Description
Join real Alaskan husky sled teams for a ride on the Juneau Sled Dog Discovery. This tour actually puts you in the seat of a custom, wheeled dog cart being pulled by a team of 14-16 Alaskan Huskies. Professional mushers, who race with these same teams in the winter, provide a glimpse into Alaska's state sport with you on board! Join them and their teams for a 1-mile ride through Tongass National Rainforest on beautiful Douglas Island. After the ride, you'll be treated to an informative presentation with a knowledgeable dog handler and a retired sled dog. Together they showcase what it takes to run the arduous winter races such as the Iditarod, by exploring the equipment, nutrition, and care required for a husky team. And after the presentation, you'll have time to spend and interact with the adorable husky puppies!
With a pick-up right from the cruise docks, the tour begins with a short drive out to Douglas Island, where these teams call home for the summer months. You'll meet the mushers and excited dog teams who are ready and willing to take you for a ride! You can literally feel the excitement as they begin lunging forward and the cart begins rocking before the musher releases the brakes...and you're off!
Mushers begin issuing commands and instantly you're being pulled by a team of 14 huskies. As you're seated between the musher and his team, you can feel the bond and the relationship they share, which is cemented as the musher may recount stories of their training or racing efforts. It quickly sets in that this just isn't a staged tour, but a way of life for these mushers. The 'kennel talk' after the ride answers any lingering questions before you have time to visit with the husky puppies. You can hold them if you're feeling up for it! You'll undoubtedly leave this tour with some amazing pictures to share from your musher camp experience in Juneau!
Want more budget-friendly shore excursions in the Inside Passage? Take a look at the Scenic River Float in Skagway and the Wildlife Sanctuary & Eagle Center in Ketchikan!
What's Included
Frequently Asked Questions
What if our cruise ship's schedule is canceled or delayed?
Do I get to drive the sled?
How long is the sled ride? Is it bumpy?
Is the sled ride on snow?
How many people will fit on the sled?
Why don't I see any tours available for my travel dates?
If you’ve entered your travel date and group size and do not see any tours available, the tours are most likely sold out, not operating that day, or the schedule has not yet been released for booking. If the specific tour you wanted is missing from the results, that usually means it is not available for your selected date, time, or group size.
Popular Alaska shore excursions like this one can sell out months in advance, especially during peak season. If you’re visiting by cruise ship, many tours also require a 45–60 minute buffer to ensure you make it to and from your ship on time, so departures too close to your arrival or all-aboard time won’t appear. For the best chance of securing your preferred tour, date, and departure time, we recommend booking as soon as your travel itinerary is confirmed.
Our live availability calendar is the most accurate and up-to-date source for open departures. If no options appear after you enter your details, we recommend checking other available tour types for your port or adjusting your group size if your party can split across separate departures or activities.
For future-season travel, schedules are released gradually, most often in the fall as cruise schedules are finalized. If you’re searching for next season and do not see availability yet, that usually means those departures have not been released, not that they are already sold out. We recommend checking back later as more schedules become available.