Dog Sledding in Sweden

If you’re planning a trip to Sweden and want to go dog sledding (which I highly recommend!!), it can feel intimidating to find a place and figure out how to get there. Sweden has some notoriously difficult pronunciations for their train stations, towns and bus stops.

To avoid getting lost, confused or frustrated while planning – recreate my trip by following these few easy steps for a hassle free adventure!

Overview:

• Fly into Stockholm
• Buy a train ticket with GoEuro
• Take the train from Stockholm to Undersåker
• Book with Wild Spirit Sled Dogs
• Take the overnight train back to Stockholm after several days

Fly into Stockholm

If you’re planning a trip to Sweden, chances are you’ll want to visit Stockholm anyway. A beautiful city located right on the water with plenty to do!

When booking flights I use the app or website Momondo– I find it is often hundreds of dollars cheaper than google flights or booking directly.

Momondo also has a calendar price feature that shows you the cheapest days to fly! I have booked all my international flights using their app in the last year.

Pro tip: It was actually cheaper to Iceland and spend one day exploring there then fly to Sweden instead of flying to Sweden directly.

I saved several hundred dollars on my flight by doing this AND was able to see Iceland’s Blue Lagoon, Golden Circle and Reykjavik. Read about how to spend one day in Iceland here.

Optional: Fly into Trondheim instead

Think you’d like to explore Norway instead? You can easily fly into the Trondheim airport. You can also fly into the Ostersund airport in Sweden but flights here are much more expensive. It might be worth checking into though! We found the flight to Stockholm and the train ride to the north worked best for us.

Wild Spirit Dog Sledding offers a variety of other ways to arrive at their location which you can read about here.

Buy A Train Ticket With GoEuro

Download their free app and your tickets will be saved directly onto the app! No need to print anything out. GoEuro is the easiest and cheapest way to travel Europe by train. You can generally save money if you book in advance and it’s very simple to use.

You can also book your train tickets on the GoEuro website here.

Take the train from Stockholm to Undersåker

The train is located in the Stockholm Central Station.

It is very easy to find and clearly labeled.

The train tickets will typically cost $40-$80 depending when you buy and what time you go!

Since you will be heading so far north, the train ride is about 7-10 hours depending on the day and how many stops the train will make.

This sounds like a long commute but we LOVED the train ride. It was an incredibly scenic route through a winter wonderland. We had snacks, warm drinks and watched movies as we sped past beautiful winter landscapes.

The train has a dining cart with food and drink available as well! Walk around, stretch your legs and soak in the views of Sweden as you race past.

Book with Wild Spirit Dog Sledding

This company is fantastic- professional, knowledgeable and home to 80+ sled dogs!

When you first arrive on the property, the dogs go WILD with excitement- bounding around and barking like crazy with anticipation. The energy is off the charts! You can’t help but share in the dog’s excitement.

These dogs are incredibly sweet, playful and friendly! You can see my full collection of photos with them here.

You can book your excursion with Wild Spirit Dog Sledding here.

Accommodation

You will probably want to stay 3 or 4 days. The nearby town is small but it does wonders to disconnect from busy city life for a bit. Snow shoeing, walks around the lake or dinner at a local restaurant is a great way to connect with whoever you’re traveling with.

Wild Spirit provides and recommends a variety of great local accommodation. Curling up by a fire in the cabin after a long day in the snow is so wonderfully relaxing

Here are some options for your stay:

• Basic Youth Hostel room – from 350 kr per person per night
• Basic Cabin – from 1000 kr per night (based on 4 people)
• Exclusive Cabin – from 1300 kr per night (based on 6 people)
• The Bear Lodge – from 5000kr per night (based on 12 people)
• Mountain cabin – from 500 kr per night (based on 4 people)
• Mountain Hostel room – from 500 kr per night (based on 2 or 4 people)

Ottsjö Fjalhotell: http://www.ottsjofjallhotell.se
Igloo Äre: http://www.iglooare.com/index.php/en/

GoEuro Train Back to Stockholm

If you are heading back to Stockholm after your dog sledding trip, you can simply retrace your steps back!

Optional: Overnight Train

On the way back, we chose to book an overnight train. At maximum capacity, this particular train slept 6 people in a room.

The beds were comfortable and we enjoyed the scenic train ride. We spent most of the trip watching movies in the lounge and watching the winter wonderland race past!

Visiting northern Sweden is a worthwhile and highly enjoyable trip- hopefully this guide simplifies your dog sledding excursion!

More on dog sledding and Sweden? Keep reading:

• HOW TO FIND WORK WITH A DOG SLED COMPANY – AND WHERE EXACTLY TO APPLY
• 25 PHOTOS TO INSPIRE YOU TO GO DOG SLEDDING
• HOW TO DRESS FOR WINTER DESTINATIONS: A WOMEN’S GUIDE TO FEELING WARM AND FASHIONABLE

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The post Dog Sledding in Sweden- Where to Go and How to Get There appeared first on The Wanderlust Rose.

How To Dress For Winter Destinations

Iceland, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Alaska, Russia, and Canada are all incredible travel destinations. But also obviously, very cold. Nothing will spoil your trip faster than being unprepared, under dressed and therefore COLD! Traveling to winter destinations at the peak of their snow season is beautiful and definitely not to be missed. You just want to be prepared

So I’ve compiled a list of my winter traveling essentials to feel warm and fashionable no matter where you are going in the world.

Just click the images below and have fun shopping!

Boots

Right before I left for Iceland, Sweden and Poland- I invested in this exact pair of Sorel boots. They are waterproof, fashionable and most importantly WARM!

I’ve worn them dog sledding, walking through Iceland on a cold rainy day, hiking to a waterfall in northern Sweden and all over Poland. I highly recommend them!

If you’re looking for another great Sorel boot with less fur and more of an indoor look- be sure to check these out!

Need shoes for going out but still want the same warmth? Check out these amazing Sorel boots– fashionable and warm! Perfect for a night out in a winter destination.

Thermal Layers

I cannot stress enough how much you need thermal under layers in cold destinations!

The key to staying warm is dressing in layers and always, your first layer should be your thermals.

Sweaters

After your thermal layer, you’ll want thick, cozy sweaters to bundle up in!

Down Parka

Finding the perfect coat can mean a lot of hunting online and in stores. You want something plenty warm but still makes you feel great when you wear it! I am obsessed with this all white faux fur down parka from Amazon.

I also love my longer brown coat and take it with me on every winter trip! The extra length really helps to keep your mid section warm

Mittens

Absolutely make sure you’ve packed warm mittens. It’s miserable to have freezing fingers and toes when you’re trying to enjoy your trip.

If you are doing activities where you need the use of your fingers, I recommend these!

Hats

I bought my furry pom-pom hat in Stockholm, Sweden but they have great ones on Amazon as well!

I never went outside without a hat- you will probably want to pack several!

Snow Suits

While we were in Sweden, the dog sledding company Wild Spirit loaned us snowsuits so we didn’t have to pack them. But this company Tipsy Elves has come out with some seriously cute retro snow suits that I adore!

Fleece Lined Leggings

These are my absolute number one essential for winter destinations! I have multiple pairs that I constantly wear under dresses, skirts and even jeans if it’s a super cold day.

I also wear them by themselves, to lounge in or sleep in at night! They are super versatile and will do wonders to keep you warm

Scarf

Sometimes a jacket just isn’t enough and you’ll really need to bundle up! Lots of layers and a super warm scarf will do the trick.

Hot Water Bottle

I had never used a hot water bottle until I camped for several weeks in Germany during Oktoberfest. It was FREEZING cold at night! Bundled up in multiple sleeping bags- I found a hot water bottle makes all the difference.

I use mine daily in Poland now as well. They are small and easy to travel with but provide such warmth!

Warm Pajamas

You’ll definitely want to pack something very warm to sleep in!

I was so thankful for fleece pajamas when we took an overnight train ride in Sweden that was quite cold! Cold drafty windows, thin blankets and train doors that kept opening to let in the freezing air made for a chilly night.

The places we stayed in Sweden and Poland were still much colder inside than what I was used to back at home. Stay warm while you sleep!

Socks

You will definitely need to pack thick, thermal socks.

You will want to wear one thin sock as a layer to help keep your feet dry, then add a thick sock over top!

I slept in these socks all of Sweden!

If you found this post helpful- let me know! Send me a picture of you in a cold destination and I’ll feature it on my Instagram

Have fun traveling and stay warm!

More on winter travel? Keep reading:

• 25 PHOTOS TO INSPIRE YOU TO GO DOG SLEDDING
• HOW TO SPEND ONE DAY IN ICELAND: MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR LAYOVER
• HOW TO FIND WORK WITH A DOG SLED COMPANY – AND WHERE EXACTLY TO APPLY

The post How to Dress for Winter Destinations: A Women’s Guide to Feeling Warm and Fashionable appeared first on The Wanderlust Rose.

Dog Sledding in Sweden

Dog Sledding Photos

If you’ve ever considered dog sledding, one look at these fluffy, adorable husky pups will convince you to plan your first excursion as soon as possible! Playful, affectionate and friendly- these dogs will capture your heart!

Imagine yourself snuggled up on a sled in the crisp, cold air while racing past frozen lakes, and beautiful snowy landscapes. What could be more dreamy!

If you haven’t already visited a winter destination- why not see what Iceland, Norway, Alaska, Finland, Sweden or Canada has to offer??

We spent 4 magical days with 80+ sled dogs in Ottsjö, Sweden with Wild Spirit Dog Sledding.

One glance at the photos from our trip should tell you exactly how enjoyable this experience was!

Thank you to Wild Spirit for hosting us during our stay!

If you’re planning a trip to Sweden and want to go dog sledding, it can feel intimidating to find a place and figure out how to get there. Sweden has some notoriously difficult pronunciations for their train stations, towns and bus stops.

To avoid getting lost, confused or frustrated while planning – recreate my trip by following these few easy steps for a hassle free adventure!

OVERVIEW:

• Fly into Stockholm, Sweden
• Buy a train ticket with GoEuro
• Take the train from Stockholm to Undersåker
• Book with Wild Spirit Sled Dogs- they can arrange your transfer from the train station
• Take the overnight train back to Stockholm after several days

Think you might like to work at a dog sledding company? Read how to find this travel job here.

If you book an excursion with Wild Spirits, tag me in your Instagram post or story so I can reshare you on my page

Dog Sledding Photos.

Shop my winter look here !

Ski Jacket

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Fleece Leggings

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Yeti Mug

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Sorel Boots

My favorite water proof boots!

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The post 25 Photos To Inspire You To Go Dog Sledding appeared first on The Wanderlust Rose.

How To Find Work With A Dog Sled Company

If you’re interested in finding work with a dog sled company, let me introduce you to Adrian.

He works seasonally at a dog sledding company in Sweden during the winter. As a musher and dog sled tour guide, he helps manage the kennels, take care of the dogs and guide the tours!

During the summer, Adrian travels the world working fun and interesting jobs from Denmark to Estonia to Germany. He has built stages at music festivals, worked in hostels, and hitch hiked all over Europe!

I worked with Adrian at Oktoberfest this year where we quickly became friends. So when he invited us to visit him in Sweden and go dog sledding, we couldn’t turn down this bucket list opportunity.

Wild Spirits Dog Sledding

Adrian works for a company called Wild Spirits located in the tiny Swedish village, Ottsjö. This village is an easy train ride from Stockholm and the perfect place to unplug from the hustle and bustle of a city.

Gorgeous mountain views, fresh snow on the frozen lake and 80+ sled dogs.

So how does a guy from Australia find work for a dog sled company in Sweden?

Adrian found the job listing on Workaway.

Workaway is a site connecting travellers with interesting jobs all over the world. This site includes many listings for dog sledding companies in Canada, Sweden, Norway, Finland and Alaska.

For the first season, he was brought on as a volunteer in exchange for accommodation and food.

But now, as more experienced dog musher, Wild Spirits brought him back for a second season as a paid employee!

Learning on the job

Think you’d like to work and travel around the world but don’t have the right job experience to start? Workaway positions are seeking all levels of experience.

Often times, they will train you or teach you the necessary skills– part of what makes the site and the experiences so appealing. Imagine yourself absolutely immersed in new experiences- a new country, new people, new culture and learning new skills! Workaway allows you to go anywhere in the world and work any type of job.

Prior to working for Wild Spirits, Adrian had absolutely no experience with dog sledding. He never even owned a dog. And because he grew up in Australia, he had never even seen snow before!!

Now he is running two tours a day during the busy season!

And after all the training he has received working at Wild Spirits, he plans to get a job leading dog sled tours in the Yukon territory of Canada.

What started as a volunteer travel position has led to a potential career path.

One of the best parts about doing Workaway around the world? Exploring the area you’re living in. And because you know you are only there temporarily, you appreciate and savor your time so much more!  You will find yourself seeking out everything the country has to offer during your stay.

Since the dog sledding season slows down a little during January and again in March, Adrian is able to go ice fishing, relax in the sauna, ski at the nearby resorts or drive the snow mobile.

Have you given traveling the world as a volunteer a thought?

Some people might be discouraged by accepting a volunteer travel job- where food, accommodation and experience are your only form of payment. But Adrian believes, if you only have money as your goal, it can be hard to ever achieve a level of satisfaction because you are left always wanting more.

Despite working as a volunteer the first season, Adrian got immense satisfaction from the dogs, the work he was doing and tours he provided for the guests.

Volunteering has been proven to prevent stress, anger and anxiety. Socially connecting by helping and working with others can have a massive positive impact on your overall psychological well- being.

This is just part of the reason so many travelers love volunteering around the world!

As a volunteer, Adrian has the opportunity to travel, constantly have new experiences and only work jobs he really loves. He is always pursuing worthwhile, meaningful experiences.

While some might find this lifestyle hard to imagine, Adrian (and many others-, myself included!) find it incredibly freeing.

And after experiencing the endless energy of 80+ huskies for several days, I can see why he loves his job so much.

The dogs bring such an infectious joy to your day. It’s impossible to be anything but happy, playful and energized when you are around them

 Interested in working for a dog sledding company around the world?

Cool Works is a great place to start when looking for dog sled work. This website is a search engine for all open jobs at the national parks or epic locations around the United States.

Just type “dog sledding” into the search bar and there will typically be 15-20 open sled dog jobs you can apply for right away!

Check out these dog sledding companies in the United States:

• GOLD RUSH DOG TOURS (Apply here!)
• ALASKA ICEFIELD EXPEDITIONS
• WITHIN THE WILD ALASKA ADVENTURE COMPANY
• TOGWOTEE MOUNTAIN LODGE

Check out these international companies with volunteer positions available:

Wild Spirit Dog Sledding in Sweden

Workaway Jobs @ the kennels

1. Feeding the dogs 
2. Helping to set up tours
3. On some instances you will be helping on tours
4. Prepping food for humans and dogs
5. Checking the kit for damages and fixing the kit
6. Any other jobs that seem to fit in and around the business
7. ITS 80% HARD WORK 20% FUN!

Arctic Chalet Resort and Arctic Adventure Tours in Canada

“We have positions available for healthy, PHYSICALLY FIT volunteer workers who are interested in tourism and who are passionate about dogs; people who would enjoy living and working with us in the Arctic for short or long term.  We can give you an extraordinary experience in an isolated Arctic setting!

Our employees/volunteers will have the opportunity to learn some skills that are unique to cold northern climates such as learning to drive snowmobiles, walk on snowshoes and drive ATV 4-wheelers in summer with huskies pulling them.  They also get lots of experience driving dog teams in winter.  As owners of the business we also try to include our staff in some of our own family activities and adventures.  We enjoy having pot luck meals together and campfire outings, hiking and other activities.“

Read more about their positions here.

Dog Sledding Iceland in Iceland

Located on the South Coast Iceland about 1 hr from Reykjavík, offering both dry-land and snow tours for 45 minutes. They offer tours Monday through Friday all year round. (The dogs get the weekend off!) Check out the video below to see the beautiful landscape in Iceland!

Their motto: “Home is where the dogs are.”

And be sure to simply search “dog sledding” in Workaway. New locations updated frequently!

You can see the list of dog sledding positions available on Workaway here.

Beautiful, fresh snow and dozens of happy dogs await you in a winter wonderland. Maybe it’s time you spent a month or two in the snow

Interested in working other jobs around the world? Read: TRAVEL JOBS: THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO FINDING PAID WORK AROUND THE WORLD

Save “How To Find Work With A Dog Sled Company” on Pinterest for later:

Shop My Winter Essentials:

Ski Jacket

Buy Now

Fleece Leggings

Buy Now

Pink Beanie

Buy Now

Sorel Boots

My favorite water proof boots!

Buy Now

The post How To Find Work With A Dog Sled Company – And Where Exactly to Apply appeared first on The Wanderlust Rose.