We decided to go for a dog sledding excursion in Tromsø as both of us never tried it before but have seen it countless times in the movies. Even though it did cost us an arm and a leg, I have to say it was bloody fun. Anyway, any guided outdoor excursion in Norway will you cost you an arm and a leg.
We set off early in the morning in our coach to Lyngsfjord Adventures. Even though the tours are expensive, the coach is full and the business is apparently thriving. The ride takes about an hour bringing us deeper into the mountains and away from the urbanized areas. Once we arrived there, we put on our overalls and paid Lyngsfjord Adventures 3190 NOK. When everyone is ready, we were driven to the holding area for the dogs which were already harnessed so the participants did not have to do anything. The guide only gave instructions on using the brake on the sled and off we went.
The dogs used here were all huskies but as we learned later in Svalbard, Greenland dogs are also commonly used to pull sleds. We were grouped in pairs with one person being the passenger, while the other person stood behind and controlled the sled. 5 dogs were harnessed to each sled and once the sled was untied, the dogs bolted off following the guide. We rode in a single file across the white snowy plains with heavy snow pelting against our faces. Even though it was very cold, the excitement was more than enough to keep us warm. In fact the person controlling the sled has to work together with the dogs. Sometimes I had to push and shove when going uphill or when in deep snow. The dog sledding ride is about an hour and a half with no breaks. Quite a few times some passengers have fallen off the sled and the guide has to stop and to assist. If you want to swap the positions, you have to do it rather quickly when the guide stops to assist other riders.
After the ride we were taken to a traditional Sami hut to have lunch. The Sami dwelling is a huge tent with a stove in the centre. We were served reindeer stew containing a mixture of meat, potatoes and carrots. The stew was served with a special kind of round and soft bread which I find quite tasty. Even though you will be hard pressed to find that kind of bread elsewhere, it is widely available from the supermarkets in Norway and Sweden. Make sure that you try some if you have the chance.
If you are going for a dog sledding trip, here are some tips which could be useful to you.
1) If clothing and mitts are provided, be sure to use them instead of using your own. Such clothing is usually waterproof so they are good against the snow. If you are going to be touching the dogs with your mitts, the dogs will leave a strong smell which some people may be sensitive to. Furthermore mitts can be difficult to wash and dry out so it is advisable to use their mitts.
2) Be sure to hold onto the handles of the sled real tight because the dogs can bolt when starting off.
3) Work together with the dogs to move the sled especially when climbing uphill.
4) If you want to learn more about dog sledding or prefer a more hands on experience, you may want to consider doing this elsewhere. Tromsø’s operators mainly cater to tourists who prefer a hassle free trip.
5) If you don’t want to lose anything, be sure to secure them. If you drop them in the snow, it could be huge task to find it. Personally, I lost a lens cap during the ride.
6) Always tighten your hood before moving off because while controlling the sled, it is difficult to do so and the wind can be very strong. It could be worse if you are riding into the wind.
7) If you are a passenger, be sure to sit properly as the ride can get rather bumpy and at times you could be blanketed by snow.
We arrived and changed here.
You can also go for reindeer sledding.
Playing with the huskies before we begin.
Riding in a single file. No overtaking please!
Thirsty huskies eating ice after the run.
A traditional Sami hut, modernized for our times.
It’s really crowded in here.
Your lens will fog and this is what will happens to the photo. Pack an extra lens.
Lunch is served. Reindeer stew.
If dog or reindeer sledding is not your cup of tea, there’s also snowmobiles for you to ride.
Dog-sledding in Tromsø with Lyngsfjord Adventures, one word: Exhilarating!
31 December 2010
We decided to go for a dog sledding excursion in Tromsø as both of us never tried it before but have seen it countless times in the movies. Even though it did cost us an arm and a leg, I have to say it was bloody fun. Anyway, any guided outdoor excursion in Norway will you cost you an arm and a leg.
We set off early in the morning in our coach to Lyngsfjord Adventures. Even though the tours are expensive, the coach is full and the business is apparently thriving. The ride takes about an hour bringing us deeper into the mountains and away from the urbanized areas. Once we arrived there, we put on our overalls and paid Lyngsfjord Adventures 3190 NOK. When everyone is ready, we were driven to the holding area for the dogs which were already harnessed so the participants did not have to do anything. The guide only gave instructions on using the brake on the sled and off we went.
The dogs used here were all huskies but as we learned later in Svalbard, Greenland dogs are also commonly used to pull sleds. We were grouped in pairs with one person being the passenger, while the other person stood behind and controlled the sled. 5 dogs were harnessed to each sled and once the sled was untied, the dogs bolted off following the guide. We rode in a single file across the white snowy plains with heavy snow pelting against our faces. Even though it was very cold, the excitement was more than enough to keep us warm. In fact the person controlling the sled has to work together with the dogs. Sometimes I had to push and shove when going uphill or when in deep snow. The dog sledding ride is about an hour and a half with no breaks. Quite a few times some passengers have fallen off the sled and the guide has to stop and to assist. If you want to swap the positions, you have to do it rather quickly when the guide stops to assist other riders.
After the ride we were taken to a traditional Sami hut to have lunch. The Sami dwelling is a huge tent with a stove in the centre. We were served reindeer stew containing a mixture of meat, potatoes and carrots. The stew was served with a special kind of round and soft bread which I find quite tasty. Even though you will be hard pressed to find that kind of bread elsewhere, it is widely available from the supermarkets in Norway and Sweden. Make sure that you try some if you have the chance.
If you are going for a dog sledding trip, here are some tips which could be useful to you.
1) If clothing and mitts are provided, be sure to use them instead of using your own. Such clothing is usually waterproof so they are good against the snow. If you are going to be touching the dogs with your mitts, the dogs will leave a strong smell which some people may be sensitive to. Furthermore mitts can be difficult to wash and dry out so it is advisable to use their mitts.
2) Be sure to hold onto the handles of the sled real tight because the dogs can bolt when starting off.
3) Work together with the dogs to move the sled especially when climbing uphill.
4) If you want to learn more about dog sledding or prefer a more hands on experience, you may want to consider doing this elsewhere. Tromsø’s operators mainly cater to tourists who prefer a hassle free trip.
5) If you don’t want to lose anything, be sure to secure them. If you drop them in the snow, it could be huge task to find it. Personally, I lost a lens cap during the ride.
6) Always tighten your hood before moving off because while controlling the sled, it is difficult to do so and the wind can be very strong. It could be worse if you are riding into the wind.
7) If you are a passenger, be sure to sit properly as the ride can get rather bumpy and at times you could be blanketed by snow.
We arrived and changed here.
You can also go for reindeer sledding.
Playing with the huskies before we begin.
Riding in a single file. No overtaking please!
Thirsty huskies eating ice after the run.
A traditional Sami hut, modernized for our times.
It’s really crowded in here.
Your lens will fog and this is what will happens to the photo. Pack an extra lens.
Lunch is served. Reindeer stew.
If dog or reindeer sledding is not your cup of tea, there’s also snowmobiles for you to ride.
More photos of Tromsø can be found here at Globe Nomads Facebook page.