The main points
- The self-drive husky adventure runs 4 hours from US$351 and follows a bus or coach route out to Kvaløya and back.[1]
- Dog sledding in Northern Norway typically runs from December to March, depending on snow.[2] The average Tromsø winter temperature is around −4°C.[3]
- Reindeer sledding and feeding with a Sami guide runs 4 hours from US$200 and is rated 4.75 from 6,854 reviews.[4]
- Winter tours start from US$105 for a husky meet and greet and from US$132 for a reindeer sledding trip.[5][6]
- Layers, dry mittens and warm boots matter: the average winter temperature in Tromsø is around −4°C, and you will be outside for hours.[3]
- Top choice Self-Drive Husky Sledding from US$351 Rating4.91 from 4,408 reviews[1]Duration4 hours[1]GuideInstructor: English[1]CancellationUp to 24 hours in advance[1] Check availability
- Husky Self-Drive with Lunch from US$355 Rating4.86 from 2,050 reviews[7]Duration4 hours[7]GuideLive tour guide: English[7]CancellationUp to 24 hours in advance[7] See this tour
- Fun and Easy Dog Sledding from US$305 Rating4.88 from 2,077 reviews[8]Duration4.5 hours[8]GuideLive tour guide: English[8]CancellationUp to 24 hours in advance[8] See this tour
The average winter temperature in Tromsø is around −4°C.
Our verdict on Tromsø winter activities
Check before booking
Why Tromsø in winter works as a base
Tromsø sits on an island in the Arctic, and its winter has a rhythm of its own. The Polar Night season begins on November 27th and lasts until January 15th each year, when the sun stays below the horizon and midday looks like dusk.[11] The Northern Lights season in Tromsø runs from late August to early April, so aurora hunting is possible across a long window.[12] The average winter temperature in Tromsø is around −4°C, cold enough for snow to settle and stay.[3]
What makes Tromsø easy to use as a base is how close the wild places are. Kvaløya, the big island to the west, starts less than 5 km from central Tromsø where the Sandnessund Bridge ends.[13] The Fjellheisen cable car rises to Storsteinen, 421 meters above sea level, with the city, the fjord and the mountains spread out below.[14] Further out, the Tromsø Ice Domes sit 95 km from Tromsø, hidden in the heart of Tamok Valley.[15]
Dog sledding: what a self-drive tour feels like
The tour booked from this site is the self-drive husky sledding adventure. It lasts 4 hours and starts from US$351, and it is rated 4.91 from 4,408 reviews.[1] The route runs by bus or coach out to Kvaløya and back, and you travel with an instructor and instruction in English.[1] On the sled you stand on the runners behind a team of huskies that leans into the harness the moment the brake comes off. You steer, brake and shift your weight through the turns, so the ride feels like teamwork rather than a passenger trip.
Several husky operators drive out of Tromsø. A husky sled self-drive with a traditional lunch takes 4 hours and starts from US$355.[7] The fun and easy dog sledding adventure lasts 4.5 hours from US$305 and travels from Tromsø to Breivikeidet and back.[8] Longer days include a 7 hour dog sledding adventure in Tamokdalen from US$356, and an advanced tour at Camp Tamok that takes 6.5 hours from US$343 and is limited to 12 participants.[9][16] The dog sledding season in Northern Norway typically runs from December to March, depending on snow conditions.[2] Racing is part of the culture here too: Finnmarksløpet is the longest dog-sled race in Europe.[17]
Sled dogs resting in the snow between runs on a bright Arctic afternoon.
Reindeer, Sami culture and gentler days out
Reindeer trips are the gentler half of a Tromsø winter. Near Tromsø, Sami reindeer herding culture is represented by a Sami reindeer-herding family that has lived and worked with reindeer for many generations.[18] A reindeer sledding and feeding tour with a Sami guide takes 4 hours from US$200 and is rated 4.75 from 6,854 reviews.[4] A reindeer sledding, feeding and Sami culture experience takes 2.5 - 3.5 hours from US$132 and is rated 4.79 from 2,931 reviews.[6]
Kennel visits are the other easy option, and they work well for families and shorter attention spans. A puppy training session at the husky kennel with lunch takes 4.5 hours from US$172 and is rated 4.94 from 402 reviews.[19] A husky hike with a puppy visit and traditional lunch takes 4.5 hours from US$172 and is rated 4.97 from 194 reviews.[20] A husky meet and greet with homemade chocolate cake takes 2 hours from US$105.[5] One family at Holmen Husky Lodge has raised and raced Alaskan Huskies for over three decades and two generations.[21]
Snowmobiles, fjords and other winter days
Snowmobiles cover ground a sled cannot reach. In Norway, a Category S driving licence entitles you to drive an open snowmobile, and in some cases you can drive without one.[22] A snowmobile safari in the Lyngen Alps takes 8 hours from US$317 and is rated 4.92 from 1,142 reviews.[23] Another Lyngen Alps safari takes 8 hours from US$337, and a guided Lyngen Alps snowmobile tour takes 7.5 hours from US$306.[24][25]
If engines are not your thing, there are quieter ways to spend a winter day. A guided husky snowshoe hike with a husky camp visit takes 5 hours from US$189 and is rated 4.91 from 793 reviews.[26] A snowshoeing tour with a reindeer encounter and lunch takes 4 hours from US$189.[27] An Arctic fjord sightseeing day with reindeer feeding and lunch takes 7 hours from US$283 and is rated 4.93 from 509 reviews.[28] A northern lights husky visit with a traditional dinner takes 4 hours from US$188.[29]
from US$351
Runs 4 hours from US$351, rated 4.91 from 4,408 reviews, and travels by bus or coach out to Kvaløya and back.[1]
When to come and what to do in Tromsø in winter
Tromsø in winter is long, and each part of it feels different. The dog sledding season in Northern Norway typically runs from December to March, depending on snow conditions.[2] The Polar Night season begins on November 27th and lasts until January 15th each year.[11] The Northern Lights season in Tromsø runs from late August to early April.[12] The average winter temperature in Tromsø is around −4°C.[3] Once the Polar Night ends, the daylight returns while the snow stays on the ground, and the last weeks of the sledding season still give long, bright days on the trail.
Summer is a different world: the midnight sun in Tromsø usually lasts from around 20 May to 22 July.[30] For a winter trip, plan around the aurora and the sledding season, then fill the daylight hours with fjord drives, cable car rides and kennel visits. Book the popular husky and reindeer days early for the weeks around Christmas and New Year. Free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund applies to the self-drive husky sledding adventure, and you can reserve now and pay later.[1]
What to wear and how to stay warm
Cold is manageable if you dress for it. Start with wool next to your skin, add a fleece or a down mid layer, then a windproof outer layer that also sheds snow. The average winter temperature in Tromsø is around −4°C, but wind on an open sled or a snowmobile makes it feel much sharper.[3] Spare socks, mittens rather than gloves, a hat that covers your ears and a buff for your face are the pieces people most often forget.
Hands and feet get cold first on a sled or a snowmobile, where you sit or stand still for long stretches. Chemical hand warmers, spare mittens in a dry bag and boots with room to wiggle your toes all help. Cameras and phones slow down in the cold, so keep them inside a jacket pocket between shots and carry a spare battery. On a longer day out, such as a 5 hour snowshoe hike with huskies, spare gloves are worth the weight.[26]
How to choose and book your winter activities
Ratings and group sizes are the quickest way to compare winter days. The self-drive husky sledding adventure is rated 4.91 from 4,408 reviews, the fun and easy dog sledding adventure 4.88 from 2,077 reviews, and the husky sled self-drive with traditional lunch 4.86 from 2,050 reviews.[1][7][8] If a small group matters to you, the advanced tour at Camp Tamok is limited to 12 participants.[9] The Tromsø dog sledding tour from US$414 is wheelchair accessible and has dietary options available.[10]
Prices shown on the listings are from-prices, and winter departures fill up, so it pays to book once your flights are fixed. Check availability to see starting times for the day you want. Operators run set departures and pickup arrangements vary. Free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund applies to the self-drive husky sledding adventure and to the reindeer sledding and feeding tour with a Sami guide.[1][4]
How long Tromsø dog sledding tours last
Durations in hours from GetYourGuide listings[1],[7],[8],[9] and[16].
Winter tour from-prices in US dollars
Adult from-prices in US dollars from GetYourGuide listings[1],[7],[8],[4] and[19]. No child rates are stated for these listings.
Seasons to plan around
Book your Tromsø winter day
Pick your activity
Dog sledding, reindeer feeding, snowmobiles or an aurora chase. Decide what you want from the day before you choose.
Check the times
The self-drive husky tour lasts 4 hours, and listings show starting times when you check availability.[1]
Reserve and pay later
Reserve now and pay later on the self-drive husky sledding adventure, and note the free cancellation window.[1]
Layer up properly
Wool base layers, a windproof shell, mittens and warm boots. Average Tromsø winter temperature is around −4°C.[3]
Plan the transfer
The self-drive sledding tour runs by bus or coach to Kvaløya and back. Allow time at both ends of the day.[1]
Ready to stand on the runners behind your own dog team?
from US$351Reserve now & pay later
