A Night Tail: Aurora Husky Hike in Norway

A Night Tail: Aurora Husky Hike in Norway

An Aurora Husky hike in Norway is an essential Arctic experience for all animal lovers. Even the captivating landscape plays second fiddle to these beautiful animals.

While Kia doesn't consider herself an animal lover, I certainly do. I grew up in the country always in the company of animals. Throughout my childhood we kept dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs and hamsters. The presence of animals in my life has had a lasting impact on me.

Above all, I love dogs. There's something about their unconditional love and loyalty that makes them so attractive.

Author Aldous Huxley once said, "To his dog, every man is Napoleon; hence the enduring popularity of dogs." While this analogy makes me a brutal French tyrant, I think Huxley hit the nail on the head.

My current lifestyle makes owning a dog impossible (when I'm not traveling, I live in a tiny apartment in London) - but I still dream of owning a small house in the country with my dog(s) curled up in front of the open fire. When we booked our trip to Norway, I was obviously looking forward to meeting some huskies.

Traditionally, tourists in Arctic Norway opt for husky sled excursions. However, since there was no snow on the ground, we booked an Aurora Husky hike at Villmarkssenter (Wilderness Center), about a 30-minute drive from Tromsø.

The Villmarkssenter was founded in 1988 by the musher Tove Sørensen as a doghouse. Today she has over 300 Alaskan Huskies trained for dog sledding. Tove has competed in Europe's longest dog sled race, the Finnmarksløpet, 15 times, and in 2006 she competed in the world's longest dog sled race, the Iditarod Great Sled Race in Alaska.

Alaskan Huskies are an unofficial breed with a patchwork heritage tailor-made for the rigors of racing and hauling. Don't let her sloppy heritage and cute looks fool you. Generations of breeding have produced dogs that enjoy running, can pull large payloads over rough terrain, and work with other dogs like a well-oiled machine.

Therefore, a traditional dog collar and leash is simply not enough. The Villmarkssenters provide specially made elastic harnesses for both huskies and hikers so that the strong animals do not drag their leaders head over heels. Waterproof jackets and pants are also provided as the hiking route can get muddy and wet.

As we approached the kennels, a dissonance of howls filled the arctic night: a chilling sound that belied the friendly and enthusiastic welcome that awaited us.

alt=“Aurora Husky Hike-7″>Atlas & BootsI meet Ika for the first time

Our huskies were brought to us individually. I immediately fell in love with the affectionate and quick-tempered Ika, a husky with thick fur, big ears and a lolling tongue. Basically everything a dog should be! (Kia was less than impressed when I said “Ika” was an anagram of “Kia,” the other love of my life.)

After getting settled in, we set off. Unfortunately it was cloudy so we didn't get to see the Northern Lights, but we didn't mind as our trip had already provided a stunning Northern Lights display. And if I'm being completely honest, I didn't care. I didn't look at the sky at all; I was more interested in my husky, who actually took me on a hike!

alt=“Aurora Husky Hike-4″>Atlas & BootsIt was actually Ika who took me on a hike

The Aurora Husky hike took about an hour through muddy trails along hilly fields. The Huskies are incredibly strong, always resist the harness, but are never aggressive or bad-tempered. During the hike, our group took a break to chat about the dogs, the shelter, and the guides' lives in the Arctic.

Our guide Robert spoke very warmly about the huskies and emphasized that the most important goal in raising good sled dogs is that they are good-natured and get along well with both people and other dogs.

"There's no real trick," he said. “Just treat the dogs right, feed them well (they need special huskie food) and show them lots of love and they will make great sled dogs.”

After the Aurora Husky hike, we returned the dogs to their kennels and spent some time wandering around the other kennels and meeting all the other huskies who were about to settle in for the night. Robert said it's important that they get all the attention so they don't feel left out. I have never met a group of dogs who were so well balanced and friendly - a true reflection of the care and affection they receive from their carers.

alt=“Aurora Husky Hike-8″>Atlas & BootsI challenge everyone to spend a minute in his company without beaming with joy

We moved on to meet some of the puppies who are housed in large stables where they can run around. If the adult Huskies are excitable, then the puppies are downright and ridiculously hyperexcitable. I challenge everyone to spend a minute in his company without smiling from ear to ear.

After another half hour of playing with the puppies, it was time to say goodnight to the huskies and retire to the traditional Sami Lavvu tent for soup, chocolate cake and warm drinks. We also had the opportunity to watch a short film about the owner of Villmarkssenter, focusing on her time at the Iditarod sled race in 2006.

We may have gone to the Arctic Circle to chase the Northern Lights, but looking at the videos and photos from our visit to Villmarkssenter, I think I came home with equally fond memories of our four-legged friends. I end with another poignant quote, this time from George Bernard Shaw.

“If you eliminate smoking and gambling, you will be astonished to find that almost all the joys of an Englishman can be, and usually are, shared by his dog.”

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Aurora Husky Hike: The Essentials

What: An Aurora Husky hike at Villmarkssenter near Tromso in Norway.

Where: We stayed at the Scandic Ishavshotel, an excellent alternative to the huge Radisson next door. Located on the waterfront, Ishavshotel offers panoramic views of Tromso Harbour, Tromso Bridge and the Arctic Cathedral, as well as easy access to local attractions - the Polar Museum is just minutes away.

Our room had floor-to-ceiling windows and was equipped with the all-important heater and carpeted flooring, making it a cozy escape after a day (or night!) in the cold.

When: An Aurora Husky hike is available from September 1st to October 31st. Husky sledding must wait until there is enough snow on the ground. So if you want to include this in your visit, you'll have to wait until after the first snowfalls, usually around early November.

How: Whether you choose an Aurora Husky hike or a dog sled ride, a Villmarkssenter minibus will pick you up in central Tromso, where most hotels are located. The journey takes approximately 30 minutes. The price for the Aurora Husky hike is 990 NOK ($120) but includes the transfers, the guided hike, a hot meal, hot drinks, marshmallows roasted on an open fire and of course cake!

There are a number of other activities, both day and night. Nighttime activities include the additional chance of seeing the Northern Lights, although this can never be guaranteed. Bring warm clothing, gloves, a hat and good winter boots. It is the Arctic after all!

The best way to get to Tromsø is to fly from Oslo. Book via Skyscanner for the best prices.

From Tromso Airport you can take the Flybussekspressen into the city. These cost 60 NOK ($7.3) and leave right outside the airport. The slightly cheaper option is the “state bus” (colored white).

You can buy tickets at the newsagent at Tromso Airport (36 NOK or 50 NOK on board). You can reach the correct bus stop by crossing the parking lot underground or bypassing it above ground. Just ask an airport representative if you are unsure.

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Main image: Dezy/Shutterstock

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