Finnish wilderness
Itinerary
-
Day 1 Welcome to Finland
Transfer by bus or car to Hossa (about 1 hour) and time to get settled in your log cottage or hotel room. Tonight, the staff will meet you at the restaurant for a welcoming dinner and briefing to confirm the order of the activities for the week.
Accommodation: Hotel or Cottage
-
Day 2 Inuit winter walking
Today, we experience a new kind of hiking, winter walking the Inuit way. Harnessed to a friendly husky and with a pair of snowshoes strapped to our feet, we head into Hossa National Park. With one dog per 2 travellers, we can alternate between energetic and relaxing moments and fully explore this beautiful area. The endless energy of our dogs helps us venture deep into the wild and snowy boreal forest and our relaxing solo moments allow us to take time to soak in our surroundings as we explore the wild forest, frozen lakes and ridges.
Activities: 5 hours of winter walking
Accommodation: Hotel or Cottage -
Day 3 Dog sledding safari
Today we head into the forest on dog-sleds! In the morning we will meet the dogs, each sled is lead by a team of 4 to 5 dogs (2 to 3 dogs for children). We will journey through the stunning forest scenery in style to Peurapirtti (about 6 miles/10km). Here we find a hidden trappers cabin - our accommodation for the night - the wood stove crackles as the camp settles and our dogs finally doze off...
Activities: 4 to 5 hours of dog-sledding (1 person per sled)
Accommodation: Trapper cabin -
Day 4 Dog sledding safari
Todays track takes us Northwards to Lakkujärvi, an area where it is usual to see herds of reindeer. We will ride over forest lakes of many different shapes which give way to hidden woodland paths. The wide track sometimes narrows and our dog teams sneak into the heart of Hossas wild taiga. This afternoon, we arrive back at our basecamp where we will look after our loyal dogs and equipment.
Activities: 4 to 5 hours of dog-sledding (1 person per sled)
Accommodation: Hotel or Cottage -
Day 5 Trappers day
Discover the art of the trapper lifestyle and ancient survival techniques essential for polar exploration. Learn how to follow tracks and try your hand at ice fishing - drill your own hole in the ice, arm yourself with patience and get ready to catch one of the many perch that swim in the waters here! Discover how to smoke your fish plus how to build igloos and shelters. Today we will also get the chance to visit a local reindeer farm and our faithful companions at the kennels.
Activities: 5 hours
Accommodation: Hotel -
Day 6 Snowshoe Trek
Time to strap on our snowshoes and head into the park for a two day hiking adventure. Walk over the frozen lakes, explore the boreal forest and discover deep untouched snow. Snowshoeing is one of the best ways to immerse yourself in this beautiful, silent wilderness. Tonight we sleep in a trappers hut and share a traditional style meal prepared and cooked together over a wood fire.
Activities: 4 to 5 hours of snowshoeing
Accommodation: Trapper cabin -
Day 7 Snowshoe Trek
Another day exploring the taïga - today we head back to basecamp via the crests trail which has stunning views of Hossa’s boreal forest. Perhaps we will spot moose or a bear or a wolf! We will share lunch over a lovely open fire place and arrive back in the late afternoon in time for a well deserved sauna session. Dinner tonight is a traditional Lappish meal: Käristus, or reindeer stew with cranberries.
Activities: 4 to 5 hours of snowshoeing
Accommodation: Hotel or Cottage -
Day 8 Transfer
Breakfast and transfer to Kuusamo airport.
Other trips you may like
Dates & prices
Departures for French-speaking groups:
From | To | Price per person | Guaranteed | Booking |
---|---|---|---|---|
€1,970 | Yes | Book now! | ||
€1,970 | Yes | Book now! | ||
€2,870 | Yes | Fully booked | ||
€2,870 | Yes | Book now! | ||
€2,260 | Yes | Book now! | ||
€2,290 | No | Book now! | ||
€2,290 | No | Book now! | ||
€2,290 | Yes | Book now! | ||
€2,390 | No | Book now! | ||
€2,490 | Yes | Book now! | ||
€2,490 | Yes | Book now! | ||
€2,490 | No | Book now! | ||
€2,490 | No | Book now! | ||
€2,490 | No | Book now! | ||
€2,390 | No | Book now! | ||
€2,390 | No | Book now! | ||
€2,335 | No | Book now! | ||
€2,190 | No | Book now! | ||
€2,190 | No | Book now! |
International departures:
No departure for now
Trip code: A3
Included
- Airport transfers to/from Kuusamo airport
- 5 nights in hotel/cottage accommodation
- 2 nights in trapper hut accommodation
- Full board from day 1 dinner to breakfast day 8
- Luggage transport
- Activities supervised by professional guides
- A two day dog-sledding safari adventure
- A two day snowshoeing safari adventure
- An Inuit winter walking day with dogs
- An Inuit Bushcraft skills day
- All technical equipment needed and cold weather clothing (see 'practical info' / 'equipment' for details)
Not included
- Flights
Additional Options
- Single room at the hotel: 190€ pp.
- Reindeer farm visit: 10€
Notes
Comfort: 4/5 Comfortable
Level: 2/5 Moderate
International flights
Terms and conditions
Booking conditions
Invoice procedure
Cancellation policy
- Cancellation received more than 30 days prior to the departure date: a sum of €50 per person will be retained
- Cancellation received 30 to 21 days before the departure date: your deposit, 30% of the total trip price will be retained
- Cancellation received 20 to 14 days before the departure date: 50% of the total trip price will be retained
- Cancellation received 13 to 7 days before the departure date: 75% of the total trip price will be retained
- Cancellation received less than 7 days before the departure date: 100% of the total trip price will be retained
- Fixed airfares: if your airline ticket was issued in advance, often done to avoid significant surcharges, you will be charged 100% of any non-refundable fees if you wish to change or cancel your flight plan.
- Fixed in-country costs: early charges for firm bookings will be charged if you cancel or modify your trip.
- Insurance costs: if you have taken out comprehensive or cancellation insurance, the cost of insurance is due and cannot be refunded.
Changes to travel contract
Pricing
Contract transfer
Insurance
Practical info
Staff
Food
- At the Hotel: A generous buffet breakfast is served at the hotel restaurant each morning and three course dinners are provided in the evenings.
- Lunches: Picnic lunches are provided on our activity days including hot food cooked on wood fires
- In the trappers cabins: We like when the whole group work as a team to cook a traditional style dinner with their guide during our nights in the cabins - it creates a pleasant atmosphere as we reflect on the days adventures together.
Accommodation
- The Classic Cottage option has a living room/kitchen area with twin or bunk beds plus a private bathroom and sauna
- The Premium Cottage has a separate bedroom with a double bed, a living room, kitchen, a private bathroom and sauna
Budget & exchange
- Personal expenses and drinks
- Any additional activities/supplements
- Deposit for material and provided equipment: 50€ for the boots, 50€ for the over suit and 50€for the sleeping bag
Supplied equipment
- Warm snow boots (Sorel) Please let us know if your shoe size is under 34 or above 50, thank you.
- Bedding - linen for hotel/cottage accommodation and warm sleeping bags for the trappers cabins
- A warm jacket for the cold
- A warm protective oversuit
- Waterproof over mittens
- A balaclava
- A durable waterproof bag
Vital equipment
- A sleeping bag liner
- Sunglasses (minimum UV 400)
- A ski mask
- Any personal medication
- Good thermals - top & long johns
- Sun-cream (not water based)
- A head torch and spare batteries
- A thermos flask
- Driver's license for snowmobile
- Credit card for equipment diposit
Material
Our advice for keeping warm
- 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
- 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)
- Wetwipes
- Blister plasters
- A camera (and suitable protective case)
- Plastic bags for wet/dirty clothing
Luggage
Medicine
Passport
Visa
Mandatory vaccines
Weather
The Northern Lights
Electricity
Local time
Topography
Sustainable tourism
- 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