Husky Petting, in Akureyri

The best part of this Akureyri outing is simple: you spend time with more than 25 friendly huskies in the dogs’ own home setting. Gunni and Maria welcome you to their kennel, where the dogs are curious, affectionate, and ready for cuddles, photos, and plenty of kisses.

I like the warm personal welcome, and I like the chance to see more than just working dogs. You may meet puppies, hear how the kennel grew, see husky yarn and ribbons, and learn how this couple built a life around their dogs. The main drawback is the short length: at about one hour, dog lovers may wish they had more time.

Key points about the Akureyri husky visit

• Meet more than 25 huskies: You can spend time with a large group of friendly dogs rather than seeing just one or two.
• Visit Gunni and Maria’s home kennel: The setting gives this experience a personal feel that a standard photo stop cannot match.
• Puppies may be part of the visit: Recent puppies add a special highlight for families and anyone who cannot resist a small, wiggly dog.
• See the life behind dogsledding: Husky yarn, trophies, ribbons, and stories help explain how the kennel operates.
• Pickup is offered in Akureyri: You should be ready outside your accommodation 15 minutes before the scheduled start.
• The group is capped at 12 people: That keeps the visit smaller than a large coach excursion, though the dogs remain the focus.

Meeting Akureyri’s huskies at their home kennel

This is a people-and-dogs experience, not a dogsled ride. You go to the goHusky Dogsledding Tours location at Glæsibær 3, just outside Akureyri, and spend about an hour meeting the kennel’s huskies.

That distinction matters. If you want speed, snowy trails, and the sound of a sled moving behind a team, this is not that activity. If you want to understand the dogs as individual animals, take close-up pictures, and enjoy hands-on time, it is a much better fit.

The atmosphere is personal. Gunni and Maria open their home to you, and the visit centers on their dogs and their daily life with them. That personal welcome is a major part of the appeal. You are not simply looking at huskies behind a fence and moving on to the next stop.

The dogs are described as intelligent, curious, and friendly. You can expect affectionate behavior, including plenty of kisses. That makes the visit especially easy for families, although children should still be guided gently around a large group of excited dogs.

What the one-hour visit feels like

The visit has a relaxed shape rather than a long list of scheduled stops. You arrive at the kennel, meet the owners, and begin spending time with the huskies. The central activity is petting and cuddling the dogs while taking photographs.

You can take as many pictures as you like during the experience. That is useful in Iceland, where many outings are built around scenery and movement. Here, you have time to focus on expressions, different coat colors, friendly faces, and the small moments that are difficult to capture during a fast stop.

The dogs are the main event, but the setting adds context. You may see how a kennel built around dogsledding also functions as a home and a livelihood. You may hear how Gunni and Maria came to raise these dogs and how their passion became their work.

If you are lucky with the timing, puppies are part of the visit. That can be the emotional high point, especially for children. Puppies are not guaranteed by the supplied information, so I would treat this as a possible bonus rather than the central reason to book.

You may also see husky yarn made from the dogs’ coats, along with an impressive collection of trophies and ribbons. These details help explain that the kennel is not simply a petting stop. There is a serious dogsledding story behind the cuddles.

Why the owners make a difference

A large part of the experience comes from Gunni and Maria. Their role is not limited to pointing out the dogs. They welcome you into their home and explain how the kennel developed, how the dogs became part of their family, and how they care for them.

That personal contact gives the visit its strongest sense of place. Akureyri has plenty of scenic attractions, but a conversation inside a working dog kennel gives you a different view of Icelandic life. You learn about the people who have chosen to build their routine around a demanding and unusual passion.

The collection of trophies and ribbons is worth paying attention to. It gives you a visual record of the kennel’s achievements, while the yarn offers a more domestic detail. Together, they show both sides of the huskies’ lives: working animals with a sporting role, and beloved family members with plenty of personality.

I also like that the dogs are presented as individuals. With more than 25 huskies, you may notice different temperaments. Some may seek attention at once, while others may take a little time to approach. The descriptions of the dogs emphasize friendliness, but the sensible approach is to let each dog set the pace.

A strong choice for families and dog lovers

This is one of the easier Iceland activities to recommend for families. Children get direct contact with the dogs, and the visit does not require a long hike, physical exertion, or special outdoor skill. The short length also works well when young children have limited patience for a full-day excursion.

The experience has been especially popular with children who enjoy animals. Puppies, cuddles, and photo opportunities give kids something immediate to enjoy, while the owners’ stories add interest for adults.

You should still think about your child’s behavior around animals. A pack of huskies can be exciting, and even friendly dogs can become overstimulated. Calm voices, gentle hands, and attention to the owners’ instructions will help keep the visit pleasant for everyone.

Adult dog lovers may find the experience just as rewarding. You can spend time noticing the dogs’ markings, expressions, and behavior, then ask about the kennel’s history and working life. If you enjoy animal photography, this is a better choice than a quick encounter where you have only seconds to get a picture.

The experience also works well for a cruise stop. One visitor described it as the best port stop of the trip, and the timing is practical for a short visit to Akureyri. You should still confirm that the schedule fits your ship’s departure and any required return time, since the activity itself lasts only about an hour but transport and port timing also matter.

The price and what you receive

The listed price is $84.02 per person. That is not a cheap photo stop, but the value depends on what you want from an Iceland excursion.

You are paying for more than a few minutes with a dog. The price includes an approximately one-hour visit, access to a private kennel setting, time with a large group of huskies, and the chance to hear the owners’ story. Pickup is offered, which may save you the trouble of arranging your own transport from your accommodation.

The group limit is 12 people. That is still a group, but it is small enough to feel more personal than a large bus-based attraction. A smaller group also gives you a better chance to interact with the owners and spend time with the dogs rather than simply watching from the edge.

For a family of four, the cost adds up quickly. I would book it if your family considers dog time a main holiday activity, not merely a filler between sightseeing stops. If you are only mildly interested in huskies, the price may feel high for one hour.

The personal details improve the value. Meeting puppies, seeing the trophies and ribbons, and learning about husky yarn give the visit more substance than petting alone. You leave with a clearer idea of what it takes to care for and work with a large kennel of dogs.

Pickup, timing, and the small group

Pickup is offered from your accommodation. You are asked to be ready in front of the accommodation 15 minutes before the tour. That instruction is easy to follow, but do not treat the pickup time as optional. Being outside and ready keeps the short activity on schedule.

The tour begins and ends at the goHusky Dogsledding Tours meeting point at Glæsibær 3, 601 Akureyri. If you arrange your own way there, make sure you use the correct location and allow enough time to arrive before the start.

The activity is offered in English. That makes it suitable for English-speaking visitors who want to ask questions about the dogs and kennel. Confirmation is received at booking, and the activity accepts most people.

The maximum group size is 12. This is a useful middle ground. You are not guaranteed a private visit, but you are also unlikely to be part of a huge crowd. Since the activity depends on close contact with animals, the group limit is an important part of the experience.

The visit lasts about one hour. That is enough time for a good introduction, petting, pictures, and conversation, but it is not a long kennel tour. If you want a full morning or afternoon devoted to dogsledding, you should look for a different activity.

What to bring and how to behave around the dogs

The supplied details do not give a required clothing list, equipment list, or weather plan. I would follow normal Iceland advice and dress for changing conditions, especially if you will wait outside for pickup or spend any time outdoors at the kennel.

Bring a camera or phone with space for pictures. You will have repeated chances to photograph the dogs, so you do not need to rush. A phone with a clean lens will make a surprising difference when a husky nose moves in close.

Let the owners guide the interaction. Friendly dogs may still have different comfort levels, and a group of excited huskies can move quickly. Ask before approaching a dog that is resting, and give puppies the same care you would give any young animal.

If you have allergies, keep that in mind before booking. The experience involves close contact with many dogs, so it is not a good match for anyone who reacts strongly to dog hair or dander. The available information does not describe allergy controls or indoor arrangements.

The experience is suitable for most people, but the data does not provide specific accessibility details. If you have mobility, sensory, or other access needs, contact goHusky before booking so you can confirm that the kennel setup works for you.

Cancellation and planning around your Iceland itinerary

You can cancel free of charge up to 24 hours before the experience starts for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not accepted for a refund, and the cutoff follows local time.

I would book ahead if this visit is important to your itinerary. It is booked an average of 79 days in advance, and the group limit is only 12 people. That does not guarantee that every date sells out, but it is a clear reason not to leave the activity until the last minute.

The experience can fit well into an Akureyri day because it is short and returns to the meeting point. Leave enough room around it if you have another timed activity, a cruise departure, or transport to catch. Pickup details and the exact schedule should be checked when you book.

Who should book this husky experience

I would choose this for:

• Families with children who love animals
• Adults who want close contact with friendly huskies
• Visitors looking for a personal activity outside central Akureyri
• Cruise passengers seeking a manageable port-day outing
• Anyone interested in kennel life, dogsledding, and the people behind the dogs
• Photographers who want time for close-up animal pictures

I would think twice if you want an actual sled ride, a long outdoor adventure, or a broad tour of northern Iceland. This is a focused animal encounter. Its value comes from contact, conversation, and the owners’ personal story, not from distance covered or dramatic scenery.

Should you book the Akureyri husky petting visit?

Book it if huskies are a real highlight for you. The combination of more than 25 friendly dogs, possible puppy time, close contact, and a warm welcome from Gunni and Maria gives the hour plenty of character.

The $84.02 price is easiest to justify when you see the visit as a personal kennel experience rather than a quick animal photo opportunity. Families should be especially happy with it, while children may remember this as one of the most enjoyable parts of an Iceland trip.

Skip it if you are hoping to ride behind the dogs or spend several hours outdoors. For everyone else, especially dog lovers with a free hour in Akureyri, this is a friendly, focused, and unusually personal way to meet Iceland’s huskies.

FAQ

Where does the husky petting experience take place?

It takes place at goHusky Dogsledding Tours, Glæsibær 3, 601 Akureyri, Iceland, at a kennel just outside Akureyri.

How long does the experience last?

The activity lasts approximately one hour.

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 end?

The activity ends back at the meeting point at goHusky Dogsledding Tours.

How many people can join the tour?

The maximum group size is 12 people.

Is the tour offered in English?

Yes. The experience is offered in English.

How many huskies can I meet?

The kennel has more than 25 huskies, and the visit gives you the chance to interact with them.

Can children participate?

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

Is puppy time included?

Puppies may be part of the visit, but the available information does not state that puppy time is guaranteed on every departure.

How much does the experience cost?

The listed price is $84.02 per person.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes. You can cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not accepted for a refund.