7 km Self-Drive Husky Sledding Adventure Levi

Levi and the safari office

Levi is a busy winter resort at the foot of Levi fell in the municipality of Kittilä, Finnish Lapland, with most hotels and safari offices clustered in the village centre. This husky safari starts at the safari office there, where you meet your guide and receive the winter clothing you need for the ride.

This option does not include pickup from accommodation, so plan to walk or take a short taxi ride to the office. Bring an ID card or a copy, as it is checked before the safari. The office is also a good place to ask about other things to do in Levi during your stay. Arrive in good time so you can dress calmly before the group leaves for the farm.

The husky farm

The local husky farm near Levi is the base of a large pack of energetic sled dogs, and their joyful barking greets you as soon as you arrive. The guide introduces the dogs, explains how a team is put together, with lead dogs in front and strong wheel dogs closest to the sled, and how the huskies live and train.

Then comes the sledding briefing: how to stand on the runners, how to use the brake and the snow anchor, and how to follow the sled in front at a safe distance. It is short and practical, and first-time mushers quickly feel at ease. Questions are welcome throughout, so this is the moment to ask about the dogs and their names.

The 7 km trail through Arctic forest

The trail winds for 7 km through snowy pine and spruce forest and open areas typical of the Levi countryside. Gliding behind your own team, you hear only the runners and the panting dogs, and you feel the quiet of the Lapland wilderness in a way no motorised safari can match.

Each sled carries two people. The driver stands at the back, the passenger sits in the basket, and halfway along you switch so both get to drive. Drivers must be at least 18; younger participants aged 4 to 14 ride as passengers. The pace follows the dogs and the trail conditions. It is a rare chance to feel what mushing is really like in the Lapland countryside.

Photo stop in the Lapland landscape

Along the way the guide stops the teams so you can capture the landscape, the dogs and each other on camera. On clear days the low sun turns the snow gold and pink; in midwinter the polar light gives soft blue tones that make every photo of a husky safari in Lapland feel magical.

Keep your phone in an inside pocket between photos, because cold quickly drains batteries, and keep gloves on as much as possible. The guide is happy to take a picture of you with your team. Photos of your own husky team in the snowy forest are the souvenir most guests treasure from a husky safari in Levi, so take a moment, too, simply to look around at the silent landscape.

Warm drinks and the end of the safari

After the ride you warm up with hot drinks and cookies and share the experience with the group. It is also a good moment to thank the dogs, who love attention after a run.

The activity takes place in all normal weather and is cancelled only in extreme conditions such as storms, in which case you are fully refunded. Dress in warm layers under the clothing provided and wear woollen socks for comfort during the two and a half hours. Before you leave, the guide answers any last questions about the dogs and the trail, and the group returns together to the safari office in Levi.