Husky Safari in Rovaniemi

They are smart, they are as majestic as wolves, they run like the wind and they love to play, they are the Husky dogs of Bearhill Husky. If you ask me to select one thing I liked most in my trip to Finland, my answer would be the Husky Safari in Rovaniemi. Sledging through the picturesque landscape of Finland with these beautiful creatures was like living inside a postcard. A big shout out to Bearhill Husky for inviting us to this Safari and making it the highlight of our trip to Lapland. Click here to read more about these awesome guys in Rovaniemi.

Meet Snowball, an adorable husky from Finland who joined us in Levi and stuck with us ever since (click here to read more about Levi and Kittila). He is friendly and loves playing in the snow but he has one big problem, he is an alcoholic. Snowball tried to be a good boy on this trip and stuck to only 2 bottles a day, so we took him to meet his friends at Bearhill Husky in Rovaniemi.

What is a Husky Safari?

Simply put, a Husky Safari is an excursion on a sledge pulled by husky dogs into the winter wilderness. You travel through some of the most scenic landscapes of Lapland in a convoy of sledges led by a guide.

Are Husky Safaris Cruel?

A question I came across a lot over the internet. The answer is NO THEY AREN’T. Huskies are energy powerhouses who love to run rather than a walk in the park. Moreover, the guys at Bearhill Husky kennel have so much genuine love for all their dogs, probably more than they love themselves that if you ask me, I envy the huskies. Think of it this way, you spend 8-9 hours every weekday doing a job for some corporation and in return you get to have a better living, the huskies take passengers around in a sleigh and in return they get looked after with food, shelter and a lot of unconditional love. Where’s the cruelty in that?

Where to do a Husky Safari in Finland?

We did the Call of the Wild Morning Safari with Bearhill Husky in Rovaniemi and had a blast with them. Their kennel is located on the outskirts of Rovaniemi where extremely friendly staff look after the dogs like their own children. Our guide, Eddy, a gem of a guy who probably spends more time with the huskies than his girlfriend, made sure that each and every one of us enjoyed the excursion to the max. However, if Rovaniemi is not your itinerary (which it really should be), don’t worry, no matter which part of Lapland you are in, there will be a husky excursion somewhere around you.

What do you do on a Husky Safari?

Bearhill husky picked us up at around 8:30am from the city center and about 30 minutes later we were in the middle of a snow-covered Game Of Thrones type forest where our guide, Eddy welcomed us at the drop off. All you could hear were the bark of the dogs and the silent landscapes of Lapland.

It took us about 30-40 minutes to gear up and receive our instructions for the safari before we met our new four legged friends. Time froze *pun intended* when Eddy escorted us to our sledges, there were huskies all around me and it took me a while to get back to reality. I’m getting goosebumps writing this.

And we were off into the wilderness, the huskies hungry to release their energy, the snowflakes hitting our faces, snowcapped trees looking down on us, it was B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L . For the next hour and a half we were in the most immersive experience ever, we passing through the depths of the forest, driving on a frozen lake, I have no words to describe that feeling so I’ll let the pictures do the talking.

The sledging duration was just perfect, it was neither too short to keep you wishing for more nor was it too long till the weather gets to you. Once we returned to the kennel, all the dogs were for us to play with, we thanked them for this beautiful experience with hundreds of hugs, took countless pictures and said our goodbyes, leaving me with a million dollar question ‘Why did I have to leave that place?’

The safari ended around a fireplace in a yurt where we gathered for cookies and hot drinks while Eddy told us more about the kennel of Bearhill Husky and his life with the huskies.

How long is a Husky Safari?

Bearhill Husky offers a wide range of programs which include a free pickup from Rovaniemi city center and Santa Claus Village along with a Husky Safari. Their shortest package, called the HAPPY TRAIL HUSKY SAFARI, is a 2.5 hour program with 45 minutes of the husky tour (6-10 km) and the longest one, called the BLACK DOG 90 goes up to an extreme 17 hours (90 km). We did the CALL OF THE WILD MORNING HUSKY SAFARI, a 3 hour program with 1.5 hours of husky tour (15-22 km). All timings include half an hour of transfer from the city center, each way.

What do you need for a Husky Safari?

A big warm heart for the huskies and that’s it. The winter clothes you will be wearing are more than enough, oh and don’t forget your camera, trust me you will regret it if you do. They provide you with all the gear that you will need, a thick overall, snow boots, woollen socks, mittens and a bearhill husky cowl, a souvenir from them to take back with you. There was enough space on the sledge for a small bag and I had no issues carrying my camera gear on the ride.

Are Husky Safaris safe?

One Hundred Percent safe. All the driver has to do is control the speed with a foot controlled brake and that’s it, the passenger sits comfortably in the sledge clicking pictures and enjoys the ride . We even had a staff member of Bearhill Husky riding alongside on a Snowmobile, checking up on the dogs and the people. Speaking of snowmobile, checkout our snowmobile experience in Levi here.

What did I like about the Husky Safari with Bearhill Husky?

Every single thing, it’s an experience without which a trip to Finland would be incomplete. It was very well organised and the thing that impressed me the most is their love for the dogs. From the time they are born till they reach of age where they can’t run anymore, their hoomans are always looking after them.

What did I not like about the Husky Safari with Bearhill Husky?

I honestly can’t think of anything, maybe some more time with the dogs would’ve been nice, but then again, it will never be enough.

Would I recommend a Husky Safari with Bearhill Husky Tours?

Without a doubt, my experience was way better than I had expected and I can’t think of anything they could’ve done differently. A definite must-do in Lapland. The whole experience was filled with enormous amounts of positive energy, positivity from the dogs, the staff and my fellow travellers, something that we all need in our daily lives.

Husky Safari was part of our trip in Lapland, click here for all the information that you need to know to plan a holiday to this magical destination.

Have you ever gone for a Husky Safari? Isn’t it the best thing ever? Bearhill Husky is located in the capital of Lapland, Rovaniemi. Click here to check them out. Use the hashtags #BearhillHusky and #PleaseStampMyPassport on social media to be featured.