Drive Your Own Husky Team 5 to 8 km Safari Rovaniemi

From Rovaniemi into the Lapland countryside

Rovaniemi sits where the Kemijoki and Ounasjoki rivers meet, and within a short drive of the city the houses give way to forest, frozen bogs and lakes. Your husky safari begins with pickup at your accommodation in a modern four-wheel-drive van with heated seats, then a scenic drive out of town towards the farm. On the way your guide explains what to expect and how the day will run, and in winter you may see the low sun glowing pink through the trees.

Starting at 12:00 means you travel and drive the dogs during the brightest part of the short winter day. In December daylight lasts only a few hours this close to the Arctic Circle, while by February and March the days are long and the light over the snow is brilliant. The whole experience, including transfers, lasts about five hours.

A secluded family husky farm

The safari runs from an authentic family farm rather than a large tourist kennel, which keeps the atmosphere calm and personal. When you arrive, the dogs greet you with a chorus of excited howls: huskies love to run, and the noise is pure enthusiasm. These sled dogs are bred for endurance in the cold, with thick double coats that let them sleep comfortably in the snow at temperatures far below zero.

Before anyone steps onto a sled, your guide gives full instructions and a demonstration: how to stand on the runners, how to use the brake, how to lean in the curves and how to keep a safe distance from the team in front. The farm visit is also the moment to meet the dogs, take photos and ask how mushers in Lapland train and care for their teams through the year.

Driving your own husky team

Driving a husky team is one of the most memorable things to do in Rovaniemi. One person stands on the runners and steers with the brake while the other sits in the sled, and halfway through you switch places so both of you get to drive. The dogs know the trail well; your job is to keep the line taut, brake gently on downhills and enjoy the speed and the silence. No experience is needed beyond the briefing.

Is a self-driven husky safari worth it compared with a short ride? Driving lets you feel the power of the team and the rhythm of the trail in a way a passenger never does, and a route of 5 to 8 km gives you time to settle in and look around. Hold on firmly, follow the guide's signals, and keep your camera secured in a pocket until the stops.

Snowy forests and frozen lakes on the trail

The safari route carries you through snow-covered spruce and pine forest and out across frozen lakes, where the view opens to a wide white plain edged by trees. The only sounds are the hiss of the runners and the panting of the dogs. On clear days the snow sparkles in the low sun; on grey days the soft light gives the forest a quiet, dreamlike look.

The best time for a husky safari in Lapland is from December to March, when snow cover is reliable and the lakes are frozen solid. January and February are the coldest months, so dress in warm layers under the thermal overall you receive, with warm boots, gloves and a hat. After the ride you can relax at the farm with a hot drink and enjoy the peaceful Arctic surroundings before we drive you back.