Tromsø Villmarkssenter · Kvaløya
An evening at Tromsø Villmarkssenter with its 200 huskies and puppies, a bacalao dinner and a campfire, 25 minutes from town under a dark sky. Book it as a dog visit with an aurora chance, not as dog sledding: there's no sled ride.
This is a husky visit, not a sled trip. Viator's copy of the listing says so in plain words: "Dog Sledding" and "Northern Lights Chase" sit under not included. GetYourGuide prints the same two items straight after the inclusions with no heading, which is why some people book it expecting a ride. The bus leaves the Radisson Blu at 18:45 for Tromsø Villmarkssenter on Kvaløya, 25 minutes away.
At the kennel you meet the huskies and puppies, sit by a campfire roasting marshmallows, and lie on reindeer skins or sit in chairs to watch the sky. Dinner is bacalao, a spicy Norwegian stew of stockfish and tomato, with homemade chocolate cake and coffee. A guide talks about the aurora. The camp is dark enough to see the lights when they come, and many reviewers did, but the kennel stays where it is: if the sky is cloudy over Kvaløya, that's your night.
At $187 it's half the price of a sled trip, and families love it. Expect a busy evening, though: groups can reach 48 people, and one guest found only about 10 dogs out for 40 visitors, since most had worked all day. If you want the ride, book the guided sled ride at the same kennel by day. If you want the best odds on the aurora, a northern lights chase drives to wherever the sky is clear.
A check-in agent meets you 15 minutes before. The bus leaves on time.
Thermal suits and boots are waiting at the camp.
Time in the dog yard and with the puppies, led by the handlers.
Bacalao, cake and coffee in a lavvo or by the campfire.
Marshmallows, the aurora talk and, with luck, the lights, then the bus back.
★★★★★we had loads of time to pet them and interact, we had a delicious dinner and a big bonus for me was seeing the Aurora Borealis it was spectacular, finished off with a camp fire, cookie & marshmallow
★★★★★After just a few minutes, we were already lucky enough to see the northern lights. The guides then also switched off the lights so that we had an even better view. Later, we got to meet the younger dogs, and afterwards, we had a really delicious dinner by the fire.
★★★★★The dinner was great followed by a fire and marshmallows. We did not see the northern lights but would absolutely do the tour again even without them. The whole family had a blast!
★★★★★Obviously, the northern lights aren't a guarantee, but this would have been worth it without them.
Read next:
No. Viator's version of the same trip lists "Dog Sledding" and "Northern Lights Chase" as not included. You meet the dogs, eat dinner and watch the sky. For a ride, book a sled trip; our northern lights guide explains the options.
No. The listing says so too. Many guests saw them from the kennel, others had cloud. A chase tour that drives to clear sky gives you better odds.
Bacalao, a Norwegian-Portuguese stew of stockfish (dried cod) and tomato, served with bread, then homemade chocolate cake and coffee. A vegetarian dish is available if you order it when booking.
Yes, all ages. Children must be with an adult, and you should bring your own car seat. The camp is also wheelchair and stroller accessible, according to Viator.
Ready to book
An evening with 200 huskies, a campfire dinner and a dark sky. No sled ride.
Small-Group Northern Lights Chase with PhotosNot a husky trip: a small-group chase for clear sky, with a campfire meal and photos of you under the lights.★ 4.8 · About 8 hours · from $225
Evening Dog Sledding & DinnerSelf-drive sledding after dark, dinner by the fire and aurora portraits. 16+, about 10 hours, few reviews.★ 4.8 · About 10 hours · from $588
Guided Husky Sled Ride with LunchA musher drives and you ride: about 45 minutes on Kvaløya, puppies and reindeer stew. No minimum age, no fitness needed.★ 4.9 · 4 hours · from $355