Every autumn we get the same question from guests who arrive before the deep snow: can we meet the huskies and actually ride behind them, even if the ground is still brown? The answer is yes. Our huskies do not wait for winter to start working, and neither do we.

This article explains our longer autumn husky tour, Running with the Pack, 5 km Husky Tour & Kennel Visit, the way we would explain it to you at the booking desk: what happens from pick-up to drop-off, what is included, what changes when there is no snow yet, and when another of our husky tours may suit you better.

In short: Running with the Pack, 5 km is a 2 hour 15 minute husky experience from 164 €. You visit a modern husky kennel, hear how the dogs live and train, and sit in the sled while a musher drives the team for 5 km through the forests of Lapland. Until there is enough snow, the ride takes place on a cart and the distance is 3 km. Hot juice, cookies and transfers from set pick-up points are included. The product page lists this departure period as 16.11–22.11.

At a glance

• From: 164 €
• Experience type: Husky Tour
• Duration: 2 hours 15 minutes
• Difficulty: Easy
• Book in Advance: 2 hours
• Included: Guided husky ride of 5 km (on carts only 3Km); Modern husky kennel visit; Transfers from/to Santa Claus Village, Hostel Cafe Koti in the city center or with own transfer at the K-Market Sinettä.; Hot juice and cookies; Informative talk about huskies.
• Cancellation: We will charge a cancellation fee of 100% if booking is cancelled 7 days or less before event We will charge a cancellation fee of 10% if booking is cancelled 365 days or less before event

What the tour is, and why it exists in autumn

Sled dogs need to be fit before the first snow falls, so their training starts long before the forest turns white. In autumn the teams pull wheeled carts along the trails, and this is what gives us the chance to share the running dogs with guests earlier in the season. We describe how the dogs prepare in more detail in Husky cart training in autumn: how our dogs get ready for snow.

Running with the Pack is built to be a low-threshold way into dog sledding. You do not drive the team yourself: you sit in the sled or cart and a musher handles the dogs. That makes it very different from a self-drive safari, and it is why the tour is rated Easy on the product page.

We run two versions. The 3 km version is the earlier-autumn cart tour, which we explain in Husky cart tour in Rovaniemi: Running with the Pack, explained. This article is about the longer 5 km version, which is planned for the later part of the season.

Pick-up and meeting points

The product page lists three places where the tour starts from or where we pick you up and drop you off:

• Bearhill Husky at the Santa Claus Village – Santa’s Husky Rides
• Hostel Cafe Koti – Valtakatu 21 (Rovaniemi city centre)
• K-Market Sinettä – Sinetänsalmentie 8 (with your own transfer)

Pick-up times are always before the tour start time, between 90 and 15 minutes before, depending on the pick-up point. When you book, mention the address you would prefer to be picked up from. If you are unsure which point is closest to your accommodation, message us before booking and we will tell you.

What happens on the tour, step by step

1. Arrival at the kennel. You meet the pack. The kennel is where the dogs live and train, and it is a working place, so expect barking, excitement and a lot of wagging tails.
2. The husky talk. Our guide explains how the dogs live, how they are trained and how a team is put together. Ask anything you like.
3. The ride. You take your seat and a musher drives the team for 5 km through the forest. As long as we are still operating on carts, the ride is 3 km.
4. Hot juice and cookies. After the ride there is time to warm up, ask more questions and take photos.
5. Return transfer to the pick-up point you chose.

The whole experience takes 2 hours 15 minutes, as stated on the product page.

Sled or cart? How snow changes the ride

We want to be completely clear about this, because it is the question behind most messages we receive about late-autumn husky tours. The product page says: we can only switch to sleds once there is a sufficient snow cover. During the early winter period the experience may still take place on carts, and as long as we operate on carts, the distance of the ride is 3 km instead of 5 km.

We cannot promise snow for a given date, so we do not promise a sled. What we can promise is that the dogs will run, that you will be in the seat behind them, and that the distance will match the conditions on the day.

Dog welfare also sets limits. Our autumn cart rides run only weather permitting, when it is cold enough for the dogs to pull – the product page of the 3 km tour, for example, sets the limit at 10 °C or colder. If you are worried about the weather on your date, ask us when booking.

What is included and what is not

Included, as listed on the product page:

• Guided husky ride of 5 km (3 km while on carts)
• Modern husky kennel visit
• Transfers from/to Santa Claus Village or Hostel Cafe Koti in the city centre, or your own transfer to K-Market Sinettä
• Hot juice and cookies
• Informative talk about huskies

Not included: outdoor clothing. We do not provide clothing on the Running with the Pack tour, so please dress for the weather. In autumn the temperature can vary a lot from one day to the next. Wool or synthetic layers next to the skin (no cotton, especially not cotton socks), a warm layer on top, a hat, gloves or mittens and clothes that can get muddy will keep you comfortable.

Who this tour suits, and when to choose another of our tours

According to the product page FAQ, Running with the Pack is one of our family-friendly tours and is also suitable for very small children. As we do not provide extra clothing, please dress small children warmly.

Book the 5 km tour if you are in Rovaniemi during its departure period, you want a longer ride than the short kennel tours, and you are happy for a musher to drive while you enjoy the dogs and the forest.

Choose something else if you are visiting earlier in the autumn – then the Running with the Pack, 3 km tour (from 133 €, 2 hours) is the one to look at. In summer, The Life of the Husky (from 89 €, 2 hours) focuses on the kennel with a short 800 m cart ride. Once winter arrives, our full list of husky experiences is on the husky activities page, and our older guide to husky tours in Rovaniemi gives a wider overview.

Booking, timing and the small print

• Book in advance: at least 2 hours before the start, according to the product page.
• Cancellation policy: we charge a cancellation fee of 100% if the booking is cancelled 7 days or less before the event, and a fee of 10% if it is cancelled 365 days or less before the event.
• Sold out or a large group? If a departure is already closed or sold out, or you are booking for a larger group, contact us by WhatsApp +358 40 128 7846 or email booking@staylapland.com and we will try to arrange a departure for you.
• Gift cards: our services are also available as gift cards.

Please note that our EARLY27 winter code does not apply here: the site states it excludes husky and reindeer tours.

Combining the tour with your stay

A 2 hour 15 minute tour leaves plenty of the day free. You can easily pair a husky morning or afternoon with a stay at Postmaster Hotel in the city centre or Aurora Hill Resort, and with one of our evening aurora tours once the nights are dark. If you would like help fitting several activities around your dates, send us your plans and we will suggest a realistic order.

Frequently asked questions

How long is the Running with the Pack 5 km husky tour?

The whole experience takes 2 hours 15 minutes, including the kennel visit, the husky talk, the ride and hot juice with cookies.

Is the ride on a sled or a cart?

We switch to sleds only once there is sufficient snow cover. Until then the tour may run on carts, and the ride is 3 km instead of 5 km.

Do I drive the dogs myself?

No. You sit in the sled or cart and a musher drives the team through the forest.

Is warm clothing provided?

No, we do not provide clothing on this tour. Please dress for the weather in layers and avoid cotton, and wear clothes that can get muddy.

Can small children join?

Yes. The product page describes it as one of our family-friendly tours, also suitable for very small children. Please dress them warmly, as no extra clothing is provided.

Where are the pick-up points?

Bearhill Husky at the Santa Claus Village (Santa’s Husky Rides), Hostel Cafe Koti at Valtakatu 21, or K-Market Sinettä at Sinetänsalmentie 8 with your own transfer. Pick-up is 90–15 minutes before the tour start.

What is the cancellation policy?

100% of the price is charged if you cancel 7 days or less before the event, and 10% if you cancel 365 days or less before the event.

Ready to book?

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• Running with the Pack, 3km Husky Tour & Kennel Visit AVAILABLE 8.10–14.11 — from 133 €, 2 hours
• The Life of the Husky Available 3.6-19.9 Wed, Fri and Sat — from 89 €, 2 hours