Hiking with Husky in Akureyri (private)

Meet your hiking partner on four paws. I like the chance to walk through North Iceland with a husky leading the way, and I like the relaxed time afterward with Gunni, Maria, and their much-loved dogs. The main drawback is the price: at $1,105.35 per private group of up to eight, this makes the most sense when shared by a full family or group.

This is not a quick kennel visit and photo stop. You get a private outing, fresh air, mountain and sea views, a guided walk, and time inside the owners’ home. Just keep in mind that the hike depends on good weather, and muddy, uneven, or changing Icelandic conditions can affect the walk.

Key details before you book

• You walk with a working husky: A dog is harnessed to you or your group and helps lead the walk through woodland and nearby countryside.

• The dogs live as part of the family: You spend time at the owners’ home, where the huskies are cared for and some have access to parts of the house.

• The setting reaches beyond the usual sightseeing route: Expect woodland, countryside, sea, mountains, and plenty of clean North Iceland air.

• The private format keeps the visit personal: Only your group participates, with room for questions, photos, petting, and a flexible pace.

• Gunni and Maria are central to the experience: Their stories about the dogs, sledding, breeding, care, and daily life give the visit its human side.

• The tour is popular well ahead of time: It is often booked around 213 days in advance, so last-minute planning may not work.

Why this Akureyri husky tour feels different

Many dog encounters are built around a short photo opportunity. This one gives you time to understand the animals and their lives. You are not simply standing beside a trained dog for a picture. You are meeting a member of a family, then heading outdoors with one.

That difference matters. Siberian huskies are energetic, curious, social dogs. You can expect movement, excitement, noise, and plenty of personality when you first arrive. The pack may greet you with howls and a rush toward the fence. That is fun, but it is not a silent, carefully staged animal display.

The setting also gives the experience more substance. Instead of spending the whole visit inside a kennel area, you walk through woodland and local countryside. Depending on the route and conditions, you may see the sea, mountains, open country, forest, and even Icelandic horses in the surrounding area.

I especially like that the outing combines three things that are often sold separately: a nature walk, an animal encounter, and a conversation with local hosts. You get the scenery without giving up the personal contact.

Arriving at the GoHusky home near Akureyri

The listed meeting point is goHusky Dogsledding Tours at Glæsibær 3, 601 Akureyri. Pickup is offered, with instructions to be ready in front of your accommodation 15 minutes before the scheduled start. The activity ends back at the meeting point.

The drive from Akureyri or the cruise area is part of the transition from town to countryside. Several outings have included pickup at the cruise pier, followed by a short drive to the home. If you are arriving by ship, confirm the pickup details carefully and allow enough time to get off the ship and reach the agreed meeting place.

The private arrangement is useful here. Gunni or Maria can meet your group directly, rather than leaving you to find a large coach or a busy activity center. It also means the visit can feel more like being welcomed into a home than joining a standard bus excursion.

The property itself is part of the story. The dogs live with their owners, and the home is a restored Icelandic farmhouse more than 100 years old. You may see trophies from the dogs’ show careers, hear how the owners’ work developed, and learn what goes into keeping a large husky pack healthy and content.

Meeting the full husky pack

The first indoor and outdoor contact with the dogs can be the liveliest part of the visit. The number of huskies can vary, but descriptions of the pack have included roughly 16 to 28 dogs. Each dog has its own temperament and favorite place, and the group is clearly not made up of identical, silent performers.

Some may be eager for attention. Others may hang back. A movement or sound outside the fence can set off a wave of interest, with the dogs crowding toward the action. That gives you a better sense of their intelligence and curiosity than a quick staged photo would.

You have time to pet the dogs and take pictures. Families tend to appreciate this slower start because children can settle into the surroundings before the walk begins. Adults also get time to ask about the dogs rather than trying to squeeze every question into a rushed introduction.

Puppies may be present, but do not assume you will be able to handle them. Very young puppies may be too small or too delicate for contact with a large group. That is a sensible limit, especially when children are excited.

The owners’ care is one of the strongest parts of the experience. You learn about the effort involved in feeding, exercising, housing, and keeping the dogs happy. The dogs’ excitement is obvious, but so is the work behind that excitement.

Choosing a husky for the walk

Before setting off, you are fitted with a harness and paired with a dog. The exact selection can depend on the number of people in your group, your abilities, and the dogs available that day.

In some outings, the dog choice has been made by lottery after Gunni assessed what each person could handle. That keeps the process fair while still matching the activity to the group. The dogs left behind may look disappointed, since huskies are eager to go, but not every dog can accompany every party at once.

The harness changes the walk from an ordinary stroll into a working-dog experience. You can feel the dog’s strength and forward drive, but the purpose is not to let the husky drag you out of control. The walk is guided, and the pace can be adjusted.

This is a good reason to be honest about your fitness and mobility before starting. One person with a knee injury received a route adapted to their ability. The tour is described as suitable for most people, but Icelandic paths can still be uneven, and a private format does not remove the need for sensible shoes and steady footing.

Walking through woodland and countryside

The hike is the active heart of the visit. The exact route depends on weather and conditions, but you can expect a guided walk through woodland and nearby countryside, with views toward the sea and mountains. The scenery is quieter and more rural than Akureyri’s streets and waterfront.

The husky gives the walk its rhythm. You are not simply admiring the view while following a guide. You are watching the dog respond to the trail, feeling the pull of the harness, and learning how a sled dog behaves when it has a job to do.

The walk is generally described as easy, though some outings have covered a few miles and lasted around an hour within the larger two-hour visit. Do not treat that as a guaranteed distance. Your route may be shorter or longer depending on your group, the weather, and the dogs.

The private format helps here. You can stop for photographs, ask questions, or adjust the pace without worrying about holding up a busload of people. You also have a better chance to notice small details, such as the change from forest to open shore or the presence of Icelandic horses nearby.

There is a seasonal point to understand. This activity is presented as a hiking option, but at times of year when the area would normally be covered in snow, conditions may not support a regular hike. The owners have explained that hiking may be offered as an alternative to dog sledding during a less snowy season. If winter sledding is your main goal, ask what activity is operating on your date.

Coffee, cocoa, and time inside the farmhouse

After the walk, the pace changes. You return to the house for a coffee break, and hot coffee or cocoa has been provided on outings. This is more than a quick drink before the transfer back to town.

The break gives you time to talk with the owners without pulling on a harness or keeping up with a dog. Gunni and Maria share information about the huskies, their home, and the way their work has grown. You may see show trophies and learn about the dogs’ training and care.

One especially unusual detail is clothing made from spun husky hair. It is a clever example of how the owners make use of material that would otherwise be discarded. It also shows that this is a working dog household, not just a place designed for visitors.

You can continue petting the dogs and taking pictures during the home visit. Some of the huskies may come into parts of the house, which helps explain why the animals seem comfortable around people and familiar with the household.

For me, this quiet time is what gives the excursion its warmth. The walk is memorable, but the conversation afterward helps you understand the people behind the dogs.

What the private price really buys you

The listed price is $1,105.35 per group of up to eight, not per person. That is expensive for a two-hour activity if you are alone or traveling as a couple. Split eight ways, however, it becomes far easier to justify, especially for a family or group that would otherwise need several separate tickets.

You are paying for privacy, not just dog time. Your group has the hosts’ attention, a more flexible schedule, a personal route, and space to stop for photos and questions. The owners have also indicated that private visits can stretch a little without creating stress when the visit is going well.

That flexibility can matter for families. Children may need extra time to become comfortable around a large pack, or they may want to ask endless questions about the dogs. A private visit lets the hosts work with your group instead of forcing everyone into a fixed public schedule.

The price is harder to defend if you are not especially interested in dogs. The scenery is pleasant, but this is not a replacement for a major North Iceland sightseeing tour. You are paying for close contact with the huskies and the owners’ personal hospitality.

I would compare it with the cost of a larger group activity, then divide the price across everyone attending. For a full group of dog lovers, the private setup can be good value. For one or two people on a tight budget, it is a special splurge.

Children, mobility, and practical comfort

The activity is designed for both children and adults. Families with children from about age seven have taken part, and the dogs’ friendly, curious nature makes the visit appealing to younger participants.

Still, a large husky pack can be noisy and energetic. Children should be ready to follow instructions, handle a dog with care, and understand that some animals may not be available for the walk. The private format helps adults keep an eye on children and gives the hosts room to guide them.

Most people can participate, but the walk is not a paved urban stroll. The route may include dirt trails, woodland, and uneven ground. Wear sturdy shoes and clothing suited to changing Icelandic weather.

If you have a knee problem or another mobility concern, tell the provider before the walk. A route has been adapted for a guest with a knee injury, but the available options depend on the conditions and the group’s needs.

Good weather is required. If poor weather forces cancellation, you can receive a different date or a full refund. For a full refund when you cancel, do so at least 24 hours before the start time. Changes made inside that period are not accepted.

Who should book this husky hike?

I would choose this experience if you:

• Love dogs and want more than a quick photo stop
• Are traveling with family or friends who can share the group price
• Prefer personal conversation to a large organized excursion
• Want a quieter countryside outing near Akureyri
• Enjoy learning how working dogs are housed, trained, and cared for
• Have time for a relaxed two-hour visit rather than a packed sightseeing schedule

I would think twice if you:

• Want a guaranteed winter dog-sled ride
• Dislike noisy, active animals
• Need a fully accessible paved route
• Are traveling alone and find the group price too high
• Are looking mainly for famous waterfalls, geological sights, or a long sightseeing tour

The experience is especially well suited to cruise passengers who want a memorable excursion close to Akureyri. Pickup, a short transfer, the walk, and the home visit fit neatly into a port day, though you should confirm timing carefully.

Should you book Hiking with Husky in Akureyri?

Book it if the huskies are the reason you are interested. The best parts are the personal welcome from Gunni and Maria, the chance to meet a whole pack, and the walk where a working dog becomes your companion rather than a background prop.

I would not book it simply because you have two spare hours in Akureyri. The price is high for a short activity, and the weather may change the format. But for a group of dog lovers, this is a rare chance to see North Iceland through a local family’s home, woods, shore, and husky pack.

With 100 percent recommendation from 44 ratings and bookings often made far in advance, I would reserve early if your dates are fixed. Bring a camera, warm layers, sensible shoes, and a willingness to let the dogs set the mood.

FAQ

Where does the husky hike start?

The listed starting point is goHusky Dogsledding Tours at Glæsibær 3, 601 Akureyri, Iceland.

Is pickup available?

Yes. Pickup is offered, and you should be ready in front of your accommodation 15 minutes before the tour.

Where does the activity finish?

The activity ends back at the meeting point.

How long does the experience last?

The experience lasts approximately two hours.

How many people can join the private tour?

The price covers one private group of up to eight people.

Is the tour offered in English?

Yes. The experience is offered in English.

Can children take part?

Yes. Both children and adults can participate, and the huskies are described as intelligent, curious, and friendly.

What happens if the weather is poor?

The experience requires good weather. If it is canceled because of poor weather, you will be offered another date or a full refund.