How physically demanding the tour will be depends largely on the snow and weather conditions during the week. However, driving a dog sled requires good balance and good physical fitness.
On uphill sections – which in the mountains can be long, sometimes up to 5–6 km – and in heavy snow conditions, you’ll need to help the dogs by kicking alongside the sled and, in steeper parts, by running and pushing the sled.
Keep in mind that this is not like jogging on a nice trail or asphalt in sneakers. You’ll be running in snow, wearing heavy boots and thick clothing.
Many of our participants are surprised by how physically demanding dog sledding is. You are active for several hours each day, in snow and cold, over multiple days – something that can’t be compared to going to the gym, jogging, or cycling for an hour a day. That’s why good physical fitness, strong willpower, and mental endurance are essential.
You will be personally responsible for your own dog team. This means you may not let go of the sled unless it is properly secured, and you must drive with care – otherwise you risk injuring yourself, the dogs, or others.
We will give you instructions on how to handle the sled and the dogs. It’s not complicated, but it does require a certain level of strength, coordination, balance, and overall fitness.
We’d also like to point out that men often overestimate their physical capacity, while women tend to underestimate theirs. If you’re even slightly unsure whether this tour is right for you, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
If you’re not already physically active, we strongly recommend starting to train well in advance of the trip. The better shape you’re in, the more enjoyable your experience will be! And remember – what matters is your current level of fitness, not how fit you were a year or two ago.
Our tours are not designed as polished tourist adventures – they are real experiences where everyone works as a team. You’ll help with caring for the dogs, cooking, loading and unloading the sleds, collecting water, and more.
We stay in simple cabins without electricity or running water, heated with wood or gas. Sleeping arrangements are in bunk beds, with mixed-gender rooms. Outhouses are available at the cabins, and when we camp in tents, we dig holes in the snow.
No previous dog sledding experience is required – but you must genuinely like animals and have empathy for them.
Please never try to persuade someone to come on the tour unless they truly want to join and fully understand what is required. It’s much better to travel solo than to bring someone who is unprepared physically and/or mentally. We often have solo travelers on our tours, so this is absolutely no problem.
It is essential that everyone on the tour truly wants to be there and understands what it involves – otherwise it can cause problems for both the group and the dogs.
As we said – don’t hesitate to contact us if you’re unsure whether this tour is right for you.
