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Best husky tour in Ivalo: one pick for each kind of visitor

A white husky with pale blue eyes lying on thin snow over grass, looking at the camera, with dark trees behind

Illustration photo: a white husky resting on the snow, not at either farm on this page.

Lapland Handbook Staff How we research this

The short answer

For a first sled ride, book the two-hour safari from the family farm outside the village: two to a sled, taking turns to drive, with pickup and warm clothing. For a longer day, its four-hour safari climbs to a hut for lunch. Fit adults who want a sled each and no other guests should book the private tour at the other farm, and families with small children its short sled track.

How the operators compare

Prices are the operators' own published starting prices as of the date this guide was updated, and they change through the season.

Ivalo Safaris, 2 hIvalo Safaris, 4 hIlonka private tourIlonka farm track
Who drives Two per sled, swapping halfway Two per sled, swapping halfway Each adult their own sled Each child, parents helping
On the trail About 12 km Up to a hilltop hut Wilderness trails, 2–3 h A short track on the farm
Youngest Children come, with a child fare under 10 Over 10 18 About 4; younger with help
Getting there Pickup in Ivalo Pickup in Ivalo Transfer by a third party Drive to the farm
Booking E-mail request E-mail request Online, non-refundable Online, non-refundable

Nothing is ranked: the right sled for a four-year-old is the wrong one for a fit adult. Prices are left to the price page for Ivalo.

Where these figures come from
  • Ivalo Safaris, 2 h: A shared safari from a family farm outside the village: two to a sled, one driving and one riding, swapping halfway, with pickup and thermal clothing.
  • Ivalo Safaris, 4 h: The same farm's long safari, driving up a hill to a wooden hut for lunch by the fire, and open only to children over ten.
  • Ilonka private tour: A private tour for one to three adults, each driving a sled over hilly wilderness trails, which the farm itself rates as demanding.
  • Ilonka farm track: A children's session on a short, safe track at the farm, booked on top of a farm entry ticket, twice each afternoon.

At Ivalo the choice is between a shared safari, where two of you share a sled, a private one, where each adult drives alone, and a short track for children.

For a first ride

The family farm’s two-hour safari puts two people on each sled, one driving and one sitting, and they swap halfway through a run of about twelve kilometres.1 Pickup from Ivalo and thermal clothing are included, so nothing needs arranging beyond the e-mail.

For the longest day

The same farm’s four-hour safari climbs to a hill with a wooden hut, where lunch is served by the fire before the run back.2 It takes only children over ten, which makes it a day for adults and older children.

For fit adults on their own

The private tour at Ilonka gives each of one to three adults a sled of their own on hilly wilderness trails, and the farm calls it demanding.3 It suits people who want to drive the whole way without other guests, and not a first-timer unsure of their balance.

For small children

Children from about four drive a small sled pulled by one or two dogs on a short track at the farm, twice each afternoon.4 What age limits and child fares mean for a whole family is on family husky safaris in Ivalo, and the totals on husky safari prices in Ivalo.

Tours you can book

Priced per person

Price not stated

Questions people ask

How do we book the safaris that are not on the platforms?

By e-mail. The family company's two husky pages both ask you to send a request to its address rather than book online, so allow time for a reply before you plan the rest of the week around a date. The other farm has a booking button on each page, but its terms make every booking binding and non-refundable, so be sure of the date first.

Is it cheaper if we drive to the farm ourselves?

At the family company, a little: both safaris take ten euros off per person if you drive to the farm instead of being collected. The farm is about ten kilometres from the centre of Ivalo, so with a car it is a short drive. The other farm arranges transfers through outside companies, and says it is not responsible for them.

Can a nervous adult sit in the sled instead of driving?

Yes, on the shared safaris that is built in: one person drives and one sits in the sled, and you swap halfway, so a nervous passenger can simply stay seated. On the private tour you are expected to drive your own sled, though the farm says that in some cases one of you may sit while the other drives.

Written by

Lapland Handbook Staff

Lapland Handbook is written by its editorial staff in Rovaniemi. Every price, age limit and group size in a comparison is read from the operator's own page and marked "Not stated" when the operator does not publish it. Each guide names who should not book, and names the operator that suits each kind of group, whichever it is.

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