Hiking with Husky in Akureyri

The best part of goHusky is that this is not a quick photo stop with a chained-up dog. Gunni and María welcome you into their home, introduce you to their large husky family, then pair you with one dog for a brisk walk through the countryside outside Akureyri. The setting brings together mountains, sea, forest, and open country, while the dogs provide the muscle.

I like two things especially. First, you get real time with the dogs, not just a short pat before moving on. Second, the hosts adjust the trail and dog pairing to suit the group. The main consideration is that these are sled dogs: even a short walk can be a real workout, and uneven ground may not suit everyone.

Key points to know before booking

• More than 20 huskies live with the family: You meet the dogs at home, learn their names and personalities, and see how they are cared for.
• The hike is short but active: Expect roughly two miles or less in some cases, with strong dogs pulling on hands-free leashes.
• Gunni and María host the visit personally: Their friendly, informal approach makes this feel like a home visit rather than a standard group outing.
• The scenery changes quickly: Trails can include mountain views, the coast, countryside, woodland, and fresh Icelandic air.
• Children can take part with help: Younger children may not be able to manage a husky alone, but they can walk with a guide or share control.
• Pickup and small groups make the timing easy: Pickup is offered 15 minutes before the tour, and the group is limited to 12 people.

Meeting the husky family outside Akureyri

GoHusky sits at Glæsibær 3, on the northern outskirts of Akureyri. If you have a car, you can drive there. If not, pickup is offered from your accommodation, with a reminder to wait outside 15 minutes before the scheduled start.

For cruise passengers, the location is especially handy. The drive from the port can take about 10 minutes, and Gunni may be easy to spot because a husky sometimes rides along in the vehicle. That small detail tells you something about the tone of the experience: the dogs are part of daily family life, not props brought out only for paying customers.

Arrival can be noisy. Huskies are famously expressive, and this pack may greet you with a chorus of howls, yelps, and strange vocal sounds. One dog has even been described as sounding like it is mooing. The noise settles with simple commands, and it gives you an immediate sense of the dogs’ energy.

The visit begins with introductions. You have time to meet the dogs before the hike, pet them, and watch their excitement build as they realize a walk is coming. With more than 20 adult dogs connected to the home, this is a much larger dog encounter than most people expect from a two-hour activity.

Why the home visit matters

Many animal experiences keep you behind a fence and offer a carefully controlled photo. Here, the dogs live with Gunni and María as members of the family. You see their home setting, their housing, and the way the owners talk about them as individual animals with names, habits, and different temperaments.

That personal connection is the heart of the tour. Gunni speaks openly about sled-dog life, racing, training, and raising the pack. María has also explained how the business began and how the dogs fit into the household. You are encouraged to ask questions, which makes the time before and after the hike useful rather than filler.

The hosts also show clear affection for the dogs. They know every dog by name and begin obedience training early. That does not make the pack quiet all the time, nor should it. Huskies are lively, social, and often loud. But you can expect dogs that are handled with patience and structure.

You may also see details of their everyday life, including work made from husky fur. One part of the visit has included seeing yarn and clothing produced from the dogs’ coats. It is a small but memorable glimpse into how the family makes use of life with a large working-dog pack.

Choosing your dog and preparing for the trail

Before heading out, the hosts match you with a husky. Age, temperament, and the person’s ability all matter. This is important because huskies are not merely walking beside you. They are bred to pull, and many are eager to move fast.

The leashes are hands-free, which keeps your arms free and gives you better balance. It also means you need to pay attention to your footing and body position. The dogs can pull hard enough to make a short walk feel like a gym session for your thighs, glutes, and core.

That effort is part of the fun, but it is worth knowing before you arrive. If you want a slow, gentle stroll with a dog quietly padding beside you, this may feel more active than expected. If you like the idea of being pulled along by a powerful, friendly animal, it adds a playful edge to the walk.

The guides help with pairings and can adjust the outing to the group. You are not simply handed the strongest dog and sent off alone. A child can walk with a guide or help manage a dog. An 11-year-old weighing about 75 pounds, for example, may not be able to control a husky alone, though children can still take part and interact with the dogs.

Hiking through mountains, sea, forest, and countryside

The walk is the tour’s main physical activity. The exact trail can change, since the hosts choose among routes in the surrounding area and try to find one that fits the group. That flexibility is a strength, especially when ability levels differ.

The setting can include mountain views, the sea, farmland or open countryside, wooded sections, and plenty of clean air. This is not a major Icelandic trek with a dramatic summit or a long wilderness route. It is a local walk designed to give you time with one dog in a scenic setting.

That scale works well. You get enough movement to see the dogs behave as working animals, but you do not spend the entire day hiking. In some cases, the route has been around two miles or slightly less. The distance is modest, yet the pulling makes it feel substantial.

Pay attention to the ground. One trail has been described as uneven, with no level walking surface throughout. You should be comfortable walking on an informal path and managing your balance while a dog moves ahead. The hosts can select different routes, but this is still an outdoor activity in Iceland, not a paved park promenade.

The scenery provides a good counterpoint to the dogs. You may begin focused on the husky, then look up and find a view toward the coast or the mountains. The forest and countryside give the outing a quiet local feel, far removed from a bus tour that keeps you inside a vehicle.

The huskies are the entertainment

Huskies are intelligent, curious, and friendly, but they are not subdued pets. Expect enthusiasm. They may sing when you arrive, crowd around for attention, and compete for the honor of being chosen for the walk.

That exuberance is why the introduction time matters. You begin learning how the dogs behave before you are attached to one on the trail. You can see the difference between a dog that is eager to pull and one that is calmer or more suitable for a younger participant.

The dogs are also funny. Their vocal habits, expressions, and eagerness give the visit a relaxed quality. You can take photographs throughout the experience, though you may need to put the camera away while handling a dog on an uneven path.

After the hike, you return to spend more time with the pack. This is when you can slow down, cuddle the dogs, and take pictures without trying to keep pace. For dog lovers, the post-hike time may be as valuable as the walk itself.

There has also been a chance to meet puppies during a visit. Do not book solely on the promise of puppies, since that will depend on the dogs living at the home at the time, but the family setting makes such surprises possible.

A good choice for families and cruise passengers

The tour works for adults and children, especially families who want something more personal than a museum or coach ride. Children often enjoy the dogs’ playful nature, though adults should understand that a child may need help holding or sharing a leash.

The small-group limit of 12 people helps. You are less likely to be lost in a crowd, and the hosts have more room to match dogs and people thoughtfully. The experience still includes a pack of more than 20 dogs, but the human group remains manageable.

Cruise passengers should pay close attention to timing. Pickup from the port is possible, and the drive is short, but your ship’s schedule leaves less room for delay than a full-day shore excursion. The tour lasts about two hours and ends back at the meeting point. Confirm the pickup plan and allow enough time to return to the ship.

Independent visitors with a car have a little more control. You can drive to Glæsibær 3 and meet the group there. The mobile ticket is convenient for people moving around Iceland without printing paperwork, and confirmation arrives when you book.

The activity is offered in English. Most people can participate, but you should be ready for an outdoor walk, a strong dog, and ground that may be uneven.

Is $138.17 a fair price?

At $138.17 per person, this is not the cheapest way to spend two hours in Akureyri. You are paying more than you would for a simple walk or a quick animal-farm stop.

The value comes from the amount of personal access included. The price covers pickup when arranged, time with the full pack, a talk about huskies and sled-dog life, a guided hike with one dog, and a visit to the home where the dogs live. It is also a small-group experience capped at 12 people.

I think the price makes sense for someone who would otherwise pay for a standard shore excursion but wants something more local and hands-on. You are not simply looking at the animals. You are learning how they are raised, how they are trained, and how they behave when they work.

The value is weaker if you do not care much about dogs or if you are expecting a major Icelandic hike. The walking route is short, and the scenery, while attractive, is not presented as a famous landmark or demanding trek. The appeal is the combination of people, dogs, home life, and countryside.

Booking well ahead is sensible. This experience is often reserved about 80 days in advance, which suggests limited availability compared with larger tours. Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start time. After that point, the amount paid is not refunded, and late changes are not accepted.

What I would want you to know before going

Wear clothes suited to Icelandic weather, even though the tour is short. The walk takes place outdoors, and the experience depends on the conditions along the chosen trail.

Allow extra attention for children. A child can enjoy meeting and petting the dogs, but a smaller person may not control a strong husky alone. The guides can help, and the dog pairing is adjusted, but an adult should remain ready to assist.

Plan to use your hands for more than photographs. The dogs pull, and that is central to the experience. If you have limited balance or do not enjoy active walking, ask about the trail and dog pairing before setting out.

Finally, keep your expectations focused. You are not booking a long dogsled ride across snow. You are walking with a husky on a local trail, then spending time with a family and their pack. That simpler format is exactly what makes the visit feel personal.

Should you book goHusky in Akureyri?

I would book this if you love dogs, want a small-scale experience, and enjoy meeting local people in their own setting. The strongest parts are the warm welcome from Gunni and María, the chance to meet the full pack, and the honest workout of walking with a pulling sled dog.

Families can enjoy it too, provided adults help younger children. Cruise passengers should find the short transfer and two-hour schedule useful, but they should confirm the pickup timing carefully.

Skip it if you want a strenuous hike, a famous viewpoint, or a quiet animal encounter. For everyone else, this is a memorable change from the usual sightseeing circuit: part country walk, part dog lesson, and part visit to a very lively Icelandic household.

FAQ

Where does the husky hike begin?

The activity begins at goHusky Dogsledding Tours, Glæsibær 3, 601 Akureyri, Iceland. It ends back at the same meeting point.

Is pickup available?

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

How long does the activity last?

The tour lasts approximately two hours.

How many people can join?

The maximum group size is 12 people.

Is the experience offered in English?

Yes. The activity is offered in English.

Can children join the hike?

Yes. Children and adults can take part. Younger children may not be able to handle a husky alone, but they can help a guide or share control of the dog.

What happens if I need to cancel?

You can cancel up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the activity are not accepted for a refund.