Hiking with Husky in Akureyri (private)

The best part of this Akureyri outing is simple: you do not just pose beside a husky, you walk with one. Gunni and Maria welcome you into their home, introduce you to their sled-dog family, and take you along woodland trails with views toward the sea, mountains, and countryside. I like the personal setting and the chance to see how working dogs live day to day.

I also like the private format, which gives your group time to ask questions, take photos, and adjust the walk to your ability. The main consideration is price: at $1,105.35 per group of up to eight, this is costly for a two-hour activity. It makes the most sense for families, cruise groups, or friends who will share the bill.

Key points to know before booking

• Meet Gunni, Maria, and a full sled-dog pack at their home outside Akureyri.
• Walk with a harnessed husky through woodland, countryside, and coastal scenery.
• Enjoy a private visit, with no unrelated group joining your party.
• Take your time with the dogs after the walk, including photos and petting.
• Pickup is available, including arrangements from accommodation and, according to past visits, the cruise pier.
• Plan for about two hours, with a walk followed by coffee or cocoa at the house.

Meeting the huskies at a North Iceland home

This is not a quick roadside animal stop. The experience takes place at the goHusky property at Glæsibær 3, just outside Akureyri, where the dogs live with Gunni and Maria.

The welcome begins with the dogs. Expect plenty of movement, noise, curiosity, and friendly attention as the pack notices new people. The exact number of dogs can vary, but past visits describe packs ranging from roughly 16 to 28 huskies. Each dog has its own personality, and part of the fun is watching the dogs react to the activity around them.

Some of the huskies have access to parts of the house, so the visit feels more like entering a working dog family’s home than touring a formal kennel. You may see favorite resting spots, awards, and the practical side of caring for a large group of active dogs.

Gunni and Maria are central to the experience. They explain the dogs’ care, training, personalities, and working lives. The focus is not only on petting. You get a better sense of what it takes to keep sled dogs healthy, happy, and ready to work.

That personal contact is the strongest reason to choose this outing over a standard animal encounter. You have time to talk, ask questions, and see the dogs as individuals rather than as a single noisy pack.

The husky-led walk through woods and countryside

After meeting the dogs, you are matched with one or more huskies for the walk. The dogs are fitted with harnesses and lead you along local trails. Past outings describe walks of roughly two to three miles, though the official experience lasts about two hours overall and the route can be adapted.

The walk takes you through woodland, dirt trails, and open countryside. Depending on the route and conditions, you may see the sea, mountains, Icelandic farmland, and local horses. This is a quiet way to experience North Iceland, with the dog providing the forward pull and a steady reason to keep moving.

The huskies are strong, but the walk is presented as controlled and suitable for families. One outing included children, and the dogs were handled successfully by young participants. Gunni also adjusted the route for a visitor with a knee injury, so you can discuss your pace and ability before setting out.

That said, you should still treat this as an active outdoor experience. A dog on a harness can pull, and uneven dirt trails may be less comfortable for anyone with mobility concerns. Wear sensible walking shoes and clothing suited to Icelandic weather. Good weather is required, and a walk may be changed or canceled if conditions are poor.

The summer version is a hike. In winter, the area is normally covered with snow, and the provider may offer dog sledding instead when conditions allow. If you are specifically hoping for a sled ride, confirm the seasonal arrangement before booking.

Time for photographs, petting, and dog stories

The visit is designed to leave room for unhurried contact with the dogs. You can take photographs, pet the huskies, and watch their different reactions to new people.

Families should appreciate this flexible pace. Young children may be more interested in meeting the dogs than in completing a long walk, while adults may want to ask about sled-dog work, breeding, training, or daily care. The private setting lets the hosts respond to your group instead of moving everyone along on a fixed schedule.

If puppies are present, they may be shown but not handled. That is a sensible limit when several people are visiting. It also reinforces that this is the dogs’ home, not a petting exhibit where every animal must be available on demand.

The group size is listed as up to eight people, and only your party participates. That makes a major difference here. A large public group could easily become noisy and crowded around the dogs, while a private booking gives everyone more room and more direct time with Gunni and Maria.

Coffee and conversation inside the farmhouse

After the walk, you return to the house for a break. Coffee or cocoa is offered, and you have more time to meet the dogs and talk with the owners.

The farmhouse itself adds another layer to the visit. It is described as more than 100 years old, and the hosts share parts of its story along with their life with the dogs. You may also see sled-dog trophies and unusual items made from spun husky hair, a practical example of how dog hair can be reused.

This quiet period matters because the walk can feel busy. Once the harnesses are removed, you can settle down, look at photographs, and ask the questions that occur to you afterward. It also gives children a chance to relax before the return journey.

The tone is warm and informal, but the price means you should expect more than a short kennel visit. The value comes from the complete package: transportation if arranged, private access, time on the trail, contact with the dogs, and conversation inside the family home.

What the $1,105.35 group price really means

The listed price is $1,105.35 for a group of up to eight. That works out to about $138 per person if eight people share the cost, or about $184 per person for a group of six. A smaller party will pay much more per person.

For a couple, this is a serious splurge. For a family or group of friends, the numbers are easier to justify, especially if you want a private activity rather than a standard shared excursion. The provider also aims to be flexible with timing and does not treat the visit as a race if it runs a little long, according to the host’s description.

I would compare this price with what you want from your Akureyri day. If you mainly want to see huskies once and take a few photographs, the cost may feel high. If you want direct contact, a scenic walk, a local home visit, and a long conversation about sled dogs, the private format gives the price a clearer purpose.

Cruise passengers may find the arrangement especially useful. Pickup has been offered at the cruise pier, and the provider has returned visitors to the ship afterward. Still, you should give the pickup point and timing careful attention, since the activity begins at the property outside Akureyri and lasts around two hours.

Who will enjoy this private Akureyri experience

I would recommend this tour most strongly to:

• Families with children who like animals and can follow handling instructions.
• Dog lovers who want real time with a working-dog pack.
• Cruise passengers looking for something personal instead of a large coach excursion.
• Small groups who can share the private price.
• Visitors who enjoy meeting local people in their home.
• Anyone interested in sled dogs, training, and life with a large canine family.

Children and adults can take part, and the walk can be adjusted to suit ability. Still, every member of your group should be comfortable around energetic dogs. The pack may be friendly and well cared for, but huskies are powerful, curious animals, not quiet lapdogs.

This is less suitable if you want a demanding mountain hike, a long wilderness trek, or a guaranteed winter sled ride. It is also not the best choice if your budget is tight or if your group is too small to share the cost comfortably.

Practical details that affect your day

The activity is offered in English, with mobile ticketing and pickup available. You are asked to be ready in front of your accommodation 15 minutes before the tour if pickup has been arranged.

The meeting point is goHusky Dogsledding Tours at Glæsibær 3, 601 Akureyri. The activity ends back at the meeting point, although pickup arrangements can make the return easier for people staying elsewhere or arriving by cruise ship.

The tour requires good weather. You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations inside that 24-hour window are not accepted, and if poor weather forces the provider to cancel, you are offered another date or a full refund.

Because the route is outdoors, bring warm layers and footwear suitable for a dirt trail. The information does not promise a particular trail length or a fixed number of dogs on the walk, so think of the route as a flexible local outing rather than a precisely measured hike.

Should you book the goHusky walk?

Book it if you want a personal connection with huskies, not just a photograph beside one. Gunni and Maria’s home setting, the private group, and the walk through woodland and countryside make this one of the more distinctive animal experiences near Akureyri.

The price is the clear drawback. I would book it for a family, a group of friends, or a cruise party that can divide the fee. For a couple on a strict budget, I would pause and ask how important the private home visit and dog time are to your Iceland plans.

If the answer is very important, this is a strong choice. You get fresh air, local scenery, a controlled walk with a sled dog, and time to understand the care behind the pack. Just book with realistic expectations: it is a warm, hands-on home visit with a short hike, not a full-day expedition.

FAQ

Where does the husky experience take place?

It takes place at goHusky Dogsledding Tours, Glæsibær 3, 601 Akureyri, Iceland.

How long does the activity last?

The experience lasts approximately two hours.

Is pickup available?

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

Can cruise passengers join the tour?

Yes. Past arrangements included pickup at the cruise pier and return there afterward. Confirm the pickup details when booking.

How many people can join the private tour?

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

Is the tour offered in English?

Yes. The experience is offered in English.

Do children take part?

Yes. Both children and adults can participate, and the experience is described as suitable for families.

What happens after the walk?

You return to the house for coffee or cocoa, more time with the dogs, photographs, and conversation with Gunni and Maria.

What happens if the weather is bad?

The activity requires good weather. If the provider cancels because of poor conditions, you can choose another date or receive a full refund.