AT 65°N · EACH SEASON HAS ITS OWN PACE
Activities by season
We don't force anything. We follow what nature offers — with your dogs, with ours, or both.
The seasonal philosophy
At 65 degrees North, each season expresses itself clearly with all its intensity and contrasts. Snow falls and stays for five months straight, the sun disappears somewhat in December and then doesn't set in June. These extremes dictate what you can do — and what you cannot.
We have adapted our rhythm to nature's. Skiing in winter, canoeing in summer to answer the call of the lake. In spring and autumn, dog hiking lets you discover the treasures of Swedish nature.
It is also the right rhythm for the dog: a husky suffers in summer, a small dog trembles in winter. Each season has its public, human and canine. If you come without a dog, it is simpler — you follow what appeals to you, without constraints of size or breed.
❄️ Winter — Ski-joering, dog snowshoeing & northern lights
November → April
Winter is our main season. Snow holds for five months, from early November to mid-April. Temperatures range between -5 and -25 °C, sometimes lower in December-January. Daylight is short (4 to 6 hours of useful daylight in mid-December) but blue-tinted and distinctive during the hours bordering the night.
Ski-joering
You are cross-country skiing, pulled by your dog equipped with a harness and connected to your waist belt by an elastic line. On a marked trail or not, you cover kilometres by gliding.
Dog requirements: good joint health, motivation to pull, minimum size around 15 kg. Nordic breeds are built for it, but many others take to it.
Human requirements: intermediate cross-country skiing level (you know how to glide, brake, manage a gentle descent). No need to be a competitor.
No dog? You can be pulled by one of ours — depending on availability and the age of the dogs involved, we'll see together. Otherwise, the same trails work very well with classic cross-country skiing, without traction. The light of February on the frozen forest is worth the trip, traction or not.
Pulka outings
For dogs that don't pull but enjoy movement, or for humans new to skiing: the dog pulls a small light sledge behind him, and you follow on foot or skis. Calmer, just as lovely. Without your own dog, the option works too with Nanga or Hunza who have no problem pulling a light pulka.
Snowshoe or walking outings
If skiing proves too technical or too physical for you, it's always possible to adapt our outings and do them simply on foot (with or without crampons) or snowshoes depending on snow conditions.
Northern lights
Visible from October to March as soon as it gets dark. No guarantee, it's solar weather. A clear sky, a cold night, a high Kp index, and you have your evening. Otherwise you watch the stars.
🌱 Spring — Transition
May → June
Spring in Lapland is short and somewhat chaotic. The thaw begins in May, snow crumbles, the ground becomes visible in places. This transitional season is not the most practical — residual ice alternates with mud, neither skiing nor dog trekking are at their best. However, many forest trails are passable.
What you'll find there: light returning at great speed (days grow longer by 7-8 minutes each day), the first migratory birds, winter's silence replaced by song. The first gentle dog-sledding runs, on trails still mixed with snow.
You might see reindeer, sometimes a moose in the distance, many birds.
It's the least visited season, and the one we love for the slow turning of the landscape.
☀️ Summer — Dog hiking, canoeing & midnight sun
July → August
Summer at 65°N is first and foremost the midnight sun. From mid-June onwards, the sun doesn't set for several weeks. The first nights, sleep feels strange — you adapt. Hikes under the midnight sun are among the things you remember for a long time.
Dog walking
The boreal forest surrounds us everywhere, crossed by trails. You walk with your dog equipped with a harness and leash — it doesn't pull you but stays connected. If you don't have a dog, you walk with one of ours: Nanga or Hunza love long outings. We regularly see reindeer, sometimes a moose in the distance, many birds.
Canoeing on the lake
We have a canoe available (late spring, summer, outside freezing season). The dog can come aboard if they wish, we paddle slowly, we read the landscape from the water. Swimming from the boat if you're brave enough!
Note
Mosquitoes are present from mid-June to mid-August, especially in the forest and at dusk. Out on the lake in the middle of the water, you forget they exist. Mosquito repellent recommended in addition to good covering clothing.
🍂 Autumn — Dog hiking & colours
September → October
Autumn is our contemplative season. Temperatures drop from 10 °C in early September to -5 °C in late October. The first frosts come quickly, night returns.
The boreal forests paint themselves in yellow, orange and red — the Swedes call it höstfärger, the Finns ruska. For two to three weeks, it's peak color. The birches shine.
Dog sledding reclaims the firm trails, without spring's mud. And the first auroras are possible from September onwards, as soon as the night returns in full.
Coming with your dog — or without
Skimate is built first for those who come with their own dog. That's our real singularity — almost no place in Lapland makes that possible. If that's you, the Travelling to Sweden with your dog page covers all the practical side (passport, vaccines, transport).
But we also welcome visitors without a dog. A few situations come up :
- You're coming as a couple or family, and only one of you has a dog.
- You love Nordic dogs but don't have one yet — you want to spend time with a pack before an adoption project, or just for the pleasure of it.
- You're tagging along with musher friends and you come for the pulling, without needing to bring your own.
In those cases, we hand the relay to our dogs. Depending on the day and how they're feeling, we suggest what's possible — skijoring with one of ours, dog hiking, pulka outings, canoe in summer. No session is guaranteed every day since we don't have thirty dogs to rotate, but with a bit of flexibility in the planning, we always find something.
On pricing and logistics : write to us before booking, we'll figure it out together.
Which season for your dog?
Not all dogs are equal across seasons. A few markers to help you choose :
| Profile | Winter | Spring | Summer | Autumn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Without a dog | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Nordic breed (husky, malamute…) | ✅ ideal | ✅ | ⚠ heat | ✅ |
| Shepherd / working dog | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Small dog (< 10 kg) | ⚠ booties + coat | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Senior dog | ⚠ depending on shape | ✅ gentle | ⚠ heat | ✅ |
| Puppy < 1 year | ❌ no skijoring | ✅ gentle walks | ✅ gentle walks | ✅ gentle walks |
If you come without a dog, every season is open. The programme adapts to whatever the light and our dogs have on offer.
If you're unsure, write to us with your dog's profile (breed, age, activity level). We'll guide you.
Want to come? Winter 2026-2027 is open for booking.
See availability →For spring, summer or autumn, write to us — we'll keep you posted on the opening.