Taking a Summer Tour of Pirate Husky in Børselv, Norway

Post Overview: In this guide, you will find all the information for planning a summer visit to Pirate Husky in Børselv, Norway. It contains info about the company, what kind of summer tours you can do, and why it is important for people to visit husky farms during the off-season.

A place that has continuously been skipped on my Finnmark itineraries was Børselv, a small village located near the Porsangerfjord. I have always wanted to stop by and see the Silfar Canyon, but it connects to Eastern Finnmark via a road that isn’t in the best condition during winter and several parts require a convoy.

Nevertheless, I was determined to put Børselv on my recent itinerary and to finally visit a place I had had on my mind for some time, Pirate Husky.

I had first seen Pirate Husky listed under Hammerfest tour opportunities, but I later found out that they were actually located in Børselv (they just have some of their team located in Hammerfest). You do not forget a name like Pirate Husky, and it stuck with me over the years and I knew I would visit them regardless of the location.

A lot of people don’t realize that you can visit many husky farms year-round. Sure, the dog-sledding across snowy landscapes only happens during the winter months, but you can almost always book a farm tour where you can meet the huskies and learn more about the business. And this tends to be the time when you can meet the puppies!

Depending on the season and temperatures, you can also book dog-carting adventures with husky farms. Pirate Husky, like many other husky centers, offers dog-carting during the autumn months since summer has become too hot in Børselv.

What is important to know is that dog-sledding businesses (which are more often than not family-run) make most of their money in just a few months during the winter season. These husky farms still have dogs to feed and care for in the off-season, making it a rather expensive business to operate year-round. That is why I always visit husky farms in the summer months if I am in the area.

In this guide, I will just tell you a little bit about Pirate Husky and how you can visit in the summer (and a small blurb about heading there in winter!). I have only been in summer thus far, but I am excited to revisit them during the snow season!

And if you’re visiting Honningsvåg or Hammerfest, good news! They have operations in both now, and you can book an excursion most times of the year in either destination. Hiking with huskies, dog-sledding, and more! Let me know if you have any questions in the comments.

Where is Børselv?

Børselv is actually not as far out of the way as it seems! It is located 43 kilometers (27 miles) from Lakselv, which has a small airport. The village is located close to the Porsangerfjord, which is the same fjord that the road to North Cape and Magerøya island are located along.

You can see a map below that shows Børselv’s location, along with where Hammerfest and Honnignsvåg are (as they have excursions in both).

About Pirate Husky in Børselv

Pirate Husky is newer to the scene and has only been around for a handful of years. It is run by a family, including Mali (the musher who has worked in the travel industry in Norway for decades) and Gøran, the handyman who works hard in product development and a lot of the behind-the-scenes stuff with the dogs.

Their daughters are also extremely involved, as is the newest addition to the family, Zuma, a black lab puppy who is taking his role very seriously. Check out their YouTube channel here (they discuss life in Børselv and with the huskies).

They have around 35 Siberian huskies (only Siberians… no Alaskan huskies), and to be honest, what led me to love this business was that when you go to their website, they have a bio for EVERY SINGLE DOG. It has an individual photo, birthday, name, and a short bio for each.

I have never seen a business that knows its dogs so well and treats them like this. They also have individual bios for each of their guides, so you already know who you’re meeting when you arrive there.

I had my farm tour with co-owner Gøran and it was so nice to get to learn more about the business from him. He showed me where the dogs live, which is the cleanest and most thoughtful space I have seen at any husky farm to date.

The dogs all have their spaces inside with little doors that lead to an outside area. They are not on chains or leashes until they head out on a tour. The freedom the dogs had in their own spaces was so refreshing to see.

Børselv and its surrounding area are perfect for dog-sledding. There is a lot of barren landscape and the perfect winter weather for a lengthy season once the snow finally falls. This is also a good spot for the northern lights. Sadly, I visited at the end of summer and it was not dark enough to see the aurora yet.

Summer Tour of Pirate Husky

On my husky farm tour in Børselv, I stopped by for an hour(ish) tour of Pirate Husky. I got to walk around the barn that contains half the husky homes (each area has a small tour so they can go outside at their will), workshop, food storage, and more.

I had the chance to ask questions, meet every single dog, and even get introduced to the puppies! At the end, I was offered coffee and a chance to learn more about the behind-the-scenes… like making the sleds and the maintenance of all the equipment.

It was a fantastic afternoon (they had two sessions that day; I did the afternoon tour).

What Pirate Husky Offers

As mentioned above, Pirate Husky offers activities in three different areas of Northern Norway:

• Børselv (the headquarters)
• Hammerfest
• Honningsvåg

And also, as mentioned, what they offer depends on when you visit! Here are some of the excursions you will find throughout the different destinations:

• Dog-sledding (Børselv and soon to be in Honningsvåg)
• Meet the huskies (Honningsvåg and Børselv; this is what I did in Børselv)
• Dog-sledding on wheels (autumn excursion in Børselv, Honningsvåg)
• Hunting the northern lights (Børselv and Hammerfest)
• Hiking with huskies (different types of hikes and destinations in Børselv, Hammerfest, and Honningsvåg

They also offer bespoke tours, backcountry ski trips, and overnight adventures. You will just need to send them a message on their website to inquire further.

If you are looking for a place to stay in Børselv, they also offer accommodation on their website. You can choose from a small apartment or a large one. They also offer a Sámi tent with 2 single beds, which is a unique way to enjoy Børselv.

Family-Friendly and Accessible

I have visited so many husky businesses over the years, and this was the first one that I have seen that caters to families and even customers in wheelchairs. They have special sleds that are slightly higher for those who may be disabled or have a harder time shifting from a wheelchair to a sled.

One of the reasons that Pirate Husky has only Siberian huskies is that they are known to be pretty mellow around kids.

Even walking around, not a single dog barked or snapped at me. I guess they save the barking for when they head out on a tour!

What else is there to do in Børselv?

Børselv has a couple of cool things to do for a village with very few people! You have Pirate Husky, the Silfar Canyon (so worth it in the summer and fall!), the Kven Institute, Børselv Church, and Bungalåven Cottages (where I stayed on both trips; it was so cozy and had a nice sauna and lounge).

This area is renowned for its salmon fishing. You can read my guide to visiting the Sværholt Peninsula here.

Do you have any questions about visiting Pirate Husky in Børselv? Let me know in the comments!

I hope to visit in winter soon and add some (better) photos to this guide. Photographing while playing with cute puppies is a skill I do not possess.

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