Most common questions
When is the best time to visit Levi for husky tours?
Each month of the winter is different but unique in it’s own way.
For example: November is the brand new snow, where we might have a bit less snow than usual but dogs are so excited to start the season. Then December is the busy time where everyone wants to visit Santa. January is a calmer month where there is still a lot going on but not as much as December.
February, Levi gets full again but with less children and more sun! Guaranteed amount of snow 100%! March, from Victor’s opinion is the best month as is less busy, plenty of sun and good weather and so much snow! April is every year different, where we could have good snow for the first two weeks and everything seems great but then we get a heat wave and in couple days most of places are hard to reach and it becomes to wet.
How cold does it get during winter in Levi?
Each month can vary and there are differences in how the cold feels: November, frozen cold, the temperatures have just settle to minus and everything seems a bit more icy but we don’t go lower than -10ºC*. December, snow is settled, we usually have a good amount to enjoy the activities, we could reach to -20ºC* but there has been times that we can reach -30ºC. January, similar as December but sun is starting to show up! February, the confusing month as we get more sun but we can reach -40ºC.
March, we could reach -20ºC* but the sun is making us feel warm and more energetic.
*It is rare that these temperatures are more than a day or two and usually is just for few hours until they get warmer.
Do I need a car to reach the kennel?
We have an option to join our transportation from Levi Center but you can join yourself with your own transport. We are located 15 minutes from Levi center and it is easy to reach to the kennel with GPS.
Is transport from Levi included in the tour?
During the season 2025/2026, we charge an extra fee of 5 euros per person.
Is it physically demanding to drive the sled?
Not really, you have to be capable of moving properly to use the break and to balance.
Can I join a tour if I’m traveling solo?
Yes, you are always welcome to join! There are times in low season where we might not have anyone else joining so we will try to add you to the closest group as our minimum group capacity is 2 people.
Will there be time to take photos during the tour?
In the beginning of the tour, there isn’t much time as we have to explain the instructions and dogs are really excited to start so they are not happy to wait for too long. We will help you in the halfway of the trail to take your phone and take a picture of you*.
Then after the drive part, we will have plenty of time to take pictures of the surroundings and the dogs!
*Passengers can take pictures and videos while the driven part, drivers are not allowed to take their hands of the handle bar.
Can I bring a GoPro or camera on the sled?
Yes, but be aware that if it falls*, you will have to leave it where it felt as a hard break (Emergency break) for a non real emergency that could harm the dogs and/or trying to grab it while driving can be a real danger for the dogs and the people.
We will be happy to help you to set your camera but we will ask you to focus on enjoying the tour.
*If you bring a camera is under your own responsibility.
Will I meet the dogs before or after the ride?
You will have plenty of time after the ride.
Do the dogs get rest days?
Yes, every dog needs to have own rest time. Older dogs and young need more time to rest so they can enjoy each tour they join. Adults are usually in better shape and they don’t like to rest so we have to force them to take time off too!
What happens when dogs retire?
Every kennel does different but in the case of Empyrean (Victor), dogs stays in the kennel, they will decrease the amount of tours, training runs and trips. They stay with the family.
Are the dogs trained to follow commands?
We try to train them to be as best as they can be. Each dog is different and not all of them can do everything. Our leaders knows the commands to go left and right when they pull the sled and all the dogs knows their name.
What makes Levi different from other destinations?
Levi can offer everything most destinations cannot offer at once: nearby airport, plenty of options with accommodations, restaurants, every kind of activity from big groups to small personalized tours, a proper snow season, good transportation services, ski slopes for all levels, good chances to see Northern Lights, etc and last but not least Empyrean.
How many hours of daylight are there in winter?
In November we still have proper daytime until the last week as we enter the polar night, this will last until the first week of January where we will have every week 15 minutes more of Sun.
To make sure to explain, the polar night is not completely darkness, we have a blue sky for about 5 hours where there is no Sun but still good to be able to see everything around us.
Is it possible to visit your kennel without booking?
We would love that everyone sees our kennel and let you be with our dogs but even the dogs they need their own free time without social interaction or “work” as the physical rest is important the mental rest is essential for their welfare.
Do you operate during the Christmas and New Year holidays?
Empyrean does operate during Christmas and New Year, as we understand that is important to rest, we follow our schedule to keep doing tours and to rest once or twice a week no matter the holiday week. We organize the rest for the dogs, not for the humans. We make our earnings only in winter so we prefer to slow down in low season and off season.
Where do the huskies live when they’re not running?
Empyrean’s dogs live whole year in the same kennel in Lapland. We have build a kennel specially for the dogs where they are safe and comfortable thru the whole year.
How are the dogs trained?
It’s a long process where starts from the day the puppies are able to see properly. They see daily how their neighbors go for training runs and tours. See how happy they are and how it fulfills them. Then when the time comes, around 6 to 8 months old, we will practice to be on the line and without guests and a small team we will go just few meters to show how it feels.
That will increase until they are over a year old and they will be able one day to pull for many kilometers without a problem.
Can I sponsor a husky?
This project will be able during Summer 2026!
Are the tours conducted in English?
Yes, all our tours are done in English.
If you want to get it in Spanish/Catalan, Victor will be happy to do it. If you want in American, our American workers Great and Cole will be happy to do it too!
Is Lapland safe to travel with children?
Nowadays, with all the clothing and commodities that there are, children are safe to come to Lapland. It really depends in each child how they handle the cold but we must understand this is a new feeling for them and usually is overwhelming as they don’t understand why their fingers and toes are getting cold so quick. We must cover them properly and let them understand that thanks to these clothes they can enjoy their time outdoors.
What’s the difference between self-driving and musher-driven tours?
Self driving tours are driven by your self, we will explain you how to drive, set the team for you and let you drive on our tracks. Self driving seems really complicated but with our easy trails the only thing you have to do is to control the speed by pressing partially the break (Like going downhill with a vehicle).
Musher-driven tours are driven by us, we will take full control of the sled and let you sit down and relax. We will have more dogs and have more speed as we have a better control.
Do I need experience to drive the sled?
You don’t need experience but you need to feel okay with your body so you have good balance and control over your movements.
You need to be able to balance while you have one foot on the break and the understanding of our rules that we will explain before driving.
What should I wear for the tour?
We always recommend to wear as many layers as you need plus one extra layer (If you are really sensitive to the extra heat, you can carry it in a backpack the extra layer). It is always better to remove a layer than to feel so cold that there is nothing that can warm you up.
We offer overalls in some of our tours but if you don’t have anything under, it won’t help as much.
What kind of huskies do you have?
In our self driven tours, we have Alaskan huskies that are bred to improve performance and quality. Part of them look quite different from the Pet Siberian husky that everyone knows.
In our professional driven tours, we have Siberian Huskies that have been bred for racing and tours. Even they look similar to the “Pet Siberian Husky” they are not indoor dogs as they have a wilder lifestyle.
Do the dogs enjoy running?
99.99% of the sled dogs in the world love to run, it all depends on how you train them and how have you introduced them to this lifestyle. The easiest ways to know if they enjoy: Are they excited when you put the harnesses* and put them in the line? Do they go forward when is time to pull? Then that means they are in paradise!
*There are dogs that even they are excited they don’t show it as the rest and holds it. This could be their own personality or past experiences, for example being in a kennel where they taught not to bark before pulling the sled.
How many dogs pull each sled?
It depends in the group setting, if you are a light couple, it’s probably best to have just 4, as the dogs are really strong and you need to be capable to slow down and/or stop them.
If the group size increases then we can increase the number of dogs to a maximum of 6.
For our Musher-driven tour, we have 12 dogs that will pull the sled.
Can I pet the huskies?
If they want, you are more than welcome to pet them after the ride. Same as us, sometimes dogs are having rough days and they might not want so much or any petting at all. (Bad night, eating something funny, disagreement with the neighbors, etc)
We don’t force the dogs to pose for our guests but we invite them to join us.
Do the dogs have names and personalities?
Yes, each dog has its own name and personality.
We will make sure to explain one of them.
Can I pay online or on the day of the tour?
We only take bookings in advance as we want to make sure to control how much rest the dogs they have each day. We always recommend to read our terms and conditions.
Can I change my tour date after booking?
We always try to accommodate everyone and we are happy to change your date, free of charge but sometimes in high season is not possible to find another spot. So please, make sure before booking to double check if the date is correct.
If for some reason, you have to move your trip for the following year, we will make a voucher without extra charge for you to validate as soon as you have confirmed your new travel date.
Can I drive the sled a solo traveler?
If you are the only person, it is possible to drive alone but as the sled might be really light we may need to add some weight to make sure dogs don’t go too fast. Maybe one of our team members will join you!
Is the trail safe for beginners?
Our self driven trails are so easy are perfect for beginners.
Will there be a guide nearby during the tour?
There will always be guides around you, when you drive, when you are petting dogs, when you are at the hut.
We will make sure you feel like home and are 100% comfortable and safe.
Can I drive if I’m pregnant?
We don’t recommend during pregnancy to be at the sled, either as passenger or driver, we understand that doctors might tell you that is okay. But anything could happen while being with animals, as you might be driving and for some reason you trip and fall of the sled while on movement, this could harm both of you. Please, make sure to understand that even the tours are safe, unpredictable situations may happen not just in our tour but in any.
Are there restrooms at the kennel?
We have a warm toilet in our kennel that is always available to use.
Are your huskies part of a racing team or just tours?
Victor’s dogs train to improve performance and join races.
For this 2025/2026 season, Victor will join Pasvik Trail 240km in Norway with 8 dogs. As a first season, Victor wants to give time to adapt and improve before racing but in the following years Victor would like to join to more than 2 races per year, if possible.
Can someone with limited mobility join the tour?
Requested in advance it is possible as a passenger. For the dogs safety, we won’t allow a person with limited mobility to drive the sled.
What’s the difference between Alaskan and Siberian huskies?
The first difference is about the race, Alaskan huskies are a mixed breed and Siberian are pure breed. Alaskan are predominantly in the racing world but many mushers with Siberian huskies have outperformed Alaskan huskies teams.
What should I pack for a winter tour in Lapland?
Woolen layers under the winter gear (Overall or skiing clothes), woolen socks, gloves (better if they are mittens) and in case of getting too wet, extra pair of socks and woolen layers. Then heat warmers than can go inside the gloves and feet and hat.