Matara Creek

Matara Creek Homestead

Husky Sledding Programs in Meltosjärvi, Finnish Lapland

When guests visit Matara Creek, an hour from Rovaniemi, they are not just booking an activity. They are stepping into our everyday life with the dogs in Finnish Lapland.

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Every experience includes

  • Professional guide
  • Meet the Huskies
  • Hot drink by the fire
  • Small group experience

The Wilderness Church also includes lunch.

Northern lights over the husky kennel at Matara Creek Homestead

Looking for something unique?

  • Private, exclusive tours
  • Special occasions & proposals
  • Northern Lights combinations

Ask us for availability and a personalised quote — groups of any size.

Make It Exclusive

Dogs First·Second ChancesAuthentic Lapland·Welcome home.

Matara Creek Homestead — Meltosjärvi, Ylitornio, Finnish Lapland

Our approach

Quality Over Quantity

Fewer departures. More time. Everyone matters.

At Matara Creek, we have made a conscious choice to focus on quality rather than quantity. We do not want to run as many departures as possible or fill every available hour with guests. We prefer smaller groups, carefully planned tours and enough time for our guides to do their work properly — and for our dogs to enjoy theirs.

Our tours are built around the wellbeing of our sled dogs, our team and our guests.

Dogs come first. Always.

Our dogs are working partners, and we know them individually. We know their personalities, their energy levels and when they are ready to work — and when they need a day off.

If the dogs are tired, they rest. If the weather is too cold or conditions are not suitable, we change the plans or cancel the tour. If the dogs do not want to run, we do not make them run. We never force our dogs to work simply because a tour has been booked.

Winter conditions in Finnish Lapland can change quickly, and sometimes the best decision is to shorten a route, change the trail or spend more time with the dogs at home instead. The wellbeing of our dogs always comes before a schedule.

And our people matter too.

We believe the same principle should apply to the people who make our tours possible. Our guides and staff need enough time to do their work well, to rest between working days and to enjoy the season too. We do not believe in pushing people to their limits simply to fit in one more departure.

A good day at Matara Creek should not leave the dogs exhausted, the team exhausted and the guests rushing from one activity to the next. We want everyone to have a good day.

Our guests should leave happy. Our dogs should be happy and well cared for. Our team should still have energy to smile at the end of the day. For us, that is what a successful day looks like.

This is why we choose quality over quantity and why we deliberately keep our groups small and our departures limited. We want to create tours that are enjoyable to take part in, enjoyable to work on and, most importantly, right for the dogs.

For us, sled dogs are not simply part of a tourism business. They are our dogs, our working partners and part of our family.

Quality over quantity. Dogs first. People matter too. And everyone goes home happy.

Before you book

Important policies

  • Cancellation

    Up to 24 hours prior to booking.

  • Weather

    We run in all weather conditions; in times of extreme cold we make shorter tours.

  • Waiver

    Activities are at own risk.

  • Age rule

    Guests 16 and under are passengers only.

  • Clothing

    Guests must be dressed for cold weather and being outside.

Questions

FAQ

What is your cancellation policy?

Up to 24 hours prior to booking.

Do you operate in bad weather?

We operate in most weather; in extreme cold we may shorten tours.

Is there a waiver?

Activities are at your own risk; waiver required.

What are the age rules?

Guests 16 and under are passengers only.

What should I wear?

Dress for cold weather and outdoor conditions.

What time should I arrive?

Please arrive at the time specified in your booking confirmation. Departure times are usually between 9:00 and 14:00, but feel free to ask about other time slots.

What languages do you speak?

We operate in English and Finnish. Other languages may be available upon request.

Getting here

An hour from Rovaniemi. A world away from the crowds.

Just one hour from Rovaniemi, the landscape begins to change. The traffic disappears, the forests grow deeper, and life slows down. This is the Lapland we call home.

Meltosjärvi is a small village with a long history, surrounded by forests, lakes and wetlands that attract thousands of migrating birds every year. It is a place where nature still sets the pace of everyday life.

There are no queues here. No crowds. No rush. Just space, fresh air and time to slow down.

Some journeys are about getting somewhere quickly. Others are about finding a place worth slowing down for.

Matara Creek is worth the drive.

There are many Airbnb places in the area. Ask us when you enquire and we can point you toward local options that fit your visit.

No scripts. No staged experiences.

Just honest hospitality, beautiful surroundings, and a genuine welcome. Availability depends on the season, weather, and the wellbeing of our dogs — we will always tell you clearly what is possible.

Enquire About a Visit