Self-guided nordic skiing adventure
The boreal forests of Hossa National Park are a real winter wonderland and, with a multitude of ski trails to explore, it is a nordic skiing paradise. This non-guided adventure includes infinite possibilities, enjoy different skiing adventures in the heart of the boreal forest daily and return each evening to our comfortable basecamp and warm sauna... A trip for those who want to connect with nature and experience the highlights and joys of a northern winter here in the snowy taiga.
Itinerary
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Day 1 Welcome to Finland
Transfer by bus or by car to Hossa (about 1 hour) and time to get settled in your log cottage or hotel room. We will meet you for a welcoming dinner.
Accommodation: Cottage or lodge
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Day 2 Nordic skiing in Hossa
Discover a range of nordic skiing routes which depart directly from your hotel or cottage. Our basecamp is ideally located so that you can enjoy the highlights of Hossa National Park by cross-country skiing from your accommodation each day and returning each night to a hot meal, sauna and warm comfortable beds.
Accommodation: Cottage or lodge
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Day 3 Nordic skiing in Hossa
If you would like to go for a longer skiing adventure and spend a night (or more) in trappers cabins deep in the woods this can be arranged for a small additional fee. These adorable huts are equipped with heating, running water and electricity.
Accommodation: Cottage or lodge
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Day 4 Nordic skiing in Hossa
Each day brings a new trail and a new adventure in your boreal forest playground. Other optional activities include: snowmobiling, dogsledding, snowshoeing, winter walking with dogs, ice fishing…
Accommodation: Cottage or lodge
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Day 5 Nordic skiing in Hossa
With more than 100 miles (+160km) of skiing slopes, Hossa really is a fantastic natural playground for all ski and nature lovers. Skiing is, in our opinion, the best way to discover the park in winter...
Accommodation: Cottage or lodge
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Day 6 Nordic skiing in Hossa
Why not try skijoering today? A style of Nordic skiing where you are attached to a husky sled dog or a Greenlandic dog and together you explore the park the trapper way... with the contagious energy of your faithful companion you will be able to venture even further from your accommodation.
Accommodation: Cottage or lodge
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Day 7 Nordic skiing in Hossa
Last day in Hossa! You can visit our kennels and our 160 adorable dogs or spend the day in the park enjoying a hot lunch at one of the many fireplace in the park...
Accommodation: Cottage or lodge
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Day 8 Farewell Finland
Breakfast and transfer to Kuusamo airport.
This itinerary, including walking distances and times, is indicative and fully flexible.
Other trips you may like
Multi-activities in Hossa: This trip has been designed for those who want to discover the wonders of a Finnish winter in one of the most stunning and isolated parts of Europe. Get ready for a week of adventure...
Von Post Glacier: Join us on a real winter adventure as, accompanied by sled dogs, we venture into the heart of Svalbards untouched arctic world. Explore the stunning area of Tempelfjorden by ski/snowshoe and discover the thrills of the back to basics lifestyle where everything you need is in your pulk...
Period & budget
When to travel?
The best period for travelling is during the following months:
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
Price
One people: from €670
The budget is an indication of the price per person, subject to availability. Your local agent will send you a customized quote with the exact price. The price can vary according to availability, level of services, period of travel, number of participants, booking time frame and other items.
Included
- Airport transfers from/to Kuusamo airport
- Warm chalet accommodation with sauna access
- Full board from D1 dinner to D8 breakfast
- Skiing equipment and some cold weather clothing (see 'practical info', 'equipment' for more details)
Not included
- Flights
- Insurance
Additional Options
- Single room supplement: from €190
- Reindeer farm visit: €10 (+meal €40)
Notes
Comfort: 4/5 Comfortable
Well-equipped accommodation options like basic hotels or charming guesthouses
are rated 4/5 for comfort. Please note that depending on the destination this
does not necessarily guarantee private bathroom and kitchen facilities. This trip uses chalet accommodation, you will have your own chalet with a private kitchen, bathroom and sauna.
Level: 2/5 Moderate
This is your adventure, you can choose how strenuous or how relaxing each day is. Please note that our difficulty ratings may vary depending on the weather. You should have a sense of adventure and a positive attitude.
This is a participative trip - you will be self-dependent during your skiing days. We will provide you with food and snacks for lunches and coffee-breaks but you will organize and manage your excursions as well as your breaks. There are lots of firepits so you can build warming fires and cook hot food at lunchtimes. Children are welcome but it is up to the parents to manage their daily activities accordingly.
International flights
Flights are not included, please contact us if you require transfers to/from destinations other than Kuusamo airport
Insurance
Practical info
Staff
Armed with an abundance of experience and a wealth of knowledge our professional team know Finland inside out. We are here to ensure you have the best possible trip so ask us anything, we love sharing our local knowledge! Please note that this is a non-guided trip.
Food
This trip includes full board from dinner on day 1 to breakfast on day 8. You will have the chance to try some traditional Finnish meals like smoked fish, salmon soup, reindeer stew and traditional cakes - please be aware that fresh fruit and vegetables are rare in our isolated northern location.
- At the hotel/cottages/lodges: Generous buffet style breakfasts and dinners are served with hot drinks and lots of options
- Lunches: Picnic lunches are provided for your activity days including hot food to be cooked on wood fires
Please let us know about any dietary requirements when you book the trip and we will work with you to cater for your needs.
Accommodation
Our basecamp is located in the heart of Hossa National Park, more than 60 miles (+100kms) away from a village or shop - no mass tourism hubs or Santa Claus Village here with us! There are 23 inhabitants in and around Hossa, most of them are reindeer farmers and yes, there are more bears here than people!
We live here peacefully and we work closely with authorities to protect and preserve this stunning National Park.
During your stay, you will not have many opportunities to meet local people since there are very few of them but you may cross paths with ice fishers or Nordic skiers and visit local reindeer farms.
This trip includes cottage accommodation the option to try trapper cabin accommodation. Bed linens and towels are provided by Norwide.
Our cottages:
- The Classic Cottage option has a living room/kitchen area with twin or bunk beds plus a private bathroom and sauna
Trapper cabins: We love our back to basics no frills
accommodation options which enable us to get close to nature - these traditional log cabins are just like mountain refuges,
they are all equipped with Finnish saunas and are full of charm! The cabins
normally have a single dormitory for 4 to 6 people with one main living room.
There is no running water or electricity, dry toilets are found outside. Wood-stove heating warms the cabin quickly
and efficiently even when it is cold outside.
Transportation
This trip includes transfer by coach / 4x4
Budget & exchange
The currency in Finland is the euro. Please budget for the following:
- Personal expenses and extra drinks
- Any additional activities/supplements
- Deposits will be required for use of some of our technical equipment:
- Deposit for snowmobile: €1500 / snowmobile / person (credit card)
- Deposit for other supplied equipment: 50€ for the boots, 50€ for the jacket
Supplied equipment
We will provide you with the following equipment for the duration of your trip:
- Warm snow boots (Sorel)
- Bedding - linen for hotel/cottage accommodation and warm sleeping bags for the trappers huts/log cabins
- A warm jacket for the cold
- A warm protective oversuit
- Waterproof over mittens
- A balaclava
- A durable waterproof bag
Snowmobiling:
- A helmet
Please be aware that upon booking you may be asked your size, height and weight in order to reserve the appropriate equipment in advance.
Vital equipment
You must bring with you:
- A ski mask
- Sunglasses (minimum UV 400)
- Any personal medication
- Good thermals - top & long johns
- Sun-cream (not water based)
- A head torch and spare batteries
- A thermos flask
Material
We prefer that you do not wear any cotton clothing, including underwear, when participating in activities. When cotton gets wet from water or sweat it ceases to insulate and it does not dry fast. The best materials for outdoor activities are fast drying materials like polyester or materials which are warm when wet like wool. The most powerful materials against the wind and rain are 'breathable' materials like Gore-Tex or Nikwax.
Our advice for keeping warm
Winter in Finland can be very cold, please think carefully about what clothes you bring, although we will provide warm outer layers, the layers you wear next to your skin make the biggest difference. We recommend:
- No cotton
- Bring dry spares of everything, including underwear and gloves
- Wear multiple layers including:
- A warm breathable base layer
- A second thermal layer
- Wind and waterproof protective out layer (we provide a quality jacket and over trousers for activities)
Helpful equipment
We recommend packing:
- Waterproof shoes, winter hiking shoes, sports shoes or snow boots (for evening wear)
- Warm (wool) socks
- A warm wind and waterproof jacket
- Suitable warm trousers - windproof ski style, soft shell or fleece lined mountaineering trousers are ideal
- Warm jumper(s) and jacket(s)
- Warm baselayer thermals - very important! (Thin technical fibers as Carline or Polartec are extremely efficient)
- Gloves - multiple pairs for under and over
- A warm hat
- Appropriate neck wear like a warm buff
- Swim suit (sauna)
- Travel towel (sauna)
You may also consider packing:
- Wetwipes
- Blister plasters
- A camera (and suitable protective case)
- Plastic bags for wet/dirty clothing
Luggage
You may bring a hold bag (up to 20kg) as well as a cabin bag.
For you hold luggage please bring a soft bag like a ruckack rather than a hard cased suitcase because it is more practical. We also recommend that you pack your clothes in plastic bags inside your rucksack so that they stay dry in the event of bad weather.
Do not forget to bring a small rucksack to use as a day bag (25/30L). You can bring this as hand luggage on the plane. You will carry your lunch, water, spare layers and any personal medication with you each day in this bag.
Passport
You will need a passport that is valid for at least three months after your return date.
Visa
UK passport holders do not require a VISA to visit Finland which part of the Schengen cooperation.
The Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland lists the accepted travel documents and visa requirements for every country.
Mandatory vaccines
There are no specific health risks
Weather
Winter in Finland is cold and dry, temperatures in Hossa can drop as low as -25°C (-13°F) but warm clothing, good food and an active lifestyle will keep you warm.
A thick layer of snow covers Finland from December, when it settles, to the end of April, when it melts. The dry cold preserves the snow and makes temperatures feel warmer than you might imagine.
During the winter months daytime is relatively short in Finland but
thanks to the snow and the occassional displays of the dancing Northern Lights
it is never completely black even in the regions where the sun does not rise at
all - winter brings a beautiful blue light with a feeling of permanent dusk. In mid-April, the sun stays above the horizon for 14-16 hours so during
March and April you can enjoy long glorious days of winter sports under a
bright sun. Other winter days include 4 to 5 hours of a light called gray
light, usually 10am to 2pm, with local variations.
The Northern Lights
The beautiful dancing lights are most likely to appear on black nights
in February-March and September-October in the North of Finland. Statistics
show that most are observed in Lapland, in the region of Kilpisjärvi. When the
night skies are clear, the Northern Lights can be observed three nights out of
four in Kilpisjärvi, every other night in the Sodankylä region and one out of
four nights near Oulu-Kuusamo.
Electricity
Finland uses the standard Europlug socket with two round prongs (50Hz/230 volts)
Local time
Finland uses Greenwich Mean Time (GMT)+2 and observes Daylight Saving Time making it GMT+3 during the summer months
Topography
Area:+130502
square miles (+338,000 km2) which consists of around 10% water, 69% forest and
only 8% cultivated land
Size: It is the
seventh largest country in Europe,+720 miles (1160km) North to South and +335
miles (540km) East to West
Borders: Sweden,
Norway, Russia and the coast
There are said to be 187888
lakes here in Finland and 179584
islands including a concentration of islands off the South West coast which
forms the largest archipelago in Europe.
Sustainable tourism
As adventure and wilderness travel experts who run trips to some of the most remote parts of the world, we take responsible tourism very seriously.
Here in Finland we work in partnership with Metsähallitus to
protect Finnish waters and forests - an exclusive agreement which enables
us to use the roads of Hossa National Park. Our kennel is cleaned daily and
subject to regular veterinary and we work with MyClimate to offset all
carbon emissions produced by snowmobiling activities and transfers.
We respect the ‘Leave No Trace’ outdoor ethical code and try to explore this beautiful location whilst causing minimal environmental damage.
The Leave No Trace policy can be summarized in 7 simple steps which we hope you will follow during ourtrip...
- Be prepared
- Stick to trails and camp overnight right
- Stash your trash and pick up waste
- Leave it as you find it
- Be careful with fire
- Respect wildlife
- Be considerate of other visitors
Over the years we have built up good relations with our local suppliers and we are keen to support local businesses as much as possible. We are a small company and we pay our local partners and suppliers directly insuring fair rates. Our small group sizes not only provide a more intimate adventure but also cause less impact on the environment and local communities.
We expect all who travel with us to support and uphold our Sustainable Tourism philosophies.
My local agent
Cécile
- J'ai travaillé 20 ans dans des agences de voyage généraliste, d'abord en tant que conseillère spécialiste dans le tourisme d'aventure, puis en tant que responsable d'agence. Au cours de cette période où j'ai été certifiée par l'école de management de Grenoble. Après avoir parcouru le Trekk W dans le Parc de Torres del Paine en Argentine Chili, grimpé sur le toit de l'Afrique, traversé la plus grande caldeira au monde dans le parc du Yellowstone, randonné dans la montagne sacrée du Japon et parcouru le Sud captivant et mysterieux de l'Islande où je voulais rester pour y vivre... sans oublier une trentaine de destinations en mode routarde à mon actif... Oui, les Terres Polaires chez 66°Nord et particulière Norwide ont été comme une évidence pour moi.
- C'est donc naturellement que j'ai rejoint l'équipe de passionné(e)s spécialites.
- Region
- Hossa
- Activity
- Hiking Self-guided Skiing Snowshoeing Winter
- Duration
- 8 days
- Code
- S3
- Price
- From €670
- Level
- 2/5
- Comfort
- 4/5
Strengths
- An endless network of ski trails through the remote winter boreal forest
- Our comfortable accommodation with private kitchens, bathrooms and saunas
- Our high quality equipment and friendly staff who are at hand to help you out