this experience, please see under "What's Included".

A detailed recommended packing list for personal items to bring will be sent with your booking documentation.

NB: We advise you not to buy equipment or clothes for your trip or to incur other non-refundable expenses such as flights until you have received confirmation of your booking from us in writing. Note of course that the most appropriate clothing to use as well as the level of challenge experienced during any outdoor activity may vary significantly depending on factors such as the time of year and the particular weather/temperature conditions during your trip.

Preparing for your trip:

For further reading, we also have a number of general information articles to get you ready for your trip, covering a wide variety of topics from what to do on a city break before/after your tour, advice on packing, eyewear for winter and considerations for female travellers.

Minimum number:

Standard tour dates require total minimum 2 persons to be confirmed to run. You are welcome to book as a solo traveller.

Groups

Max. group size 4 participants. This experience is ideal for small private groups. Please contact us to discuss your requirements for private tours.

Eco Info

This provider has a written environmental and animal care policy.