A husky tour that works for a five-year-old and a thirteen-year-old at once is harder to find than you would think. One wants a gentle ride and a long cuddle with the dogs, the other wants to be the one holding the sled.

We live in Rovaniemi and have watched plenty of families solve this, some well and some in tears. Here is how we would do it.

The five-year-old and the thirteen-year-old problem

Husky days in Lapland are sold with a picture of a family in a sled, everyone smiling, same age, same energy. Real families are messier. Ours certainly is. When there is a five-year-old who wants to cuddle every dog and a thirteen-year-old who wants to drive, a single tour rarely satisfies both, and one of them ends up bored or nervous.

This guide is for exactly that mix. We will go through the short family-friendly ride, the longer self-driving tour, and the realistic ways to combine them, with prices and facts taken from the StayLapland listings. Where the listing does not say something, we say so rather than guess.

What Arctic Paws is, and is not

Arctic Paws — the 2 km Family-Friendly Husky Ride at Lapland Winter Park5% off · HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 starts from €65 per person. The listing describes a guide-driven husky sleigh ride of about 2 km, roughly ten minutes, followed by time to meet the dogs and take photos. The ages listed on the page cover children from 0 to 2 and from 3 to 12, which is why it works for a five-year-old.

Three practical details matter. First, the time on the ticket is a meeting time at the husky location; the actual ride start can vary by up to 40 minutes. Second, the listing says there is no pick-up or drop-off, so you need to get to Lapland Winter Park yourselves. Third, the page notes that thermal clothing is not part of this one, so check the exact wording in the booking window and plan your layers.

What it is not: a long sled ride, a drive-yourself experience, or a half-day outing. For a thirteen-year-old who has seen husky videos for a year, ten minutes in the back of a sled may feel like a short appetiser rather than the main course.

What Nulkki Husky Adventure adds

Nulkki Husky Adventure5% off · HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 starts from €189 per adult and takes about four hours. The listing describes a 5 km husky ride that you drive yourself, with detailed instructions on how to mush safely, information about huskies, winter clothing and boots in adult and child sizes, and cookies and juice. It is rated easy, and bookings close 12 hours before the start.

The cancellation text includes an important line: it is not suitable for kids under three. We would also read the full age, height and weight notes in the booking window before putting a young child on a team, because the details can change by tour and by date. We never assume a five-year-old can ride in the same way as an older child, and we do not want you to either.

The reward is that a teenager actually drives the dogs. In our experience that is the moment that turns a husky tour from a photo opportunity into a story they tell at school.

Option one: everyone on Arctic Paws

The simple plan: book Arctic Paws for the whole family, enjoy the dogs, and treat it as one of several activities in the day. For a five-year-old it is an ideal length. For a thirteen-year-old it is a fun short ride if you frame it correctly, as one stop in a bigger day rather than the highlight.

The money side is gentle. At €65 from, a family of four is looking at a modest figure compared with most Lapland activities, before the 5% discount from our code HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5. That leaves budget for a second activity the teen can enjoy, such as a snowmobile ride or a sauna evening. We compared the two husky options in more detail in Arctic Paws or Nulkki for families.

Choose this option if your teenager is easygoing, if the younger child is the one who has been waiting for months, or if you are limited on time and money.

Option two: split the family across both

If there are two adults, the most satisfying plan we know is to split. One adult takes the thirteen-year-old on the Nulkki tour for the self-driving experience, and the other adult takes the five-year-old on Arctic Paws, with cuddles and photos afterwards. Both groups reunite for hot chocolate and a debrief.

There are practical wrinkles. The two tours start in different places, and Arctic Paws has a flexible start window of up to 40 minutes after the meeting time, so you cannot promise exact reunion times. Check the schedules in the live calendar and try to choose dates that leave a generous gap. Make sure each adult has a charged phone, and agree on a meeting point and a time in advance.

The cost works out as roughly one adult plus one teenager on Nulkki, which starts from €189 per adult before the child price you will see in the booking window, plus one adult plus one child on Arctic Paws at €65 from. We deliberately do not give a total, because child prices vary by date and you should see the exact figure before booking.

This option is not for families who want to do everything together. It is for families where the five-year-old and the thirteen-year-old need different things and the adults are happy to share the day in halves.

Option three: Nulkki for the teen, something gentler for the child

If the five-year-old is not ready for a longer outing, another approach is to give the teenager the big experience and the little one a different treat. A Santa visit, an indoor activity or a short reindeer ride can fill the same time slot. our guide to activities in Rovaniemi has a list of gentler options by age.

The question to ask yourself is whether the younger child will be disappointed or relieved to skip the longer tour. Some five-year-olds are thrilled to stay behind with a grandparent or the other adult, and some will be furious. You know your child.

Whichever you choose, book the husky day early in your stay. Winter weather can affect husky tours, and the listings mention that the format can change in bad weather, so keep a spare day if you can. Free cancellation on Nulkki applies up to 24 hours before the activity, and that gives you room to move it.

When you book, remember to type HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 at checkout. It takes 5% off, and it works for both tours.

Dressing two very different children

Children of different ages feel the cold differently. The five-year-old gets cold because they stand still; the thirteen-year-old gets cold because they will not admit they are cold. Base layers in wool or synthetic, warm socks, a hat that covers the ears and a neck warmer for both. Where a tour provides overalls and boots, bring your own inner layers and mittens.

For Arctic Paws, the listing says thermal clothing is not included, so dress for the weather before you go and bring your own warm layers. Our husky-specific guide is what to wear on a husky safari, and it explains the layering that has worked for us.

Pack a spare pair of gloves for the younger child. Wet gloves are the most common reason a good husky afternoon ends early. Bring snacks, and a flask of something warm if you are going to be standing around.

Frequently asked questions

How long is the Arctic Paws ride?
The listing describes about 2 km and roughly ten minutes, plus time to meet the dogs.

Can a five-year-old go on Nulkki?
The listing says it is not suitable for kids under three. Check the full age and weight notes in the booking window before booking for a young child.

Is pick-up included for Arctic Paws?
No. The listing says there is no pick-up or drop-off.

Can my teenager drive the dogs?
On Nulkki, yes: the listing describes a 5 km ride that you drive yourself, with safety instructions.

What if the weather is bad?
The listings note that the tour may be adapted for safety in bad weather, for example as a shortened guide-driven ride.

Where do I enter the discount code?
In the discount field at checkout. HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 takes 5% off every StayLapland tour.

Our pick for mixed ages

If the budget and the number of adults allow, we would split the family: Nulkki for the teenager and one adult, Arctic Paws for the young child and the other adult. If you want to keep everyone together, Arctic Paws is the gentler and cheaper choice, and the thirteen-year-old can get a driving experience from a snowmobile or sled on another day.

Pick your dates in the live calendar, choose the arrangement that suits your children, and type HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 at checkout.