Adventure Week

Engholm Lodge outside Karasjok — in the heart of Sámi culture — is your base for the first four days. The programme includes one day trip by snowmobile to a traditional Sámi reindeer herder and his reindeer on the plateau, two days at your own disposal for interesting activities, and a three-day sled dog tour. On the tour we stay overnight in a mountain cabin on the Finnmark plateau — or we take another route and stay at the Engholm Husky wilderness camp, a cosy, warm basecamp tent hidden in the wilderness, depending on weather conditions and the time of year. 25–50 km per day.

How we travel

You will have your "own" sled and be responsible for 4–6 dogs. Participants with previous dog-sledding experience usually drive a single team. Participants without experience normally start out on the first day with a tandem team — two sleds and 8–10 dogs — sharing the team with a partner or the guide. The guide and the participants decide together whether a double or a single team is best; the sleds are very easy to disconnect from each other, so that there are two single teams.

Who can join

A reasonable level of fitness, concentration and a sense of balance are the key attributes needed.

Good to know

We reserve the right to change the order of the days. An extra day trip with the dog sled instead of the visit to the reindeer herd may be possible — this must be agreed in advance.

GPS positions of the lodge and the mountain cabins are listed under Information → GPS positions.

Day by day plan

Day 1

The programme starts with dinner at 19.00. Then your guide gives you all the information about the programme.

Day 2 · Reindeer herders

This day will be memorable. We travel beyond the beaten tracks by snowmobile to a winter settlement of Sámi reindeer herders, who make their living here on the winter pasture. You are picked up at 10.00 at Engholm Lodge by the herder with his snowmobile and taken by sled to the herd. We spend the day with the family, join their daily life with the reindeer and gain an insight into their way of living and herding. This adventure is a unique privilege, made available to a few by a Sámi family from Karasjok.

Days 3–4 · At your own disposal

These days are at your own disposal for interesting activities. There is always a lot happening on the farm, and you are welcome to join in our daily life. Sled dogs may be in training; the yearlings are learning to socialise and have their almost daily hour of training by the river (five times a week). Many interesting books can be read from the small "Dog musher library". Smaller outings can be ventured on your own if you wish: snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, a tour with our kick-sleds or walking in the beautiful, unspoiled landscape right outside the door.

The following activities can be booked, depending on availability: a day trip with the sled dogs, 4–5 hours · a guided northern-light safari on snowshoes, 3–4 hours, min. 2 persons · learn cross-country skiing, 4 hours, min. 2 persons · a snowshoe hike with ice fishing, 4 hours, min. 2 persons · a snowmobile tour with a guide up to the Finnmark plateau, 2 or 5 hours.

Local handicrafts and shops are found in Karasjok, the Sámi village; the National Sámi Museum, a guided tour of the Norwegian Sámi Parliament, the Sámi art gallery, the Sápmi theme park and the local knife smith are also worth visiting.

Days 5–7 · Sled dog tour

We start out on a three-day tour, checking that the mushers are matched with their teams of huskies — by now you and the huskies have usually got to know each other's ways. After a steep climb up to the mountain plateau we mush over a hilly stretch, crossing lakes and marshes. We spend the nights at our wilderness camp — a cosy, warm basecamp tent hidden in the wilderness — or, taking another route, in a mountain cabin on the Finnmark plateau, depending on weather conditions and the time of year.

The area we sled through is winter pasture for reindeer. We may meet the native reindeer herders — the Sámi — in their daily life on the winter pastures.

Then a long stretch back to Engholm Lodge through a variety of beautiful landscapes. If we are lucky we may see moose, which usually stay in the valley in winter. Dinner in a warm atmosphere is waiting for us at the lodge, and we have a cosy wood-fired sauna ready on request for those tempted — maybe with the northern lights above.

Day 8

The programme ends after breakfast. It is worth considering staying a few extra days for other activities as a lodge guest before or after the tour.

The price includes

• All meals from dinner at 19.00 on day one until breakfast on the last day
• All tour equipment
• Arctic clothing for mushing — see the equipment list
• Guide and activities according to the programme
• Design-cabin accommodation at the lodge
• Dormitory at the mountain cabins

Not included

• Personal equipment
• Individual services
• Insurance
• Transport to and from the lodge

The full terms are in the booking terms.