Husky safari with kids

What is the minimum age for a husky safari?

It depends on the trip: 2 on the Kiruna family sleigh, 4 on the small-group Rovaniemi safari, and drivers must be 18 or over on two of the safaris here.

Every trip on this site, by what children can do:

Read the 18+ rule closely. One Levi parent wrote: "It was a shame that my 14-year-old son wasn't allowed to ride. This wasn't clearly stated in the booking." If you have a teenager who wants to drive, message the farm before you pay.

How many children fit in a husky sled?

On the 6 km Rovaniemi trip: two adults and one to three children per sled, 250 kg in total. The Kiruna family sleighs seat two adults and three kids.

The 6 km Rovaniemi self-drive is the clearest about it. Sleds are 55 cm wide with tandem seating, one behind the other, and carry at most two adults and one to three children, with a strict 250 kg limit. When only one adult goes, the rules tighten:

• One adult, one child: the child must be 9 to 10 years old, able to sit on their own, hold on and follow instructions.
• One adult, two or three children: the oldest must be at least 12, to look after the younger ones.
• Infants and toddlers: need a dedicated adult passenger. The adult driving doesn't count.

In practice: a single parent with a toddler can't do the 6 km self-drive alone. Two parents with one small child can. On the Kiruna family sleigh a musher drives and the whole family sits together, which solves the problem.

Which husky ride is best for small children?

The Kiruna family sleigh if you're in Kiruna; the 2.5 km Santa Claus Village ride in Rovaniemi. In both, a musher drives and you all sit.

The Kiruna family sleigh ($195, 2.5 hours, 5.0 from 228 reviews) is built for families. Long sleighs seat two adults and three kids, a musher drives, there's outerwear in all family sizes, and hot drinks and homemade cake in a tipi halfway. It takes children from 2, as long as they can sit up unaided, and there are infant seats for the transfer. Guests write about every age: "We had a 12 year old and a 75 year old in our party and both thoroughly enjoyed the experience and felt safe on the sledges." Another: "We were a bit concerned at the beginning that it might be too cold for a small child, but all went perfectly well."

In Rovaniemi, the Santa Claus Village ride is 7 to 12 minutes with a musher, which is about the attention span of a three-year-old in a snowsuit. It's $70 per person, then juice and cookies in a kota.

Built for families: two adults and three kids per sleigh, a musher driving, homemade cake in a tipi. From age 2.

★ 5.0 · 2.5 hours · from $195

Explore the Kiruna family sit-down ride → Tour details

Can children go on a self-drive husky safari?

Yes, as passengers. A parent drives and the child rides in the sled. On the small-group Rovaniemi trip the child must be 4 or older.

Self-drive trips are a great family day for kids from about 4 to 12. The child sits in the sled, wrapped up, and a parent stands on the runners. Guests have done the 6 km Rovaniemi trip with a three-year-old: "Definitely expensive, but awesome. Well organized. We did the tour with a 3-year-old and I felt safe." On the Kiruna morning, a parent reported: "We went with my 6-year-old child, and everything was carefully arranged for him."

Plan the sleds before you book. Two parents with two kids can split into two sleds, one parent and one child each, and both parents get a full drive. On the small-group safari the guides decide seating for safety, so tell them your children's ages and weights in the booking notes.

How do you keep kids warm on a husky ride?

Wool next to the skin, the farm's overall on top, a neck warmer, spare mittens. The passenger seat is the coldest place on the trip.

Drivers work; passengers sit still in the wind. That's your child. Temperatures of -15 to -25°C are normal in January, and you feel it more at speed.

• Base layer: wool or synthetic, top and bottom. No cotton: it stays damp.
• Mid layer: one fleece, not three jumpers. A sweaty child chills fast.
• Outer layer: the farm lends it. Every trip here includes winter clothing, and the Kiruna family sleigh has sizes for all the family.
• Hands and face: spare mittens in your pocket and a neck warmer or balaclava. Small kids lose mittens.
• Food: a snack in your pocket. The fire-side food on Finnish safaris is more snack than lunch.

Go to the toilet before you get dressed. Thermal overalls and a five-year-old are a slow combination.

How much does a husky safari cost for a family?

Prices are per person, children included, unless the listing shows a child rate. A family of four pays four fares: $280 on the short ride, $780 on the Kiruna sleigh.

Every child in the sled is a passenger, and passengers pay. Here's what four people would pay at the from-price, before any child discount:

Check the booking screen for a child price before you pay. Some listings show one. For two kids under 8 and one day, the combo day packs reindeer, huskies and Santa Claus Village into a single ticket; just know the husky ride is 500 metres. Full price comparison in husky safari prices.

What do kids need to know before the ride?

Hands and feet inside the sled, hold on, no shouting at the dogs, and wait for the guide before petting.

Huskies are friendly but excited before a run. They bark, jump and pull. Small kids can find the noise a lot. Tell them in advance: it goes quiet the moment the sleds move.

• In the sled: sit down, hold on, keep hands and feet inside.
• At the dog yard: ask before petting, approach from the side, no hugging a dog in harness. After the run, most farms let you cuddle the dogs.
• Puppies: many guests mention them. Not guaranteed, but a nice surprise.

Kids also love the questions: what are their names, how old are they, where do they sleep. Asking them is also how you learn how a farm treats its dogs. See is husky sledding ethical for the grown-up version.

Frequently asked questions