A taste of dog sledding
The sound of eager and expectant dogs fills the air. They are standing at the ready in front of the sleds waiting to get started. Maybe you are also feeling a tingle of excitement and anticipation yourself. The gate opens. The dogs jump. Then it suddenly turns silent, wonderfully silent. This silence is broken only by the sound of paws and sled runners on the snow. You are in full control of the situation and the dogs are in control of their tasks too. Are you ready to try authentic dog sledding?
We pick you up at one of our meeting points in Alta and drop you off afterwards. We provide warm thermal suits, mittens, hats and winter boots. Remember to bring your own warm wool or fleece underwear.
We provide brief and precise instructions about how to drive a dog sled before we enter the dog enclosure, where many happy Alaskan huskies are waiting to meet you. Each dog has its own kennel with its name on it. You will be given a list of the names of the dogs that will be in your dog team, and then it’s time to get started. The harnesses hang in fixed places so it is just a case of finding the right dog. In this way you can get the dogs ready on your own. Of course, we are here at all times and are happy to assist you as required.
When everything is ready the dogs will be eager to set off. We open the gates and head into the forest, where it is tranquil and we can enjoy the enthusiastic dogs, the weather and the nature. One of the guides lead the way and you follow behind.
During this trip, we drive in the forest, open landscape and beside Alta River or on frozen sections. Two people ride per sled; one musher and one who sits on the sled. We stop and swap places en route.
After a while we return to the kennel. The dogs need to be returned to their respective kennels, and you help with this. Then it’s time to relax around an open fire with a hot drink and home baking to eat. Your guides on this trip have trained the dogs all autumn and winter and also competed in sled dog races, from shorter races right up to the world’s longest sled dog race. We will be happy to share stories about the race, as well as how we train, feed and look after all our friends in the kennel.
Price: NOK 1650/ NOK 915 (children under 12)
Duration: 3 hours
Season: Every day in the period
15th Dec – 15th April.
At 10am and 4.30pm.
Included: Transfer to/from downtown Alta, warm clothing, shoes, coffee/ tea and homemade cake.
Day-trip Dog Sledding
You are standing on your own sled with your own dog team in front of you. The dogs are eager to set off. You are about to spend a full day in the great outdoors with these four-legged athletes; a full day in the forest, on the frozen river or up in the mountains. Do you accept the challenge?
On our tours, you are actively involved during the entire trip, from the moment you arrive until the moment you leave. When you have changed into the warm winter clothes, we provide brief and precise instructions about how to drive a dog sled. We also explain and show you how to harness your dogs.
You will be given a list of the names of the dogs that will be in your dog team, and then it’s time to get started. The harnesses hang in fixed places. Each dog has its own kennel with its name on it. That makes it easy to find the right dog and you can do most of the tasks yourself. Of course, we are here at all times and are happy to assist you as required.
When the dog team is ready, we pull up the snow hook and head out into the forest. It’s time to enjoy the dogs, weather and nature. We drive in the forest, on the river and maybe up in the mountains. You play a part in deciding how many kilometres we drive. We stop en route and enjoy a hot lunch around an open fire. There will be plenty of time to ask all the questions that are on your mind and we also have a few stories to share with you.
Safely back at the kennel, we remove the harnesses from the dogs and return the dogs to their respective kennels and hang up the harnesses.
This tour is ideal for those who enjoy being outdoors and are keen to try dog sledding. You can try being a genuine musher for a day! We pick you up at one of our meeting points in Alta and drop you off afterwards. We provide warm thermal suits, mittens, hats and winter boots. Remember to bring your own warm woollen or fleece underwear. Welcome to a day as a musher!
Price: NOK 2750 / NOK 1250
(children under 12)
Duration: 6 hours (9.30am – 15.30pm)
Season: Every day in the period
15th Dec – 15th April.
Included: Transfer to/from downtown Alta,
warm clothing / shoes, homemade lunch.
Dog Sledding And Hunting The Northern Lights
Dog sledding; traveling in a winter wonderland on a sled pulled by happy huskies. It is dark and silent, but the white snow and your head torch makes sure you see what you need. The Northern Light: Sparkling and dancing across the arctic sky. Maybe these two experience is highly rated on you list on what to do while you`re in Finnmark? Why not try them both in the same evening? Experience the best on offer in Alta with this unique combination tour! Dog sledding with us at Trasti & Trine with Alta’s leading Northern Lights hunters at GLØD Explorer.
As our guest, you will be picked up at 4.30 pm at one of our winter pick-up points in downtown Alta and driven out to Trasti & Trine. On arrival, you will receive warm clothes and winter boots and an introduction to mushing (driving your own dog team). After setting up your own dog team, you will head off on a fast and exciting adventure through the snow-covered pine forest, with the Alta River as the nearest neighbour. This is an extremely peaceful experience, the silence only disturbed by the sound of many paws in the snow and of energetic dogs panting.
After an enjoyable dog sledding adventure in the Alta Valley, you will return to the kennel. When the dogs are back in their right places, it’s time to sit around the fire and hear stories about training the dogs, competing in sled dog races and what it’s like to live with 40 Alaskan huskies in your garden.
After this you are ready for your next adventure: Hunting for the Northern Lights. You will be transported from the kennel and down to Gløds basecamp. After a brief presentation of this mystical phenomenon, we use the weather forecast and local knowledge as background information to determine the best place to head on this particular evening. Sometimes we have a short drive, other times it can be longer.
The experienced guides from GLØD don’t give up even if it’s overcast in Alta. Not a chance! They will happily drive 100 km each way, if that takes you to the place with the best chances of experiencing this fantastic phenomenon! As this is a natural phenomenon, there are no guarantees of seeing the Northern Lights, but last season we found the Northern Lights on no less than 90 % of our tours! You will generally be back at your hotel by 11 pm.
Price: NOK 3500,- per person
Duration: Approx. 6.5 hours (4.30pm – 11pm)
Season: December 15th to April 15th
Included: in the price: Transport, guide, warm clothes, soup of the evening on arrival at GLØD´s headquarters, snacks, tea/coffee/hot chocolate and an introductory course in photographing the Northern Lights
E-mail us if you like to book this tour:
5-day Trip Over Finnmarksviddda
Are you looking for a new challenge?
Do you feel this is something you want to experience or perhaps you have experienced dog sledding before and are now ready for a longer trip.ﾠ Some people will find this trip more like a short expedition. It can be challenging to be on a trek of several days’ duration, during which most of the time is spent on a dog sled in all types of weather, from sunny and calm conditions through to wind, a snowstorm and freezing cold conditions. April is a month with lots of sun and stable weather. The days become increasingly longer and it never gets dark.
We stay overnight in mountain lodges, where we eat dinner and breakfast. We enjoy lunches outside around an open fire. Preparations are made so that as a participant you will participate in the care of the dogs and feeding them in the morning and evening.
The trip starts and ends at the kennel at Trasti & Trine if snow conditions permit. All participants drive their “own dog team” with 4 – 6 dogs in front of the sled. There is space in the sled for your bag containing your personal gear and also for some common gear.
Please refer to the tour programme, equipment list and our guarantee. The tour price excludes: flights, pre and post tour accommodation and meals, and any alcoholic beverages. Specific dietary requirements, e.g. vegetarian meals, is not available on our wilderness trips, please contact us.
We can arrange pre and post tour accommodation in unique conditions close to the dog yard. Please contact us for further information and a quote.
Price per guest: NOK 16 900
Group size: minimum 3, maximum 8 guests
Duration: 5 days / 4 nights
Dates for 2024: 23 – 27 March and 10 – 14 April
The tour price includes: Hire of warm thermal suit, winter boots and mittens, accommodation, meals, sled, dogs and guide, as outlined in the tour programme. Specific dietary requirements, e.g. vegetarian meals, is not available on our wilderness trips, please contact us.
4-day Trip Dog Sledding
Are you looking for a new challenge? Do you feel this is something you want to experience or perhaps you have experienced dog sledding before and are now ready for a longer trip. Some people will find this trip more like a short expedition. It can be challenging to be on a trek of several days’ duration, during which most of the time is spent on a dog sled in all types of weather, from sunny and calm conditions through to wind, a snowstorm and freezing cold conditions. April is a month with lots of sun and stable weather. The days become increasingly longer and it never gets dark. We stay overnight in mountain lodges, where we eat dinner and breakfast. We enjoy lunches outside around an open fire. Preparations are made so that as a participant you will participate in the care of the dogs and feeding them in the morning and evening. The trip starts and ends at the kennel at Trasti & Trine, if snow conditions permit. All participants drive their “own dog team” with 4 – 6 dogs in front of the sled. There is space in the sled for your bag containing your personal gear and also for some common gear.
TOUR PROGRAM:
Day 1:
It is just a short stroll after breakfast to the kennel where our eager Alaskan huskies are waiting. After we have briefed you on all the safety routines and provided brief instructions, we are ready to pack the sleds and harness the dogs. On the first part of the trip, we spend a lot of time ascending towards the Finnmarksvidda Mountain Plain and our first mountain lodge, Jotka Fjellstue. We make a stop en route and enjoy lunch outside around an open fire. On arrival at the mountain lodge, we attend to the dogs first. We stable them on long chains and give them a small snack as a reward for today’s trip. A bit later it is time to serve them their dinner before we enjoy our dinner and relax after today’s leg. There is time for a chat and a few stories before going to bed.
Day 2:
After the dogs have had their breakfast, it’s time for our breakfast. We prepare a packed lunch and fill our thermoses before we get the sleds and dogs ready. Today’s leg is just over 30 km in mountain terrain, over frozen lakes and in gentle valleys with white birch. We arrive at the mountain, Suosjavrre Fjellstue, in the late afternoon.
Day 3:
We leave Suosjavrre and we drive on the river and in the woods up to Mollisjok. We cross over Lake Iesjavre, the biggest lake in Finnmark, on the way back to Jotka, the same mountain lodge as we stayed in on the first night. Now we are back in the open mountain terrain. Today’s leg is approx. 50 km.
Day 4:
On the final day, we retrace the same route as on day one, the difference being this time we descend. There are many challenges descending the steep hills. If the weather is favourable, we will take a detour and drive up to the edge of Sautso for a spectacular view of Northern Europe’s largest canyon and the Alta River. The tour ends back at the kennel in the late afternoon, conditions permitting.
Please refer to the tour programme, equipment list and our guarantee. The tour price includes: hire of warm thermal suit, winter boots and mittens, accommodation, meals, sled, dogs and guide, as outlined in the tour programme.
The tour price excludes: flights, pre and post tour accommodation and meals, and any alcoholic beverages. Specific dietary requirements, e.g. vegetarian meals, is not available on our wilderness trips, please contact us.
We can arrange pre and post tour accommodation in unique conditions at –Trasti & Trine. Please contact us for further information and a quote.
Price per guest: NOK 13 900 (one person per sled)
Tour dates 2024: 29 March – 1 April and 17 – 20 April
Group size: minimum 3, maximum 8 guests
Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions, by e-mail post@trastiogtrine.no or phone +47 78 40 30 40
3-day northern lights dog sledding trip on finnmarksvidda mountain plateau
The sun has just returned after a two-month absence. The light at this time of the year is something that has to be seen to be believed – the blue Arctic light is truly unique. The “blue hour” last a long time and we also have the chance to catch a glimpse of the winter sun. In the evening, there is a high probability of experiencing the magical Northern Lights in the night sky. All of this is in addition to the dog sledding trip, looking after your ”own” dog team, staying at Jotka Fjellstue (mountain lodge) and delicious food.
TOUR PROGRAM:
Day 1:
We wish to set off early so we can make use of the available daylight. We pack the sleds and you will be given a list of the names of the dogs that will be in “your” dog team. We will provide a brief and precise instruction on how to drive a sled then everything is ready.
We set off directly from the kennel at Trasti & Trine and for the first 4 km we drive along the Alta River. The first 3 km are steep and we need to help the dogs a little. That’s the hard part out of the way. We continue to climb upwards but the hills become gentler and we drive over some lakes. It’s then time for lunch. We light a fire, relax and enjoy a hot meal.
We are now up on the Finnmarksvidda Mountain Plateau. On the final 10 km before we reach the mountain lodge we can simply enjoy the nature and the arctic light. On arrival at Jotka, we arrange stabling of the dogs, prepare their food and attend to them before they rest for the night. We then prepare our own dinner and wait for the Northern Lights! Will they appear tonight?
Day 2:
We feed and take care of the dogs. While they are digesting the food, we eat breakfast and plan the day’s leg. We have several options and select the route based on the prevailing snow and weather conditions. You play a part in deciding where and how long we drive. We also eat today’s lunch outside around an open fire. When we return to the mountain lodge, we feed and take care of the dogs. Then dinner is served for the two-legged participants before we wait for the Northern Lights to appear.
Day 3:
We feed the dogs, eat breakfast and pack up our gear before we set off back down to Trasti & Trine. Today we get to try the breaks as we head down all the hills we climbed up on day one. We stop for lunch en route. On arrival back at the kennel, we remove the harnesses and return the dogs to their respective kennels. We enjoy a light meal and summarize the trip before we wish you a safe trip home.
Please refer to the tour programme, equipment list and our guarantee. The tour price includes: hire of warm thermal suit, winter boots and mittens, accommodation, meals, sled, dogs and guide, as outlined in the tour programme.
The tour price excludes: flights, pre and post tour accommodation and meals, and any alcoholic beverages. Specific dietary requirements, e.g. vegetarian meals, is not available on our wilderness trips, please contact us.
We can arrange pre and post tour accommodation in unique conditions at Trasti & Trine. Please contact us for further information and a quote.
Price per guest: NOK 11 800
(one person per sled)
Dates for 2024:
19 – 21 January / 30 January – 1 February / 3 – 5 February
Group size: minimum 3, maximum 8 guests
Duration: 3 days / 2 nights
Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions, by e-mail post@trastiogtrine.no or phone +47 78 40 30 40
Walking with the puppies
Imagine you have only lived in this world for a few weeks or months. Everything is new and exciting. There are new smells, new challenges and new experiences everywhere you go. Imagine also that you have many siblings who are equally curious and energetic.
Join us for a walk and experience first-hand the enthusiasm and the joy of life of the husky puppies.
We start with the brief tour of the dog enclosure and you will also have a chance to meet and greet the adult dogs. We walk through pleasant pine forest down to the Alta River. We adapt the length and tempo to suit the participants. Choosing a route that enables you to bring a pushchair is also an option.
We stop along the way and light a fire and relax with a cup of tea/coffee and a slice of homemade cake. Your guide will explain about the life that awaits the puppies and stories about what it’s like train, work with and compete with huskies.
Price: 450,- NOK per person
Duration: 2 hours ( 10.00am – 12.00am)
Season: Every day through June 1 –
September 15
Included: Tour inside the dogyard, coffee
/ tea and homemade cake.
Overnight hike with the huskies
You have never felt as close to nature as when you are camping overnight out in the open. Food has never tasted as good as it does when you are sitting round an open fire after a long day of hiking. The golden rays of the Midnight Sun or raindrops falling on the tent, contented dogs curled up in the heather, fish jumping in small mountain lakes. Want to join us?
Packing list
(which you need to bring):
Good footwear (hiking boots)
Suitable clothes (wind and water proof)
Dry woollen underwear (it can get cold during the night)
Sleeping bag and ground pad (if you have your own, otherwise you can borrow one)
Backpack, min. 50 l (if you have your own, otherwise you can borrow one)
Group size: Min. 2 participants
/ max. 6 participants
We start by looking at the map and planning the trip together. We can adapt the trip to meet your needs and wishes. The tents and group equipment will already be packed. All adult participants must be prepared to carry a backpack containing their own personal belongings and some of the group equipment.
When we are ready, we enter the dog enclosure so you can meet and greet around 50 happy Alaskan huskies. We choose the dog or dogs that will join us on this trip. With a little guidance, you can harness and attach the pack to your dog. We are then ready to set off.
We start our hike in gentle woodland before beginning the ascent in to the mountains. There are a few steep sections, but we allow plenty of time to enjoy the view that gradually emerges. The last few kilometres are in gentler terrain up in the mountains surrounded by mountain birch and several smaller lakes.
When we reach the camp site, we pitch the tents, care for the dogs and prepare dinner. You have the choice of sleeping in a tent or out in the open.
After a good breakfast, it’s time to pack up camp. We have the option of returning directly to the dog enclosure or adding to the adventure. We can climb a mountain, see if the fish are biting or extend the hike slightly. We reach a joint decision, but the adventure ends back down at the dog enclosure no later than 4pm.
Price: 2600,- /1800,-NOK . Min. 2, max. 6 participants.
Duration: approx. 24 hours.
Season: Daily from 15 June – 15 September.
Included: We provide a tent, all necessary food, maps, huskies, packs and (if necessary) sleeping bag, ground pad and backpack.
"I visited Trasti & Trine during a work trip to Alta. Even it was summer and not the season for dog sledding it was an amazing visit. We got to meet all the new puppies, eat home made pizza from the home made stone owen, and eat in the little cabin built for the chef to make food in the middle while all the guest sits in circle around him. Very uniq and relaxing experience. Will definetly visit again if I get the chance!"
- GOGSTAD / på besøk hos oss i mai 2014
Hiking with the huskies
We are so fortunate to have a fantastic landscape right outside our dog enclosure – and it’s just as wonderful all year round. The smell of the warm forest floor and tempting pure river water on a fine summer’s day. Lighting a fire to brew hot coffee on a cold, grey day. Crackling autumn colours, the crisp air and bright red lingonberries covering the heather. Join us for a memorable trip!
This adventure starts inside the dog enclosure where you get to meet and greet around 50 happy Alaskan huskies. We choose the dog or dogs that will join us on this trip. With a little guidance, you can harness the dog and attach the pack. Everything we need for the trip will already be packed. You are involved in deciding where we are hiking to. We can hike up the nearby mountain, Pæskanasen, and enjoy the view of the valley and river from the top or another option is to stay in the forest and follow the Eibyelva river for a while. We’re not in any hurry and make several stops along the way to share stories. The dogs can pull you up the steepest parts if you would like a little help.. We stop to enjoy a homemade cake and coffee along the way before concluding the trip back down at the dog enclosure.
Price: 1 350,- NOK per person
Duration: Approx. 3 hours starting 09:30 am – 12:30 pm
Season: 1st of june to 15 of September.
Included: Meet and greet the dogs,
coffee and homemade cake.
"This adventure certainly met all my expectations and then some. Trine and her team, along with the dogs, were experts with lots of patience for us novice mushers. We did a day trip and are already talking about going back for a longer trip. They provided the outer gear to ensure we stayed warm and dry. I never once felt cold. We packed a lot into 4 days in the Alta area, however this was certainly out highlight. Would give it my highest rating, a must do!"
- JOANNE G / på besøk hos oss i februar 2015
Midnight sun summit ascent
Finnmark is the realm of contrasts. The landscape that just six months ago was filled with short, dark days is now bathed in summer light. On evenings like this, it’s hard to go to bed. Both body and soul prefer to be outdoors. Join us one such evening to walk to the top of a local mountain.
This adventure starts in the dog enclosure where you get to meet and greet around 40 happy Alaskan huskies. We choose the dog or dogs that will join us on this trip. With a little guidance, you can harness the dog and attach the pack. We are then ready to set off.
We hike to the top of Pæskanasen, a small summit about a 90-minute walk from the dog enclosure. Some sections are quite steep, but we allow plenty of time and have several stops along the way. Our four-legged hiking companions can pull you up the steepest parts if you would like a little help. Your guide for the evening will tell you about Finnmark, the local area and what it’s like to train and compete with huskies.
As we reach higher up, we are rewarded with wonderful views of the valley, Storelvdalen.
When we reach the top, we will prepare dinner on an open fire. The food is homemade and tasty and is prepared using local produce. We enjoy both the meal and the view. The bright light and the sight of the sun that never sets make it hard to comprehend that it’s so late. The descent is relatively quick and we will return to the dog enclosure around 11pm.
Price: NOK 1 250,-
Duration: approx. 3 hours, starting at 9pm
Season: Every day from June 1st – August 1st
Included: Meet and greet the dogs, homemade cakes and coffee on a bonfire.
