Dog sledding in Tromso – the best operators!

Updated for winter 2026/2027

First things first, I wanted to talk about the kennels and the conditions the dogs live in up there. I’ve visited a few of them across Tromso, the Lofoten Islands and Finnish Lapland, so I now have a good overview.

First of all, you should know that the dogs absolutely looove to run. They’re truly made for it, they’re crazy about it. When they know they’re heading out, they go wild, and when you make the mistake of pressing the brake a little to avoid being thrown off, they look at you as if to say “what on earth are you doing, mate?!”. So on that front, it really isn’t exploitation.

As for the kennels, the big ones inevitably feel more industrial, but the dogs are well treated there. In winter they all go out very regularly, and off-season they go out too, just a little less. The ones whose owners know won’t run off can be let loose during the day. But you should also know that summer is trickier for them in terms of climate. They’re 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°C her dogs got too hot and had to be spared.

Anyway, all this to say that it’s a lovely activity, especially with dogs that ask for nothing more and are well cared for. There are probably exceptions, but I’ve been lucky enough not to come across any. So with the ones I’m about to tell you about here, there’s nothing to worry about.

Dog sledding is one of the best things to do in Tromso.

To get you straight into it, below are my two favourite dog sledding operators. One is fairly big, doesn’t require a car and is superbly located; the other is small, friendly and French-speaking, but you’ll need a car to get there.

• Heads up, both need to be booked well in advance!

The best dog sledding operators in Tromso, with transport included

As you’ll see, there are more and more kennels. There are the long-established ones, the newcomers, and the agencies acting as middlemen — and you’re never quite sure where you’re actually going.

Here I sort it all out for you, but first you’ll see my favourite kennels, the ones that don’t require any transport. The safe bets. Great feedback, top dogs (that are well treated), and good teams.

The other dog sledding operators with transport included

These ones also get good reviews, you won’t be disappointed. So why aren’t they in the first category? Well, choices had to be made. I can’t put ten of them in “the favourites”. So I picked the ones I know well and consider genuinely good. Then it comes down to reviews that are “a bit less glowing”, let’s say. Or a slightly poorer value for money, in particular.

I’m also including the options to go dog sledding under the northern lights (if the sky allows), meaning in the evening!

Then there are these ones. I’ll admit I’m not a fan, because it’s a relatively recent thing that’s very expensive for what it is, since the tours are very short. 20-30 minutes of driving for that price is a bit of a rip-off. This is Camp Aspemo, formerly Aurora Husky, which moved to Malangen. Along with various agencies that just funnel you here.

So do I recommend doing it? If you really want to go dog sledding and there’s nothing else available, then yes. But it shouldn’t be your priority — aim for the others I speak well of. The reviews here are fairly good, but I don’t think it’s really worth the price.

Dog sledding with French-speaking guides

You’re in luck, because there are 2 excellent kennels run by French speakers. They’re two smaller, friendlier operators with an excellent reputation. That said, you’ll need a car to get there. But it’s not that far — it’s in Malangen, 1h20 from Tromso, so it’s easily done.

• Into Nature, with Quentin
• Run Wild Mushing, with Ben

4 dog sledding operators that require a car

These operators are further out, smaller and more family-run — that’s why they can’t afford to run a bus to pick up and drop off clients; they work with small groups. So you’ll need a car to get there, but honestly, you won’t regret it!

Why Tromso is a great place for dog sledding

So technically, to go dog sledding you need snow, dogs and a sled. Not too complicated. But actually you need a bit more, and that’s why Tromso is pretty good: you need flat ground, big flat expanses so the dogs can really run. Even though the region is very mountainous, you can find such areas in several valleys — Breivikeidet and Laskvatn in particular, but also in the south of Kvaloya, which is far less hilly. In the Lofoten Islands it’s much harder, because it’s nothing but mountains and there’s only a single musher in the whole archipelago.
You also need, of course, a region with snow for a good part of the year, and on that front Tromso is a safe bet.

Finally, Tromso is great because it lets you go dog sledding in a fantastic setting, surrounded by mountains.

What happens on a dog sledding trip?

Right, this is clearly great fun. First off, you won’t be the one choosing the dogs. They’re picked based on their fitness and mood of the moment — I’d suggest asking how they’re selected and how the order is decided, especially which ones go up front (the leaders); it’s really interesting.

Once they’re chosen, though, it’s up to you to dress them, and it’s pretty funny. You have to put the harnesses on them; they’re used to it and let you do it completely, but since it’ll be your first time, you’ll be a bit clumsy and they’ll look at you with a “you’re really not good at this” face.

Then the serious stuff begins. They’ll explain how it works: in pairs, one lying down or sitting, the other standing and driving. They’ll explain the only manoeuvre you need to know — braking. Ideally when it’s picking up too much speed and a bend is coming, otherwise you’ll end up like my wife: “ahhhhhhhh! thud!” (true story).
They’ll also explain that you shouldn’t take photos and film while driving, or you can lose your balance since you’ve only got one hand free. Well, it depends how confident you are. I did it — it’s a bit risky, but it can work.

It’ll last between 1h and 3h, depending on the tour, and you swap halfway. Time flies even though it’s quite a workout, so don’t hesitate to pick a slightly longer tour if you have time, because it’s really fun.

When can you go dog sledding in Tromso?

Well, if I tell you that dog sledding needs snow, that shouldn’t come as a huge surprise. So it’ll depend solely on that — on the first heavy snowfalls, snow that settles so it doesn’t hurt the dogs’ little paws.
For the past two years it started in late January in Tromso; there hadn’t been any heavy snow before that. And since the snow settles, it easily lasts until April. But it can start earlier! I remember a snow season that began in November, while in 2020 snow was still falling in mid-May.

So it varies a lot, but give it a shot — if the operators are offering it, it simply means it’s available 🙂

Book your dog sledding trip in Tromso!

The dog sledding operators, in a nutshell!

Right, to sum up the info above without repeating myself, here are the main operators:

THE BEST DOG SLEDDING OPERATORS WITH TRANSPORT

• Arctic Adventure, on Kvaloya, €305
  • transfer from Tromso included
  • from age 7
  • Info & booking

• Arctic Resort, at Breivikeidet, €245 (facing the Lyngen Alps, stunning)
  • transfer from Tromso included
  • children from age 7
  • Info & booking

• Arctic Resort, in a shorter version, at Breivikeidet, €190
  • transfer from Tromso included
  • from age 4
  • Info & booking

• Tromso Wilderness Center, on Kvaloya, €310
  • transfer from Tromso included
  • from age 16
  • Info & booking

• Tromso Wilderness Center, as a passenger, €310
  • transfer from Tromso included
  • no age limit for children
  • Info & booking

• Moa Hundseid, on Kvaloya, from €360
  • Transfer from Tromso
  • no age limit!
  • Info & booking

THE SMALL FRENCH-SPEAKING KENNELS

• Run Wild Mushing, at Malangen
  • French spoken!
  • No transfer from Tromso
  • from age 3
  • Info & booking

• Into Nature, at Malangen, €300
  • French spoken
  • No transfer from Tromso
  • no age limit
  • Info & booking

SMALL KENNELS WITHOUT TRANSPORT

• M Husky, at Moen, from €380
  • from age 10
  • Info & booking

• OffTrack Experience, at Malselv, €410
  • No transfer from Tromso
  • Delphine speaks French but isn’t necessarily there
  • from age 5
  • Info & booking

Book your dog sledding trip in Tromso!

How to choose your operator in Tromso?

So you’ll find several operators, and you’ll have to make a choice based on a few criteria:

• the size of the kennel: well, it’s a criterion but not a huge one really, because there aren’t that many kennels in the Tromso area. There are two big ones nearby and a small one further out. I quite liked having a fairly intimate kennel in the Lofoten, but in practice it won’t change much, and above all the two main ones here are both fairly big.
• the price: there’s something for every budget. It starts at €200 for the smallest tours and can climb to €400 depending on size, duration and sometimes for no reason.
• the content: some offer dog sledding under the northern lights, which can be a lovely activity. Watch out, it’s not available all the time. Others only offer a kennel visit, which is much cheaper, so be careful about that.

But here’s also, above all, what will interest you:

You’re looking for a dog sledding operator that speaks French:

• Into Nature

• Run Wild Mushing

These are small kennels at Malangen, a good hour from Tromso. They require a car.

You’re coming with young children — here’s where they’re accepted:

• Moa Hundseid, no age limit and you drive
• Into Nature, no age limit either!
• Tromso Villmarkssenter, no age limit but you don’t drive
• Run Wild Mushing, from age 3
• Norwegian Travel, from age 4 for the short tour
• Offtrack experience, from age 5

Finally, if you don’t want to drive and only want to be a passenger, no problem:

• Tromso Villmarkssenter, passenger-only option, a professional musher drives you!

Dog sledding with children

As I mentioned just above, there are several options.

If you have young children under 3, it’s Moa Hundseid and Into Nature that impose no age limit.

You can also go to Tromso Villmarkssenter with your little one, but a professional guide does the driving.

• Run Wild Mushing, from age 3
• Norwegian Travel, from age 4 for the short tour
• Offtrack experience, from age 5

4 recommended places to stay in Tromso

Trouvez votre logement de rêveà TROMSO 🤩

A few tips and useful info

• Price: well, it’s not exactly cheap, but there’s a whole range of prices. It starts around €200 for the smallest tours (say 20-30 min), it generally climbs to €260-300 for most, and some now go up to €400. Those are the smallest, friendliest ones, but it does sting a bit!
• Difficulty: it’s not hard as such. But it takes a bit of focus and it works your arms and abs 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, mind you), others adults only. You should also avoid it if you’re pregnant, in a cast, or have that sort of condition.
• Is it dangerous: well no, it’s not really dangerous. That said, you can easily get thrown off the sled, especially when driving. But the idea is to fall into the snow, so it’s fine. On the sled itself, mainly keep your feet tucked in and definitely don’t let them stick out.
• If you’re afraid of dogs: well, they’re generally sweethearts. Others won’t pay you any attention because all they want is to run. But they’re hyperactive! So absolutely not dangerous, but they wriggle, even for cuddles. And if they’ve been selected, it’s partly for their sociable side, so unless you do something silly, they won’t give you any trouble. Every one I saw was perfectly sociable.

Seeing the sled dogs when there’s no snow

If, like me, you fancy seeing the dogs when it’s not sledding season, it’s possible! First, some kennels are open from time to time (but not during the high season). Then there are two lovely activities on offer.

First of all, they’ll offer you puppy training. Well, I did it — it’s more of an outing with loooads of super-cute puppies you have to get running. You spend quite a bit of time with them; it’s fun, they’re bonkers, it’s really lovely. And afterwards you can spend time with the older dogs. In summer they also have the Husky Cafe open now and then. Worth checking, as it varies.
You can discover it here.

But there’s another activity that looks really lovely: heading out on a hike with the dogs. Since they need to burn energy (and so do we!), you get the chance to walk them through the gorgeous landscapes. And afterwards there’s a kennel visit and plenty of dog cuddles.
Discover it here.

The other activities to do in the Tromso area

One of the challenges in Tromso, especially in winter, is having to make choices because there’s too much to do. In particular these must-do activities:

• Finding the best operator in Tromso to see the northern lights
• All the places to go dog sledding in Tromso
• When to see whales and orcas
• Going on a snowshoe hike or cross-country skiing
• Seeing reindeer on a Sami farm near Tromso
• Seeing the surroundings of Tromso by boat

If you’d like to work out the budget for your trip to Tromso, I recommend the following article:

• Estimating your budget for a trip to Tromso

Conclusion

There you go, I think I’ve told you everything! It’s genuinely a lovely thing to do. There’s no mistreatment; the dogs are super friendly, hyperactive and sociable. It goes fast, it’s a really good experience, and I hope I’ve convinced you 🙂

So you have several options. During the day, on terrain that’s a bit more sporty than others which are flatter, or under the northern lights. Some will come and pick you up, while others require a car to get there.

But either way, you’ll find something to suit you! And the bonus is that there’s a long snow season in Tromso, so you’ll have plenty of options.

WARNING: this is a VERY popular activity, you need to book well in advance.

Book your dog sledding trip in Tromso!

You can find the map of places and activities in Tromso below, with all the essential info for your trip!

4 recommended activities in Tromso