A husky team across a frozen lake is one of the classic Lapland winter days. This guide covers when to go, what a tour involves, where to find one, what to wear, and the Swedish rules that protect the dogs.
When you need this
You’re planning a winter trip to Kiruna, Jukkasjärvi, Abisko or Jämtland and wondering whether to add a sled tour. You can’t decide between a short ride and a full day driving your own team. You’ve read something about sled-dog welfare and want to know what Swedish law actually requires of a kennel. Or you’re arriving in summer and wondering whether anything happens with the dogs then. This page covers all four.
When to go: the dog sledding season
For the north, Visit Sweden’s advice is to book between December and March. The Icehotel in Jukkasjärvi runs its dog-sled transfers from the airport from December to April, which shows how long the snow usually lasts around Kiruna. Snow decides the first and last tour of the season, so ask the operator about conditions if you’re booking at either end.
| Period | What to expect |
|---|---|
| December–March | Main season for snow tours in the north |
| December–April | Icehotel dog-sled transfer season, Jukkasjärvi |
| Polar night (about four weeks around midwinter in Kiruna) | Tours continue, in blue twilight and darkness |
| March–April | Longer days, strong sun on snow: bring sunglasses |
| Summer and autumn | No snow tours; wheeled carts, kennel visits, hikes with the dogs |
The dark weeks don’t stop anything. Kiruna’s destination organisation says the lack of sun makes no difference to activities such as dog sledding, and recommends a headlamp and reflectors. More on those weeks in polar night in Sweden.
What a tour involves: passenger or driver
A dog team, according to Visit Sweden, has between 2 and 18 dogs, mostly Alaskan or Siberian huskies. Groups are small, usually five to eight people, and the guide introduces you to your dogs, shows you how to handle them and leads the route.
| Format | What you do | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Short tour (a few hours) | Usually sit in the sled behind an experienced musher | First-timers, anyone who wants the view without the work |
| Full-day or overnight tour | Drive your own team after a briefing | Fit adults who want the real thing |
| Multi-day trip | Drive a team, sleep in cabins or tents | Visit Sweden: accommodation, meals and a sleeping bag are usually included |
Driving a team is physical. “As a musher, you also have to work and help the dogs,” says Visit Sweden, calling the tour teamwork. What each tour includes varies by operator, so read the booking carefully.
On the day you move between a cold room and a warm room at the Icehotel, you have a few hours without a room. That gap suits a sled tour — see the Icehotel guide.
Where to go dog sledding in Sweden
- Kiruna and Jukkasjärvi (Swedish Lapland): the largest choice for visitors. Jukkasjärvi is 17 km east of Kiruna, and the Icehotel’s dog-sled transfer from the airport takes about 75 minutes. Getting there: flying to Kiruna.
- Jämtland–Härjedalen: listed by Visit Sweden as a dog-sled region; Krokom municipality says several operators run tours there.
- Västerbotten, the High Coast, Medelpad and Hälsingland: also on Visit Sweden’s list.
- Värmland and Dalarna: the tours closest to Stockholm and Gothenburg, about three hours’ drive away. Snow is less reliable this far south.
How Swedish law protects sled dogs
There is no separate sled-dog code in Sweden. The rules come from the Animal Welfare Act (djurskyddslagen) and the dog regulation of the Swedish Board of Agriculture (Jordbruksverket), and they apply to every kennel in the country. We read the texts themselves; these are the provisions that matter for a sled kennel:
| Rule | What it says | Source text |
|---|---|---|
| No overexertion | Animals may not be beaten, injured or overexerted; equipment may not cause suffering | Djurskyddslagen 2 ch. 9 § |
| Permit for businesses | Anyone keeping, renting out or selling dogs as a business, or on a larger scale, needs a county permit | Djurskyddslagen 6 ch. 4 § |
| “Larger scale” | 10+ dogs over 12 months old, or renting out 3+ dogs a year | SJVFS 2019:27 4 § |
| No keeping dogs tied up | Tethering only temporarily: short breaks, activities, rest or overnight on a journey | SJVFS 2020:8 2 ch. 1–2 §§ |
| Daily needs | Physical contact with people, exercise, mental stimulation, rest, keeping warm | SJVFS 2020:8 2 ch. 5 § |
| Outdoor shelter | Shade, sun, wind and snow protection, dry ground, indoor lying place or a dog house (koja) | SJVFS 2020:8 3 ch. 24–25 §§ |
| Winter outdoors | Only dogs suited to it may live outdoors round the clock in winter | SJVFS 2020:8 4 ch. 8 § |
| Pace | Dogs harnessed in front of or beside equipment; speed suited to the slowest dog | SJVFS 2020:8 3 ch. 39 § |
The county boards give hiring out draught dogs (draghundsuthyrning) as an example of activity that needs a permit. Two practical readings follow:
- Dogs on a line at a lunch stop are legal. Rest and overnight stops on a journey are a listed exception, as long as the dogs can lie down dry and keep warm.
- Dogs living on chains at home are not. Outside those temporary cases, Swedish rules forbid keeping dogs tied up.
If something looks wrong: report it to the county administrative board (länsstyrelsen) of the county where you saw it — each has a form for reporting poor animal care. They want reports from people who saw the problem themselves. In an acute emergency out of hours, call 112.
Fair questions for any kennel: how many dogs it keeps, whether they live in pens with shelter, and how they are exercised out of season. A permit-holding kennel should answer easily.
What to wear
You’ll spend hours sitting or standing still in moving air. SMHI, the weather agency, gives an example: −10 °C with only 2 m/s of wind feels like −14 °C in still air, and a sled running into the wind adds more.
- Layers: a wool or synthetic base layer (no cotton against the skin), warm mid layers and a windproof outer layer, plus a hat.
- Spares: extra mittens and socks.
- What operators lend: Visit Sweden says most companies provide warm overalls, snow boots and gloves. Check your booking before packing bulky gear.
- No metal on skin: 1177 warns that metal glasses frames, watches and jewellery can cause cold injury.
- Eyes: in March and April, sun on snow can injure the eyes, with symptoms often six to twelve hours later. Bring sunglasses or tinted goggles with UV protection.
- Faces: frostbite numbs the skin as it forms, so check each other’s cheeks, nose and ears for white patches.
Full packing list in what to pack for Sweden in winter; first aid in cold risks: hypothermia and frostbite.
Mistakes to avoid
- Booking in November or late April and expecting snow. Plan inside December–March, and ask about conditions.
- Dressing for a walk, not for sitting still. A passenger barely moves.
- Assuming “drive your own team” means no instruction. Expect a briefing and follow the guide’s signals.
- Judging welfare by photos. Ask how the dogs live; commercial kennels need a county permit.
- Wearing cotton next to the skin. It holds sweat and cools you.
Practical information
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Season in the north | December–March (Visit Sweden); Icehotel transfers December–April (checked 2026-09-25) |
| Team size | 2–18 dogs, mostly Alaskan or Siberian huskies (Visit Sweden) |
| Group size | Usually 5–8 guests |
| Tour price | Set by each operator per person and tour length; not published here |
| Outer clothing | Overalls, boots and gloves often lent; check the booking |
| Multi-day tours | Accommodation, meals and a sleeping bag usually included |
| Icehotel dog-sled transfer | About 75 minutes from Kiruna Airport; booked with the hotel |
| Welfare concerns | Report to the county board (länsstyrelsen); 112 in an acute emergency |
FAQ
When is the dog sledding season in Sweden?
In the north, plan for December to March; Visit Sweden recommends booking in that window. The Icehotel’s dog-sled transfers in Jukkasjärvi run from December to April. Start and end depend on snow, so ask the operator about conditions. Outside winter, some kennels offer rides in wheeled carts or visits to meet the dogs instead of snow tours.
Can I drive my own dog sled team with no experience?
Yes, on many tours. The guide introduces you to your dogs, shows you how to handle the sled and leads the way, and full-day or overnight tours usually give each guest a team. It is physical: the musher helps the dogs uphill and works with them. Short tours often seat you in the sled behind an experienced musher instead.
Where can you go dog sledding in Sweden?
Most visitors go to Kiruna and Jukkasjärvi in Swedish Lapland, where the Icehotel even offers a sled transfer from the airport. Jämtland–Härjedalen has several operators too, and Visit Sweden also lists Västerbotten, the High Coast, Medelpad and Hälsingland. The nearest tours to Stockholm and Gothenburg are in Värmland and Dalarna, about three hours’ drive away.
What should I wear for dog sledding in Lapland?
Dress in layers: a wool base layer with no cotton against the skin, warm mid layers and a windproof outer layer, plus a hat and spare mittens and socks. Most operators lend overalls, boots and gloves, so check before packing bulky gear. Leave metal jewellery and watches off, and bring sunglasses in late winter against snow glare.
Is dog sledding cruel to the dogs in Sweden?
Swedish law sets a firm floor. Animals may not be overexerted, a commercial kennel needs a county permit, and dogs may not be kept tied up except briefly on a tour or break. They must get daily exercise, daily contact with people and shelter from the weather. If you see dogs suffering, report it to the county administrative board.
Can you go dog sledding in summer in Sweden?
Not on snow. Some kennels around Kiruna offer summer kennel visits with a short ride in a wheeled cart pulled by huskies, hikes with the dogs, or autumn sessions where the team trains in front of an ATV. These are real encounters with sled dogs, but a different experience from a winter sled tour across frozen lakes.
Related guides
- Swedish Lapland — the region around the tour, and what else fills a winter week
- The Icehotel guide — dog-sled transfers and the room-switch day
- Flying to Kiruna — getting there and the last leg to Jukkasjärvi
- What to pack for Sweden in winter — the full layer list
- Snowmobile tours in Lapland — the motorised alternative
Facts verified 2026-09-25. Sources: Djurskyddslagen (Riksdagen), Jordbruksverket’s regulations SJVFS 2020:8 and 2019:27, Länsstyrelsen, 1177, SMHI, Visit Sweden, Kiruna Lappland, Krokom municipality and the Icehotel — full register in this topic’s source file. Found something outdated? Tell us and we’ll fix it.