Programme description

Winter bestseller - 100 km in five skiing days. This guided cross-country skiing tour takes you to the beautiful Hossa national park and to the remote eastern area of Finland. You will ski through a wilderness of pristine untouched nature with very few other skiers. To give you the best experience, the maximum group size is 12 skiers, plus an expert tour leader. If you are lucky, and conditions are right, you might witness the Northern Lights’ dancing in the night sky to top off your skiing week!   

Tour highlights:
* Pristine wilderness - a real escape to the nature
* Picnics around an open fire
* The snow-white landscape
* Evening saunas
* Hossa national park 

Detailed programme

Day 1. Arrival

Arrival at Kuusamo airport where your guide will welcome you. Transfer (1 hour) to Rajakartano guesthouse located in close proximity to Hossa national park.

Day 2. Day tour in Hossa 17 km

After breakfast we start our skiing week along well-prepared tracks of Hossa national park whose nature is dominated by handsome pine heathlands, ridge-lines, small lakes and streams. The terrain is variable with a few steep but mainly short up hills. We eat lunch at the Hossa Visitor Centre, which also has a small souvenir shop. It is said that there’s nothing more Finnish than sauna and on return to the accommodation you can relax in the steaming hot, traditional Finnish sauna. The more adventurous amongst us can even try ice swimming!

Day 3. Day tour at Martinselkonen 17 km

This morning we will take a short car transfer (45 min) to Martinselkonen wilderness centre where we will stay for the next two nights. Our circular tour takes us north through Martinselkonen nature reserve which has been set up to protect the Finnish wilderness, especially the swamp areas with its many birds and insects. Martinselkonen has mires, ponds and lakes, ancient forests and spruce trees draped in beard lichen. The terrain today is mainly flat, like it will be for the rest of the week. There is a picnic stop at one of the wilderness huts operated by the Finnish Forest and Park Service. 

Day 4. Day tour at Martinselkonen 23 km

Today we take another tour in Martinselkonen area, this time heading south. We will ski over frozen lakes and swamps and through forests covered in a deep, white, snowy blanket. The silence is almost tangible, the only the sound is that of skis and poles touching the snow.

Day 5. Martinselkonen–Arola 22 km

It’s time to say goodbye to our hosts at Martinselkonen and head north through the nature reserve. These ancient forests are home to a brown bear population, however in winter they are hibernating. Also, other Finnish large carnivores - wolves, lynxes and wolverines - inhabit the area but they are extremely elusive, and we may only spot their tracks in the snow. In the afternoon we will arrive at Arola guest house, famous for delicious local food. 

Day 6. Day tour at Arola 20 km

For our last day, we will take a day tour around Arola. At the half-way point, we will once more enjoy hot soup and a selection of sandwiches around an open fire. In the afternoon we return to Arola to enjoy its cosy atmosphere and the warm hospitality of our hosts. There is a chance to have a final sauna, then after that, a well-deserved farewell dinner made from local ingredients will be served in the traditional log house. 

Day 7. Return

Breakfast and transport to the Kuusamo airport.

Included in this programme

• 6 nights accommodation in rooms for 2–4 persons with shared facilities (on days 3 and 4 some rooms with private facilities available)
• 6 x breakfast, 4 x outdoor lunch and 1 x lunch, 6 x dinner (on arrival night evening snack on late arrivals), 5 x afternoon coffee/tea with snack
• English speaking skiing guide
• Snowmobile guide who makes the track on days 3-6 (especially for this group) and prepares outdoor lunches
• Luggage transportation between accommodations
• Single-timed group airport transfers
• 5 x sauna, 1 x possibility for ice-swimming
• Bedlinen and bath towels
• Ski waxes

You will need

- outdoor equipment
- leisure time clothing
- rucksack (15-20 l)
- thermos flask
- head lamp / torch
- ski equipment (can be hired, supplement 60 €)

The full gear list will be sent after booking. 

Good to know

DURATION
7 days / 6 nights tour.

GUARANTEED DEPARTURES
18.02.–24.02.2024
25.02.–02.03.2024
03.03.–09.03.2024
10.03.–16.03.2024
17.03.–23.03.2024
24.03.–30.03.2024
Other departures for groups on request. Season 1 February - 5 April.

GROUP SIZE
The tour is guaranteed to run without minimum number of participants. Max. 12 persons.

SOME BASIC FACTS ABOUT THE TOUR
- This is a cross-country skiing tour on tracks (not "off the trails")
- Some previous experience on cross-country skiing and a moderate fitness is needed to participate in this tour.
- Daily skiing distances are 17–23 km. Approx. skiing time is 5–7 hours daily including breaks.
- The track is made by snowmobile especially for the group, it’s not a maintained track.
- The terrain is fairly easy and there are no big hills on route, however there are some ups and downs especially during the first skiing day. The route goes in forests, crosses lakes and swamps
- Only classical technique can be used on this tour.
- Nordic skis (width approx. 44 mm) are the best choice for this tour. Skis can be waxable or non-waxable.
- See a rough route map here.

ACCOMMODATION
Accommodation is mostly on twin and triple sharing basis, quadruple rooms may be used in few cases. Solo travellers will be placed with 1-2 fellow travellers of the same gender. For couples a private twin room will be booked. Single rooms are not available. Toilets and showers are located on the corridor except on days 3 and 4 some rooms with private facilities available.

TRAVEL
Flights are not included in the tour price. If you have anything unclear regarding flights or transfers, please do check with us before booking flights!

Important notes for arrival
The joining point for this trip is Kuusamo airport.
Single-timed group transfers from Kuusamo airport to the first accommodation are organized to coincide with this Finnair flight from Helsinki:
HEL-KAO AY497 (arrival at 17.00-18.00)
Transfer from the flight AY487 (arrival at 21.00-22.00) available with supplement of 30 €/person.

Note: If you miss the scheduled group transfer on arrival and an extra transfer must be arranged to the starting point of the trip, the costs must be covered by you. To avoid this unpleasant situation it’s not recommended to book flights with short connection time (less than 1 hour).

Important notes for return
Single-timed group transfers from the last accommodation to Kuusamo airport are organized to coincide with this Finnair flight to Helsinki:
KAO-HEL AY486 (departure at 13.30-14.30)
If you take a later flight or stay extra nights in Kuusamo, the drop off at Kuusamo town centre is available on prior request.   

Travel by bus/train
It is possible take a train from Helsinki to Oulu and then a bus from Oulu to Kuusamo. The schedule must coincide with above mentioned transfer schedule. Note: No pick up available from the bus station.

PAYMENT
Deposit: 15 % of total amount will be charged at the time of booking.
Full payment: Due 14 days before the departure. The invoice for full payment will be sent by email. 

NOTES
It is essential that a passenger is covered by adequate travel insurance.
The tour is not suitable for persons with reduced mobility. 
We reserve all the rights to change the itinerary (route, accommodation) if necessary due to snow or weather conditions and in case the group size is max. 3 persons.

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