This one was tricky to write. The reason is that my personal experience here was a little disappointing. Usually, when this happens it is easy because it’s a case of bad service, or a bad company so I just don’t write about it at all. In this case, though, it was a matter of unlucky bad timing. I otherwise loved the service, accommodation and would absolutely stay there again. I created the post to be able to share it with you and added the tips I learned from my bad timing experience too. Here’s my guide on a local treasure I found where you can go husky sledding in Norway as well as experience a stay in an incredible handmade log cabin. If you have any questions, just let me know in the comments.
Where To Stay For Handmade Log Cabins And Husky Sledding In Norway
Disclaimer
There are affiliate links included in this post. This means at no extra cost to you, I earn a commission if you book through the link.
The basics
Location: Karasjok, Norway
Accommodation: Engholm Husky Design Lodge
How to book: Check booking.com for the fastest booking – if there’s no availability, email the lodge at post@engholm.no
Highlights: Handmade accommodation, husky sledding, local tours, unique experience
Note: Each cabin is handmade and has a different name, decor, facilities, etc. – my photos are from the Soarvi cabin
Where to stay
Allow me to introduce you to Engholm Husky Design Lodge in Karasjok.
If you want to experience husky sledding in Norway and also love to stay in unique accommodation, this is the perfect place for you.
How to get there
If you are using Google Maps, there are two locations listed. Make sure to use ‘Engholm Husky’ which is in Karasjok when you select the destination address.
It is very easy to find and well signed from the main road.
What’s so special about Engholm Husky Design Lodge?
This is not a regular lodge in any way.
What’s unique about Engholm is that everything has been handmade by Sven and his family.
Not only were the cabins themselves handmade, but as you move through each room, you will see the extent of his creations. Lampshades made from animal skin, wine glass holders made from rope, labels carved into bone, tables, ladders, and there was even a swing chair in our room.
Sven has a truly creative mind.
He is someone who will see a scrap piece of bone left by the dogs after their meal, clean it, and turn it into something useful like a toothpick holder. Nothing goes to waste. Natural elements like wood, bone, skin, and fur have been utilized in building and decorating the cabins which give a feeling of being close to nature.
I understand that some people may get squeamish with animal products like furs and bones, but, personally, I appreciate that they are not going to waste.
Another great feature of staying here is that you are surrounded by the process.
You don’t just go on a tour with the dogs, then go back to your nice hotel room. Instead, you fall asleep to the sounds of them howling. You see the daily tasks being completed to care for them with their feeding time, free running time, and grooming time. It’s a complete experience.
It’s a perfect place to get off the beaten track, support a local business, learn about the culture, and collect some awesome travel memories while you’re there.
How to plan a Norway husky adventure
There are different options for planning your Norwegian husky adventure.
Engholm offers day trips, overnight trips, and even multiple night trips where you would go out with the team of dogs and explore the gorgeous landscape.
While I was visiting, I met a group who had just returned from a 3-night trip and they had the biggest smiles on their faces when they talked about the experience. It sounded fantastic!
Organize your husky adventure by emailing the lodge at post@engholm.no.
Other things to do at the lodge
This is a great stop to experience Norwegian culture.
Another outing you can do while at Engholm Husky Design Lodge is to visit with a Sami reindeer herder. This looks incredible and I would absolutely return to do this and learn more about reindeer herding in Norway.
In Karasjok, there is also the Sami National Museum which I would have loved to see. It looks like an interesting place to visit.
It’s also a fantastic spot in nature to hike and soak in the beautiful surroundings.
My biggest tip
Unfortunately, my stay at Engholm was a little anticlimactic. I’m still sharing it here on my blog because what made it disappointing for me was just a matter of bad timing.
It’s not a reflection of the lodge itself and I would absolutely stay there again.
But, it does lead me to be able to offer this tip so that hopefully the same doesn’t happen to you.
I requested to do a tour to visit a Sami reindeer herder when I made the booking and was told that it will probably go ahead on the day I selected but that it couldn’t be confirmed until the night prior.
It was understandable and I went through the rest of the trip hoping to have this experience with a Sami reindeer herder on my last day in Norway.
Unfortunately, when I got there, I was told that it couldn’t happen for the day I was there. My heart broke into a million pieces!
Still, I thought, it’s OK we will be able to find something else to do for our last day. But, unfortunately, it was a Sunday. Everything in Karasjok was closed and most of the dogs were out on a trip so we couldn’t go sledding.
My biggest tip for you is what I wish I had known and done. Have a backup plan if you plan to do a tour that you can’t confirm until the day prior. When I was organizing the reindeer tour, I wish I had explained that if it couldn’t go ahead I’d be interested in another tour, like a husky tour.
Obviously, it wouldn’t have been able to happen since the dogs were out that day, but at least I would’ve known which would have made for a better experience.
Other posts to help you plan a trip to northern Norway
What To Pack For A Week In Northern Norway – Winter Packing Tips
Visit Nordkapp In Norway – How To Plan A Trip To The Top Of The World
How To Do A King Crab Safari In Kirkenes, Norway (And Why You Should)
Northern Lights In Norway – Skip The Tours For An EPIC Cabin Experience
For more information on husky sledding in Norway
Visit the Engholm Husky Design Lodge website or book your stay here.
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