Dog Sledding in Tromso: Ethical Tours & Helpful Tips (2024-2025)

No trip to Northern Norway would be complete without a husky safari in Tromso! This guide details what to expect when dog sledding in Tromso, including how to book the best tour for you and your group.

In this guide, I recommend the best dog sledding tours in Tromso for all types of travelers, regardless of whether you’re fit and active or chilled out and just keen to relax on your Tromso winter vacation!

If there is anything I left out or if you have any questions about dog sledding in Tromso, please let me know in the comments or send me a message.

Should you go dog sledding in Tromso?

No trip to the Arctic would be complete without dog sledding!

While this can be a bit controversial, and I have had some issues with other animal activities in the Arctic, dog sledding is something I went into not wanting to do because I thought it would be unethical, but I quickly realized it was enjoyable and actually fun for the dogs.

Dog sledding has been a way of life for many in the Arctic throughout history. Indigenous people have employed our furry companions to help traverse the wintry landscapes of the north for 9,000 years!

The specially bred dogs have been fine-tuned over the years to become the ultimate runners. They can move quickly through the deep snow and follow migration routes that have been used for centuries under the watchful eyes of their handlers.

While there are many dog breeds used in husky sledding in Tromso, you will typically find the Alaskan Husky pulling your sled.

Although roads have now been built in Northern Norway, you will see many Sami (the Indigenous people of Northern Norway and the Nordics) using dogs to herd their reindeer south each season.

However, as tourism has grown in the Arctic, dog sledding businesses have popped up to provide tourists with this unique and enjoyable experience. It truly will be one of the most memorable things you will ever do on any of your travels, so I highly recommend it!

Dog Sledding Tours in Tromso (in this Guide!)

To be honest, there are so many tours for those looking to go dog sledding in Tromso… but I think there are only a few that are worth the price.

Every tour on this guide is run by people who live, eat, and breathe dog sledding adventures. Even if the company booked through facilitates the process, they will organize your excursion with a local husky farm that are experts in just that – dogs.

So, you do not have to worry about the company arranging the tour knowing what they are doing; they are simply managing the booking so the farm and huskies can concentrate on showing you the most memorable experience!

Here is a quick list of the tours I recommend in this guide:

1. Dog sledding excursion (half-day, 4.5 hours in total with 2 hours of sledding; most booked dog sledding adventure in Tromso!)
2. Guided dog sledding adventure (half-day, 4 hours in total with around 1 hour of sledding; best for kids!)
3. Self-guided dog sledding adventure (half-day, 4 hours with only 1 hour of mushing)
4. Meet the husky puppies (only available in summer)

Please note that if you’re dog sledding, you will be changing mushers with the other person on your sled mid-way through the journey, pending they want to also be a musher.

Best Tromso Dog Sledding Tours (Half-Day Options)

1) Self-Guided Dog Sledding Tour in Tromso (Most Popular Option)

Duration: 4 hours
Languages: English
Seasonality: November-April
Meeting Point: Scandic Ishavshotel in Tromso
➡️ CHECK PRICES HERE

This is one of the most popular Tromso dog sledding tours and it is run by Arctic Adventure Tours.

You will be picked up at Scandic Ishavshotel and will be transferred out into the wilderness to a husky farm! There are multiple time slots to choose from for this tour.

No experience is needed as you learn to be a musher (driver) of the sled or you can sit back and relax throughout the 90-minute journey that takes you on a Norwegian wilderness adventure.

Once your trip is over, you will have a chance to enjoy delicious chocolate cake along with some coffee and tea before arriving back in Tromso.

They will provide warm clothing for you but don’t forget a hat and gloves! There will be two people per sled and you can take turns mushing! The minimum age is 7 and people of all fitness levels are welcome!

Good to know: This trip has multiple start times but I recommend going as early as possible which will give you plenty of time to relax, have dinner, and then set out for an evening northern lights trip! This is the best way to maximize your time in Tromso.

2) Morning Guided Dog Sledding in Tromso Excursion (Best for Kids!)

Duration: 4 hours
Languages: Norwegian, English
Seasonality: November-April
Meeting Point: Radisson Blu in Tromso
➡️ CHECK PRICES HERE 

This husky safari is a fantastic pick if you’re looking for a half-day tour around some of Northern Norway’s finest scenery. The tour leaves from the Radisson Blu and will guide you out to the husky camp where you can admire the endless landscapes.

You will be a dog-sledding passenger and will have around one hour of thrills as you and your team of dogs wind through the Norwegian landscapes.

Professional guides assist and make sure your journey is comfortable but extremely enjoyable! After the journey wraps up, you will get a chance to hang out with the dogs and enjoy a hearty traditional lunch around a fire.

This is a more relaxed journey than the one mentioned above, so it is meant for younger kids, families, the elderly, and those looking to photograph their experiences.

You will be given a meeting time before the journey and all transport to and from Tromso is included. The company will also provide warm clothing but please do bring some wool (long underwear) to keep warm!

Good to know: This is the best Tromso dog sledding tour for children and elderly travelers. You will be a passenger on the journey and won’t have to do the physical labor (which, trust me, is challenging!) Book this alongside an evening northern lights tour and you won’t regret it!

3) Morning Self-Drive Dog Sledding in Tromso Tour

Duration: 4 hours
Languages: Norwegian, English
Seasonality: November-April
Meeting Point: Radisson Blu (Sjogata) in Tromso
➡️ CHECK PRICES HERE 

If you’re an active traveler, this is the best Tromso dog sledding tour for you! The tour listed above was all about the relaxing ride as you’re pulled by a team of huskies in Tromso. But this tour… is all about the action!

You will be transported to the snowy Norwegian landscapes with Tromso Wilderness Center where you’ll end up on a husky farm and be informed how to drive a sled and your partner and you can take turns driving and riding if you wish.

Your Tromso mushing experience lasts for about 1 hour (give or take 10 minutes) and when you’re done, you’ll have a chance to meet the dogs and get to know them (including the puppies).

Then, you will have a hearty and hot lunch of Bidos, a reindeer stew. For this journey, it is important to have good physical condition. If you’re usually active, you should be fine. You must be 16 years of age to take this tour (no exceptions).

Outdoor clothing is provided but it is recommended to wear wool or something warm underneath.

Tromso Husky Puppies Experience (Off-Season Option)

4) Puppy Training at the Husky Home

Is there anything better in this world than puppies? A rhetorical question as I know there isn’t! On this amazing excursion, you will be able to take part in training the next generation of sled dogs.

These little pups who have been born to race and hopefully be champions require a lot of training and need to learn to work as a team if they are going to be successful.

With a guide, you will take the puppies on a hike in the mystical Arctic countryside. Along the way, you will play games with the puppies which will help their development. Once you have completed the hike, you will have an opportunity to cuddle and play with the little pups.

The 4.5-hour excursion also includes lunch at the husky center. Please note that this tour is not available to book out of season.

Dog Sledding in Tromso FAQ & Practical Info

Is dog sledding in Norway ethical?

This is a tough question and I understand why many think it isn’t. Is horseback riding ethical? It depends on the person. I found the reindeer sleigh experience to be a bit unethical and I don’t recommend that part of the Sami experience, personally.

But dog sledding in Tromso? I had to find out for myself to see how I felt afterward.

What I found in Tromso specifically was that the dogs were well taken care of and Norwegian people had high standards for their treatment of these worker pups. 

The dogs were SO excited to see us and were eager to get running. They were barking loudly, tails wagging back and forth, and they all looked like I did on Christmas Eve growing up. This put me at ease and the entire journey was exactly this way.  

The dogs all had names that matched their personalities, individual homes, and name tags on those homes. You could tell the owners took special care of each and every one of them.

I can not vouch for other destinations around the world, but I found dog sledding in Norway to be ethical.

What is the temperature going to be when dog sledding in Tromso?

One thing that people don’t realize is that the temperatures in Tromso will hardly reflect what you will experience on these tours as they are inland or in the countryside a bit. The temperatures are much colder!

When I went on my first Tromso husky tour, it was -20C (or -4F). It was COLD. I had a huge parka on and they gave us some additional clothing but it was not the most enjoyable experience when it came to the weather.

By the end of the journey, my feet were frozen and I had to sit by the fire in the lavvo just to come back to temperature. To be honest, I had been extremely sick before this with the flu, so I probably shouldn’t have participated anyway. 

But, I am glad I opted to do so anyway… it was a blast!

Can kids go dog sledding in Norway?

Yes, they can, but they will likely need to be accompanied by an adult or an expert musher. It is best to sign up for a ‘guided’ dog sledding tour in Tromso rather than a self-guided one.

Please also note that many of the self-guided tours do not allow kids under 16 on them, anyway.

Is driving a dog sled hard?

If you opt for a self-guided dog sledding tour, you will have to navigate yourself and your sled. It is a bit challenging if you’ve never done it and are in lousy shape. But, if you’re in good shape, you will pick it up quickly and have no issue with the process.

Guided dog sledding tours are a great alternative if you’re not sure your stamina can keep up.

Can you go dog sledding in summer?

No. But, you can go see the huskies in training by booking a tour to meet the puppies! You will get to learn how they train from a young age for their future work (and you can play with them). 

You can also do this during the shoulder seasons when snow is not around. I did this in autumn actually (but when I was dog sledding in Rovaniemi!

There are so many great dog sledding in Tromso tours available that I hope this guide helps you choose the one that is the best fit for you and your group.

I honestly think that Norway is one of the best places to go dog sledding in Europe (and the world). God tur!

More Norway & Tromso Travel Guides

• What to know before visiting Tromso
• Day trips from Tromso
• Tromso airport to city
• Best Tromso museums
• Snowmobiling in Tromso
• Best ice hotels in Norway
• Best Tromso northern lights tours
• Reindeer and Sami experiences in Tromso
• Cost of traveling to Tromso
• Taking the Hurtigruten to Tromso
• What to do in Tromso in winter
• The Perfect Tromso Itinerary (2-5 day options)
• Ethical whale watching tours in Tromso
• What to pack for winter in Norway
• Best places to get coffee in Tromso
• Tromso in summer travel guide
• Best hotels in Tromso
• Tromso camping tips

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