Husky Safari in Lapland – Explore the Arctic Wilderness with a Husky Team
Explore the incredible arctic winter wilderness with a husky team – husky safari in Lapland is a truly thrilling experience to cherish for lifetime.
We booked for 1 hour husky sledding (€169 per person) from the Santa Claus Holiday Village located on the Arctic Circle, where we stayed for 5 nights in Rovaniemi. The package included husky farm visit and 1 hour husky safari, so in total it was a 2 hour programme.
The tour company arranged pick up from the Santa Claus Holiday Village to the husky farm. They also provided the winter resistant clothes, boots and gloves etc, which most of the tour companies generally provide. In that expansive husky farm there were a lot of tourists from other tour companies. We reached there at the feeding time of Alaskan huskies, so they were seen so active and agile. It was very interesting to see the two-three days old puppies to well grown huskies in the respective kennels at the farm. The children among the tourists were seen too much engaged in fondling and playing with the tender puppies. One of the guide of the farm explained us the operations of the sledge, how to manage huskies while riding etc. The huskies were well trained, meekly obedient and amenable.
The sledge is made out of wooden logs, pulled by huskies and driven by musher (Sledge Driver). There are six dogs to drag the sledge, classified into wheel team, middle team and driving team. The musher has to rest his feet on the runners and hands on the handle bar. There is a metallic pedal placed for controlling the speed and to stop the sledge. The driver should not quit out of the vehicle any way, leaving the brake pedal free. Unless the brake pedal is pressed by the musher, the huskies start to run unexpectedly.
The huskies run faster to evade the chilling cold, so it is judicious to opt packages with extended distances in case you are a daring and adventurous tourist, otherwise the ride ends up in a short time.
I decided to manage the driving of the sledge while Sruthi sitting comfortably on the sledge. After abiding all that perceived from the guide, I released the pedal free, then huskies began to run. The huskies loved pulling the sledge, we were amazed by their unbelievable energy and enthusiasm. We always kept a safety distance of 5-10 meters between our first row dogs (running as a leader) and the sledge in front of us. When sledge was about to hit other sledges nearby, I apparently tried to regulate the speed. The huskies were then looking at me as if they were not interested to decelerate the vehicle. In order to stop the driver must stand on the brake with BOTH feet.
All the huskies were well trained in negotiating the curves as and when faced. The trail passed through a vast landscape of snowy pine forests and frozen lakes that stretches miles and miles. It was an unforgettable and thrilling experience to drive the husky team through the stunning scenery of Lapland.
When the safari came to half time there were chances for changing the driver. We had enough time to take photographs of the beauty of backwoods. During the return journey, the climate was getting strong and chilling, as informed by Sruthi, but I did not feel that much of roughness because I had to kick the brake pedal with force occasionally and showing driving signals, perceived from the guide, made me considerably warm. During the ride the huskies found to lick the frozen ice to quench their thirst especially when tired. We were really fascinated by the Christmas-card scenes of snowy forests and frozen lakes.
After 1 hour mesmerizing ride, we came back to the farm. Sruthi was seen quite interested to fondle and play with the blue eyed white and gray huskies and their puppies. The huskies dragged our sledge were still happy and lively as relied from their faces, indicating their interest for one more ride even after the tedious safari. We got ample time to spare with the adorable puppies. The guide explained about the arctic life of huskies.
After experiencing the captivating climate of Lapland, picturesque wilderness snowscapes and remembering the feeling of ecstasy while spongy ice and mist sprayed on our faces, we returned to the hotel saying tribute to the huskies.
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