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Dogsledding in Greenland
A guide to the ultimate Greenland experience
”
Give me winter and dogs – then you can
keep everything for yourselves!
Knud Rasmussen in his diary from the
Literary Expedition.
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Dogsled drivers in Greenland and a happy Greenlandic sled dog (Photos: Mads Pihl - Visit Greenland)
DOGSLEDDING IN GREENLAND
When you think of Greenland, you probably also think of dogsledding. At least that is what most visitors
do, and therefore, many are often surprised to learn that in the most densely populated part of Greenland, keeping sled dogs is actually prohibited.
Sled dogs are incredibly beautiful animals, but they are not pets. You have to be cautious when approaching a sled dog and you should never do so if the owner of the dog is not present. However, keeping this in mind, amazing experiences await you on a dogsled adventure.
Dogsledding is one of the most popular winter experiences in Greenland. During summer, there simply
is not enough snow for dogsledding. The only exception is the Lyngmark glacier on the Disco Island in
the Disco Bay.
In this inspirational guide, you can read more about
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The polar explorer Knud Rasmussen
The ideal seasons
Where to go dogsledding
Popular dog sledge tours
The sled dog breeds
How to get there
FROM A FEW HOURS TO SEVERAL DAYS
Dogsledding excursions can last from a few hours to several
days – depending on your mood. Have you come to get a taste
or to take on nature?
If you choose the latter, you should consider buying a package
including everything from food and warm clothes to the booking
of hunting cabins or tents.
The dogsled excursion from Kangerlussuaq to Sisimiut lasts
three days and is somewhat a classic. Another popular destination is the area around the Ilulissat Icefiord where, for instance,
you can meet long-line fishermen.
The Greenlandic dogsled racing championships
The annual Greenlandic dogsled racing championships take place in Northern Greenland. In
Greenlandic the competition is called Avannaata Qimussersua. Prior to the championships, qualifiers have been held in various towns and villages. The championships require quite a bit of planning, and often both dogs and sleds are flown in on Air Greenland planes.
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DOGSLEDDING IN GREENLAND
Sled dogs north of the Arctic Circles in Sisimiut in November (Photos: Ruth Gundahl)
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THE POLAR EXPLORER KNUD RASMUSSEN (1879 – 1933)
"Give me winter and dogs – then you can keep everything else for yourselves!" Knud Rasmussen in his
diary from the Literary Expedition.
Along with Peter Freuchen and the Norwegian Fridtjof Nansen, Knud Rasmussen is regarded as one of
the absolute biggest Arctic explorers in Scandinavia. No other person has managed to collect
knowledge about the Inuit like Knud Rasmussen did. The dogsled was his preferred means of transportation, and dogsledding has almost become synonymous with Knud Rasmussen.
To this day – more than 80 years after his death – Knud Rasmussen remains one of Denmark's biggest
champions, and he has played an important part in introducing the entire world to dogsledding.
Kunuunnguaq – Little Knud
Knud Rasmussen was born in Ilulissat as the son of Reverend Chr. V Rasmussen and Sofie Rasmussen (maiden name Fleischer). His parents integrated him in both the Greenlandic and Danish environment in Ilulissat. Young Knud spoke both languages, and already from childhood, he understood both
cultures, because his mother was of Greenlandic descent and his father Danish.
Kunuunnguaq, which is Greenlandic for Little Knud, was the term of endearment the Greenlanders
gave him, and both a former coastal ship and one of Air Greenland's first carriers were named after
him. We still love, admire and honor him in Greenland – and, in fact, the name of the staff association of
Greenland Travel and Air Greenland is also called Kunuunnguaq.
Already from childhood, Knud was a keen dogsled driver and had his own team of dogs already at the
age of 7. When Knud was 9 years old, Fridtjof Nansen skied across the Ice Cap and spent a few days
at the vicarage in Ilulissat, making an indelible impression on Kunuunnguaq.
The expeditions
Knud was sent to school in Denmark and worked on several subjects before finally getting the opportunity to return to his beloved Greenland in 1902-04: He joined the Literary Expedition under Mylius Erichsen's leadership. The purpose of the expedition was to visit the Polar Eskimos in Thule who had
lived a life isolated from the colonization that had taken place in Southern Greenland throughout the
past couple of hundred years.
DOGSLEDDING IN GREENLAND
Dogsledding on the Disco Island in the Disco Bay (Photos: private photos from a tour with Greenland Travel)
The Thule expeditions
The experiences with the people from the north made a great impression on Knud, who in in 1910 –
along with Peter Freuchen – established the Thule trading station, which was to ensure supplies and
ammunition to the sealers and whalers in the north without them being exploited by random travelling
salesmen or other expeditions. The profits made from this trade helped finance Knud Rasmussen's later sled journeys. Knud Rasmussen prepared and led the second and fourth Thule Expedition before
embarking on the widely known fifth Thule Expedition.
On this sled journey, he travelled from Greenland to Canada, Alaska and even across the Bering Strait
and met Inuit in the Soviet Union. His journey along the North-West Passage showed that the languages in the Arctic were dialects of the same language, and many of the same myths and legends
were told all around the North Pole. As Knud himself had Greenlandic blood in this veins and spoke the
language, it was a major breakthrough for the research, and it was quite remarkable to people in the
north to be visited by an outsider who had come neither to make trade nor to convert people.
Greenland on the world map
The fifth Thule Expedition also helped put Greenland and Denmark on the world map. Along with his
travelling companions – Greenlanders Miteq og Arnarulunguaq – Knud was invited to the White House
in Washington D.C., and they were received as heroes in New York. In Europe, Little Knud was made
an honorary doctor at the universities in both Edinburgh and Copenhagen.
After this followed a sixth and seventh expedition, during which Knud Rasmussen recorded the film 'The
Wedding of Palo' in the Ammassalik area in Eastern Greenland. Shortly thereafter, he suffered severe
stomach pains and had to be sent to Denmark. He fought the best he could, but after 13 tough months
his body gave in, and on the 21st of December 1933, Greenland's big hero, Kunuunnguaq, died only 54
years old.
The Sirius Patrol
The Sirius Patrol is highly recognised and respected in Denmark, especially after the Danish
crown prince went on a 3,500-kilometre-long sled journey in 2000. The Sirius Sled Patrol upholds
Denmark's military presence in the entire North-Eastern Greenland, based in Daneborg. Dogsleds are used for patrolling the region during winter, while boats are used on the many fjords
during summer. The patrol consists of 12 people and approximately 70 dogs.
DOGSLEDDING IN GREENLAND
Dogsledding between Kangerlussuaq and Sisimiut in sealskin clothing (Photo: Mads Pihl – Visit Greenland)
IDEAL SEASONS FOR DOGSLEDDING IN GREENLAND
Basically, you can ride a dogsled as soon as the first frost and snow has arrived in Greenland. When
winter is approaching in Greenland, the dogsledding enthusiasts become impatient, and once they spot
the first snowflake, they hitch the dogs to the sled and whizz across the snow. A word of advice, therefore, is to watch out when crossing the sled trail after the first snowfall.
Dogsledding early in the season can be a rather bumpy ride, however. So the less enthusiastic among
us prefer a proper layer of snow, which makes for calm, almost gliding experience on the dogsled.
The vast majority of travelers go dogsledding in the period from January to April. Although – as mentioned above – you might be able to go dogsledding already in October or November depending on
snow conditions. The later in the year you go, the brighter and warmer the days will be..
CLOTHING
Before setting out on a dogsled trip, we recommend that you put on some authentic sealskin clothing. In
most places, it can be rented from the dogsledding operator. Sealskin clothing has been thoroughly
tested for its coldness protection qualities for hundreds of years. You may have spent a lot of money on
a gorgeous down jacket with Gore-Tex (a membrane making the jacket waterproof and breathable), but
trust us when we say that you will prefer the thoroughly tested sealskin clothes.
To wear on your feet, we also recommend that you rent some polar friendly boots – so-called Sorel
boots that can withstand temperatures as low as minus 40 degrees centigrade. Inside the boots you
can safely wear your thickest woolen socks. You will be sitting on the sled for quite some time, so you
should not worry about overheating.
As the inmost layer, you should also wear a thick layer of wool on your body. On top of that – as the
middle layer – wear warm fleece, some more wool or whatever warm clothes you may have. For all our
tours, you will receive a detailed packing list, so you know what to pack for a winter trip to Greenland.
DOGSLEDDING IN GREENLAND
Dogsledding in flat terrain (Photos: unknown photographer)
WHERE TO GO DOGSLEDDING
As mentioned initially, keeping sled dogs is not permitted everywhere in Greenland. In fact, you have to go north of the Arctic
Circle to find sled dogs. Consequently, you also have to go north
of the Arctic Circle to go dogsledding.
We would like to draw your attention to three locations in particular that we recommend to our travelers. Kangerlussuaq, which is
the first stop in Greenland for most people. Sisimiut, located near
the coast and only a short flight from Kangerlussuaq. Finally, Ilulissat in the Disco Bay where you will find the big icebergs.
Kangerlussuaq
Kangerlussuaq is an excellent point of departure for dogsledding
adventures. Kangerlussuaq is located north of the Artic Circle, so
sled dogs are permitted here.
Where you find sled dogs, you will also find dogsleds – so if you
find yourself here in winter, you should definitely try to go dogsledding. It is an incredible experience to ride a dogsled, and the
experienced drivers ensure that you have a safe trip.
Two or four-hour dogsled rides
Not everyone is up for a grand adventure like the Danish crown prince's. Instead, you can go on some
wonderful shorter rides on a dogsled, giving you a sense of what it feels like to glide smoothly through
the snow and ice. Powered by his dogs, the sled driver will take you across the thick ice on the fjord
where you get to experience the real Greenland.
Most people find that two or four hours on a dogsled is enough. You can travel quite far and wide in the
terrain, and you will get a great sense of what it would be like to be out there for several days.
We will make sure that you will not feel cold – so on these short outings, we will wrap you in warm
leather clothing and boots. For the more adventurous, we recommend a four-hour dogsled ride – or one
the longer ones described later.
Dogsledding in Kangerlussuaq
If you want more details on the dogsled rides in Kangerlussuaq and see prices, we recommend
that you visit www.wogac.com. Here, you will find all you need to know about the rides. You can
combine all our package tours with an optional excursion package. If you order it in advance, we
will make sure that all the excursions have been booked for you and that they fit into your itinerary. The price is the same – whether you order in advance or not.
LONGER DOGSLEDDING TOURS
Dogsledding in bright sunlight and at sunset (Photos: Mads Pihl & David Trood – Visit Greenland)
The longer sled tours
The driver will take you out into Greenland's harsh and fascinating nature where people and animals
live in unison with the elements. During these trips, you are part of the team and will help cook, chop ice
or collect snow for coffee, pack the sled and feed the dogs. At times, the trips can be quite challenging,
and participants should be in good shape. You will spend many hours in the Arctic cold, and it might be
necessary for you to run next to the sled on short up-hill stretches that require a lighter sled. You are
not going to be running a marathon, and everyone in ordinary good shape can manage. We do not recommend the longer outings for people with back problems.
Two-day sled trips incl. accommodation
The dogsled is a significant part of Greenlandic culture – and throughout time, it has been the only
means of transportation when the landscape was covered in snow and ice. On a two-day sled trip from
Kangerlussuaq, you will be driving on the fjord with snow-clad mountains to both sides, and later you
will drive out into the terrain and up into the mountains. Here, you are completely alone with stunning
nature as far as the eye can see. You will usually be spending the night in a hunting cabin, but in some
instances, you may have to sleep in a tent. Enjoy the evening in the cabin and experience the amazing
polar night – perhaps you might even see northern lights dancing across the clear night sky.
Dogsled trip from Kangerlussuaq to Sisimiut – three days
On the journey between Kangerlussuaq and Sisimiut, you are in for an expedition-like experience
where you can test your limits under controlled conditions. You will also get a sense of the vastness of
the country. The trip lasts three days, and often you will be spending the nights in hunting cabins, but
you may also have to sleep in a tent. It is not as cold as it may sound. During the trip, you will meet other sleds but also snow scooters that dash between the town and the village. The sled trip can begin in
either Kangerlussuaq or in Sisimiut. The route is also a popular hiking trail in the summer, a hike which
typically takes 6-10 days.
On our website, you can watch a wonderful film about dogsledding in Greenland. Click the film below or
visit www.greenland-travel.com/dogsledding.
DOGSLEDDING IN GREENLAND
One of the many hunting cabins used on longer dogsled trips, dogsledding near Ilulissat (Photos: David Trood – Visit Greenland & private photos)
Dogsledding in the Disco Bay
The largest town in the Disco Bay, Ilulissat, is also a good place for dogsledding. Also in Ilulissat you
can get to experience both shorter and longer trips on a dogsled. Choose between two, three or fivehour rides and trips lasting several days. Moreover, you can set out on a totally unique dogsled trip,
which gives you the opportunity to explore your ice fishing talents.
Ice fishing and dogsledding
This three-day trip is very challenging and not suitable for everyone. The dogsledding in itself is not the
main focus on this trip, and we will not take you to great vantage points giving you an overview of the
beautiful nature.
Instead, the trip allows you to become a part of the totally merciless drudgery of being an ice fisherman
in Greenland. For three days, you will simply be working with three genuine fishermen and experience
hard work and unbelievable coldness as well as fishing, dogsledding and solidarity with the three
Greenlandic fisherman Ringo, Kim and Johannes.
If you want to read more about the different dogsledding options in Ilulissat, we can recommend that
you visit www.worldofgreenland.com where you can read about all the trips and see prices and dates.
SLED DOG BREEDS
That all dogs are descendants of the wolf is a little surprising when you see a small lap dog yapping up
at you from far below. You will sense the affinity more easily when you encounter a sled dog, whose
canine teeth would have made the hound of the Baskervilles run home with its tail between its legs.
Sled dogs can be colossal, and they have the strength to match their size. There are four genuine
breeds of sled dog: The Alaskan Malamute, which oddly enough is from Canada, the Samoyed from
Siberia, the Siberian husky from Siberia and Alaska, and, finally, the Greenlandic sled dog.
There is also a fifth breed; the Alaskan husky, which is cross-bred with the greyhound for the sake of
speed. It is primarily used for racing. As the topic of this guide is dogsledding in Greenland, we will turn
our attention to the Greenlandic breed.
Be cautious around sled dogs
A lot of people love dogs and are tempted to go over and pat the beautiful sled dogs. Do not do
that! As a breed, sled dogs are the closest relative to the wolf, and especially the Greenlandic
sled dogs can be rather aggressive. Only approach the dogs if the owner is present and has said
that it is safe for you to come closer. When riding the sled, however, you should not fear the dogs;
the drivers are in full control of their team.
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DOGSLEDDING IN GREENLAND
The wonderful, thick-skinned Greenlandic sled dog (Photos: private photos from trips with Greenland Travel)
The Greenlandic sled dog
Greenland is home to approximately 25,000 sled dogs. They live either on the east coast or north of the
Arctic Circle on the west coast. Keeping sled dogs south of the Arctic Circle is prohibited. At the same
time, it is prohibited to introduce other breeds into the dogsledding districts in order to ensure that the
Greenlandic sled dog remain purebred.
Because the Greenlandic sled dog is the most aggressive of the different breeds, the dogs have to be
chained from a certain age. On more than one occasion sled dogs have actually attacked people who
came too close, so remember to keep your distance unless the owner is present. However, all this does
not change the fact that the dogs are incredibly cute to look at.
By the way, did you know that the Greenlandic sled dog howls instead of barking? Thus, its appearance
is far more calm than, for instance, an angry lap dog barking at the mailman.
Sled dogs thrive in the cold climate. They handle the cold by generating a thicker undercoat when exposed to cold weather. It is a matter of misguided consideration when tourists feel sorry for the sled
dogs because they are left out all year round. On the contrary, you should feel sorry if they are not left
out as the sled dogs can handle temperatures as low as minus 70 degrees centigrade.
We have found the following facts about the Greenlandic sled dog:
The Greenlandic dog is a large dog breed belonging to the sled dog family. It is thought to have descended from the dogs that followed the people immigrating to Greenland from northern Canada. It is
believed that the breed originates from the regions around Ladoga in North-Western Russia or Central
Siberia as far back as the Stone Age.
The typical sled dog is thick-skinned with incredible stamina, can go without food for a long time, is intelligent and has learned to obey to the commands of the sled driver and his whip. Its ears are upright, it
has bushy cheeks and howls like a wolf; the howling being a stimulus to the unity of the team and an
assertion of dominance over their territory.
The sled dog is still such a close relative to the wolf that only the fear of the whip makes it obey. When
facing wild animals, all training is neglected in favor of its original hunting instincts. No sled dog would
thus dream of defending his master against attacks, and it only stays near the owner's house because it
is fed on a regular basis – usually once a day or every second day.
Literature about dogsledding
A lot of literature describes dogsledding in Greenland, including various travelogues for instance.
Within this genre, the writings of Knud Rasmussen and Peter Freuchen are still essential works,
and their depictions make for both beautiful and exciting reading. Furthermore, many books have
been written about these great men – especially Knud Rasmussen.
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All-year travel adventures: Visit Kulusuk, share a cup of hot coffee, go sailing in the Disco Bay (Photos: Mads Pihl & Uri Golman – Visit Greenland)
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We are the biggest travel agency in the world specializing in Greenland, and therefore we offer a large
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Our Trip Finder contains an entire category of tours on which you can go dogsledding. Find them at
www.greenland-travel.com/tripfinder/dogsledge
More inspiration from Greenland
Where to go in Greenland, when to travel, and what are the most popular places, towns and experiences in Greenland? You will find much more inspiration, photos and films from Greenland on our website.
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