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Husky Safari

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A bit of history

The relationship between men and dogs dates back many thousands of years and it is believed to be around  3000 years since dogs were first trained to pull sleds for the practical purpose of transporting goods across the northerly regions of North America, Siberia and Scandinavia.

By the 19th century, the use of husky sleds grew as a recreational activity and today it is not only a popular excursion for visitors to these remote regions, but is also a hugely competitive and much loved sport. This can be witnessed at famous, multi day husky sled races which take place across the Arctic regions including the Finnmarkslopet in Norway and the Iditarod in Canada which attracts thousands of spectators each year.

The dogs that are used to pull the sleds vary between locations but they are generally Alaskan malamutes, Alaskan huskies and Siberian huskies which are selected based on their stamina, speed, strength and friendliness towards humans. Choosing the correct dogs is an important part of dog sledding with lead dogs selected for their intelligence and others for their strength.

Dogs are trained from a young age to be highly obedient to their mushers and as pack animals, they quickly establish a hierarchy in a team. 

The activity

Once you have experienced husky sledding it is easy to see why it is so popular with visitors. When you travel across the snow it is an almost silent experience in contrast to activities such as snowmobiling.

The dogs will be eagerly harnessed up in teams of four to six, filling the air with excited barking, desperate to be off. They soon settle into a steady pace behind their musher and will pull you with great enthusiasm across the snow with the only sounds you hear being the padding of excitable paws on snow and the swish of the sled's runners. 

The joy of husky sledding is perhaps best described as a mix of giddy exhilaration and a sense of a real connection to the environment – there is really nothing else quite like it in the world!

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The Aurora Zone was born from a desire to share Mother Nature’s greatest wonder with our clients. We’ve explored the destinations, researched the science, and fallen in love with the Scandinavian way of life. It’s our mission to pass this knowledge on to you, providing you with the very best chance of experiencing the magic for yourself on your Northern Lights holiday.

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