Kvaløya, Breivikeidet or Tamok?

Where does dog sledding happen near Tromsø?

In three areas: Kvaløya, the island west of Tromsø; Breivikeidet, a valley to the east; and the Tamok valley, far inland.

Here is who is where, and what you can book there:

What is dog sledding on Kvaløya like?

Close, quick and coastal: open snow and birch with views over fjords and mountains, 25 to 45 minutes from the centre.

Kvaløya is the big island across the bridge from Tromsø, and three kennels work there. Tromsø Villmarkssenter is the oldest, started around 1989 by musher Tove Sørensen, who has finished the Finnmarksløpet 19 times (villmarkssenter.no). It keeps almost 200 Alaskan huskies, 25 to 35 minutes from town, with views towards Balsfjord and Malangen.

Arctic Adventure Tours has about 130 Alaskan huskies and the longest self-drive run on the island. Tromsø Aurora Husky is the small one: groups of 15 to 20, puppies, a lavvo and handmade gear, about 30 to 45 minutes out.

Which Kvaløya kennel should you pick?

Arctic Adventure Tours for the longest self-drive, Tromsø Villmarkssenter for a meal and the guided ride, Tromsø Aurora Husky for a smaller group.

• Self-drive with Arctic Adventure Tours: $351, 70 to 80 minutes on the trail, cake in a lavvo, ages 7 and up. Pickup at Scandic Ishavshotel.
• Self-drive with lunch at Villmarkssenter: $355, about 45 minutes, reindeer stew, ages 16 and up. Pickup at the Radisson Blu.
• The guided ride at Villmarkssenter: $355, about 45 minutes with a musher, any age.
• Tromsø Aurora Husky: $423, 45 to 60 minutes, Arctic soup and hot chocolate. A Viator guest called it "a true dogsledding experience. The course was challenging!"

Self-drive at the kennel Tove Sørensen started, then reindeer stew around the fire. Ages 16 and up.

★ 4.9 · 4 hours · from $355

Explore the Villmarkssenter self-drive with lunch → Tour details

What is Breivikeidet like for dog sledding?

A valley east of Tromsø, about 50 minutes by bus, close to the sea, with the Lyngen Alps on the skyline.

Destination Tromsø runs its camp here, with a panorama restaurant and a big dog yard; one guest mentions meeting "all 120 of the huskies". It is the home of the short Breivikeidet ride, from $229 and open to ages 4 and up. The same company runs the evening sledding trip, but that one goes to Camp Tamok, leaving Prostneset at 13:45.

The valley sits low and near the coast, so early in the season Destination Tromsø may switch to wheeled wagons if there isn't enough snow.

Why go all the way to the Tamok valley?

For colder, drier snow, an empty valley and a full day out. The price is about three hours on the bus.

Tamokdalen is an inland valley with cold, continental winters and little rain; temperatures usually sit between -10 and -20°C and sometimes drop to -30°C (Arctic Norway). Destination Tromsø runs two trips here. The Tamokdalen day splits the group: half sleds while the other half visits the dog yard and eats, then you switch. One guest counted 7 km on the sled; another timed 15 to 20 minutes of driving each. Camp Tamok advanced is longer and harder, for fit over-16s.

Anne-Marie, in April 2026: "Absolutely the best thing we did when in Tromso. [...]"

Where is the snow most reliable?

Inland, in the Tamok valley. Coastal Kvaløya and Breivikeidet get mild spells and rain, and early or late in the season they may sled on wheels.

Sledding on snow runs roughly November to April, and late December to February is the safest window. When snow is thin, operators run wheeled carts; a Viator reviewer in November 2024 wrote: "No snow [...] we used buggies with tires." A Villmarkssenter guest had a rained-off day and got a dog-yard visit with lunch and a refund for the sled part.

If your trip falls in November or April, the cold, dry Tamok valley is the safer bet. For this winter's start, see the 2026-27 season post.

The best odds of real snow early and late in the season: a full day in the Tamok valley, self-drive in pairs.

★ 4.9 · 7 hours · from $355

Explore the Tamokdalen day trip → Tour details

Which area has the best scenery?

Breivikeidet for big mountains, Tamok for wilderness, Kvaløya for fjord views in low winter sun.

On Kvaløya you look over water and islands, with the sun skimming the horizon from late January. Breivikeidet's sleds run below steep white peaks. The Tamok valley is quieter: birch, open river flats and a lot of sky, which is also why it does well for the aurora on overnight trips.

In the polar night, from about 27 November to 15 January, the scenery is blue twilight wherever you go. More in the polar night post.

How do you get to the kennels?

On the included bus or minibus from one of three meeting points in central Tromsø. Nobody needs a car.

• Scandic Ishavshotel: Arctic Adventure Tours (black minibus), and the northern lights chase.
• Radisson Blu, Sjøgata 7: Tromsø Villmarkssenter and Tromsø Aurora Husky (white minibus).
• Prostneset terminal: the Destination Tromsø desk, for Breivikeidet, Tamokdalen and Camp Tamok, and the Arctic Resorts evening trip.

Be there 15 minutes early. Villmarkssenter's bus leaves on time, and a missed departure is not refunded. Families with small children can drive themselves to Villmarkssenter at the same price; see dog sledding with kids.

Frequently asked questions