Behind the sleds stands an eight-time Iditarod racer
Few experiences capture the Arctic like standing on the runners behind a team of eager huskies: the barking that suddenly goes silent when the sled takes off, the sound of runners over snow, and the vast landscape opening up in the polar light. The Kiruna region is among the world's best places to experience it — with kennels run by people who have devoted their lives to the dogs.
In Djurgården just outside Kiruna lies Kiruna Sleddog Tours — home to Mats Pettersson and his 60–80 Alaska huskies. Mats has completed the Iditarod in Alaska, the world's longest and toughest dog race at around 1,600 kilometers, eight times. The dogs you meet at the kennel are the same athletes who race across Alaska — and the guides know every single one of them by name.
How a tour works
Most people start with a short tour of two to three hours: you get a heated suit and introduction, meet the dogs while the teams are harnessed, and then ride out into forest and wilderness landscape — either as a passenger in the sled or with your own dogs after a bit of training. Many tours stop along the way for hot drinks around a fire.
If you want to venture deeper into the wild, there are full-day and multi-day expeditions with overnight stays in cabins, where you look after 'your' dogs yourself. And dog sledding isn't just winter: in summer the kennels train the dogs with carts and on mountain trips, and kennel visits are offered year-round — puppy season is an experience in itself.
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8 times
Mats Pettersson has completed the Iditarod
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60–80
Alaska huskies at the kennel near Kiruna
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Nov–April
Sledding season on snow
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Evening tours
Dog sledding under the northern lights
Dogs first
Serious kennels are recognized by the same things: the dogs are calm, curious and in excellent condition, the teams are small enough that each dog is seen, and safety for both people and animals comes first. At Kiruna Sleddog Tours the philosophy is quality over quantity — small groups, experienced guides and dogs cared for like top athletes, because that's exactly what they are.
Several kennels in the region also offer dog sledding: around Jukkasjärvi and the Ice Hotel tours run daily during season, and at Kalixälven between Kiruna and Gällivare you'll find lodges with their own husky tours. Always choose an operator who shows you their kennel with pride.
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Meet the Iditarod dogs
Kiruna Sleddog Tours in Djurgården offers everything from kennel visits and 2–3-hour tours to demanding expeditions — year-round. You can find them under Experiences here on the portal.
Tips
- 🧥Dress in wool on the inside — heated suits and boots you can usually borrow from the kennel.
- 📅Book early in high season (December–March); small groups mean few spots.
- 🌌Choose an evening tour for a chance to dog sled under the northern lights.
- 📷Secure your camera with a strap — there's speed and spray from the first second.
- 🐶Ask about the puppies! Kennel visits outside season are an underrated experience.
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