Husky Safari Through the Winter Landscapes of Rovaniemi

Rovaniemi, February 28th, 2018.

Today, I finally got to do something I had been looking forward to for a long time: a husky safari! After much consideration and a comparison of dozens of companies offering this experience, I finally made the decision. It wasn’t easy because, while it’s an incredibly appealing activity, the prices are quite steep. To give you an idea, I couldn’t find anything for less than €150. But hey, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and they say life is short, right?

In this post, I’ll share which company I chose, how my experience went, and my final thoughts.

Bearhill Husky and the Call of the Wild Tour

After extensive online research, I decided to go with Bearhill Husky, a family-run business specializing in short and day-long excursions with trained huskies. They’ve been in the industry for years, having started in 2003 and relocated to Rovaniemi in 2012, where they now run their kennel and train the dogs for tours.

First, I made sure they had good reviews on TripAdvisor, especially regarding value for money. They were the most affordable company I found.

Bearhill Husky offers various tours in summer/autumn and winter. Options include the Taiga Tour (a full-day adventure), the Happy Trail (a more family-friendly option), and the Call of the Wild (a morning or afternoon tour). I chose the latter because I wanted to experience the sunset in the stunning snowy forests of Lapland. The morning tour would have been amazing too, but it’s all a matter of preference.

To summarize, the Call of the Wind tour lasts about 4.5 hours, including a 1.5-hour husky sled ride, transfers, and other activities. It starts at 2:30 PM and ends around 5:30 PM. The tour costs €159 (as of 2018). Here’s all the info in case you want to check it out.

Getting to the Meeting Point

As usual, I left home super late, with just enough time to grab a quick bite before heading to the meeting point. Luckily, Rovaniemi isn’t very big, and everything is within walking distance, so I went for the fastest and easiest option: McDonald’s. It never fails.

The tour van picked me up at the Arctic City Hotel, one of the city’s well-known hotels. There are multiple pickup points, which you can request via email after booking the tour. After picking up more guests (and making several rounds through the city), we finally set off for Bearhill Husky. The drive took about 30 minutes.

Dressing for Extreme Winter Temperatures

The first thing we did upon arrival was gear up properly. We went into a cabin where they explained the importance of layering and provided special clothing and accessories for extreme cold. They warned us that it would be freezing and that layering was essential to staying warm. When temperatures drop so low, one or two thick layers aren’t enough—you need multiple layers to trap heat effectively.

Here’s what I initially wore:

• Thermal leggings + snow pants
• Thermal shirt + thermal fleece + coat #1 + coat #2 (waterproof)
• Cotton socks + wool socks
• Hat #1 + Hat #2
• Scarf
• Snow boots

And here’s what I added:

• Thermal snow suit
• Another pair of woolen socks
• Woolen gloves + mittens for extreme cold (they were HUGE!)
• Massive rubber boots lined with wool (I had to take off my boots, of course)
• A super cute buff, gifted by Bearhill Husky

We looked like Yetis with all those layers!

Learning to Drive the Husky Sled

Once we were fully geared up, our guide explained the instructions and how to drive a husky sled.

Rules for the Driver:

• Never let go of the sled under any circumstances. Always keep your hands on the handlebar, no matter what—not even for a photo.
• Control speed using the foot brake. Step on it to slow down, and lift your foot to go faster.
• Use both feet on the brake to stop completely. And never let go, or the huskies will take off!
• Keep a distance of 5 to 15 meters from the sled in front.
• Stay upright and keep your waist against the sled’s handlebar. No weird postures!

Rules for the Passenger:

• Stay covered with a blanket (not exactly a rule, but everyone did it).
• Keep your hands and feet inside the sled.
• Take photos on behalf of the driver. 😆

Part 1: Driving the Husky Sled

Once everything was clear, the guide paired us up. There were 8 sleds, each with 2 people. Most were couples or families. Since I was alone, I shared a sled with a Japanese lady traveling with two friends. This way, we could switch driving roles easily.

For some reason, the guide must have thought we were pros (we were NOT), because he put us at the front of the group, right behind him. This meant we had to follow all his cues, setting the pace for everyone behind us. As soon as he gave the signal, the huskies took off at full speed!

At first, it took a bit to get used to it because the huskies are FAST. You have to be in control, or things can get dangerous. For example, on downhill slopes, you need to press the brake lightly to slow the huskies down and prevent the sled from going off course. On uphill slopes, you help push the sled so the huskies don’t struggle too much.

Eventually, you get the hang of when to brake, when to speed up, etc. Plus, the guide stops now and then to check that everything is going smoothly.

The route is well-marked, and the huskies know where to go—you just control the pace. Don’t worry, you won’t get lost!

El recorrido por los paisajes nevados

The scenery was absolutely breathtaking—forests, frozen lakes, winding trails, ups and downs, some areas illuminated, others darker, dense tree patches, open snowy landscapes… For a few minutes, we even crossed a frozen lake, which was mind-blowing. The vast, snow-covered expanse surrounded by trees was simply stunning.

I was driving the Husky safari sled for about 45 minutes. Then, we took a break to switch drivers. During these changeover minutes, the guide took the opportunity to take photos of each sled group since we couldn’t do it ourselves. First, because the driver couldn’t take their hands and feet off the sled to take pictures. And second, because if you took off your gloves, your hands would freeze instantly due to the extreme cold. In my case, there was only time for 2 or 3 photos because as soon as I took my phone out of my coat, the poor thing froze to death.

Part 2: Riding as a Passenger

In the second part of the husky safari route, my companion was driving the sled while I sat as a passenger. I tried to take photos and videos, but I swear it was practically impossible. Aside from my hands feeling like they were burning, my phone would die every time I turned it on. It didn’t matter that I connected it to a portable battery; it lasted two minutes before shutting off again. Luckily, my companion’s phone was of better quality, so we managed to take a few selfies. Plus, it was starting to get dark, looking something like this:

Personally, I enjoyed driving the sled more than sitting as a passenger. From the driver’s spot, you experience the husky safari more intensely. You feel in control of the vehicle, and it feels more authentic. That said, you also feel the cold more—especially on your face and hands.

I don’t know if this is too weird to mention, but something that made me laugh quite a bit was that some huskies would poop while running. 😆 From the sled, you could see them lift a leg and, well, leave a little gift behind. Every now and then, a whiff of husky poop would hit you. You didn’t notice it as much while driving, but when you were sitting at the same level as the dogs, you definitely did. Quite a show!

End of the journey

At the end of the tour, we spent some time with the huskies. We gave them some well-deserved cuddles and thanked them for the amazing ride. They were all starving, and the caretakers served them generous plates of food—totally well-earned!

Afterward, we went into a cabin where we were served hot drinks and snacks. We took the opportunity to ask our guide questions about the tour, the huskies, Finland, Rovaniemi, and more. Finally, we returned to the main cabin to take off our thermal clothing and dress like normal people again. At 5:30 PM, we took the bus back to Rovaniemi, arriving at 6:00 PM.

My final review of the husky safari

As a final review, I found the husky safari to be an incredibly fun activity that you absolutely must do if you visit Lapland in winter. You get to experience the Finnish landscapes uniquely and learn how husky safaris work and how these adorable dogs are cared for.

It is an expensive activity, but I think it’s worth it since it’s not something you do every day. There are cheaper tours that last for a shorter time, but I recommend investing a bit more to fully enjoy the experience.

On another note, the huskies are very well cared for and genuinely enjoy these activities. At first, I had my doubts because I didn’t know what conditions they lived and worked in, but I soon realized that the dogs were eager to get out and run. Then, when the tour was over, they were much calmer because they were tired—and they were rewarded with food.

Thank you, Bearhill Husky, for such an incredible experience!

Back to the hostel

Tonight, I met a girl from Argentina at the hostel who is a professional photographer. She won a scholarship to come to Europe for a project about winter, and after spending a month in Iceland, she came to Finland for a week to photograph landscapes.

It was funny because at first, we started talking in English, and when she asked me where I was from, it was like, okay, we can speak Spanish. The interesting thing is that we both sometimes naturally switch to English because, after spending time away from our home countries, it just feels natural to speak in this language. Funny how that happens!

We went out for dinner at a place called Kotipizza and then returned to the hostel since her airline had lost her luggage, and they were supposed to deliver it that night. Tomorrow, she’s planning to visit Santa Claus Village, so I gave her some tips on what to expect.

Searching for the Northern Lights (again)

And yes, tonight, I went out in search of the Northern Lights (again, unsuccessfully). Yet another cloudy night. At this point, I don’t even know why I keep mentioning it… But I guess someday I’ll read this and remember how persistent and motivated I was.

The good thing is that with every trip to the Kemi River, I meet new people. Tonight, for example, I spent time with a lovely group of women from Granada who, coincidentally, are staying in an apartment on my same street. They say it’s not about the destination but the journey, so for now, I guess I’ll just enjoy the experience!