Most people think of aurora chasing when we speak of Tromsø in Norway. However, for most of us who travelled halfway across the globe to Tromsø, spending our time on a mere few hours of aurora tours just wouldn’t cut it.
Thankfully, Tromsø has plenty to offer. From the sights and sounds that surround the city, to fun snow activities that make full use of its winter landscape, there’s bound to be a day tour that satisfies one’s travel appetite.
For us, we booked a one day tour to Camp Tamok, where we tried our hands on dog sledding (close encounter with the huskies, yes!), toured the ice domes that were only built in winter, as well as tasted local reindeer stew.
Tour Overview
Dog Sledding, Ice Domes Guided Tour & Reindeer Visit – Incl. Transport
Duration: 0900 – 1700 (8 hours)
Cost: NOK 3090 / USD 283
Operator: Norwegian Travel
0845: Check in at Samuel Arnesens gate 7, 9008 Tromsø
0900: Set off
1030: Arrival, change into gear, briefing.
1100: Dog sledding
1230: Lunch
1410: Sami reindeers introduction
1430: Ice domes
1530: Depart
Meeting Up and Setting Off
We kicked off the 8 hour tour by checking in at 8.45am. The meeting point was by the Tromsø cruise port, at Samuel Arnesens gate.
To be honest, there were dozens of day tours assembling at that time. Tour buses were lined up at the car park and there wasn’t a sign to point us to Samuel Arnesens gate. Thankfully, the check in agents of various tours were helpful.
Once our tour agent appeared, he scanned our tickets (for us, it was digital) and let us onto the bus. We set off once everybody was checked in.
1.5 hours later, we pulled into Camp Tamok. Located at Finndalen Valley which is around 85km inland and at an elevation of around 1200m, Camp Tamok was blanketed in fine powdered snow and surrounded by majestic mountainscape.
Changing into our gears
We split into 2 groups – the dog sledding and the snowmobile groups. As these activities cost differently, it wasn’t possible to switch groups on the spot.
We were then herded into the changing room. The staff first helped us choose a thermal overall and a pair of boots. Following which, everyone then proceeded to change into (or rather, put on) the thermal wear provided at the benches in the same room. We were supposed to travel light for our dog sledding and leave our belongings there. Thankfully, I had my pouch with me that we could carry our valuables.
Learning to Control the Dog Sleds
Our instructor kicked off the session with a 15 minute briefing. Everyone was paired up, with one steering the sled while the other being the passenger. Halfway, we would switch roles, so that everyone could get hands-on experience of manoeuvring the sled. The instructor then introduced us to the structure of the sled and taught us how to control it.
The “driver” would stand behind the sled, on 2 ledges that extended from under the main compartment. We could step on the metal brake in the middle to slow the sled down, or to stand on a larger brake pad and use our weight to stop the sled or if the huskies were simply not slowing down.
Since the dogs were familiar with the route and generally followed the lead huskies that were controlled by our guide, there was little need for us to steer the sled. Instead, we had to familiarise ourselves with how we should shift our body weight as our sleds manoeuvred around turns.
Our partners would sit (or rather, lie) on the “cargo bed” that made up the main body of the sled and enjoy the thrill of speeding through the pristine snowscape.
Greeting the Eager dogs
With the conclusion of our briefing session, we were led to the field where all the dog sleds were lined up. The pack of 5 huskies were already harnessed to the sleds and were getting restless! Many of us were equally excited at meeting the dogs and took selfies with them before settling into our sleds.
Setting off into the Winter Wonderland
Eventually, the harness of each sled was released one by one, and each of us sprang into action. My sled had the honour of being the last sled to depart.
Honestly, it was harrowing at first as the dogs sprang into action. I literally felt like I was in a cartoon scene, whereby the sled moved off while my head was still at the back from the inertia!
Thankfully, the experienced guide started off slow. The route we went through was generally flat with gentle slopes. On a few occasions, the dogs struggled to pull 2 heavy humans up the slopes, and I had to get off to help push the sled. I must say it was a morning of glute training!
Switching Roles
Soon, I got to be the passenger. It was surreal to be moving at such high speed so near the ground. The thrill of speeding through nature was beyond words. As the sled sped past, bits of the powdery snow would be kicked up, as though it was snowing while I was on the ride.
Along the way, I witnessed what I had watched on TikTok: the dogs defecating and peeing while on the run! It was cute at first. Then I realised that the flurry of snow that flew into my face would have contained bits of their excrement.
Speak of anti climax!
And imagine at first, I was laughing away at the comical scene from the huskies! So pro tip: wear a face mask while dog sledding!
All good things had to end. Our 1.5 hours of husky sledding ended where we started off. The next order of the day was to have lunch after changing out of and returning our thermal wear.
Warm Norwegian Meal Over Chatter
When the snowmobile team returned, the group was treated to a warm meal of local traditional dishes at the camp’s lávvus (indigenous Sámi tent). We were first served a warm currant drink, chatting over the dining table while waiting for the rest to assemble.
The main dish – traditional Norwegian reindeer stew – was served next. Paired with the local bread, we had a taste of indigenous lifestyle deep in winter. Vegetarian stew was also provided, though the serving was limited and prioritised for those who gave an advanced notice.
In between our meals and the ice domes tour, we roamed around the camp to take in the magical snowscape. We also ventured into the huskies’ home ground and got up close and personal with them canines. The adventurous ones even got to hug the huskies!
Getting to know the Sami reindeers
On the way to the ice domes, we passed by an enclosure where a herd of Sami reindeers were chilling out. The guide took the opportunity to explain that the reindeers were migratory, and they were particularly suited for the frozen landscape. In fact, the dry, powdery snow was their cup of tea.
We were nonetheless separated from them via a wire mesh fence. But while we got close to them, I wondered if they could smell their relatives from our breaths?
Exploring the Ice domes – Limited to Late Winter!
Further down, a cluster of ice domes was built every winter, using the ice from the nearby river. Therefore, these ice domes would usually only be up in late winter.
These ice domes also provided accommodation for tourists on an overnight tour. Each room was adorned with different ice sculptures based on the Game of Thrones TV show. The beds and chairs (also carved from ice) were laid out with warm fur. The downside? There was no ensuite toilet. But one need not venture too far to find one.
A 2m tall giant sculpture modelled after the ancient viking boats looked over the central hall, where we were treated to cold berry drink served in ice cups. Of course the cup slipped from my fingers and spilled the red juice all over the ice bar table…
Over at the dining hall, a majestic table lined up with high backed chairs was reminiscent of mediaeval royal stature. Of course, those furniture were also carved from ice.
I didn’t think I would enjoy the stay at the ice domes. Despite my love for the ice and cold, the idea of no ensuite toilet and not being able to shower before sleep was a dealbreaker.
Eventually, we had to bid goodbye to Camp Tamok, its huskies and reindeers, and the ice domes. In the span of 8 hours, we experienced a range of activities catered to all preferences.
Tips for Preparing for Husky Sledding Tour
To make for an enjoyable experience, do prepare for the tour:
- Bring a pouch to carry valuables.
- Wear face masks during sledding to keep whatever that was flying past you out of your mouth.
- Wear sunglasses, as the snow could be glaring, especially on sunny days.
- Use lanyards for cameras/phones, so that you won’t risk dropping them while you are speeding across the snow fields.
- Inform the organisers in advance if you have dietary preferences.
Parting Words
At NOK 3090 / USD 290, the price for the 8 hour dog sledding experience may seem steep, however, it was jam packed with value. On top of the 1.5hr of dog sledding, we were equipped with high quality thermal wear. There was a decent warm meal (not just snacks and drinks), ice domes tour, transport to and from Camp Tamok, and we got up close and personal with the huskies and Sami reindeers.
Controlling the dog sleds wasn’t as difficult as it looked like. The braking system was designed such that snow would accumulate and create a huge braking force when one steps on it. The huskies were also well trained to take the signal to stop the sled. The downside? We had to clear the snow off the brake pad in order to restart the sled.
That being said, the sled before us still had the unfortunate encounter of overturning. Everything happened so fast!I was mesmerised by the snowscape and was startled to see a crouching figure appear in my camera. However, it wasn’t a serious accident (the deep snow cushioned the fall) and fallen the pair was up and away in no time, laughing off the incident.
With the tour wrapped up, we went for a quick dinner before proceeding to report for our aurora tour. But that is for another post. Till then, stay wanderlust!
This is a part of a series of our arctic adventure in late winter 2024. We hunted for aurora at Iceland – but failed – and flew over to Tromso to try our luck. Of course, we filled our days in between the aurora tours to visit Tromsø’s famous sights like the Arctic Cathedral, and tried out their restaurants based on Google reviews (so you don’t need to take the risk!).
p/s: We had booked our tour with Norwegian Travel. The tour’s details could be found in the attached link. However, as this tour is seasonal, the link may not work all year round.
https://www.norwegian.travel/experiences/dogsledding-ice-domes-guided-tour-and-reindeer-visit
All photos and videos were taken using Google Pixel 7 Pro, and edited with Google Photos.