Husky safari in Finland

Planet

The guides here are some of the most conscientious we have come across when it comes to environmental responsibility. Operating in the National Parks of this wild region is seen as a real privilege and they have enormous respect for the environment.

All guides operate a strict leave no trace policy and they ensure that this is followed by all participants during this five day safari.

At the wilderness cabins the facilities are basic and in many cases there are composting toilets provided for guests to use, the impact of which is minimal on the environment. All litter is disposed of responsibly and recycled where possible. As ever local ingredients will be utilized throughout and in this region menus tend to include reindeer and salmon, both of which have been sustainable herded and caught for centuries by the local people. Food miles are therefore at a minimum.

Wood for stove and camp fires is sustainably sourced and typically set campfire areas will be utilized throughout as they are provided in many regions visited.

Dog sledding itself is a relatively low impact activity and obviously requires no fossil fuels in order to operate. Routes are typically set trails and well maintained and due to the low temperatures and perma frost there is little trace of any of these routes come the summer months.

The only noise pollution caused could be the howl of the huskies, eager for the trail in the mornings.

Group sizes on this tour are typically set to maximum 8 pax including guide in order to minimize impact and maintain the experience for guests.

The welfare of the working dogs here is excellent and of paramount importance. The dogs are looked after as the number one priority by guests. The sled dog center has an exceptional reputation and complies with all Finnish veterinary regulations and standards for the care of the animals and the dogs’ relationship with their mushers is an amazing sight to see.

People

Tourism in Finnish Lapland has become the main income source of employment and income replacing traditional industries such as forestry. Development from a period of extractive industry to an industrial society has come about quickly. In 1950 the largest part of Lapland’s inhabitants lived in rural areas and more than half the workforce worked in forestry and agriculture. Today 65 % of the workforce are in the service industry, 22 % in processing and 10 % in primary production.

This huge growth in tourism and service provision has been developed in conjunction with a long-term sustainable tourism plan with one of the primary objectives being to maintain nature in its natural state while guaranteeing the traditional way of life. Much of this has been achieved along with membership of EU development programmes, aimed at diversifying sources of livelihood, effective usage of resources and to increase export.

Approximately a quarter of Lapland’s 100 000 strong workforce was unemployed in 1997. Promoting entrepreneurship, ongoing re-education of the workforce and development of the educational system to suit the needs of enterprises is continuing. The target is to diversify the sources of livelihood, increase the value of refinement production and develop new enterprises particularly in the area of tourism. National measures as well as EU-programme measures support this objective.

We embrace this philosophy on our husky safari in Finland, employing local activity providers and using only locally owned hotels. In this manner we help to maintain jobs in an area where unemployment was, until recently, very high. Additionally, the use of local suppliers ensures that the tourism spend filters through to local economies via the tourism multiplier effect.