Sled Dog Ride
Sled Dog Ride
5
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Saint-Symphorien, Haute-Normandie, France
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Travelers' Choice
2023
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Bella L
World2 contributions
Dec 2022
Looking for an open-air experience, I found the ‘Sled Dog Ride’ website.
This wonderful experience involves being led through the forest by Benjamin in an off-road cart pulled by more than a dozen huskies.
Benjamin is very welcoming and didn’t hesitate to answer any of our curious questions during the ride.
We even got a chance to help a little toward the end by providing the dogs with food and water.
Their laid-back and friendly demeanour reflects that of their master.
We can only suggest taking a trip to meet Benjamin and his lively group of huskies and spending an unforgettable moment in nature, where the silence is golden and only occasionally broken by the dogs’ excited howling.
This wonderful experience involves being led through the forest by Benjamin in an off-road cart pulled by more than a dozen huskies.
Benjamin is very welcoming and didn’t hesitate to answer any of our curious questions during the ride.
We even got a chance to help a little toward the end by providing the dogs with food and water.
Their laid-back and friendly demeanour reflects that of their master.
We can only suggest taking a trip to meet Benjamin and his lively group of huskies and spending an unforgettable moment in nature, where the silence is golden and only occasionally broken by the dogs’ excited howling.
Written January 4, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JenD_17
Cape Town, South Africa131 contributions
Apr 2019 • Friends
I was just blown away by this experience.
This is not an activity I would have arranged for myself (it was arranged for me) and, as an animal welfare volunteer, I was very hesitant at first as I was concerned for the dogs' welfare. But all my doubts were gone when I arrived: the dogs were in great condition and clearly very happy. They also clearly love and respect their handler/owner, Benjamin.
Most of all, you could see they knew what was about to happen - and they couldn't wait. They just wanted to run!
Some of the dogs are even rescues (kudos!) and others he has raised himself.
We did the 2-person cart which Benjamin controlled. There were 10 dogs and they were so incredibly attuned to his commands. They couldn't wait to be off and, as soon as they could, they sprinted away through the forest. They are very fast and we sped through the trees like lightning. Every one of them had a joyful look on its face - there is no doubt that they were loving every second.
Benjamin doesn't speak a lot of English but the person with me is French and translated for us. He was happy to answer all my questions - how they are trained, where they come from, what the laws are on sledding in France (in my country, sled-dog racing is not allowed), etc. You can see he is very passionate about these dogs and their wellbeing.
At the end, you can give each dog a biscuit, and you may also pet them. He watches them carefully in case any get tense so you don't have to be scared of them.
It was early Spring and still quite chilly - it even started raining later (which actually made it more fun!) and I was glad we had brought gloves and hats.
You do get a plastic cover as mud can be churned up.
I highly recommend this, even if you are worried about animal welfare. It is wonderful to see these dogs, which were bred to do exactly this kind of work, having so much fun doing their job - all while you zip through the forest behind them.
There isn't a dress code as such but you might get dirt on you and should dress comfortably.
This is not an activity I would have arranged for myself (it was arranged for me) and, as an animal welfare volunteer, I was very hesitant at first as I was concerned for the dogs' welfare. But all my doubts were gone when I arrived: the dogs were in great condition and clearly very happy. They also clearly love and respect their handler/owner, Benjamin.
Most of all, you could see they knew what was about to happen - and they couldn't wait. They just wanted to run!
Some of the dogs are even rescues (kudos!) and others he has raised himself.
We did the 2-person cart which Benjamin controlled. There were 10 dogs and they were so incredibly attuned to his commands. They couldn't wait to be off and, as soon as they could, they sprinted away through the forest. They are very fast and we sped through the trees like lightning. Every one of them had a joyful look on its face - there is no doubt that they were loving every second.
Benjamin doesn't speak a lot of English but the person with me is French and translated for us. He was happy to answer all my questions - how they are trained, where they come from, what the laws are on sledding in France (in my country, sled-dog racing is not allowed), etc. You can see he is very passionate about these dogs and their wellbeing.
At the end, you can give each dog a biscuit, and you may also pet them. He watches them carefully in case any get tense so you don't have to be scared of them.
It was early Spring and still quite chilly - it even started raining later (which actually made it more fun!) and I was glad we had brought gloves and hats.
You do get a plastic cover as mud can be churned up.
I highly recommend this, even if you are worried about animal welfare. It is wonderful to see these dogs, which were bred to do exactly this kind of work, having so much fun doing their job - all while you zip through the forest behind them.
There isn't a dress code as such but you might get dirt on you and should dress comfortably.
Written July 19, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
No questions have been asked about this experience