Dog sled tours. Self-driving team

The romance of polar travel has haunted us since childhood. Who hasn't imagined being in the company of the Saami, slicing through the snow-covered desert landscape on a dog sled? Around - the melancholy of the Arctic, polar bears and the northern lights.

Expeditions to dog sledding have long migrated from the pages of adventure novels to everyday reality.

We will talk about similar tours in Karelia and Finland, find out why the tundra attracts wealthy wanderers, and also tell you about the prices for a "dog" safari.

Dog sledding: safari in the tundra

Let’s define right away – dog sled safaris have nothing to do with hunting.

Often these are cognitive expeditions with an ethnographic bias, which are close in spirit to downshifting.
That is, this is a kind of opportunity for everyone to escape from the world of consumption and take a break from the endless bustle.

Main travel routes:

• Finland;
• Swedish Lapland;
• Karelia;
• Svalbard;
• Greenland;
• Iceland;
• Kamchatka.

These expeditions can be included in sightseeing tours (as one of the entertainment), or be completely self-sufficient.

Some tour operators offer packages that include snowmobile tours and helicopter tours.

What do we gain by going to the tundra on dogs? Let's break it down:

• we will feel the hardships of the life of sled dog drivers;
• let's get into northern romance;
• get unforgettable impressions from the polar landscapes;
• we will learn how to manage a dog team (4-5 individuals) and competently place luggage on the sled;
• we will study the husky breed, get the opportunity to feed them and live in symbiosis;
• let's live in hunting lodges(or plagues);
• go through a unique school of survival;
• we will create an archive of authentic photographs and video materials.

For Huskies, "work" in sledding is "doggy fitness."

Safari program around Lake Baikal

Previously, winter Baikal did not attract pampered tourists, but now the situation has changed.

Some companies offer eventful expedition tours that cover 200 kilometers of space and 6 days of your time.

The program looks like this:

• Day 1. Briefing.
  Arriving by plane in Irkutsk, you yourself get to Listvyanka. At 11.00 the expedition starts to Shumikha station. After 50 km and drinking hot tea, you again go out onto the ice shell. Another march ends:
  • warm houses,
  • bathhouse,
  • feeding dogs.
• Day 2. Formation of teams and moving to the village of Vydrino. Accommodation at the camp site.
• Day 3. Journey to the confluence of the Selenginka and Snezhnaya rivers.
  On the way, you can admire Khamar-Daban and its snow-white peaks.
• Day 4. Dogs need to rest, so trekking along the Selenginka riverbed with snowshoes awaits you. Purpose of the trip - scenic surroundings Sable Lake.
• Day 5. Throw to the village of Vydrino. Lunch is on the way. Hot tea in a thermos. Upon arrival - feeding the dogs and overnight.
• Day 6. 60 km journey to Listvyanka on sled dogs. You will have to cross the lake diagonally.
  The apotheosis of the expedition is the solemn presentation of certificates certifying your driving skills.

The proposed trip to Kamchatka will provide an opportunity for participants to see unforgettable beauty
this region, ride snowmobiles and dog sleds, get great pleasure from the rapid descent to skiing from the slopes of volcanoes, enjoy swimming in thermal springs, taste Kamchatka delicacies, watch sea lions and, in good weather, go by helicopter to.

• Cost: 69,000 rubles.
• Duration: 8 days

Dog sledding is a traditional mode of transport of the peoples of the north. Once the only winter remedy movement. Now it's exotic. On a dog sledding safari you will be able to ride real huskies through crisp snow. On the halts you will have the opportunity to enjoy the beauty surrounding nature, take pictures. Dog sled safari is unforgettable trip which will become one of the brightest memories of your holiday. Driving a dog sled is a real art, a sacrament accessible only to the initiated. And you can learn this art.

• Cost: 18,000 rubles.
• Duration: 3 days

Special offer! We offer you the opportunity to ride a dog sled and comfortable snowmobiles! The creak of runners on sparkling snow, the barking of dogs rushing forward and the joy of moving in one rhythm with nature - that's what a dog sled ride is! With us you will get an unforgettable experience from a trip on a powerful snowmobile through the lost forest paths and the virgin snow of frozen lakes, enjoy the magnificent winter landscapes!

• Cost: 32200 rubles.
• Duration: 3 days

Syamozero is a lake of rare beauty and size in South Karelia, around which is Syamozero, with its villages, Syamozero, forest wilderness, legends, fishing, the best sandy beaches in Karelia and excellent conditions for active rest. This area is environmentally friendly, because. there is not and never has been a single large enterprise or any hydraulic structure.
The first Syamozertsy appeared in these places back in the Mesolithic era and for many centuries it was the land of fishermen, hunters, ordinary peasants: the Saami, Veps, Karells, Finns, Russians and other settlers, who at all times fed on the lake and surrounding forests. Being a Novgorod patrimony since the 13th century, Russian was not spoken here until the middle of the 20th.

The proposed dog sledding trip is unique in that it runs along a track laid in the remote Karelian taiga far from settlements and roads with heavy traffic.

• Cost: 25,000 rubles.
• Duration: 3 days

European champion and 4-time Swedish champion in dog sledding Peter Karlsson proposes unforgettable days on a trip to Swedish Lapland, famous for its nature reserves, northern lights And local population- Saami. In Swedish, the Sami - Lapp, hence the name Lapland.
During this small expedition, its participants:
. feel the romance and complexity of the work of sled dog drivers;
. learn how to correctly place the load on the sled and manage their team of 4-5 dogs;
. will place on rest and feed their faithful companions - huskies;
. independently melt stoves in hunting lodges and take part in cooking;
. they will be convinced that the fabulous beauty of these endless snowy expanses, the cleanest air, deafening silence and the company of four-legged friends are worth it to get away from their daily worries, city noise and bustle for a few days.

• Cost, rub.
• Duration: 5 days.

Active rest and excursions in winter.

Dog teams

Full day tour
A team of huskies led by an experienced instructor will take you through a stunning snowy landscape. You can even drive a dog sled yourself. Enjoy unique atmosphere, and the guide will tell you about the surroundings, about polar dogs and polar bears.
Duration from 3 to 8 hours. Short dog sled tours are also possible in summer.

Dog teams

Tour for several days
An adventure among untouched valleys and glaciers, surrounded by mountains and complete silence. Feeling complete freedom. Accommodation in tents, cabins or in "The boat in the ice".

ice caves

Not far from Longueby there is a unique opportunity to descend into ice caves. An experienced instructor will accompany you along the entire route - on foot, by scooter, by dog ​​sled or by snowmobile to the grottoes, where you will get acquainted with the fantastic natural formations of ice and snow. Hiking experience is not required, but not recommended for claustrophobic or disabled people.

Ski trips

Short toursSkiing among the unique natural landscape around Longeby, the opportunity to try Telemark. Equipment rental is paid separately. Other ski tours are available on request.

Ski trips

Tour for several days
Taking into account your wishes, the tour is made up for several days with accommodation in small huts or tents and you have the opportunity to participate in everyday life in the camp.
The entire route and accommodation takes place in the immediate vicinity of Longeby.

Ski touring and dog sledding

Duration from 3 to 12 days. A pre-designed tour for individual tourists. Greenland hunting dogs will take you and your equipment to a spot where you can observe the polar bears in a very discreet way.

Snowmobile Tours

Full day tour
Under the guidance of an experienced instructor, you will take part in regular tour to the Russian settlements of Barentsurg and Pyramiden (now an abandoned village), to Kapp Linn and the magnificent glacier. Duration 7-8 hours. The price includes: a small briefing meeting, snowmobile and equipment rental, fuel, insurance, lunch, snowmobile instructor escort, round-trip cargo sled, weapons. Other similar tours are available upon request.

Snowmobile Tours

Tour for several days
Various possibilities for organizing multi-day snowmobile tours. The cost depends on the tour, duration, available on this moment placement and seasonality.

State educational institution of higher professional education
IRKUTSK STATE LINGUISTIC UNIVERSITY
Faculty of Social Sciences
Department of Economics, Management and Tourism

Course work
Development of a dog sled tour

WORK RESERVED

Irkutsk 2011
CONTENT

Introduction

1. Features and organization of tours on sled dogs
1.1. The concept of sled dog breeding
Sled dog breeding- one of the most important achievements of a person who lived in the North. Without the help of dogs, this amazing intelligent vehicle, a person could not master the vast Arctic expanses, the "world of silence", covered with a multi-meter crust of ice and snow, with a polar night lasting more than eight months a year. The Aleuts, Inuits, Nivkhs, Chukchis, Yukaghirs, Itelmens, Koryaks could not imagine their life without dogs - it is impossible to list them all.
Archaeologists say that dogs were ridden already 7 thousand years ago, the remains of sleds and dogs were found on New Siberian Islands. In Kamchatka, at the site of the well-known Ushkovo site of an ancient man, the remains of sledge runners and harnesses, whose age is 1.5 - 2 thousand years, were found. Undoubtedly, a dog team is inferior in speed to deer, but, unlike deer, dogs are unpretentious in food and do not require special care, they are able to work in any weather. If a lingering blizzard caught the team on the road, the dogs often saved their master by warming him with their bodies. And at the end of the snowfall, under a thick layer of snow, they accurately determined the road to human habitation. With such a list of advantages, for the indigenous population of the north, dogs are indispensable animals in the household, and a team of sled dogs can rightfully be considered the national mode of transport of our peninsula.
Over the past century, sled dog breeding has spread throughout the world. Even, it would seem, countries with very little snow, such as Japan, Korea, South Africa, Brazil, have found the opportunity to breed and train sled dogs, adapting the equipment to the conditions of the area.
Some of the dog breeds that are classified as sled dogs are, first of all, the world-famous blue-eyed Siberian Husky, Alaskan Malamute, Samoyed, Chukchi and Kamchatka sled dogs, as well as unregistered sports breeds. Separate scientific works have been written about each of these breeds.
Distinctive features of sled dogs are, first of all, thick, often fluffy, coat, the color is determined by a specific breed and is any variation of black, white, red, medium height - from 45 to 65 cm, proportionally folded body. As for the character, then we will talk about the dogs of the so-called working lines. The fact is that in the 20th century there was a domestication of breeds, and this led to the degradation of working qualities in them. And if for a room dog a three-time daily walk is the norm, then for a working dog it is not acceptable, because. The meaning of life has always been running in a team. Sled dogs are extremely kind to humans, which is probably one of the reasons why sled dogs have become so popular among city dwellers. Relations with brothers develop a little differently, here the laws of the North come into force: the main one is the one who is stronger. Only the unshakable authority of the owner, his attention to dogs from puppyhood and the suppression of "internecine warriors" in the bud makes the dogs come to terms with the presence of rivals nearby and stand in one team, forgetting about enmity. It is worth saying that these dogs have a literally reverent attitude towards work in a team, as they say, do not feed bread, let them work. If the dog was not taken to training for any reason and left at home, for him it looks like a punishment.
Usually sled dogs are kept in kennels, which can be of several types:

Indoor - a room with a common corridor in the center, on one or both sides of which there are compartments for 1-2 dogs with a net; each of these departments often has its own exit to the street through a special door.
street

1.2. Types of sled tours
A sled dog kennel can be an object and excursion tourism, and informative, and entertaining, and extreme.
Excursion and educational
A nursery can attract tourists if:

it belongs to some famous people;
dogs from this kennel won prizes at competitions or exhibitions;
they are interested in the breeds of dogs in the kennel;
they want to know the history of sled dog breeding.

1.3. Required equipment
Narta- specially designed sleds, can be sports, cargo (for transporting heavy or bulky loads, for riding several people at once), tourist (for 1-2 people), national (traditional design for natives). It is equipped with an anchor (for holding the dogs in place for a long time) and a brake (for adjusting the speed of the sled on the descents, for a short stop).
Alyk - (otherwise - harness) harness, worn directly on the dog.
Going to long trip, you must have a standard tourist kit with you in case a snowstorm occurs, if the tourist falls behind or gets lost. Usually includes: a sleeping bag, a supply of food for 1 day for yourself and dogs, spare plums, a compass, matches, a hatchet, telephone or radio communication, a GPS navigation system, a rocket launcher, individual replacement items.
1.4. Security
Tourism safety refers to the personal safety of tourists, the safety of their property and the preservation of the natural environment when traveling. Sled dog tours are an extreme type of tourism, which means that participation in them can be dangerous for tourists. According to Article 6, Chapter III, of the Federal Law "On the Fundamentals of Tourism Activities in the Russian Federation", a tourist has the right to ensure personal safety, his consumer rights and the safety of his property, and unhindered access to emergency medical care. In accordance with the text of Article 14 of Chapter VII, “the tour operator and travel agent are obliged to provide tourists with comprehensive information about the features of travel, as well as the dangers that they may encounter when traveling, and to take preventive measures aimed at ensuring the safety of tourists.”
Specialized sports tours with active modes of transportation are tours with an increased risk group. Traveling by dog ​​sled is characterized by such risk factors as:
environmental impact- a blizzard, a sharp cold snap or warming can spoil the track to such an extent that further movement will be impossible and it will be necessary to make a forced halt. In this regard, before leaving for the route, it is important to make sure that the tourist is dressed well enough, as a cold or short jacket and too small shoes will lead to a rapid cooling of the body. In addition, it should be provided that the guide has a tent, a repair kit in case of a breakdown, a daily supply of food for dogs and tourists, a first aid kit, etc. This condition must be met even if on the route each overnight stay is supposed to be in houses prepared for this.
Geological factors- often the route runs along mountainous areas in avalanche areas, and in order to prevent the occurrence of an emergency, you should notify the Ministry of Emergency Situations of your plans and get approval to conduct a tour in that area before entering the route, as well as directly on the day of passing the dangerous section. Compliance with the rules of operation of the inventory and equipment used will ensure the safety of travel. And first of all, the requirements are imposed on the condition of the sledges, their compliance with the features of the planned route.
Injury hazard- the risk of injury depends on the complexity of the route, the speed of the dogs, the physical and technical fitness of the tourist. In order to reduce this risk group to a minimum, it is necessary to conduct a preliminary theoretical course and briefing, which have already been mentioned in the section “Types of tours on sled dogs”.
Specific factors- they should include injuries or material damage that a person can get in contact with animals: dogs or wild forest animals. The most common are scratches, bites, torn clothes. But it is worth noting that such incidents occur due to a poorly trained team of dogs or improper work of a tourist with a team (for example, an error in arranging dogs can lead to a fight). Meeting during the tour on a sled with a bear (in spring), elk, wolf and other inhabitants of the forest and tundra is not uncommon. The guide's arsenal should include simple means of self-defense and protection of tourists (gas spray, electric shock device) permitted by law. You should inform the tourist in advance about the possibility of such a meeting and instruct him about the rules of conduct in such a situation.
Measures to ensure the safety of tourists on the route are taken at the operational level by managers even during the development of this route. One of the conditions for entering the route is the restriction on the age and degree of preparedness of the tourist. The most optimal age range is considered to be from 18 to 60 years old, when a person is already a full-fledged citizen and is responsible for his actions, but depending on the complexity of the tour, this range may narrow. Children may participate, but only if accompanied by an adult and with written parental permission and a doctor's note authorizing the child to exercise.
The safety of dogs is one of the most important conditions for organizing a tour. The harness must be adjusted strictly to the size of each dog. Teams of dogs must be pre-formed and tested in this composition during training. By the beginning of the tour, each dog must be well prepared physically, which is ensured by training taking into account the distance that the dogs will need to overcome during the tour in one day. Dog food must be carried either on sleds along with the rest of the luggage, or tossed at the landing points. Dog nutrition should be planned at the rate of 3000 kcal / day per dog (individual characteristics of each dog are also taken into account), with a high content of carbohydrates and fats. The guide's first aid kit should contain, in addition to "human" medicines, veterinary drugs.
When using dogs, the temperature regime must be observed: from -35C to -2C. If the frost is too strong or the sun is too hot, and the track under the dog's paws begins to fail, you should stop and continue driving only after the temperature and weather conditions are favorable for this.
Tourist enterprises are obliged to familiarize tourists with the elements of risk of each specific tourist service and measures to prevent it. The information necessary for tourists in order to protect their life and health is provided in advance, before the start of the holiday and during the service. Usually, information characterizing the natural difficulties of the tourist route, the necessary level of personal physical fitness of the tourist, the features of individual equipment, is contained in advertising and information materials and in the text of the information leaflet for the tourist voucher.
Every tourism enterprise must develop ana and approved action plans for personnel in emergency situations ( natural disasters, fires and others), including interaction with local authorities management involved in rescue operations. First of all, tour operators and travel agents are obliged to inform the executive authorities, representatives of the Ministry of Emergency Situations and interested parties about emergencies with tourists and those who have not returned from travel.

5. Travel insurance
Insured events, according to the general rules of accident insurance, include death and permanent disability resulting from an accident, i.e. a sudden event that occurred against the will of the tourist: explosion, burn, frostbite, drowning, electric current, lightning strike , sunstroke, attack by intruders or animals, falling of any object on / or the tourist himself, sudden suffocation and poisoning with harmful products or substances, as well as those that occurred during the movement of vehicles or during their accidents, when using machines, mechanisms, tools of production and all kinds of tools, etc.
Knowing the list of insurance services and the insurance procedure, as well as the rules for recognizing emergency circumstances that happened to a tourist during a trip, an insured event and reimbursement of expenses incurred, will force tourists not to violate the established rules for moving and living, to be vigilant and careful, which is the key to maintaining their health and property.
The insurance policy is issued in Russian and the state language of the country of temporary residence. At the request of the tourist, the tour operator (travel agent) assists in the provision of insurance services for other risks associated with travel, including high-risk tours.
Dog sled tours as a separate type of tourism appeared relatively recently, but immediately became popular - of course, because of the exotic. And people are not embarrassed by either frosts, or snowfalls, or icy (even in March) winds. But all these factors can adversely affect the journey. Therefore, before organizing a detailed kind of tour, you need to study in detail all aspects of sledding, and most importantly, safety rules, because this is a decisive factor in the success of the tour.
2. Characteristics of objects of the tourist route
During a dog sledding trip, tourists have the opportunity to see the winter Baikal in all its glory and even cross it.
During the whole trip, the tourist will visit such places as:

Listvyanka village (with nearby sights)
Tankhoi Station, Baikal Reserve
Vydrino station
Mouth of the Snezhnaya River
Shumikha station, Circum-Baikal Railway
Additional attractions (optional)

Listvyanka.

Tankhoy

Tankhoy - a village inKabansky districtRepublic of Buryatia.

Baikal Reserve

Snezhnaya river

Circum-Baikal Railway or "Circum-Baikal"(abbreviated Circum-Baikal Railway)

Tours in Karelia are notable for their low cost and availability in terms of distance from Moscow. Most often, these are tours for two or three days, the program of which, in addition to dog sledding safaris, includes snowmobile safaris and other outdoor activities. Dog sled tours to Karelia - great way fun weekend with family.

A dog sled safari in Yakutia is a real adventure, a musher school that allows a person who does not have experience to master the management of a dog sled. In Yakutia, unlike Karelia, sled dogs have been bred and used on the farm since ancient times. It had its own harness design and its own breed of sled dogs - the Yakut Laika.

In Yakutia you can see unique nature, museums of the city of Yakutsk, including the only branch in Russia diamond fund- the treasury of Yakutia, the museum of khomus (traditional Yakut musical instrument) and the Mammoth Museum. Overnight stays in sleeping bags on reindeer fur at the forester's cordon and at the Friendship Museum in the village of Sottintsy will remind you of the times of the pioneers. Traditional Yakut cuisine - venison, foal meat, stroganina, salads with ferns and teas from taiga herbs will add flavor to your holiday. You will remember the taste and smell of Yakutia for a long time. And, of course, the paws of the dogs carrying the team.

Also, on an individual request, Adventure Guide organizes dog sledding tours in Lake Baikal and Kamchatka. It is possible to organize individual programs and corporate tours.

Welcome to dog sled tours!