Where and how to go Dog Sledding in Finnish Lapland ? The ultimate guide !

Updated for winter 2026/2027

Before anything else, I wanted to talk to you about how the dogs live in the kennels. Having visited a few (mostly in Norway, but also a couple around Rovaniemi), I can tell you the dogs are very well treated. Well fed, they get out often, they stretch their legs, and this is not animal cruelty. So yes, I’ve heard things about a very small number of kennels, but those will never be recommended or featured on the site.

You need to know that these dogs looooove running. Really, they’re made for it, born for it, it’s all they ask for. As soon as they know they’re going out, as soon as they see customers, they go crazy, and putting their harness on to hitch them to the sled is a real struggle because they really want to go fast 😀

If you’re unlucky enough to press the brake a little to avoid being thrown off, or because it’s going too fast, they all turn round like “what the hell are you doing, mate?!”, really, they love running.

As for the kennels, the big ones obviously feel more industrial, but the dogs are well treated there. In winter they all go out very regularly, while out of season they go out too, just a bit less. The ones whose owners know they won’t run off can be let loose during the day. But you should also know that summer is harder for them in terms of climate. These are winter dogs, so they can’t put in the same effort. The lady at the small kennel in the Lofoten told us that above 10°, her dogs were too hot and had to be spared.

Also, people say the dogs pull hundreds of kilos. Well, no: with the snow and the ice, and the magic of friction, what they actually pull is next to nothing.

And I can confirm that dog sledding is one of the best things to do in Finnish Lapland!

Why Finnish Lapland is a good place to go dog sledding

The recipe for dog sledding isn’t very complicated. You need dogs, a sled, snow. Fine, that’s very easy to find in Finland. But that’s not all! You also, and above all, need flat ground. Big stretches of flat ground. And for that, you could say that Finnish Lapland is perfect. In Finnish Lapland, you’ll find lakes, forests, plains, trees… in short, nothing but flat! So the locals have absolutely no trouble finding a piece of flat ground that’s big enough.

And the good news, as you’ll see below, is that you’ll find dog sledding companies just about everywhere, in all the tourist spots in Lapland, whether in Levi, Rovaniemi, Ylläsjärvi or even Inari.

And all these places have snow for close to 6 months a year, so ideal conditions, especially for the dogs, who need the cold to be completely happy.

Honestly, the setting of Finnish Lapland is really great for dog sledding, because you’re surrounded by huge expanses of snow, forests of trees frozen stiff by the cold, frozen lakes.

Where to go dog sledding in Finnish Lapland? The agencies town by town

The main tourist spots in Finnish Lapland are a long way from each other. So if you’re in Rovaniemi, you’re not going to pop over to Levi. That’s why I’m giving you the agencies town by town.

DOG SLEDDING IN ROVANIEMI

Since Rovaniemi is the biggest town in Finnish Lapland and the main tourist spot, naturally you’ll find loads of companies, and it’s hard to see clearly.

It’s a touch more expensive than in the lesser-known places, but less than in Tromsø. Here you’re looking at around €180/220 in general.

I’m obviously not going to present them all, but here are 5 excellent companies, from small kennels to bigger ones:

• Husky & Yoga Nature Lapland – €220, rated 5/5, small kennel
• Bearhill Husky, €195, rated 4.9/5, small kennel
• Apukka Husky, €200, rated 4.6/5
• Arctic Circle Snowmobile Park, to see sled dogs and reindeer and go snowmobiling all in one go, €195, rated 4.6/5, big operation
• Nordic Odyssey, €240, rated 5/5, another benchmark in Rovaniemi

If you want to know more, in the following article you’ll find ALL the dog sledding agencies in Rovaniemi so you can compare them and find the one that suits you.

DOG SLEDDING IN LEVI

There are several companies doing dog sledding in Levi. Unfortunately, quite a few aren’t really up to scratch, meaning they’re expensive for not much time on the sled.

Here are several with a good reputation:

• Keo Wilderness, €160, rated 4.7/5
• Arctic Circle Snowmobile Park, €200, a 7km ride, rated 4.4/5
• Arctic Husky Circle, a shorter tour but cheaper! €110, rated 4.7/5

DOG SLEDDING IN YLLÄSJÄRVI, ÄKÄSLOMPOLO AND KITTILÄ

These 3 towns really are right next to each other, give or take 10km. So you can easily go from one to the other for activities.

• Ylläsjärvi, there’s Safartica, which runs dog sledding outings at several levels. Check it out here!
• Nordic Odyssey also offers outings with their partner (it’s very well rated)
• Äkäskero Sleddog Center can pick you up in Äkäslompolo, handy!

DOG SLEDDING IN MUONIO

There isn’t any in Muonio itself, but right next door in Äkäskero there’s a specialist team doing day or half-day tours, and also week-long ones! That could be great 🙂

Check it out here!

DOG SLEDDING IN KILPISJÄRVI

In Kilpisjärvi, at the very top of Finland, on the border with Norway, there’s a small resort offering quite a few activities but… no dog sledding, unless you go a bit further up into Norway around Skibotn (it’s an hour away, that’s fine). It’s with Active North, and transport can be arranged. More info here!

DOG SLEDDING IN INARI – SAARISELKÄ – IVALO

There are lots of small kennels out there, not always easy to find online. Here’s what I managed to find in these 3 places, which are fairly close to one another

In Saariselkä, quite a few options:

• Arctic Time Travels on Lake Inari, 4.8/5

In Inari, it’s more low-key, but you’ll find:

• Wilderness Husky
• Taigausko

Finally, in Ivalo, there are options there too:

• Ilonka, a lovely little company
• Primitif Aventure, they don’t have traditional huskies but Taimyr and Nenets Laika dogs, in short, big fluffy doggos!

The map of Finnish Lapland

I’ve created a map of Finnish Lapland that includes everything you’ll need to plan your trip, but above all ALL the kennels, all the dog sledding operators. That way, if you’re in a particular area and you especially want to see the doggos, you can see what’s nearby.

It also works with:

• accommodation, including the ice igloos under the northern lights
• all the best activities in each town, snowmobiling
• all the reindeer farms
• the northern lights agencies
• and loads of other info for each resort!

What is a dog sledding outing like?

The first step is choosing the dogs you’ll be given. That depends on their fitness, their mood, and also the pace you want to set, because some dogs are much faster than others. Choosing the dogs is an art, and honestly it’s really interesting, so I’d advise you to ask the mushers loads of questions about how they choose them, why this one goes up front, how they decide the order.

Then, normally (especially at small kennels), you’ll have to dress them, and that’s the funny part. It means putting on the harness that will hitch them to the sled. They’re excited but they let you do it, even strangers (they’re really adorable), except when you take a while to get them kitted out, because it’s not that easy. That’s when you get the “you’re really useless at this, mate” look.

One last step before you set off is the safety part. How to drive a sled, what you need to do. And it’s pretty simple: you have two pedals, one to brake and one to stop the sled. Really not rocket science. As for knowing when to use them, that’ll be your survival instinct, to avoid being thrown off on a slightly too tight bend (true story). Because it goes fast, very fast! The dogs are real athletes.
Also, you’ll need to avoid getting too close to the sled in front of you. But that’s common sense.

Finally, they’ll also tell you that you can’t film or take photos while driving. Fair enough, because it’s not stable. And when you’re a beginner it’s better to keep both hands on the sled. It’s a bit dicey, but on a straight stretch it can be done.

A tour lasts between 1h and 3h, depending on the agency, and you swap halfway between the one driving and the one enjoying the ride. Even though it’s quite physical, you work your abs, thighs and arms a lot, it’s really enjoyable even for the one driving. It goes by quickly, it’s a really lovely experience!

When can you go dog sledding in Finnish Lapland?

Really, it depends on the snow. Right now, bookings run from mid-November to April. They rarely start earlier, because there won’t necessarily be many people around and the snow arrives later and later. But for the peak tourist season, from December to March, there’s absolutely no problem anywhere in Lapland, there’s always plenty of snow.

Tours don’t start with the first snowfall: you need snow that holds well, packed down, so the dogs can run on it without any trouble and without hurting their little paws.

Book your dog-sledding outing in Lapland!

A few tips and bits of info

• Price – it depends on the length and the location. Let’s say it starts at €90 and goes up to 200 for the long trips.
• Difficulty – there’s not really any difficulty, it’s physical, it works your abs, arms and thighs, but it doesn’t take a high level of fitness. Anyone can do it. You just need a bit of balance when you’re driving the sled.
• Who it’s for – well, it depends. It’s physical: some accept children from age 5 (not to drive, obviously), others adults only. You’ll also want to avoid it if you’re pregnant, in a cast, that kind of thing.
• Is it dangerous – well, no, it’s not dangerous as such. On the other hand, you can easily get thrown off the sled, especially when you’re driving. But the idea is to land in the snow, so it’s fine. On the sled itself, the main thing is to keep your feet tucked in and make sure they don’t stick out.
• If you’re scared of dogs – honestly, they’re generally real sweethearts. They’re selected for their athletic ability but also for how sociable they are. If they can’t stand humans, they can’t be in the kennel, it’s as simple as that. So they’ll never be nasty to you. Let them come to you, but avoid sudden movements all the same. They want cuddles. Others won’t pay you the slightest attention, because what they want is to run. They’re hyperactive! So absolutely not dangerous, but they wriggle about, so it can take you by surprise, especially children.

Conclusion

And there you go! I think I’ve told you just about everything I know, and I hope I’ve given you the information you need if you want to go dog sledding in Finnish Lapland. There are lots of agencies, good ones and not-so-good ones, so pay attention to their reputation and to the length of the tour (super important). But it really is a great experience, so go for it 🙂

Also, here are a few little resources that can help you plan your stay in Lapland:

• how to plan your stay in Finnish Lapland – I give you all the info so you can plan your holiday step by step
• the best activities to do in Lapland – we’re talking about dog sledding here, but there’s much more to it than that!
• which town to choose for your holiday in Finnish Lapland – Ylläs or Levi, Rovaniemi or Inari? Find out the differences!
• seeing the northern lights in Finnish Lapland – it’s an ideal region to see this phenomenon, but here’s what you need to know first
• the northern lights agencies in Rovaniemi – who to go aurora hunting with after the sled
• sleeping under the northern lights in an igloo – an ice igloo for a lovely treat!
• but if you want a nice hotel in Rovaniemi, there are great options in town or out in nature!
• What to do in Rovaniemi – find out why the capital of Finnish Lapland is an excellent place to spend your winter holiday
• Going snowmobiling in Rovaniemi – the best agencies, the combos and my tips for choosing well