Dog Sledding with a Unique Twist
Welcome to 2021 /22 Dog Sledding at its Best!
Welcome to dog sledding at its best! At least that is what many people who have done dog sledding elsewhere have told us after doing one of our tours. What sets us apart are the friendly dogs, who are not just equipment, but family, which means that our guests can interact closely with them. Also our unique trail systems, the quality of our trails and the fact that each person can drive their own little team of huskies without someone else sitting in their sled and trading off makes our tour special. Of course, those who are frail or physically unable to drive themselves can opt to sit in the sled with one of our drivers on our short Fun Run. The trails have been purposely designed to be scenic and to include hills, forests, open areas, the river and picturesque little creeks making this the best dog sledding tour you may ever do! NOTE: ADD GST TAX TO ALL TOUR PRICES (5%)
We also offer guided SNOWMOBILE TOURS and provide snowmobiles that are easy for beginners to drive themselves, or we can do the driving for you!
Choose from any of the tours below and we can customize a package for you that will include airport and town shuttles and accommodations in cozy cabins with indoor plumbing, kitchenettes and and TV for those who "need" it. Please inquire.
What to expect on your Dog Sled Tour
When you arrive you will be given a standard out-door adventure waiver to read and sign stating that you participate in our dog sledding tours at your own risk. (Please read it on line before you arrive for your tour.) Then you will pay by credit card, debit or cash and get outfitted in one of our high quality northern anoraks. (You still need to bring your warmest clothing and we will layer you up as needed). You will then be briefed on how to safely drive a dog team. Each person will have 4-6 dogs. On our tour you will experience the thrill of commanding your leaders to CHEE and CHA down our trail system! No one sits in your sled so driving is much easier. If someone is not able to physically drive, we will supply a driver and that person can sit back, relax and enjoy the scenery. If you have children under 10 years of age going with you on the Fabulous Fun Run, they can go for free in your sled or we can drive them for the fee of one adult's dog team so that your sledding will be more fun. Children over 10 may be able to drive their own little dog team! When booking your tour please tell us what level of physical activity you would classify yourself as: Non-active, Semi-active, Very active or athletic. We will also need you height and weight.
Dog sledding commands to Learn:
CHEE = Turn right
CHA = Turn left
JUDI'S POPULAR PHOTO PACKAGE may be available as an add-on to any of the following tours starting in February when there is enough sunlight for good action shots and providing it is not colder that -25C. For safety reasons our guest mushers are not allowed to take pictures themselves during the run unless they have a Go-pro attached to their body. There is one place that we stop along the way and guests can take their own pictures. If you would like the photo package, Judi will get some great shots of you in action. The charge is $20 per person photographed and after the tour the best pictures of the run will be emailed to you. If you would like your photos put on a USB or card please bring one with you and we will transfer the photos. If you would like photos, please request the photo package when you book your tour. Those requesting photos will need to stay up front next to Judi or the group can rotate around for that position.
No one else does it like this!
Dog Sledding in a Winter Wonderland
Tours
The Fabulous Fun Run $160 per person This is a an exiting tour on our multi-track trail system that includes traveling through a variety of scenic landscapes. It is a suitable tour for almost anyone in reasonably good health between the age of 10 and 70! The actual run is about an hour but you should allow about 2.5 hours of time for the entire session including preparation time.
The Scenic Delta Tour $250 per person
Enjoy exploring the Mackenzie Delta by dog team in the traditional traveling style. Compared to the Fun Run this is a longer, quieter and more relaxing tour where you can enjoy some spectacular natural scenery to its fullest. You will be following your guide's team onto the Mackenzie River and down some beautiful creeks, then onto a big lake and return through the Boreal forest. You will see the Mackenzie Delta in its pristine glory. If you have already experienced the Fabulous Fun Run and want to try a different route you will really enjoy this one. Total time is about to 3 hrs long.
Half-day Tour with a Campfire Lunch (very popular) $300-$350 per person
This tour takes you across some lakes and through some scenic forests and creeks. You will experience a delightful time with our beautiful huskies as you travel through the pristine countryside. At Picnic Lake you will enjoy a hot lunch around a campfire and spend an hour or more with the huskies resting. This is a good way to photograph the dogs up close and enjoy petting them. Total tour time is about 4 hours.
Husky Day Trip to the Cabin $400 - $500per person
Drive a team of huskies through some beautiful countryside to our secluded Arctic Loon outpost cabin in the hills above a tranquil lake. At the cabin you can relax by the wood stove and enjoy a hot lunch. On the return trip each person can choose to drive their dog team back or to drive a snowmobile back to the Arctic Chalet. The trip by dog team is about 2 hours each way and the return by snowmobile 45 minutes to 1 hour. Time at the cabin is about 1.5 hours.
We also do an overnight Family Camp.
Overnight Dog Sledding Package
Great Overnight Trip with Dogs for Groups or Families - Try our Family Camp Trip!
Dog Sled Trip to the Remote Arctic Loon Cabin
$550 per person for three or four people; $825 per person for two people.
Take a tour by dog team to our outpost cabin located about 17 kilometers from Inuvik. This guided tour starts around 1 pm from the Arctic Chalet husky kennels. We travel for about 2 hours on a scenic trail that ends at the Outpost Cabin nestled up in some beautiful hills overlooking a tranquil lake. At this wonderfully secluded retreat you can totally unwind and connect with nature. The cabin is spacious and comfortable and has a loft that can sleep 4-5 people and it also has two small bedrooms with a bunk bed in each. In addition there is a large bedroom with a double bed. There is a separate room for the guides. Warm bedding is provided and the two wood stoves keep the cabin cozy. The cabin is equipped with a nice kitchen and an indoor toilet "honey bucket" - No outhouse!
When you arrive at the cabin you can enjoy a hot evening meal and relax with some of our great northern books by the wood stoves where you have a nice view of the lake and surrounding hills. Hopefully during your stay you will see the spectacular Aurora Borealis away from all city lights. After breakfast the next morning your guide will take you snowshoeing through a "winter wonderland". Then it's back to the cabin for lunch and preparing for the return trip with the dogs. On this tour we can accommodate up to 5 people with one dog team each . For larger groups we can combine dog sledding with snowmobiling, or with snowshoeing to the cabin on a shorter route. In this case half of the group would snowmobile or snowshoe one way and the other half would go out by dog team and then switch for the return trip. (For the quiet enjoyment of those driving dogs the two groups would not travel together.) *Please note that the overnight tour price includes snowshoes, 3 meals, overnight lodging with bedding and two half-days of dog sledding.
Family Camp is a real hit! Bring your young children with you to the cabin and we will have a trail and small sleds that they can drive themselves around on the lake.
Dog Sledding Package
2021 5-Day Arctic Dog Sledding Package
2021 Arctic Dog Sledding Package
Available February, March & early April 2021
$1,650 per person
(GST is extra)
This 5-day package is designed for healthy, adventurous people who would like to travel in the north through some spectacular countryside with real Arctic huskies right from your cabin. Each person is given a dog team to drive. This is a full mushing experience and you will have lots of time to enjoy interacting with our affectionate, friendly huskies.
ITINERARY is Monday through Friday
Monday
Afternoon airport welcome and shuttle to Arctic Chalet. Check into a cabin. Enjoy your first run with the huskies on our multi-track trail where you will learn how to drive a dog team.
Tuesday
After breakfast in your room we will take you on a half-day tour out into the Mackenzie Delta where we will have a hot lunch around a campfire.
Wednesday
Today you will drive your dog team to the beautiful Arctic Loon Cabin where you will have dinner and overnight. The trip is about 3 hours each way. You will help get the dogs staked out on a chain, put out straw and then feed.
Thursday
You can start the day by snowshoeing after breakfast on a very scenic trail if you like. Have lunch and then prepare for the trip back to Inuvik with the dogs. Overnight again in your cozy cabin.
Friday
Check out and fly south at about noon.
This package includes the following:
Every evening you will be given a courtesy car to drive into Inuvik for dinner etc.
Meals at the outpost cabin
Shared accommodations (two people) at the Arctic Chalet or pay the single supplement
Night spent in our Loon Cabin (bedding and towels are provided)
Airport Shuttles
Transportation daily from Arctic Chalet into town for dinner
Outer winter clothing such as parka to layer over your warm down jacket, fur mitts, thick snow pants to layer over your snow pants
Mukluks to keep your feet warm. However, if you would like to purchase your own Steger mukluks you can order a pair on-line before the trip at mukluks.com These are the most comfortable boots you will ever wear in the snow and worth keeping for years to come unless you come from the tropics! We recommend the slip-on black “Yukon Jack” or the "Arctic with Ribbon" boots.
Fitness level: Moderate
Insurance: We encourage you to get travel insurance in case there are delays in your tour schedule due to weather or other unforeseen circumstances. If you have a medical problem you must tell us and show us your medical insurance papers.
Dietary requirements: Let us know if you have any dietary issues. Olav and Judi are Vegan Vegetarians but will allow our clients to bring meat or dairy products for the overnight trip.
The single supplement is $300 for this package.
What's included in our Tour Packages
Dog Sledding and Snowmobile Gear
We provide outer dog sledding gear but please bring your own warm layers to wear underneath. Our parkas are top quality SKOOKUM BRAND anoraks, beautifully designed and made in the north. These anoraks layer well over your down jacket and other layers. We will also put you into a pair of our fabulous STEGER MUKLUKS and some really warm beaver mitts and snow pants. If you are dog sledding here for a week or so you might want to order your own mukluks from mukluks.com and take them home after your adventures in the north. If you want to wear your own snow boots they must be rated to at least -80C or -100C. The number is just an insulation rating, not a temperature rating. The -35C boots are not warm enough for even -20C temperatures. We recommend several packs of hand and toe warmers such as HOT SHOTS or GRABBERS which you can purchase in sport stores and other places. We also have them here for sale for $5 a pair. You will need at least two pairs of warm socks with wool in them - preferably a thin and a thicker pair to wear inside your boots. You can sandwich your toe warmers between your sock layers before the start of your tour. It is difficult to put them in your boots out in the cold. Also they will not warm up unless you put them on inside in a warm place.
Parkas made in the North!
Snowmobile Tours
SNOWMOBILE TOURS
Snowmobile day Tour to the Secluded Arctic Loon Cabin
$400 per person
Drive a snowmobile, or let us drive you to the cabin and back for about 1 hour travel time each way. By the fireside you can enjoy a light lunch of soup and bread with a hot drink.
The Arctic Loon Cabin
This remote cabin is a destination for dog sledding, snowmobiling or snowshoeing tours, either as a day cabin or for overnight lodging with guides, but is not available as a rental on its own. The cabin is large enough to accommodate 6-8 people in 3 bedrooms and a loft. Although this cabin is totally off the grid it is comfortable and cozy. The kitchen has propane appliances and lamps. We also use candles and portable battery-powered lanterns for lighting. There is an inside toilet and the cabin is heated with wood.
Other snowmobile tours are available at $100 per hour.
Snowmobile Day Trip to Look for Reindeer
Snowmobile out of the Delta and up to the Tundra
Snowmobile Day Trips
$500 per person for 3-4 people or $650 for just two people.
Come with us on an exciting Arctic adventure. For this tour you will need to be very warmly dressed! You will travel to our tundra island camp where we will have a hot lunch around a campfire. Come well-prepared for an Arctic experience! Check out the information about the snowmobiling gear that is required.
