First Husky Adventure
Drive your own dog sled team!
Experience the Magic of North Karelia on an exciting husky tour —the perfect way to get a taste of it! Feel the power and enthusiasm of our friendly dogs as you glide through the glistening snowy landscape glide. An adventure you won’t forget anytime soon.
Your sled dog adventure in detail:
Imagine this: the crisp, cold winter air on your face, the soft crunch of snow beneath the runners, and the joyful panting of the eager sled dogs as they pull you through the untouched wilderness of North Karelia. Our sled dog tour is more than just a ride—it’s an immersion in the traditional way of life of the North.
What to expect:
- A Warm Welcome: We’re happy to welcome you to our husky farm here in the Lieksa region. Meet our passionate team and, of course, our stars—our energetic Alaskan huskies.
- Professional instruction: Before you set off, you’ll receive a comprehensive introduction to the art of mushing (sledding) and important safety instructions. You’ll learn how to steer your own sled (or you can relax and let a guide take you for a ride—please specify when making your reservation).
- The Ride: Let’s get going! Drive your own husky team or enjoy the ride in your guide’s sled as you glide through picturesque forests and across frozen lakes. Keep an eye out for wildlife tracks in the snow!
- Time with the dogs: After the tour, you’ll have the chance to thank the dogs for their great work, pet them, and take some souvenir photos.
- A cozy way to wind down and enjoy some refreshments at our lodge:
After your exciting husky adventure, we invite you to warm up in our cosy lodge, located right on site. Enjoy a cup of coffee or tea and a bowl of hot soup while taking time to relax and reflect on your experience.
Tour details
- Duration: About 2.5–3 hours (including orientation, lunch, and time with the dogs).
- Travel time only: About 1–1.5 hours (depending on conditions and the group).
- Location: Eräkeskus , at the lodge
- Group size: Small, intimate groups for an immersive experience, max. 5 participants
- Guide: German, English, and Finnish-speaking guide
- Dates: December 1 through April 12.
- Reservations: By request only.
Prices
- Your own dog team (4–5 dogs): €165 per person.
- Passenger ride (6–8 dogs, max. 2 people): €225 per sled (1 person drives, 1 person rides).
- 1 passenger in the guide’s sled: €110.
-
House Guests: € 15 discount per person (lunch is already included in the package).
Optional:
- Full Coverage for Sled Breakage: €10.
Services
Included:
- Professional guidance for your husky tour by experienced mushers/guides.
- My own husky team.
- Thorough instruction on safety and sled handling.
- Essential equipment for sledding.
- Lunch: a delicious soup to recharge.
- Hot drinks to warm up with at the lodge.
- Overalls and winter boots will be provided as needed. Available sizes for overalls range from XXS to XXL, and for boots from size 36 to 47 (please specify your needs and sizes when making a request).
- A once-in-a-lifetime experience and plenty of fresh air!
Tips:
- We recommend that you take out cancellation insurance.
What to bring & requirements
Physical Fitness: A basic level of fitness is sufficient. You should enjoy being active outdoors. Driving a sled yourself requires a bit more physical effort (e.g., helping push uphill). Please let us know about any health limitations when you make your inquiry.
Minimum age: Children are very welcome here! The minimum age for driving a sled on your own is 14. Younger children can ride safely in the guide’s sled or that of an adult.
Here’s what you should pack:
- Warm winter clothing in a layered look (ski underwear, fleece, thick socks).
- Wind- and water-repellent outer layer (unless you’re renting a jumpsuit from us).
- A warm hat that covers the ears well.
- Lightweight fleece liner gloves: Ideally two pairs, so you can change them if needed.
- Large waterproof and windproof overmittens: They provide the best protection against cold and moisture.
- Warm, sturdy winter boots (if you’re not renting a pair from us).
- Scarf or tube scarf.
- Sunglasses and sunscreen (even the winter sun can be intense!).
- You might want to bring a small daypack for your personal items
- And, of course: a spirit of adventure and a positive attitude!
Cancellation terms for day tours
- Cancellations must be made in writing (by e-mail to office@eraekeskus.com). In the case of declarations received on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays, the next working day shall be decisive.
- Cancellation up to 7 days before the start of the tour is free of charge.
- If you cancel 7 days or less before the date of the event, we will charge a cancellation fee of 100% of the booking price.
General Terms and Conditions:
- Our General Terms and Conditions apply.
Why you should choose us
Eräkeskus stands for authentic experiences in the untouched wilderness of Finland – far away from mass tourism and in a family-like atmosphere. You can expect real adventures, a deep connection to nature, and a truly relaxing slowdown.
- Intensive & Personal Thanks to Small Groups: We deliberately conduct our dog-sled tours in very small groups of just 2 to 5 guests. This guarantees you an intensive, personalized, and particularly immersive experience in nature, with personalized attention.
- Untouched wilderness instead of mass tourism – In North Karelia, you will hardly encounter any scooter traffic or overcrowded trails – instead you will find endless expanses, deep silence and pure nature.
- Get as close as possible to the dogs – Our dogs aren’t just part of the tours—they’re part of the family. You’ll have plenty of time to get to know them before and after the tour, cuddle with them, and learn more about their lives and training.
- Gentle tourism & respect for nature – We focus on sustainable experiences with minimal impact on the environment – for adventures in harmony with nature.
- Your escape from everyday life: Come enjoy a peaceful winter day with us. Experience the calming power of nature, and unwind after your tour with a warm bowl of soup in our cozy lodge.
As every tour is planned individually and adapted to the current conditions, all activities must be requested in advance. This allows us to offer you the best possible experience.
We will review your request as soon as possible and usually reply within 24 hours with all the details. Advance booking for day activities is essential, ideally several days before your preferred date. Unfortunately, we cannot always accommodate last-minute requests made on site.