Lapland Husky Safari Tours Compared

I booked this tour last February with a friend who had never been to Lapland. The selling point is the combo: you drive your own team through forest trails for 5-8 kilometres, then return to a traditional Lappish BBQ with grilled sausages, hot berry juice, and a fire to thaw your fingers around. It is the most complete "experience" package on this list.

The dogs at this kennel are well-cared for — I noticed clean bedding, fresh water, and a rest rotation between runs. The trail winds through pine forest and across a frozen lake, which gives you a proper sense of the terrain rather than a straight out-and-back track. At 5-8 km, the route is long enough to feel real but short enough for beginners.

The BBQ at the end is not a token snack — it is a full spread cooked over an open fire inside a wooden kota (a traditional Lappish hut). On my visit, the guide told stories about growing up around huskies while we ate. It added a personal touch that the purely driving tours lack.

Who it's NOT for: If you are focused purely on driving distance and trail quality, the $284 price is higher than the other options without offering more driving time. Also, if you are vegetarian, the BBQ is heavily meat-focused — mention it in advance and they can accommodate, but the default menu is sausage-heavy.

This is the tour I compare every other husky safari against. The group is limited to six people — three sleds, each with two people swapping between driver and passenger. That means you get genuine driving time, not a token five-minute turn before handing the reins to the next person. The trail runs through the forests around Rovaniemi and crosses open sections where you can see the dogs stretch into a full gallop.

I brought my cousin on this tour when she visited from Australia. She had never seen snow before, let alone stood on the back of a sled. The guide paired her with a calm lead dog named Lumi and walked her through the basics — lean into the turns, keep your weight back on the descents, and whatever you do, do not let go of the sled. She was grinning for the rest of the day.

At ★ 4.8 with 139 reviews, it has the highest rating of any husky tour in Rovaniemi. The price ($272) sits between the two other options, and the value per dollar is higher because the group size is smaller and the trail is more varied. The operator provides thermal overalls, boots, and gloves — you just need your base layers.

Who it's NOT for: If you want the full BBQ-and-storytelling experience, the BBQ tour above offers more of a cultural wrap-around. And if you are on a strict budget, the Apukka tour costs $35 less, though you trade group size and trail quality for the savings.

The Apukka resort is about 20 minutes from Rovaniemi city centre, and their husky adventure is the most affordable option on this list. At $237, it undercuts the competition by $35–47, making it a solid choice if you want to try dog sledding without committing to the premium price tag. The trail is a 6 km loop through forest terrain near the Apukka compound.

I visited Apukka as part of a broader research trip — the resort also offers aurora cabins and snowmobile tours, so it functions as a one-stop shop for activities. The husky operation is professional: the dogs are well-fed and housed in spacious enclosures, and the guides give a thorough safety briefing before you set off. You can choose to ride as a passenger or drive your own team, though the self-drive option is more popular.

The downside is the trail: at 6 km on a loop, the route is shorter and less varied than the other two tours. You are also sharing the trail with other groups from the resort, so the experience feels less exclusive than the small-group tour above.

Who it's NOT for: If you want a longer, more substantial mushing experience, the extra $35 for the small-group tour is worth it. The 4.1 rating also reflects some inconsistency — a handful of reviews mention the trail being too short or the group sizes being larger than advertised on busy days.