Programme description

On this snowshoeing tour you will get to explore the wild taiga of eastern Finland. This remote area is the absolute perfect place to enjoy the peace of nature. Our route is mostly in Hossa national park through the snow white forests, along ridges and over frozen lakes. Each night your accommodation will be wooden cabins, some of them without modern facilities but all have a cosy atmosphere. Each day we will be snowshoeing for approximately six hours through terrain with many short ascents and descents.

Tour highlights:
* Beautiful winter landscapes
* Overnights in wilderness huts
* Picnics around an open fire
* Evening saunas with ice-swimming
* Pristine wilderness and remoteness

Detailed programme

Day 1. Arrival

Arrival at Kuusamo airport and transfer (approx. 1 hour) to Hossa where we will stay in Jatkonsalmi cabin for first three nights. The cabin is situated on the shore of Lake Jatkonjärvi in an isolated spot in the heart of Hossa national park.

Day 2. Lounatkoski rapids

Breakfast and introduction to the week's programme. Then, after a brief preparatory session on snowshoeing technique it is time to set off for the first day trip which takes us to Lounatkoski rapids. In the past the fastest flowing rapids in Hossa provived hydropower. You can visit a mill that was used for grinding grain. There are also some constructions related to timber-floating. We’ll enjoy a picnic around an open fire next to the rapids and then snowshoe back to the cabin across Jatkonvaara-hill. In the evening it is nice to relax and warm oneself in the lakeside sauna. Those who want, can also try ice-swimming –  breath slowly out and dip yourself into the hole in the ice!  
Snowshoeing 7 km, 6 hours 

Day 3. Rock paintings

Today it is time to take a glance at the history. We will first take a short car transfer and then snowshoe to the Colour Rock to see its’ rock paintings dating back to 4000 years. The picnic lunch will be near the paintings site around an open fire - hot soup and sandwiches and coffee brewed in a big pot on the fire. In the afternoon we will return to the cabin to spend one more night there before our “wilderness expedition”.
Snowshoeing 7 km, 6 hours 

Day 4. Snow white forests, Jatkonsalmi – Peurapirtti/Hirvastupa

This morning we leave our basecamp and head to the wilderness cabins where we will spend the next two nights. The route goes along the top of a ridge between two frozen lakes and through the beautiful snow covered pine, spruce and birch forests. It is more likely we will meet reindeer than other people! After 7 km on snow shoes we will reach the northern shore of the lake Iso-Valkeinen and the cabins where we will stay for the night.Snowshoeing 7 km, 6 hours 

Day 5. Ridges and lakes, Peurapirtti/Hirvastupa – Huosiusjärvi/Iikoski

After breakfast we will snowshoe along the ridges and on the lakes. The surrounding forests are home to many animals like elks, wolfs, lynxes and hares but unfortunately they are seldom seen. Also bears inhabit the area but in winter they hibernate. Halfway we will enjoy the picnic lunch around an open fire at a lean-to-shelter situated near a rapid. In the afternoon we will arrive at the last cabins for our stay, called Huosiusjärvi and Iikoski situated 200 metres apart from each other. Snowshoeing 8 km, 6,5 hours

Day 6. Back to the basecamp, Huosiusjärvi/Iikoski – Jatkonsalmi

The last day of snowshoeing takes us back to the start point. Following ridges we will reach the Hossa Visitor Centre where we will have lunch and there is a chance to visit a small souvenir shop. Our snowshoeing tour will be finish at our base camp. Here we can have a final sauna, maybe with ice-swimming and then enjoy our last night together over a farewell dinner.
Snowshoeing 5 km, 4 hours

Day 7. Return

Breakfast and transfer to Kuusamo airport.

Included in this programme

• Accommodation: Days 1-3 and 6 in a log cabin in rooms for 2–4 persons, showers and toilets on the corridor. Days 4 and 5 in wilderness huts without electricity (mostly dormitory type)
• 6 x breakfast, 4 x outdoor lunch, 1 x lunch, 6 x dinner (on arrival night evening snack on late arrival)
• English speaking guiding
• Single-timed airport transfers 
• Luggage transportation between the accommodations
• 5 x evening sauna, 3 x possibility for ice-swimming
• Bed linen and bath towels
• Sleeping bags and mummy liners (2 nights)

You will need

- outdoor equipment
- leisure time clothing
- rucksack (15-20 l)
- thermos flask
- head lamp / torch
- snowshoes and poles (can be hired, supplement 40 €)
- warm winter boots (can be hired, supplement 20 €)
The full gear list will be sent after booking. 

Good to know

DURATION
7 days / 6 nights

GUARANTEED DEPARTURES
28.01.–03.02.2024
04.02.–10.02.2024
11.02.–17.02.2024
18.02.–24.02.2024
25.02.–02.03.2024
03.03.–09.03.2024
10.03.–16.03.2024
Other departures for groups on request. Season 15 January - 31 March.

GROUP SIZE
Guaranteed departures without minimum number of participants. Max.12 persons.

LEVEL OF DIFFICULTY
On this tour the daily treks take approx. 5–6 hours and the average speed is about one km per hour. In late January–early March the depth of the snow is normally 60–80 cm and you will usually walk in soft snow which makes the walking slow and strenuous. If the track is harder it is possible to walk 3–4 km in an hour, in that case extra kilometers can be walked to make the duration longer. The duration includes also a lunch break which is about 1-1,5 hours. 

The terrain is quite variable with many short up- and down hills. The route goes in the forests, along the ridges and on the lakes. The difficulty of the tour is easy – moderate, depending greatly on the snow conditions. Beginners are welcome, but a reasonable level of fitness is required.

ACCOMMODATION
Days 1–3 and 6: Accommodation in a log cabin mostly on twin and triple sharing basis. Solo travellers will be placed with 1-2 fellow travellers of the same gender. For couples a private twin room is booked. It is not possible to book a single room. Toilets and showers are located on the corridor.
Days 4 and 5: Accommodation in wilderness cabins without electricity. Mostly dormitory type accommodation is available. Sauna (no shower) and compost toilet outdoors. 

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 transfer from Kuusamo airport to the first accommodation is organized to coincide with this Finnair flight from Helsinki:
HEL-KAO AY497 (arrival at 17.00-18.00).
Transfer from the flight AY487 (at 21.00-22.00) available with supplement.

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
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.

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 ice conditions and in case the group size is max. 3 persons.

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