The 7 Best Places to Go Dog Sledding in Europe

The ultimate winter adventure thrill for many is the practice of dog sledding. This typically involves anywhere from 10 to 20 dogs pulling a sled, or sleigh, with you in it across miles of snowy terrain. Dogs such as huskies and Alaskan malamutes were bred for this purpose, and it was an effective form of transporting native peoples across vast swathes of land in an era before modern transportation. This is still used today, and is often a popular tourist attraction. Here are the 7 best places to go dog sledding in Europe.

Where Can I Go Dog Sledding in Europe This Winter?

1. Abisko – Sweden

With a population of just 85 permanent residents, found over 200km north of the Arctic Circle in Swedish Lapland, is the tiny village of Abisko, one of the best places in the world for dog sledding.

The people who live here are primarily of Sami descent, and their ancestors have called Swedish Lapland home for thousands of years. As such, they still employ many of the traditional Sami practices in their daily lives, and when the snow begins to fall around late September time, and doesn’t go away until mid-April, the best way to get around is by dog sled.

While it is a practical way to get around for the natives, for many visitors it is a popular tourist attraction. Some of the best excursions are in the middle of winter when Abisko experiences the Polar Night – where the sun doesn’t rise for months on end, and you can get pulled along by huge, powerful Alaskan huskies to an even more remote location where you can see the Northern Lights in all their glory, surrounded by nothing but peace, quiet and endless snow.

2. La Plagne – France

Perhaps better known for its popular ski resort than dog sledding, La Plagne in France is an excellent European destination for dog sledding in the winter months.

If you’ve had enough of hitting the slopes for the day, why not enjoy a fast-paced, exhilarating dog sledding experience, flying through the snow on a sleigh pulled by a mixture of Siberian huskies, Greenlandic dogs and Alaskan malamutes?

These dogs are bred for being out in the cold, as well as being working breeds, and the way they navigate the snowy terrain is a marvel to watch and even better to experience.

In fact, most of these dogs actively choose to sleep outside even in the depths of winter due to their thick coats, which are perfect for spending their lives in the snow.

If you want to see the Alps from a completely different perspective, then this is an excursion you need to book next time you’re in La Plagne.

3. Rovaniemi – Finland

At the heart of Finnish Lapland, it is little surprise that Rovaniemi is the perfect place for dog sledding.

Alaskan huskies, Alaskan malamutes and Siberian huskies are the dogs of choice here, with all three being known for their strength and endurance. Similar to Abisko, Rovaniemi’s location offers pristine, flat territory – perfect for the dogs to reach speeds of up to 20mph – which feels twice that fast when you’re exposed to the snowy and icy terrain you’re being pulled on.

Dog welfare is a priority in Rovaniemi, and some dog sledding experiences in Finnish Lapland even show how the dogs are looked after, where they stay, what they eat and when they rest, so you can be sure that they are well looked after.

Many areas around Rovaniemi are heavily forested, and being pulled on a dog sled through Arctic forests is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and perfect for adventure enthusiasts.

4. Laugar – Iceland

A little hamlet in northeast Iceland with a population of 109 people, Laugar still employs many traditional Icelandic methods in daily life, including dog sledding during the winter months.

Being further inland than other Icelandic cities such as Reykjavik and Akureyri, Laugar tends to get a lot more snow. Because of that, dog sledding is a fantastic way to get around, as well as a great way to learn about the traditional northern Icelandic cultures.

Greelandic dogs, as well as Alaskan huskies and Siberian huskies, pull the sleds through all sorts of terrain, from rolling hills to flat ground. There are lots of thermal springs around Laugar, and many dog sledding tours go past these or stop off at these. The tours usually cover anywhere from 6 to 10km, and take anywhere from 45 minutes to upwards of an hour. 

5. Harghita County – Romania

Thanks to the high elevation of Harghita County in Romania, on the slopes of the Eastern Carpathian Mountains, the conditions in the region are perfect for dog sledding.

Various types of dog sledding excursions are available, and the dogs are some of the best-trained in the world. There are group excursions through the pine forest where you will be pulled along by a team of up to 15 dogs through specially designed paths, or ones with more open space, where you’re without a guide – it’s just you and 3 to 5 dogs. The dogs are so well-trained that they follow the same route and bring you back to where you started.

While the second option is a shorter journey, it is incredible to witness the power and intelligence of a team of 3-5 Alaskan huskies who can guide you through snow-covered slopes by themselves.

6. Svalbard – Norway

One of the northernmost places on Earth, Svalbard, a Norwegian Archipelago, is home to some of the best dog sledding experiences in Europe.

The main settlement of Longyearbyen is a popular place for these excursions, which can run from September through to May because the snow lasts for so long – after all, Svalbard is found 930km north of the Arctic Circle.

Like Lapland, the best excursions are in the middle of winter, when the sun sets and does not rise for another three months. You can experience the thrill of a dog sled ride in the dark, and if you’re lucky enough, you will get to experience the beautiful Northern Lights, too.

These excursions are heavily guarded, so do not be surprised when you’re accompanied by armed guards – this is because Svalbard has one of the highest concentrations of polar bears anywhere on Earth (approximately 3,000 of these apex predators call the archipelago home), and the last thing you want to run into on a dog sledding adventure is a hungry polar bear.

7. Vorarlberg – Austria

The Alps are an excellent place to experience dog sledding in Europe, and especially in the Vorarlberg region of the Austrian Alps.

These excursions stand out from others because you don’t just hop on a sled and then hop off an hour or so later – the idea is that you get to learn about the history of dog sledding, and most importantly, get to learn about the dogs who will be pulling your sled!

The huskies that are used are some of the best looked after in the business, and never do more than two or three trips per day, while being fed and treated like royalty, with sufficient rest days in between.

These experiences let you meet the dogs who will be pulling your sled, and you also receive what is known as ‘dry training’ – which is where you learn how to steer and brake a sled before the huskies are harnessed.

If you’re looking for a fully immersive dog sledding experience through some of the finest scenery on the planet, this is easily one of the best places to go dog sledding in Europe.