A husky ride is probably one of the first activities that comes to mind when you're planning a trip to Lapland. It was definitely something we wanted to try, and we've now done a husky ride twice on two separate trips.
Both of ours were 2km husky rides, but they felt quite different because of the weather. The first time it was around -8°C and we loved it. I could easily have stayed on the sled for longer and at the end I wondered whether we should have booked one of the longer husky safaris instead.
The second time was a very different story. It was around -25°C, and although we still really enjoyed the experience, 2km was more than enough. By the time we finished, I definitely wouldn't have wanted to stay out for another 5km or 10km.
That's something I don't think I'd really considered before doing it. When you're looking at husky rides online, it's easy to assume that a longer ride must be better, particularly when you're travelling all the way to Lapland and it might be something you only ever do once. After doing the same distance in very different temperatures, I'm not sure I'd automatically pay extra for a longer one.
So, is a husky ride in Lapland worth it? For us, yes. We've enjoyed both of ours and I'd recommend trying it if it's on your Lapland wish list. However, I'd think about the length of the ride before booking, as well as the price. A 2km ride might sound short on paper, but depending on the weather, it can be plenty.
In this guide, I'll share what our two husky rides were actually like, whether we thought 2km was long enough, how much the cold affected the experience and whether I'd pay more for a longer husky safari next time.
If you're still deciding which experiences to spend your money on, we've also put together our 20 Lapland Activities We've Tried Guide, with our experience of everything from huskies and reindeer to snowmobiling, ice karting and saunas.
From DIY itineraries and Northern Lights tips to budgeting advice, destination guides and honest reviews of the places we've visited, you'll find everything together in our Lapland Travel Guide Hub.
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🐕 Is a husky ride in Lapland worth it? Yes, we think so. We've done it twice and enjoyed both experiences.
🛷 How far did we go? Both of our husky rides were 2km.
⏱️ Is 2km long enough? For us, yes. At around -8°C we could happily have carried on, but at around -25°C we were more than ready to finish after 2km.
❄️ Does the temperature make a difference? Definitely. Sitting still on a sled can feel very cold, particularly when the temperature really drops.
👨👩👧👦 Good for families? Yes. We've done husky rides as a family and it's an activity we'd recommend.
💰 Would I pay more for a longer ride? Possibly in milder weather, but I wouldn't automatically choose the longest option. Our 2km rides were enough for us to enjoy the experience.
💙 Would we do it again? Yes, although having done it twice now, I'd probably choose the length based on the weather and price rather than assuming a longer ride would be better.
The exact experience will depend on where you book, but both of our rides involved sitting in a sled while a team of huskies pulled us along a snowy track.
The dogs are fast, so once you set off it feels much quicker than you might expect from watching videos. You get the sound of the sled moving over the snow and the dogs running in front of you, and it's a really lovely way to see the snowy surroundings.
Both of our 2km husky rides lasted around 15 minutes. That might sound quite short when you're booking, especially when you'll see much longer husky safaris available, but having now done the same distance twice, I don't think 2km is necessarily too short.
The first time it was around -8°C and we could happily have carried on for longer. The second time it was around -25°C and it felt completely different. As the dogs ran, bits of snow were flying up towards us and you could really feel the wind chill sitting on the sled. Towards the end of those 15 minutes we were starting to feel very cold, and I was more than ready to get off when we finished.
That second experience definitely changed my view on booking a longer husky safari. A 5km or 10km ride might sound better when you're sitting at home planning your trip, but at -25°C I wouldn't have wanted to be out there for much longer.
For me, the temperature would now be just as important as the distance when choosing which husky ride to book.
Husky rides in Lapland come in lots of different lengths, from short taster rides to much longer safaris. If it's your first time booking one, it can be quite difficult to work out how much time you'll actually spend on the sled and whether it's worth paying extra for a longer ride.
As a rough guide, this is what you can expect:
| Husky ride | Approx. time on the sled | Typical price |
|---|---|---|
| 1-2km | 10-15 minutes | €30-€60pp |
| 3-5km | 20-30 minutes | €60-€100pp |
| 6-10km | 30-60 minutes | €90-€150+pp |
| Longer husky safaris | 1 hour+ | €150-€250+pp |
As a rough guide, a short 1-2km husky ride usually lasts around 10-15 minutes and costs roughly €30-€60pp. A 3-5km ride is normally around 20-30 minutes and €60-€100pp, while longer 6-10km rides can last around 30-60 minutes and cost €90-€150+pp. Longer husky safaris lasting an hour or more on the sled can cost €150-€250+pp.
These are only rough prices and timings to help you compare the different options. Prices vary between resorts and operators, and distance doesn't always translate neatly into time. Some advertised tour durations also include transfers, getting changed, safety instructions, meeting the dogs and drinks or snacks around the fire, so always check how long you'll actually spend on the sled before booking.
I'd make sure you're well covered for a husky ride, particularly your head, face, hands and feet. You're sitting still on the sled and once the dogs get moving, the wind can make it feel much colder.
We wore ear muffs on one of our rides, but I would definitely choose a proper hat and snood instead. When we did the ride at around -25°C, we ended up pulling our hoods up halfway around because we could really feel the cold.
Hot Hands sachets inside your mittens are brilliant for this type of activity too. We've used them in Lapland and they definitely help when you're sitting still in really low temperatures.
There's another reason I'd recommend covering up as much as possible. The huskies don't necessarily stop when they need a wee, and when you're travelling behind them, some of that can fly backwards towards the sled along with the snow. Not particularly glamorous, but definitely something worth knowing before you set off!
Some husky experiences include hot drinks afterwards, but if yours doesn't, I'd take a flask of hot chocolate with you. It's very welcome when you've just spent 15 minutes sitting on a sled in freezing temperatures.
Some operators also provide thermal clothing, so check what's included when you book. We have a full What to Wear in Lapland Guide if you're unsure what you'll need for your trip.
Husky rides aren't one of the cheapest activities you'll find in Lapland, particularly if you're travelling as a family. Once you're paying for four or more people, the difference between a short ride and one of the longer safaris can add quite a bit to the cost of your trip.
This is one of the reasons I'm glad we tried the shorter 2km rides first. We still got the experience we'd gone for without paying considerably more for a longer safari, and having now done it twice, I don't feel like we missed out.
If a husky ride is high on your Lapland wish list and you really want a longer experience, then you may decide it's worth spending more. For us, I'd rather book a shorter husky ride and use the money saved towards another activity.
If you're trying to work out how much to budget for your whole trip, our Is Lapland Expensive? Guide covers the costs we've actually paid across our visits.
Yes, I think husky rides can be a great Lapland activity for children, and we've done both of ours as a family. However, with smaller children I'd think quite carefully about the length of the ride.
Once the sleigh starts moving, the wind chill can make it feel much colder than the actual temperature. Children are also sitting still rather than walking around and keeping warm, so they can start to feel the cold quite quickly.
It's worth remembering that once you've set off and you're travelling through the forest, the ride can't necessarily just stop if your child suddenly decides they're freezing and wants to get off.
For smaller children, I personally wouldn't book more than a 2km ride unless they were travelling in a heated pod or similar enclosed sleigh. Fifteen minutes gives them a good chance to experience the huskies without committing to a much longer period out in the cold.
I'd also check the age rules when booking, as these vary between operators, particularly for longer safaris and experiences where you can drive the husky sled yourself.
If you're travelling with older children, our Things to Do in Lapland With Tweens & Teens Guide has lots more activities we've tried ourselves.
Some husky experiences give adults the chance to drive the sled themselves, while others have a guide doing the driving and you simply sit back and enjoy the ride.
If driving the sled is important to you, I'd check this carefully before booking. Don't assume that a longer or more expensive husky safari automatically means you'll get to drive, as every experience is set up differently.
I'd also check how the sled is shared if you're booking as a couple or family. Some tours allow adults to swap halfway so both get a turn at driving, while children will usually travel as passengers.
For us, actually being out with the dogs and travelling through the snowy landscape was the main part of the experience, so I wouldn't personally choose a tour based purely on whether I could drive. But if that's something you've always wanted to try, it's definitely worth looking for an experience that specifically includes it.
Before booking, I'd look past the total tour time and check exactly what you're getting. Two husky experiences advertised as lasting two hours could have very different amounts of actual time on the sled.
• The distance of the actual husky ride
• How long you'll roughly spend on the sled
• Whether you ride as a passenger or get to drive
• Whether adults can swap drivers during the ride
• How children travel and whether heated pods are available
• Whether thermal suits, boots or other winter clothing are provided
• Whether transfers are included
• Whether there's somewhere warm to go afterwards
• Whether hot drinks or snacks are included
I'd also have a look at the cancellation policy, particularly what happens if temperatures become extremely low. Lapland weather can change quite quickly, and different operators may have their own limits for running activities.
For me, distance would be one of the first things I'd check now. A tour lasting three hours doesn't necessarily mean three hours with the huskies, so I'd want to know whether I'm actually booking a 2km ride, a 5km safari or something much longer before comparing the price.
For us, yes. We've done a husky ride twice now and enjoyed both of them, even though the two experiences felt very different because of the temperature.
I also don't think you need to book one of the longest and most expensive husky safaris to make it worthwhile. Both of our rides were 2km and lasted around 15 minutes, and we still felt like we'd had the experience we'd gone for.
If I booked another husky ride, I'd probably choose somewhere between 2km and 5km depending on the weather, price and who I was travelling with. At around -8°C I would happily have stayed out for longer, but after experiencing a 2km ride at around -25°C, I know I wouldn't want to commit to a long safari in extremely cold weather.
For families with smaller children, I'd be even more cautious about booking a long ride unless there was a heated pod. Once you're out on the trail, you can't simply get off and head inside if somebody gets too cold.
So yes, I think a husky ride is worth doing at least once on a trip to Lapland. I just wouldn't assume that longer automatically means better.
Whenever I spot great-value DIY Lapland flights and accommodation from UK airports, I share them with members of the Build a Break Travel Club. If you'd like to experience Lapland without paying package holiday prices, it's a great place to start.
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