In the winter season, most Iceland travelers don’t venture far north due to the extreme temperatures & challenging road conditions. Many opt for the more popular attractions of the south, particularly around the Golden Circle. However, we had our minds set on the unique snow excursion of dog sledding offered in the Mývatn region & the weather was not about to stop us!

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Dog sledding across the backcountry of a fairytale winter wonderland has long been a bucket list item of mine. Ever since I was a little girl, I have always been fascinated by the long distance dog races of Iditarod in Alaska. In fact, I was so awe-inspired by these magnificent creatures that our family adopted an American Eskimo Husky for my first pet! We trained him to pull me on my bike around the neighborhood, so I guess that could count as my first mushing experience. But, of course, nothing would compare to the sled ride I would have with Snow Dogs in Iceland!

The Magical Region of Mývatn

Mývatn is one of my favorite regions in Iceland that features a gorgeous, vast lake with stunning mountain ranges in its backdrop. It sits along a fissure between the North American & Eurasian tectonic plates making it a highly geothermal energy area. A beautiful natural reserve, Mývatn has become a popular filming location for a number of movies & shows, most recently the highly acclaimed Game of Thrones!

Its name means “Midge Lake” which refers to the Nordic cousins of the miniature mosquito. Luckily in the coldness of winter, we encountered no such bugs. During the warmer months, however, Mývatn is swarming with them & they can become quite a nuisance. Despite this, many travelers enjoy birdwatching in the summer as the marshes provide habitat to more than 115 species of migratory birds.

Angella’s Review of Snow Dogs

Snow Dogs is a dog sledding tour guide, family owned & operated by the lovely couple, Bergþóra & her husband Sæmundur. Their home base is on Heiði farm located near Lake Mývatn & their open kennel houses 25 beautiful Siberian Huskies. On the morning of our scheduled tour, we met with Bergþóra along with a family friend & fellow musher, Raggi, as Sæmundur was out of town that day. We were joined by another newlywed couple from Hong Kong who were also on their honeymoon. After brief introductions, we all climbed into the souped up SuperJeeps & drove out onto the frozen lake where the dogs were waiting for us in their trailers.

As a huge dog lover, I have always had mixed feelings about animals being used for tourism. But it was clearly evident from the get-go that Bergþóra has a deep passion for her dogs & the sport. The Huskies were so happy, their tails wagging with excitement at the prospect of running. Because they have high amounts of energy, resilience, & a strong pack mentality, Siberian Huskies are an ideal breed for sledding. Though their serious faces may appear intimidating at first, they are the sweetest, most cuddliest canines you will ever meet!

“A-mushing” experience

As Bergþóra & Raggi fastened the harnesses on to the dogs, they gave us a little background history on mushing as well as their humane training process. The dogs struggled to contain their enthusiasm, entangling themselves with the lines & getting further into trouble. Up to two guests & a professional musher share a wooden sled led by 8-10 Huskies. It was orderly chaos as they lined up the dogs again & again into a straight row. But once we situated ourselves on to the cozy sled, our mushers yelled, “Hike” & we were off!

The weather was in our favor all morning & we were able to ride for a good solid hour, covering over 5 miles on the lake. The mushers made frequent stops to allow the dogs to catch their breath & drink water. This was also the perfect time to capture candid photos as well as spectacular panoramas of the surrounding snowscapes. We immediately recognized some of the popular landmarks of the North most notably Hverfjall, the ever-imposing tuff ring volcano!

Surprisingly, Huskies can pull a sled as fast as 20 miles per hour on snowy terrain! However, the ride was smooth as the sled glided effortlessly across the ice. The steady sound of the dogs’ footsteps breaking through the wilderness silence felt so therapeutic. I had to refrain myself from falling into a meditative trance!

Learn How to Mush a Pack of Snow Dogs

During our ride, we learned the basics of dog sledding & even got to mush the pack ourselves. I was instructed to display more dominance when guiding the dogs as this reminds them who is in control. However, this proved to be very difficult as I kept submitting to their cuteness! I was simply hopeless!

The sled controls were fairly easy to understand. Basically, you need to maintain a strong hold onto the top handle & balance both feet on the two wooden posts. To decelerate the sled & signal the dogs to slow down, you firmly press a metal break into the snow. The one main rule I was to adhere by was to never let go of the sled! As Huskies love to run, they will run to no end & if you accidentally lose your grip, you might as well say, “Goodbye!”

Commands:

• Hike – Go
• Easy – Slow
• Whoa – Stop
• Haw – Turn left
• Gee – Turn right

If you plan to visit Iceland in the summer, do not fret! Snow Dogs also offers urban mushing tours on dry, higher grounds. Instead of the traditional winter sled, you will be led by a team of 9-14 Huskies on a special cart with wheels. Because the lake will not be accessible, you will ride 15-20 minutes on a remote back trail instead.

Warm Cuddles & Belly Rubs

Included in our excursion package was the opportunity to visit the farm for some personal interaction with the Huskies, as well as their adorable puppies! We were provided with a personal tour of the unchained kennel & spent a good amount of time socializing with the dogs. It was reassuring to observe the dogs roam freely in the open areas, as well as the indoor shelter that protects them during bad weather.

After some much needed animal therapy, Bergþóra welcomed us into her home for coffee & chocolates. I wanted to express how hospitable & down to earth the Snow Dogs team were in ensuring a memorable experience. It was definitely worth the expense (as everything else was in Iceland)! Snow Dogs truly exceeded our expectations & I cannot thank them enough for helping me to fulfill my dog sledding dream!

Angella’s Travel Tips

• Prepare yourself for lots of snow spray by wearing warm layers & waterproof/windproof gear. Cover your face from freezing winds with sunglasses &/or a scarf. Your guide may also provide you with coveralls, hats, & gloves as a backup.
• Families with children less than 12 years of age will be able to ride on a larger sled to accommodate everyone.
• If any passengers weigh more than 220 pounds (100 kg), be sure to contact Snow Dogs ahead of time as special arrangements may need to be made.