At first all you hear is the excited barking of twelve dogs who can’t wait to run. Then the guide releases the anchor, the sled jerks forward and suddenly… silence. Just the hiss of the runners, the panting of the team and the snowy forest rushing past. A husky safari is an experience you can’t describe, you have to live it. And its calmer sibling, the reindeer sled ride, is among the most fairy-tale-like things Lapland in Finland has to offer.
In this guide you’ll find everything about husky safaris and reindeer sledding in Finnish Lapland: how both rides work, how much they cost, whether you can drive your own team, what to wear, how to pick a fair farm that treats its animals well, and what kids can handle.
If you’re still putting the whole trip together, start with my big guide to what to see in Lapland or the article on what to see in Rovaniemi.
TL;DR
- Season: roughly December to early April, depending on the snow. Book well ahead, high season often sells out.
- Husky prices: a short ride from ~€65, a full safari driving your own team ~€95–200 depending on length.
- Reindeer prices: a farm visit with a ride and a “reindeer driving licence” around €80–120.
- Husky = adrenaline and speed, reindeer = calm and fairy tale. Ideally do both, there are combined safaris too.
- A thermal suit, boots and gloves are lent on site, in kids’ sizes too. You just need good layers underneath.
When to go and how to book
The season for dog sledding and reindeer sleds runs roughly from December to early April, depending on when the snow falls and how long it lasts. The most reliable conditions are from January to March, when there’s the most snow and the days are already getting longer. You’ll find a detailed month-by-month comparison in the article on when to go to Lapland.
One important heads-up: the most popular dates sell out weeks or even months in advance, especially around Christmas and school holidays. So book as soon as you have your flights. Trips can be conveniently reserved online in advance, for example through GetYourGuide, or directly with the Lapland farms. The price usually includes hotel pickup, thermal clothing and a hot drink by the fire.
Where to stay for huskies and reindeer
Most farms and operators are found around Rovaniemi, which makes an ideal base. In the centre, a reliable choice is Santa’s Hotel Santa Claus with its praised breakfast, where the safari pickup collects you right at the door. A next-level experience is Apukka Resort, which has its own huskies and reindeer right on site, so you can walk straight from breakfast to the animals. And far up north near Saariselkä, the legendary Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort combines glass igloos with its own animal programmes.
Husky safari: a ride you’ll never forget
Let’s get to the main event. A husky safari starts at the farm, where you’re greeted by a chorus of excited barking, the dogs competing over who gets to run. After a briefing you set off: either as a passenger bundled up in the sled, or, and this is what I recommend, as the driver of your own team. You stand on the runners, brake with your own weight, and the team listens better than you’d expect.
As soon as the dogs take off, the barking gives way to the complete silence of the winter forest. It’s meditation at 20 km/h. Short loops (2 km, about 20 minutes) start from ~€65 and even small children can join as passengers, while full safaris where you drive yourself cover 5 to 10 km and cost €95–200. There are even full-day expeditions for the hardy.
💡 Tip: The ride is often shorter than people imagine, the dogs can’t run forever. Expect a big part of the programme to be the farm visit, cuddling the dogs and the mushers’ stories about pack life, which is at least as lovely as the ride itself.
How to pick a fair husky farm
A husky safari lives and dies by how the farm treats its dogs. The good news: Nordic sled dogs love to run, it’s natural for them, not a chore. Even so, it pays to choose farms that show their facilities, limit the number of runs per dog and demonstrably care for the pack in summer (trekking, exercise runs).
Signs of a fair farm: they happily let you among the dogs, the mushers know every dog by name and the website openly talks about welfare. If a farm feels like an anonymous conveyor belt for tourists, pick another one. Reviews on Google and TripAdvisor tell you a lot.
Reindeer sleds: a fairy tale drawn at walking pace
If a husky safari is adrenaline, a reindeer sled ride is a pure fairy tale. The reindeer walks, the sled glides quietly through the snowy forest and you sit wrapped in furs, just soaking up the silence. It’s the calmest experience in all of Lapland and perfect even for very small children or grandparents.
A visit to a traditional reindeer farm usually includes feeding the reindeer, a talk about how they’re raised and a sled ride, after which you get a jokey “reindeer driving licence”. You can only drive the reindeer yourself on a short loop, they’re semi-wild animals and a herder leads the longer routes. The whole programme comes to about €80–120, while entry to the farm alone is cheaper.
Reindeer and the Sámi: more than an attraction
Reindeer farms in Lapland are often run by herding families for generations, and reindeer husbandry remains the backbone of the livelihood and culture of the Sámi, the only Indigenous people of the European Union. A farm visit is the most natural way to learn about Sámi culture first-hand, around the fire rather than from a museum display case.
Ask away, the herders love telling stories about reindeer: why they shed their antlers, how a herd is tracked across the tundra using both GPS and traditional markings, what the reindeer year means. For a deeper dive into Sámi culture I recommend a trip north to Inari and the Siida museum, which I write about in my Lapland guide.
Huskies or reindeer? An honest comparison
The most common question is: if there’s only time (or budget) for one, which should you choose? Here’s my honest comparison.
- Choose a husky safari if you want action, speed and a hands-on experience (driving your own team). Best for couples, groups of friends and kids from around 6 years old.
- Choose a reindeer sled if you want calm, romance and a cultural dimension. Ideal for families with small children, grandparents and anyone who wants to savour Lapland slowly.
- Can’t decide? There are combined safaris (huskies + reindeer in one day, roughly 3–3.5 hours, around €180–230) that cover both, including pickup and a hot drink by the fire.
💡 Tip: Whatever you choose, a thermal suit, winter boots and mittens are lent on site (for kids too). Under the suit, good thermal underwear and a fleece are enough. For everything to pack, see my packing guide.
Where to next: more articles
If you’re putting together your Lapland itinerary, these articles will come in handy:
- Lapland: 20 tips on what to see and do
- Lapland with kids: tips for a family winter holiday
- Northern lights in Lapland: when, where and how to see them
Frequently asked questions about husky safaris and reindeer sleds
How much does a husky safari in Lapland cost?
A short ride (approx. 2 km, 20 minutes) starts from €65, while a full safari where you drive your own sled for 5 to 10 km costs roughly €95 to €200 depending on the length. Prices are per person and typically include thermal clothing, transfers, and a hot drink.
Can I drive my own husky sled?
Yes, and it’s the best part of the experience. After a short briefing you’ll stand on the runners of your own sled, brake with your own body weight, and steer the team. You usually go in pairs (one drives, the other sits in the sled) and switch halfway through. Any healthy adult can manage it.
When is husky safari and reindeer sleigh season?
Roughly from December to early April depending on snow conditions, with the most reliable conditions from January to March. The most popular dates (Christmas, school holidays) tend to sell out weeks in advance, so book as soon as you’ve purchased your flights.
Which is better: husky or reindeer sleigh?
Husky safaris are fast, active, and thrilling, while reindeer sleighs are slow, quiet, and fairy-tale-like, with a connection to Sámi culture. Choose huskies for action, reindeer for a peaceful experience and with small children. Combination safaris (husky + reindeer in one day, around €180 to €230) let you experience both.
Can children do husky safaris and reindeer sleighs?
Yes. As passengers in the sled, even toddlers can manage short rides, and reindeer sleighs are the calmest activity in all of Lapland. Only adults are allowed to drive their own sled; children ride as passengers. Farms lend thermal overalls in children’s sizes too.
Do the dogs and reindeer suffer during safaris?
Nordic sled dogs love to run—it’s in their nature. But choose ethical farms: they’ll happily let you spend time among the dogs, limit the number of rides, know the dogs by name, and openly share information about their care. Reindeer farms are often run by herding families for generations, and the animals are the foundation of their livelihood.
What should I wear on a safari?
Thermal overalls, winter boots, and mittens will be provided on-site, including for children. Under the overalls, bring good thermal underwear (ideally merino), a fleece layer, and warm socks. Your own hat and neck warmer. For photography, thin gloves to wear under the mittens are handy so your fingers don’t freeze.
Tips and Tricks for Your Vacation
Don’t Overpay for Flights
Search for flights on Kayak. It’s our favorite search engine because it scans the websites of all airlines and always finds the cheapest connection.
Book Your Accommodation Smartly
The best experiences we’ve had when looking for accommodation (from Alaska to Morocco) are with Booking.com, where hotels, apartments, and entire houses are usually the cheapest and most widely available.
🚗 Car rental on the roadVerified rental cars in FinlandSearch with the DiscoverCars comparison engine — it compares prices from dozens of local and international rental companies, and most bookings come with free cancellation.
Compare car prices in Finland →Don’t Forget Travel Insurance
Good travel insurance will protect you against illness, accidents, theft, or flight cancellations. We’ve had a few hospital visits abroad, so we know how important it is to have proper insurance arranged.
Where we insure ourselves: SafetyWing (best for everyone) and TrueTraveller (for extra-long trips).
Why don’t we recommend any Czech insurance company? Because they have too many restrictions. They set limits on the number of days abroad, travel insurance via a credit card often requires you to pay medical expenses only with that card, and they frequently limit the number of returns to the Czech Republic.
Find the Best Experiences
Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace where you can book guided walks, trips, skip-the-line tickets, tours, and much more. We always find some extra fun there!
