You Can Now Go Hiking With Huskies In France

Dog lovers, rejoice! You can now hire huskies to accompany you on a hike through the National Forest of Petite Charnie, located just south of the Perche Regional Natural Park.

How it works: hiking with huskies through the Petite Charnie forest

With Sled Dog Ride, a company found in the small village of Saint-Symphorien in the Sarthe region of France, you can borrow one or many of owner Benjamin Thomelin’s four-legged friends to help you navigate and keep you company while you journey through the forest. There are a few activity options available: you can opt for the ‘cani-kart’ which, similar to its better-known winter activity of dog sledding, has a team of huskies pull you through the lush, boreal forest of Petite Charnie while you sit back and relax on the cart, enjoying the ride. This option includes expert guidance by a musher (a dogsled driver, who also guides the dogs) and is an ideal choice for families with young kids and those with limited mobility.

Take a summer dog sled ride through the forest of Petite Charnie

For adventure seekers, you can also have the dogs join you for a stroll through the woods. With the dogs attached by a belt fastened around your hips, the pups will lead the way so you can take in your surroundings, knowing you’re in good paws. You can also arrange special events, such as birthday parties, bachelorettes and corporate team-building.

Each walk begins with a safety talk, an introduction to the dogs and information on each of their roles as a team. All the while, Benjamin and his team will attach the harnesses to ensure you’re secure. The amount of time you’ll have with the dogs depends on your activity; sled rides are typically about one hour in length and hikes are about two hours long. Every event ends with time for a photo opportunity and to care for the huskies, offering them water, treats and hugs to thank them for their services.

An introduction to the huskies

Benjamin, the owner, has had a love for pups since he was a young child, derived from growing up around his uncle’s Alaskan Malamutes. He and his cousin would play the role of musher while the dogs would pull them around on their BMX bikes. At age 22, Benjamin purchased a Siberian husky of his own and was so enamoured that he decided to build his team. It’s now been 10 years since he began his business as a professional musher and dog trainer and his passion continues today.

Your new best friend, who will join you on your hike through the forest

Other spots to go hiking with huskies

If you find yourself in a different corner of France but still want to spend time hiking with huskies, you could choose to visit the Jura Mountains of eastern France, where summer hikes are on offer as well as dog sled rides through snow-covered valleys during the winter season. In Chamonix, dog sledding provides an alternative to skiing for exploring the Alps and remains a popular winter activity in the area.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.