Booking choice: The 7 km self-drive safari in Levi, from $222 per person. Check dates Tour details
Most people picture driving a husky team as steering. It isn't. The dogs follow the sled in front, which follows the guide. Your job is to stand on the runners, keep your balance, brake when the line slows and help on the hills. It's easier than it looks on the flat and harder than it looks going up.
On every self-drive safari on this site two people share a sled. One drives, one sits, and you swap halfway. The short Santa Claus Village ride is different: a musher drives and you sit for the whole 2.5 km.
The quick answer
You stand on the two runners at the back, hold the handlebar with both hands and use a foot brake: a metal bar with teeth that digs into the snow. The dogs follow the sled ahead, so there's no real steering. Brake on downhills, ease into bends, push on climbs, and never let go of the sled if you fall. Two people share each sled and swap halfway. Drivers must be 18 or over on two safaris here.
Do you drive the husky sled yourself?
On a safari, yes: two of you per sled, swapping halfway. On the short rides a musher drives and you sit.
It's the difference this whole site is about. On the Levi 7 km run, the 6 km Rovaniemi trip, the small-group safari, the hotel-pickup trip and the two Kiruna sled trips, you drive. The 6 km Rovaniemi listing makes the point: guides don't drive the sleds, and participants need enough fitness and body control to be mushers.
A musher drives, you sit: the Santa Claus Village ride, the Kiruna family sleigh, and the 500 m husky ride on the combo day. Those are lovely, but if you want to drive, check the listing says self-drive.
7 km on the runners in Levi, two per sled, swapping halfway. The cheapest real self-drive here at $222.
Check dates for the 7 km self-drive safari in LeviHow do you drive a husky sled?
Stand on the runners, hold the bar, keep a few metres behind the sled in front and use the brake to control speed. The dogs do the steering.
The briefing at the farm takes a few minutes, and the guide shows you everything. The basics:
- Starting: stand on the brake with both feet while the dogs are harnessed. They will scream and pull. Wait for the guide's signal, let the sled ahead go first, then ease off the brake.
- Following: keep a gap of at least a few metres to the sled in front. Never overtake.
- Steering: you don't. The dogs follow the team ahead. You shift your weight in bends and on slopes.
- Talking to the dogs: praise is welcome. Don't shout "mush": the dogs follow the sled in front whatever you say.
- Stopping: when the guide raises a hand, brake hard and hold the sled until the line moves again.
A Nordic sledding specialist's guide puts it well: the noise before the start can feel chaotic, and it stops the second the sleds move (how to drive a dogsled). One Rovaniemi guest wrote that the instructions were clear enough that they "could drive a nice round independently (in a convoy with other sleds and the guides on snowmobiles)."
How does the brake on a husky sled work?
It's a metal bar with teeth between the runners. Step on it with one foot to slow down, both feet to stop. More weight, more bite.
The parts you'll use, and when:
| Part | What it is | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| Runners | The two long skids at the back you stand on | All the time: one foot on each, knees soft |
| Handlebar | The bar at the back of the sled | Both hands, always. One at most for a photo on the flat |
| Brake | A sprung metal bar with teeth that digs into the snow | One foot to slow, both feet to stop; on every downhill |
| Drag mat | A rubber mat that skims the snow (not on every sled) | Fine speed control on the flat |
| Snow hook | An anchor with spikes | Only when stopped, and only when the guide says. Never while moving |
The most important braking job: on downhills, keep the lines between you and the dogs tight. If the sled runs faster than the team, it can hit the dogs nearest to it. Brake early, not hard. On ice the brake bites less, and in deep powder it sinks; put your whole weight on it.
How hard is it to drive a husky sled? Do you need to be fit?
Easy on the flat, physical on climbs. You need balance, a firm grip and legs that can stand for 15 to 25 minutes. Fit enough to walk briskly uphill is enough.
- Balance: the sled bumps and leans. Soft knees help.
- Thighs: standing for your half of a 6 to 10 km run tires the legs. You'll feel it.
- Hills: on a climb you step off a runner and scoot, or jog behind and push. The dogs notice if you don't help.
- Cold: the driver stays warm; the passenger gets cold. Swap clothes accordingly.
The listings set the limits. The 6 km Rovaniemi trip isn't suitable for pregnant travellers or people with mobility impairments. The small-group safari adds people with heart problems, and the Viator trip people with back problems. Drivers must be 18 or over in Levi and on the small-group safari. If you can't stand for 20 minutes, book a ride where a musher drives: see husky safaris with kids for the sit-down options.
6 km through forest near Rovaniemi, clear briefing, sleds you drive yourself. Pickup in town or at Santa Claus Village.
Explore the 6 km self-drive safari in Rovaniemi Tour detailsHow does sharing a sled and swapping work?
One drives and one sits, then you stop and swap halfway. The driver holds the brake with both feet while you change places.
Every self-drive trip here is two to a sled. The Levi listing: "Each sled will be driven by a 2-person team. The driver of the sled can switch halfway through the tour." On the 6 km Rovaniemi trip, a guest confirmed it: "Halfway through the ride, driver and passenger were able to switch places, so both of us got the chance to mush the sled." The Levi and small-group trips both stop on the way for photos, a natural moment to swap.
How to swap without losing your team: the driver stands on the brake with both feet. The passenger climbs out and steps onto the brake too. Only then does the old driver let go and sit down. Solo travellers are usually paired with someone; two guests on these trips were lucky enough to get a sled to themselves, one on the 6 km trip and one on the small-group safari. Don't count on it. Prices are per person either way.
What happens if you fall off a husky sled?
Usually a soft landing in snow. Hold on to the handlebar if you can: a team with an empty sled won't stop, and it runs faster without you.
Falls happen, mostly on bends and bumps. The snow is soft, and the guides see it all the time. The one rule that matters more than every other: don't let go of the sled. Hang on, even if you're dragged a little, until you can get your feet back on the runners. Shout, so the guide knows.
If you're the passenger: sit down, hold on, keep your hands and feet inside the sled. That's the whole job.
How do you handle bends, hills and deep snow?
Slow down before a bend, not in it. Brake on every downhill. Push or jog on climbs. In deep snow, help the dogs.
- Bends: brake on the approach, then let the sled run through. Braking hard in the bend swings the sled toward the inside, toward the trees.
- Downhill: brake early to keep the lines tight. The sled must never catch the dogs.
- Uphill: step off one runner and scoot, or get off and push. Get back on at the top.
- Slopes across: stand on the uphill runner with both feet to keep the sled level.
- Deep or soft snow: the team slows. It's the dogs working hard, not a slack team. Help them.
On a heavy day guides add a dog. One guest on the small-group safari noted: "The weather wasn't ideal, so they even had 5 dogs hitched to each sled instead of 4." That's a farm thinking about its dogs.
6 to 10 km in a group of eight at most, with a photo stop to swap drivers.
Check dates for the small-group safari with a kota fireCan you take photos while driving a husky sled?
Barely. Keep both hands on the bar while moving; take photos as the passenger, at the stop, or let the guide take them.
Driving is a two-hands job. The best photos come from the passenger seat and the halfway stop. If the guide allows it, a phone on a lanyard round your neck works on a flat, straight stretch. Never take off both mittens: at -20°C your fingers go fast, and anything you drop on the trail is gone. The sled won't stop for a glove.
Keep the phone in an inside pocket; cold kills batteries. Some listings ban drones, including the Santa Claus Village ride. For the best light on the trail, see the best time for a husky safari.
7 km through snowy forest and open ground in Levi, swapping driver halfway. Rated 4.7 by 503 guests.
Explore the 7 km self-drive safari in Levi Tour detailsFrequently asked questions
Is it hard to drive a husky sled?
Not on the flat: most people get it in minutes. Climbs and bends take more effort. You need balance and legs that can stand for 15 to 25 minutes.
How do you stop a husky sled?
Stand on the brake, a metal bar with teeth between the runners, with both feet. Use one foot to slow down. Brake early on downhills.
Do you steer a husky sled?
Not really. The dogs follow the sled in front, which follows the guide. You shift your weight on bends and slopes.
What age can you drive a husky sled?
On two safaris here, Levi and the small-group Rovaniemi trip, drivers must be 18 or over. Children ride in the sled where the farm takes them.
Can I drive a husky sled alone?
Usually you share with a partner or another guest and swap halfway. Some guests get a sled to themselves, but don't count on it.
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Free cancellation up to 24 hours before on every option. Prices are from-prices in USD and move with the season.
7 km Self-Drive Husky Safari, Levi
- Pickup and drop-off at set points in Levi
- Winter clothing and a sledding briefing
- A guided 7 km self-drive safari
6 km Self-Drive Husky Safari, Rovaniemi
- A 6 km husky ride, driving your own team
- Thermal overall, boots, wool socks and mittens
- Transfers from Rovaniemi centre or Santa Claus Village
Small-Group Husky Safari with Kota Fire, Rovaniemi
6 to 10 km in a group of eight at most, then hot drinks by the fire
