Husky Safari to the Ice Hotel

This tour is a unique experience for outdoor enthusiasts seeking the extraordinary. With good fitness, concentration, and a sense of balance, you'll lead your own husky team from the Engholm Husky Design Lodge in the heart of Sámi culture to the northwestern Alta on the coast of the Arctic Sea, ending at the Ice Hotel.

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Husky Expedition to the Arctic Sea: The Tour Itinerary

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Day 1: Arrival and first dinner
The tour begins with your first dinner at the lodge at around 19:00. Your personal guide will give you initial information about the adventures of the coming days and you can ask any questions you may have. End the evening together with your travel group and relax before your adventure really begins the next day!

Day 2: Preparations and free time with typical local activities
After a leisurely breakfast, your anticipation will be further heightened with the provision of warm outdoor clothing. The rest of the day is at your disposal for a selection of exciting activities. Immerse yourself in the life of the locals far above the Arctic Circle and experience the unique nature of Norwegian Lapland with all its recreational opportunities. In the musher library you will find many interesting books about dog sledding, in the nearby Sami village you will find local handicrafts and various stores as well as the National Sami Museum, the Norwegian Sami Parliament, the Sami Art Gallery, the Sápmi Theme Park and a knife smith (transfer can be arranged). Smaller tours can be undertaken on your own if you wish: Snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, a trip with a kick sled or walks in the beautiful nature.
You can also book a day trip with the sled dogs or a snowmobile tour. It is even possible to visit a Sami family with their herd of reindeer on the plateau.

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Day 3: Start of the husky safari: high up in Norwegian Lapland
Start the day with a delicious breakfast. Afterwards, you and your guide will prepare the husky teams and learn the basics of dog care and sledding. The long sled ride starts right at the lodge. After a steep ascent to the mountain plateau, the route takes you over hilly stretches, frozen lakes and marshland to the Gardin mountain lodge. Experience what complete silence feels like and take in the incredible light of the stars and the glistening snow. With a bit of luck, the northern lights will dance high above your head.

Day 4: Husky safari: the endless expanse of the tundra
You reach the mountain plateau and the tundra, a fascinating landscape where the view is endless. You feel as if you are already one with “your” sled dog team and enjoy the ride on the runners of your own sled. Let your gaze wander and experience the last pure wilderness in Europe. In the evening you reach the Mollisjok mountain hut, a “jewel” in the middle of nowhere on the plateau.


Day 5: Husky safari: frozen lakes and panoramic views
Today you cross the largest lake in Finnmark, “Jiesjavrre”. The view in all directions is endless. Take your time and listen to the silence, which is only interrupted by the wind and the paws of your dogs on the snow. You may hear the occasional other sound. It feels as if you are in one of the most beautiful winter paintings in the world. You spend the night in the Jotka mountain hut.

Day 6: Husky safari: arrival at the Arctic Sea and the Alta Ice Hotel
The day once again holds incredible experiences in store for you. Today you will see the Arctic Ocean for the first time and look out over the fjords. What a sight! The journey continues towards Alta - your huskies and you are already a well-rehearsed team and so you stand safely and freely on the runners of your sled! In the evening you arrive at the Igloo Ice Hotel outside Alta, where your guide and the dogs bid you farewell. You can spend the last night in this special accommodation made of snow and ice (meals in the ice hotel are not included) - a truly unique experience! Your trip ends here, you can spend the night in the ice hotel or in another hotel in Alta before you start your return journey the next day.

Day 7: Departure
A last morning in breathtaking surroundings. Review your spectacular journey in the land of the Sámi on the runners of your dog sled. The memories and special moments will certainly leave you dreaming of this adventure for a long time to come.

Accommodation:
You will spend the first nights in the lodge, then in cozy mountain huts and the last night in the spectacular ice hotel, where everything, right down to the glasses in the bar, is made of snow and ice.
Please note that there may be a surcharge for the overnight stay in the ice hotel if prices vary greatly. You can also spend the last night in another hotel of your choice in Alta and receive a reduced price for this trip.
Please note that some of the isolated mountain cabins on the Finnmark plateau do not have electricity or running water and are shared accommodation.

Requirements for tour participants:
This sled dog trip is an active vacation and requires very good physical fitness as well as teamwork. Activities such as fetching water, chopping wood, cooking if necessary, looking after the dogs etc. are organized and carried out together as a team.
Distance: 25 - 50 km per day.

Important Information about the meals:
Only one dish is served per meal, so no a la carte is possible. Cooking facilities are limited, especially on the wilderness tour. Special dietry requirements, such as vegetarian meals, cannot be accommodated. For vegetarians, dinner can be arranged without mixing meat or fish with other ingredients. If you prefer a vegan diet and do not eat dairy products, you will need to bring supplementary food. Please note that there is only one frying pan in the wilderness cabins. No farmed meat is used for dinner, but only locally caught wild fish and self-hunted moose, or reindeer and sheep that have grazed in the wild in Finnmark. Various berries, (almost all) mushrooms, root vegetables, and potatoes are harvested by the hosts themselves.

How to get there:
Due to the remote location of this truly ‘off the beaten track’ tour, there are a variety of transport options depending on your preferred arrival airport, details of which are listed below.

Via Lakselv Airport, Norway
Upon your arrival at Lakselv airport, a bus journey of approximately one hour will take you to your base in Karasjok. Alternatively, should you prefer a private transfer, you can arrange a taxi for your trip between the airport and Karasjok.

Via Alta Airport, Norway
Upon your arrival at Alta airport, a bus journey of approximately 4 hours will take you to your base in Karasjok. Alternatively, should you prefer a private transfer, you can arrange a taxi for your trip between the airport and Karasjok, and this will take roughly 2.5 hours.

Via Ivalo Aiport, Finland
Upon your arrival at Ivalo airport, you can take a taxi to Ivalo bus station and catch a daily bus that will take approximately 2.5 hours to reach your base in Karasjok. The journey from Ivalo airport to the bus terminal is approximately 7km. Alternatively, should you prefer a private transfer, you can arrange a taxi for your trip between the airport and Karasjok, and this will take roughly 2h.

Whichever location you are travelling from, our experienced advisors will work with you to ensure that your tour connections run as smoothly as possible.

Travel costs:
As this trip is a private tour, the costs depend on the number of participants. If you book this trip, you will stay among yourselves for the booked date and only travel with the people you have booked the trip with. The price quoted is valid for a booking of four people. The travel price is reduced if there are more participants, and increased if there are only two, three or one of you.

Different cancellation conditions: For this destination, 100% cancellation fees apply after confirmed booking. For this reason, we recommend that clients take out insurance in this case. If the participant does not wish to (or cannot) take part in what is booked - no refund is granted. Additionally, further costs may arise if cancellation occurs before the final payment is made.
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