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Dog walking in La Plagne: our family cani-rando review
Hiking… but with sled dogs!
One thing we've discovered since moving to La Plagne is that the sled dogs don't disappear once the snow melts.
Instead, summer gives you a completely different way to meet them.
My mum and son Phoenix did the winter snow dog-sledding this winter, (grandma and grandson on a sled – I still smile thinking about it). You can read that story here: winter dog sledding in La Plagne. So it was great to get to meet the dogs again this summer.
This June, I took my two oldest boys, aged 7 and 9, to try the Cani-Rando experience with Hors Trace Aventure, and it turned out to be one of our favourite family activities of the summer so far.
If you're wondering whether it's suitable for children, whether the dogs are well looked after, or what actually happens on the walk, here's everything you need to know from a local family's experience.
What is Cani-Rando?
Cani-Rando (literally “dog hiking”) is a guided walk where you're paired with one of the kennel's trained sled dogs. Wearing a padded waist belt attached to your dog with an elastic lead, you hike together through the mountain trails, with the dog helping to pull you along – especially on the uphill sections.
Originally developed as a way of keeping sled dogs fit and active during the snow-free months, cani-rando has become one of the most popular summer activities in Montalbert. It gives visitors the chance to experience working alongside these incredible dogs while exploring forests, mountain paths and some of the area's beautiful scenery.
What surprised me most was how much thought goes into matching each person with the right dog. Before setting off, the guides spend time introducing everyone to the dogs and pairing you based on your confidence, age and experience. It's not simply a walk. It's an opportunity to learn about the dogs, their personalities and how they work together as a team.
Unlike an ordinary hike, you're never walking alone. Your canine partner keeps you moving, helps with the climbs, and quickly becomes part of the adventure, making it an experience that's as educational as it is fun for the whole family.
Want something less active? Try Cani-Kart instead
If you love the idea of meeting the sled dogs but don't fancy a 1½-hour hike, Hors Trace also offers Cani-Kart during the summer months.
Instead of hiking with a dog, you'll climb aboard a specially designed wheeled kart, which is pulled by a team of dogs through the forest trails. It's the closest thing to experiencing traditional dog sledding without any snow.
The activity takes place up in the hills of La Plagne, not Montalbert. It's at the Dou du Praz, just above Plagne Soleil at the same location where Hors Trace runs its popular winter dog sledding experiences. After a short introduction to the dogs and the equipment, you'll head off on a 30-minute ride with one of the professional mushers driving the kart. The whole experience lasts around an hour.
Suitable for children from 5 years old, it's a fantastic option for younger families, grandparents or anyone who'd rather sit back and enjoy the scenery than tackle the walking trails. You'll still get to meet the dogs, learn about life at the kennels and experience the excitement of travelling through the forest behind a team of enthusiastic sled dogs.
If your children are too young for cani-rando, or you're simply looking for a more relaxed way to experience the dogs, this is a brilliant alternative.
Not sure which to choose? If your family enjoys walking and has children who are happy on uneven ground, I'd recommend Cani-Rando for the chance to bond with your own dog. If you have younger children, grandparents, or simply want the thrill of being pulled by a team of sled dogs without the hike, Cani-Kart is the better choice.
Meet the dogs of Hors Trace
One of my favourite parts was that you don't simply turn up and head off walking.
The guides spend plenty of time introducing everyone to the dogs first.
They currently have 112 dogs, ranging from one-month-old puppies to retired sled dogs.
We learned that many of them are from the same family lines: brothers, sisters, parents and puppies all living together.
In our group, there were 11 participants with the 2 guides, Matthias and Axel. The guides deliberately take their time matching each person with the right dog based on personality, confidence and size.
One warning… don't let your children fall in love with one dog immediately! And yes I am speaking from experience. The guides know their dogs incredibly well, and chances are they'll pair you with a completely different one that suits you better.
My 2 boys were on the younger side and so were paired together to walk with one dog, Lychee. Younger children will be paired with a parent or an other sibling.
They're not actually all huskies!
Before visiting Hors Trace, I did what I suspect most people do and referred to them all as “huskies”. And in the winter I call it husky-dog-sledding.
It turns out I was wrong!
One of the most interesting things I learned from Matthias was that Hors Trace actually only has 4 Huskies. And when we met them, they were noticeably much smaller than the other dogs. The rest of the kennel is made up of mainly Greenland dogs that are better suited to the terrain and conditions here in the French Alps.
While Huskies are probably the breed most people picture when they think of dog sledding, they're not always the best choice for every environment. The dogs at Hors Trace have been carefully selected over many years for their strength, endurance and temperament, making them perfectly suited to both winter sledding and summer activities like cani-rando.
It's a small fact, but one I found fascinating. It completely changed the way I looked at the dogs, and it was another reminder of just how knowledgeable the guides are. Throughout the morning, Matthias and Axel happily answered every question we threw at them, and you could tell how passionate they are about both the dogs and their welfare.
Meet the guides
We were looked after by Axel and Matthias, who were brilliant throughout the morning. Matthias spoke excellent English as well as French, switching effortlessly between languages as we had another family from America in our group. They shared loads of interesting facts about both the dogs and the local mountains, making it feel much more than just a walk.
The Cani-Rando experience in Montalbert
Here’s what a typical outing looks like with Hors Trace:
Arrival
First up, boring but good to know! There is plenty of parking at the kennels, where the walk starts from. However, there are no toilets. So if you need to go, it'll be a wild wee!
Introduction
Then, you’ll meet the guides and get an introduction to the pack. Each dog has its own quirks and energy levels, and the team will match you with the right one. Before gearing up at all, the dogs for your walk will be brought out. You'll get a basic safety talk on what to expect and how to behave around the dogs.
Gear Up
You’re fitted with a cushioned waist belt, then clipped to your dog via an elastic leash. It’s designed to be comfortable and safe, so even kids can join in. As I said, there were some younger kids on our walk. So some kids were paired with parents, and my 2 boys were paired together.
The Hike
Once you set off, the dogs take the lead – literally. They pull you uphill, making climbs much easier, and on the descents you can lean back slightly and let the momentum carry you. It feels less like hiking and more like joining forces with your very own mountain guide.
At the start, they are very excited! The walk heads up the road at first, so it's a nice wide space for them to shake down and for you to get used to the feel of the belt. Then, you head off into more single track paths in the forests around Montalbert.
Scenery
The trails around Montalbert are stunning! Think wildflower meadows, shaded forest paths, and panoramic views over the Tarentaise valley. It’s as much about soaking in the surroundings as it is about the dogs. In total, the hike was about 1.5 hours.
For Families
I think it's a lovely family-friendly activity. We used to have a dog and my boys miss him and so this was a lovely activity to spend time with the dogs and also to explore the trails around Montalbert.
Why families love it
What makes Cani-Rando such a winner for families is the way it blends fun, teamwork, and a sense of adventure. For the kids, the moment they clip into their belt and get paired up with their dog, it feels like they’ve been handed a real responsibility.
Suddenly, they’re not just going on a walk – they’re part of a team. That sense of working alongside their dog makes the experience feel special, and it’s often the part children talk about most afterwards.
For parents, it’s an activity that ticks all the boxes: unusual, exciting, and packed with memory-making moments. You’ll laugh together as the dogs bound ahead, pause for cuddles on the trail, and finish the hike with stories you’ll still be telling long after the holiday is over.
Another reason families love Cani Rando is that it’s surprisingly accessible. You don’t have to be super fit or experienced in hiking – the dogs are doing a lot of the hard work, especially on the climbs, which makes it manageable for everyone. That means grandparents, parents, and kids can all join in together at their own pace.
And finally, there’s the educational side. Kids come away with a better understanding of sled dogs, how they’re cared for, and the importance of teamwork. It’s hands-on, real-world learning disguised as a brilliant day out in the mountains.
I would say my youngest boy, at 7, was at the lowest age. He's got a great level of fitness, but is very light! And it's a balance between the 2. I think he would have been more confident paired with me, but then my 9-year-old couldn't have balanced the dog on his own.
Behind the scenes at the kennels
One of the unexpected highlights of the morning came after our walk, when Axel and Matthias took us behind the scenes at the kennels.
Hors Trace is currently home to 112 dogs, from one-month-old puppies right through to retired sled dogs. Rather than being one huge kennel, the dogs are housed in family groups, with brothers, sisters, parents and offspring often living together. It was lovely to see how settled they all were, with each enclosure giving the dogs space to relax together between adventures.
The kennels themselves were incredibly clean and well organised, and it quickly became obvious just how well the guides know every single dog. As we walked around, Matthias and Axel were telling us about different personalities, family relationships and which dogs loved leading the team, while others preferred running alongside their siblings. You could tell these weren't just working dogs. They were all individuals with their own characters.
It felt less like visiting a business and more like being shown around by people who genuinely love what they do.
Every year's puppies have a different naming theme
One of my favourite little facts from the day came from Matthias, who told us that he gets to choose the names for each year's litter of puppies.
Every year has a different theme. Previous years have included food, American names and even slang words, which means the kennel is full of some brilliantly unusual names.
Our favourites from the food year had to be Lychee (who the boys walked with), Moussaka, Couscous and Kebab!
It's such a small detail, but it's exactly the sort of thing that makes the visit memorable. It also shows just how much personality there is behind the scenes – every puppy is much more than just another sled dog.
Meeting the puppies
Needless to say, this was the highlight of the day for my boys.
At the end of the tour, we were introduced to a litter of puppies that were only one month old, and I don't think the boys wanted to leave. Watching these tiny balls of fluff tumble over each other while mum was feeding them – magic. It was a complete contrast to seeing the experienced adult dogs out on the trails earlier in the day.
If you're visiting with children, expect this to be the moment they'll be talking about all the way home.
How are the dogs looked after?
One question that often comes up whenever people hear about dog sledding or cani-rando is how the dogs are cared for.
After spending the morning at Hors Trace and chatting with Matthias, I came away genuinely impressed by how thoughtfully everything is managed.
The kennel doesn't simply keep breeding more dogs each year. Instead, they carefully plan the size of the pack so that the number of puppies joining the team balances with the number of dogs retiring. That means they can continue giving every dog the attention, training and space it needs throughout its life.
The dogs all have different roles depending on their age and personality. Younger dogs learn from the older, more experienced ones, while retired dogs remain part of the kennel community. The cani-rando started out as a way for the younger dogs to get trained up. And one of the adolescent dogs was walking with Axel for the first time, starting to find her working legs.
Seeing several generations of the same family living together was something I hadn't expected and really reinforced that these dogs are part of a long-established pack.
How to book Cani-Rando (& Cani-Kart)
Cani-Rando in La Plagne is organised by Hors Trace Aventure, the same local team who run the dog sledding trips in winter. They’re based in Montalbert, one of La Plagne’s charming family-friendly villages. It’s easy to reach whether you’re staying in Montalbert itself or elsewhere in the resort.
The activity runs throughout the summer season, usually from June to September, when the dogs swap snowy trails for mountain meadows. Sessions are generally half-day experiences, which is perfect for families – long enough to feel like an adventure, but not so long that little legs (or attention spans!) get tired.
Usually running in the morning when it's cooler for the dogs. But weather-dependent, they can also operate in the afternoons.
Prices vary depending on the time of year and group size, so it’s always best to check directly on the Hors Trace Aventure website for the latest information and to secure your spot.
Top tip: Cani-Rando is really popular during the UK and French school holidays, so I’d recommend booking in advance if you’re planning your trip in July or August.
What to wear & bring for cani-rando
One of the best things about Cani-Rando is that you don’t need any special kit – Hors Trace Aventure provides the harness and belt. But there are a few essentials I’d recommend packing to make the most of it (and keep the whole family happy):
- Sturdy trainers or hiking shoes – You’ll be on mountain trails, sometimes steep, sometimes uneven. A pair of lightweight hiking trainers works perfectly (and Decathlon have great options for kids too).
- Comfortable clothes you can move in – Think gym leggings or shorts and a breathable t-shirt. Layers are a good idea as the weather can change quickly in the Alps.
- Hands-free bag – You’ll want your hands free for the leash (and dog cuddles!), so a small backpack or running vest is ideal.
- Water bottles – You and your husky teammate will both need regular water breaks. I like these refillable bottles because they’re lightweight but sturdy.
- Sun protection – The mountain sun can be fierce, even on cooler days. Pack sunglasses, a cap, and sun cream.
- Camera or GoPro – Trust me, you’ll want photos. The sight of a husky powering you uphill is one for the family album! A phone chest mount or GoPro head strap is brilliant if you want hands-free videos.
Little tip: avoid big backpacks. The dogs set a good pace and you’ll thank yourself for keeping things light! And avoid a belt bag because you'll be wearing a belt to attach to the dog lead.
Where to stay in La Plagne for cani-rando
If you’re planning a Cani-Rando outing with Hors Trace Aventure in Montalbert, it makes sense to stay nearby – especially if you’ve got kids in tow. Here are some family-friendly picks:
- Self-Catered Apartments in Montalbert – Great if you like the flexibility of cooking for the kids (and saving on meals out). Many are just a short walk from the Cani-Rando meeting point. Check options on Booking.com.
- Family Hotels with Pools & Spas – After a morning with the huskies, you’ll want somewhere to unwind. Look for family-friendly hotels in La Plagne with pools and wellness areas – they’re perfect for tired legs (and parents!).
- All-Inclusive Resorts – If you prefer everything sorted – meals, childcare, activities – an all-inclusive La Plagne stay takes the pressure off planning.
Top tip: Montalbert is well-connected to the rest of La Plagne, so you can combine your husky hike with other activities in the resort.
Why Cani-Rando should be on your family’s summer list
Cani-Rando with Hors Trace Aventure is one of those activities that sticks in your memory. Partly because it’s such a laugh, and partly because it’s so different from your everyday family hike.
Whether you’re being pulled uphill by your husky teammate, gliding downhill with a wagging tail in front of you, or simply stopping for a cuddle break, it’s an adventure that the whole family will talk about long after the holiday.
For us, it’s the perfect summer counterpart to dog sledding in winter. Same dogs, same spirit of adventure – just swap the snow for wildflower meadows.
If you’re heading to La Plagne in summer, I’d absolutely recommend adding Cani-Rando to your list. You can book directly with Hors Trace Aventure. And if you’re already dreaming about winter, don’t miss my guide to husky dog sledding in La Plagne.
Trust me: once you’ve adventured with sled dogs, you’ll never forget it.
