Husky Petting in Akureyri (private)

The best part of this Akureyri outing is its personal scale. You visit Gunni and Maria at their home kennel, where the huskies are treated as family members rather than as a quick photo prop. Expect wagging tails, plenty of kisses, and time to meet the dogs at their own pace.

I like the private setting, since your group gets the hosts and dogs to itself. I also like the easy mix of cuddles, coffee, photos, and talk about sled dogs. The main drawback is the price: $666.78 for up to eight people makes sense for a full group, but it is a steep one-hour cost for a couple.

Key points to know

• Private visit for up to eight: You get the kennel and hosts to yourself, with no larger group sharing the hour.
• Meet the family dogs: Gunni and Maria keep around 20 huskies, including dogs described as friendly, curious, and eager for attention.
• Pickup is practical: Collection is offered from Akureyri hotels, the airport, and the harbor cruise terminal.
• More than petting: You can ask about huskies, sledding, the dogs’ personalities, and how the family grew from one dog to many.
• A good family stop: Children and adults can take part, and the dogs are presented as social and welcoming.
• Plan for a short visit: The activity lasts about an hour, so this is a focused animal encounter, not a full dogsledding trip.

Arriving at the goHusky kennel outside Akureyri

The meeting point is goHusky Dogsledding Tours at Glæsibær 3, outside Akureyri. You can also arrange pickup, with the vehicle scheduled to collect you 15 minutes before the activity. Be ready in front of your hotel or accommodation, rather than waiting inside.

Pickup is useful if you are staying in Akureyri and do not have a car. It is also well suited to a cruise stop, since collection is available at the harbor cruise terminal. Airport pickup is offered too, which can make this a handy first or last activity around a flight.

The home is close enough to Akureyri and the cruise port to be convenient, while still giving you a view of the countryside. That change matters. You are not meeting the dogs in a city shop or a staged indoor display. You are visiting the place where the family lives with its kennel.

The activity returns to the meeting point at the end. If you use pickup, confirm the return arrangement when booking or before departure, since the listed end point is the meeting location.

An hour with Akureyri’s friendly huskies

Once you arrive, the visit centers on the dogs. You spend about an hour petting, cuddling, and taking pictures and videos. The huskies are described as friendly, curious, and very willing to meet new people, so this is an interactive stop rather than a talk viewed from behind a barrier.

Expect attention from several dogs at once. One account describes meeting 18 dogs together, while the kennel is also described as having around 20 huskies. That number gives you a sense of the energy: wagging tails, curious noses, and plenty of movement.

The dogs are known for giving kisses, so bring a good sense of humor and do not wear anything that cannot handle a little canine enthusiasm. The experience is built around contact, but you should still let the hosts guide introductions and show you how to approach each dog.

This is not a husky sled ride. You do not spend the hour racing across snow or learning to drive a team. Instead, you see the dogs at home and get time to focus on their behavior, character, and relationship with the owners.

That distinction is important when you compare options in North Iceland. A dogsledding trip gives you motion and scenery. This visit gives you relaxed time with the animals. If you mainly want a ride, book a sledding activity instead. If you want to understand and handle the dogs, the kennel visit is the better match.

Gunni and Maria make the visit personal

Gunni and Maria host the experience, and their role is central to its appeal. They explain what to expect, introduce the dogs, and talk about dog sledding and life with a large husky family.

The story of the kennel adds substance to the cuddles. The family began with one dog and eventually grew to around 20 or more. That change helps explain why the visit feels like entering a working dog household rather than stopping at a simple petting attraction.

You can ask about the dogs as individuals. With so many huskies, their personalities become part of the visit. Some may be more eager to greet you, while others may take a little time. The hosts can help you understand those differences.

The dogs are presented as well cared for and happy in their home setting. That is a key point for anyone who is uneasy about animal attractions. You are not promised a performance, and the dogs are not there to repeat tricks on command. The focus is ordinary contact with animals that are used to meeting people.

Gunni also brings a local connection to the stop. The visit can include talk about Iceland as well as sledding, so you get more than a series of dog introductions. The conversation may be especially useful if you are considering a separate sledding trip.

Photos, videos, coffee, and tea

You can take as many photos and videos as you like during the visit. That is a real advantage in a private setting. You are not trying to squeeze a quick picture into a crowded line, and you have time to catch the dogs in more natural moments.

Keep your camera ready, but do not let it take over the hour. The best part of this experience is the contact itself. Put the phone down for a while, let the hosts introduce the dogs, and then take pictures once you have settled in.

Coffee and tea are included. This small touch changes the pace of the stop. Instead of rushing from the vehicle to the dogs and back again, you have a chance to sit, warm up, and talk with the family.

The exact refreshment setup is not specified, so do not treat this as a meal or café visit. Think of coffee or tea as a simple welcome during a short home visit.

Why families tend to fit this activity well

The experience is open to children and adults, and the dogs are described as intelligent, curious, and friendly. That makes it a natural choice for families looking for something gentler than a long outdoor excursion.

Children can enjoy the immediate fun of petting and cuddling. Adults may get more from the story of the kennel and the chance to ask about sled dogs. Since the visit is private, your group does not need to adjust to strangers or a large busload of people.

Still, a private booking does not mean the dogs will behave like toys. They are living animals, and a good visit depends on calm handling. Listen to Gunni and Maria, especially when they explain how to approach a dog or when a dog needs a break.

The same point applies to adults who love huskies. It is easy to imagine that every dog will rush over at once, but individual dogs have individual moods. The hosts can help you read the group and get the best from the hour.

This is also a pleasant choice for someone who cannot fit a longer excursion into a tight Iceland schedule. The activity takes about an hour, with pickup available, so it can fit between other Akureyri plans. Allow extra time for transport and the 15-minute pre-tour pickup window.

What the $666.78 group price really means

At $666.78 per group of up to eight, the cost needs careful thought. For eight people, the price works out to about $83 per person. For four people, it is about $167 each. For two people, it is about $333 each.

That makes this a much better deal for a family or full group than for a couple. The private format is the reason for the high total price. You are paying for exclusive time with the hosts and dogs, not simply buying two seats on a standard excursion.

I would compare the price with what matters to your group. If several people love dogs, the private visit can offer good value because everyone gets direct time with the animals and can ask questions. If only one person in your party is especially interested in huskies, the cost is harder to justify.

The included pickup, photos, videos, coffee, and tea add convenience, but they do not turn this into a full-day activity. The core purchase is the private hour with Gunni, Maria, and the huskies.

Booking demand also matters. The experience is booked an average of 44 days ahead, so do not leave it until the last minute if your Iceland dates are fixed. A private kennel has limited capacity, and only one group can have the hosts and dogs at a time.

Best timing for cruise stops and Akureyri stays

This activity works well around a cruise visit because pickup is offered from the harbor terminal and the kennel is close enough to Akureyri for a short countryside outing. You still need to protect your return time. The listed activity lasts about an hour, but your port schedule also needs room for pickup and transport.

Hotel pickup is simple if you are staying in town. Be ready outside 15 minutes before the start. That small detail can prevent a frustrating delay, especially if the driver is collecting you at a busy hotel.

Airport pickup gives you another useful option. You can fit the experience around a flight, but check your own timing carefully. The tour is short, yet airport days often involve luggage, check-in, and fixed departure times.

Because the visit ends at the meeting point, ask about your return to the hotel, port, or airport when arranging pickup. The pickup information confirms collection, while the stated end point is the meeting location.

A genuine animal visit, not a staged attraction

The strongest reason to choose this activity is the relationship between the hosts and their dogs. The family treats the huskies as part of everyday life, and that comes through in the way the visit is described.

You also get a glimpse of the work behind sledding. Owning a large group of huskies means understanding their health, behavior, training, and individual needs. The visit cannot cover everything in one hour, but it gives you a closer look than a quick kennel stop attached to another excursion.

I like that the dogs are not presented only as equipment. You meet them as individuals, with their own habits and personalities. That is especially valuable if you care about animal welfare or want to know how a sled dog family lives between working seasons.

The setting adds to the feeling. The countryside views around the home give the visit a clear sense of place, but the dogs remain the focus. You are not being pulled through a list of sightseeing stops. You are spending time in one home with one family and its animals.

Who should book this Akureyri husky visit

I would recommend it most strongly to:

• Families with children who enjoy friendly dogs
• Couples who place a high value on a private experience
• Small groups that can divide the group price
• Cruise passengers seeking a short activity near Akureyri
• Dog lovers who want cuddles and conversation rather than a sled ride
• Visitors interested in how a husky kennel and sledding family operate

I would be more cautious if you are traveling alone or as a couple on a tight budget. The fixed group price can be hard to defend for a very small party.

I would also choose another activity if your main goal is action. This is a calm meeting with the dogs, not a winter drive or a long outdoor adventure. Its pleasure comes from contact, conversation, and the chance to slow down.

Should you book Husky Petting in Akureyri?

Book it if you want a warm, personal animal encounter and your group can share the private price. Gunni and Maria offer more than a photo stop, and the dogs provide the sort of direct contact that many larger excursions cannot match.

For the best value, fill as much of the eight-person capacity as possible. Families and small friend groups are likely to get the most from the cost. Couples should book only if meeting the huskies is a major priority and the private format matters to them.

The five-star rating from all 32 reviews supports the experience’s strongest points: friendly dogs, welcoming hosts, a personal setting, and an easy one-hour format. Just keep your expectations clear. You are booking husky time, not a dogsled ride, and the price is built around privacy.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Changes or cancellations inside that window are not accepted or refunded.

FAQ

How long does Husky Petting in Akureyri last?

The visit lasts approximately one hour.

How many people can join the private experience?

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

Is pickup available?

Yes. Pickup is offered from Akureyri hotels, Akureyri Airport, and the harbor cruise terminal. You should be ready in front of your accommodation 15 minutes before the tour.

Where does the activity start and finish?

The listed meeting point is goHusky Dogsledding Tours at Glæsibær 3, 601 Akureyri. The activity ends back at the meeting point.

Are children allowed to participate?

Yes. The experience is suitable for both children and adults.

What is included during the visit?

You can pet and cuddle the huskies, take photos and videos, and enjoy coffee and tea. The visit is offered in English.