Aktivitetstype: Husky tour

At Holmen Husky Lodge, the kennel is more than a place—it’s the heart of everything we do. For over three decades and through two generations, our family has raised and raced Alaskan Huskies bred for endurance, resilience, and heart. In this guided visit, you’ll step behind the scenes of one of Norway’s most respected long-distance sled dog kennels.

Walk through the yard with one of our experienced mushers. Along the way, you’ll meet our dogs— from eager young pups to seasoned athletes—and learn how we train, care for, and build lasting bonds with every member of the team. Around the fire, we’ll share the history of the Alaskan Husky breed, our own racing story, and what it takes to develop dogs capable of crossing mountains and frozen ground for days on end.

This is a hands-on, story-rich experience for those who want to understand not just how sled dogs live—but why they run.

Join us for a slow-paced summer hike through the pine forests surrounding Holmen Husky Lodge, accompanied by one of our friendly Alaskan Huskies. Connected by a pulling harness, you’ll experience the trail the way they do—with energy, purpose, and joy.

The hike winds through peaceful woodland paths and down to the banks of the Alta River, where we pause by a campfire to enjoy warm drinks, snacks, and something even more memorable: stories.

As you rest, our guide will share the history of the Alaskan Husky breed, how we raise and train our dogs for long-distance sledding, and the deep relationships we build with them—season after season. This is your chance to ask questions, feel the connection, and see the dogs not just as athletes, but as individuals.

What is included:

• Husky companion with pulling harness
• Professional guide
• Campfire break with snacks and warm drinks
• Storytelling about the Alaskan Husky breed and our care philosophy

Join us for a walk and experience first-hand the entusiasm and the joy of life of the husky puppies. We start with the breif tour of the dog enclosure and you will also have a chance to meet and greet the adoult dogs. We walk through pleasant pine forest down to the Alta River. We adopt the lengt and tempo to suit the participants. Choosing a route that enables you to bring a pushchair is also an option.

We stop along the way and light a fire and relax with a cup of tea/coffee and a slice of homemade cake. Your guide will explain aout the life that awaits the puppies and stories about what it`s like train, work with and compete with huskies.

The hike to the Alta Canyon is popular for good reason. The terrain is wonderful and easy to walk in and you’ll experience magnificent views, especially when you reach the canyon. This is the perfect place to enjoy a nice lunch together, take photos and simply enjoy the view of Northern Europe’s largest river canyon and the Alta River winding out towards the sea.

The Finnmarksvidda mountain plateau rolls gently southwards on both sides of the canyon. Reindeer have grazed in these areas since time immemorial. Other animals to roam here including the brown bear, wolf, lynx and wolverine. At the bottom of the canyon, the mighty Alta River meanders towards the sea. The river is renowned as one of the best for salmon fishing in the world.

The combined distance of this hike is about 13 km. We follow relatively good paths most of the way, with the surface varying between marshland, rock bed and some short stony sections. We recommend good mid-cut mountain boots, since we need to cross some rivers along the way and the water level depends on the season and rainfall.

This adventure starts inside the dog enclosure where you get to meet and greet around 50 happy Alaskan huskies. We choose the dog or dogs that will join us on this trip.

With a little guidance, you can harness the dog and attach the pack. Everything we need for the trip will already be packed. You are involved in deciding where we are hiking to. We can hike up to the nearby mountain, Pæskanasen, and enjoy the view of the valley and river from the top or another option is to stay in the forest and follow the Eibyelva river for a while.

We’re not in any hurry and make several stops along the way to share stories. The dogs can pull you up the steepest parts if you would like a little help. We stop to enjoy a homemade cake and coffee along the way before concluding the trip vack down at the dog enclosure.

From September 15 until the first snow falls, you can experience the thrill of mushing on wheels. This is dryland dog sledding — fast, hands-on, and just as real as winter.

You’ll ride two-by-two in a specially designed training cart pulled by a team of Holmen’s racing huskies. It’s the same team we prepare all year for long-distance races, and this is how they build strength, discipline, and connection during the fall. Before the ride, you’ll meet the dogs, learn about how we train, and get a feel for the trail. During the ride, you’ll hear only paws, wheels, and wind. This is not a tourist ride. It’s real pre-season training — shared with you. The huskies are arctic dogs and do not enjoy running in temperatures above 15 °C. Training season starts in autumn when the temperatures fall, but before the first snow arrives. The ride takes you into the Arctic Forest as it changes into Autumn, past the Alta River and along the dirt roads where we have been training our race dogs for two generations.

What is included:

• Gear includes thermal suits, hats, gloves, and boots if the weather requires it.
• Safety brief and an introduction on how to handle a team of Alaskan husky race dogs.
• Approx. 1-hour self-driving dog carting experience through the Nordic forest and along the Alta River.
• Upon arrival back to Holmen Husky you will have the possibility to help us with the dogs and thank them for the run by giving them lots of cuddles and belly scratches.
• 2-3 guests per dog cart
• Storytelling in traditional Sami Lavvo with hot drinks and snacks

HHL200 incl. transport
HHL201 without transport