Jump to content

Anyone Do the Dog Sled Discovery and Musher's Camp with Holland?


Coastaljen

Recommended Posts

  • 4 years later...
Lots of people here rave about dog sleds, but I know they are talking about the ones on the glaciers. Anyone do the one mentioned above?

 

Here's your answer (from a friendly entertainer aboard the Zuiderdam who just did the tour, but NOT an actual Shore Excursion person):

 

1) Understand that there are two types of dog/musher tours available. One involves taking a helicopter to the icy peak high above, then having a short ride on the ice. The other involves taking a bus to a real Iditarod/Yukon Quest musher's dog camp, and having a ride on a sled on gravel.

 

The one you mention, run by Alaska Excursions, is the latter. Real mushers with great affection for their dogs give the tour. The crux of it is that they train the dogs in the summer by having them mush on sleds (on wheels), for the big winter races. You also get plenty of info, hands on time with the equipment, a walk across their suspension bridge, and time to cuddle the new batch of husky puppies. The tour is very well run. Please enjoy my video of the tour:

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

We took this tour just last week (the one without the helicopter ride). Fun for the whole family! Our daughter (8) raves that it was her "high" of the whole cruise, especially holding the 3-week old puppies. Husband (36) and I (39) as well as brother (42) and mother (65) all had a great time. The staff is very knowledgeable, and the dogs are so happy to run (there are 200 dogs at this camp!) The only complaint I have is that the sled ride is pretty short (about 10-15 minutes). But overall, the experience was great.

 

It was also nice to get a ride out of the kitchy part of Juneau, and some good info from the tour guide along the way. You'll see the capital building, and a few other cool things on the way to the camp. It's no helicopter ride, but good value for the money.

 

Hope that helps! Enjoy!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I have to jump into the conversation again...as it is very near and dear to my heart...and I know almost all of the mushers on all of the tours.....(We live in a small mushing world, and everyone knows everyone else...) The Alaska Excursions is a wonderful experience...but it is on a cart and you get to go approximately a mile or so with a couple of stops for the dogs as it is very hot for them in the summer...They run best at -10 so when it is in the 60's that is a regular heat wave. No matter what trip you decide to take, you will meet real mushers.....and real sled dogs. Many of the mushers have completed either Iditarod, The Yukon Quest or The Fur Rondy races or the North American Championships in Fairbanks.....Some of the mushers have won these races, but every single one of them is a real musher....and it is the the highlight of an Alaskan cruise. If you want to see them in action for real, sometime, come to Alaska in the winter....Be part of a race...we always need volunteers....and see the great land in the best season....Winter.....

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

  • Set sail with your next reads

  • Forum Jump
    • Categories
      • Welcome to Cruise Critic
      • ANNOUNCEMENT: Save $2,000 & Sail Away to Australia’s Kimberley
      • Hurricane Zone 2024
      • New Cruisers
      • Cruise Lines “A – O”
      • Cruise Lines “P – Z”
      • River Cruising
      • ROLL CALLS
      • Cruise Critic News & Features
      • Digital Photography & Cruise Technology
      • Special Interest Cruising
      • Cruise Discussion Topics
      • UK Cruising
      • Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
      • Canadian Cruisers
      • North American Homeports
      • Ports of Call
      • Cruise Conversations
×
×
  • Create New...

If you are already a Cruise Critic member, please log in with your existing account information or your email address and password.