Partner Profile - Meet Moa - An Adventurer and Dog Sledding in Tromsø Professional
Moa Hundseid is a bona fide Arctic explorer and adventurer based in beautiful Norway. In this 'Partner Profile', Manawa sits down and chats with this extraordinary woman about her love of dogs, dog sledding, and extreme Arctic climates.
When Moa isn’t caring for and training her huskies, tending to her business, or guiding immersive dog sledding tours, she leads challenging mountain climbing expeditions in Nepal with heights reaching up to a staggering 6,500 metres (21,325 feet). Needless to say, we jumped on the rare chance to catch up with a force of nature like Moa and sat down to discuss her new company, Tromsø Aurora Husky, as well as her iconic Arctic explorer experiences, tips for beginner dog sledders, and what the future holds for her and her four-legged friends.
Moa’s Adventurer Credentials
Growing up in rural Norway on a farm in picturesque Vikedal, Moa’s love of nature and outdoor activities was born amidst the rugged and breathtaking surroundings of the Westland Mountains. Hiking, skiing, and exploration were central to her existence and almost innate as she began these interests as a young child. Growing up with a connection to nature and animals, Moa could hardly be pinned down as she would rather spend her time outdoors in the stunning Norwegian wilderness.
It was no surprise that she became an international traveller and toured all seven continents. Moa would go on to cross Greenland on skis, covering a distance of 600 km (372 miles) and cover the total length of Norway by foot, a whopping 3,000 km (1,864 miles) journey! With her beloved malamute, Kyra, she flew to Alaska and began her life as a professional dog sledding driver (musher). Crossing the rugged and often dangerous (d ue to all of their large natural predators) Alaskan wilderness, Moa navigated the demanding topography of the Kobuk River shoreline for 400 km (248 miles) through Inuit lands on skis and a sled.
This genuine explorer has also hiked the Himalayas and crossed Canada’s remote and celebrated Northwest Passage in addition to climbing Nepal’s legendary Mount Everest. Facing inhospitable landscapes and sub-zero temperatures, how does she do it? Moa’s response? “Never give up.” She cites perseverance, staying “mentally positive”, being focused on the task at hand, and placing safety as a top priority as elements that are vital to the success and enjoyment of her international expeditions. *Someone please film a documentary about this extraordinary woman!
Created with Passion and Purpose- Dog Sledding in Tromsø and the Folgefonna Glacier
As you may have noticed, Moa’s explorer CV is far from average and we haven't even listed all of her expeditions! And yet, starting a business and husky farm presented a new set of challenges for her. Against all odds and with many saying that she “couldn’t do it”, Moa persevered and founded her first company in Jondal (southwestern Norway), the Folgefonna Husky Camp, which is located near the awe-inspiring Folgefonna Glacier. Placing animal welfare and respect for nature at the heart of her business ethos, she also prioritizes the safety and wellbeing of her clients and dogs, favouring locally grown produce for dog sledding excursion meals, which she makes herself, and local providers.
Now, with a pack of over 50 huskies, including malamutes, Siberian huskies, and Alaskan huskies, she has expanded her enterprise and recently opened a husky farm, Tromsø Aurora Husky, in Kvaløya (northern Norway), which is situated near the renowned city of Tromsø. With the farms being a 27-hour drive apart, to say that Moa is busy is an understatement! During the summer months, all of the dogs are transported to the kennel in Jondal, where young and retired animals alike can run free, play, and rest with a phenomenal mountainous backdrop at the Folgefonna Glacier.
Beginner Tips from a Dog Sledding in Tromsø Professional Musher
If you’ve been dreaming of dog sledding in Tromsø, Norway, or other parts of the world, Moa has some invaluable tips for beginners! Firstly, she stresses that it is important to listen to and follow the directions of the dog sledding instructor/musher. Since they are experts and know the dogs, their experience and safety lessons are very important. In addition, all animals, although well-trained, can be unpredictable and it is important to keep an eye on them at all times, while also enjoying the breathtaking scenery. While driving your own dog sled team, keep the line that attaches the dogs tight at all times. If it becomes slack or loose, the huskies can get tangled and trip, resulting in the sled tipping over and potential injuries.
Also, when racing at full speed, there is a greater potential for the dog sled to tip over, please pay close attention to the team and reduce the speed by continuously braking, because the energetic dogs truly want to run! Driving a dog sled team of 10-16 huskies takes strength and stamina, if that’s not for you, consider booking an excursion where a guide leads the dog sled team and you can sit comfortably on the front of the sled, this is especially recommended for families with smaller children.
Lastly, animals deserve our respect and appreciation, they require breaks and lots of well-deserved cuddles. When travelling to Norway, Moa suggests heading off the beaten path to remote places far away from the crowds of tourists to small villages for authentic Scandinavian experiences. Also, "don’t forget to support small, local businesses"!
2025 and Beyond!
What does Moa truly want? “More hours in the day and more time to spend with my dogs”. If only, with over 50 huskies clamouring for her affection, Moa certainly has her hands full. As with everything she does, Moa approaches the future with optimism and determination. Her businesses, Tromsø Aurora Husky and Folgefonna Husky Camp are thriving as she welcomes travellers from all over the world to experience the magic of Norway's great outdoors.
Along with running her companies and guiding dog sledding tours, she will continue to lead mountain expeditions in Nepal as well as take part in dog sledding races in Canada and Alaska (the United States). If that wasn’t enough, Moa is also restoring a traditional, 100-year-old Norwegian farm, returning the property to its original glory with the aim of self-sufficiency (growing her own food) and having a new place for her pack of huskies to roam and relax. We told you she was a “force of nature”, didn’t we?
If you’re visiting Norway and are seeking an unforgettable Arctic dog sledding activity and the opportunity to meet and learn from this incredible professional, we highly recommend booking the following excursion with transportation and a meal included from Tromsø - Beginner Self-drive Dog Sledding Excursion in Kvaløya from Tromsø and this Self-Drive Dog Sledding Tour on Folgefonna Glacier in Jondal!