Programme description

This ski tour takes you to the pristine forests of far north-eastern Finland, where nature lies under a thick blanket of snow creating a place of peace and spectacular beauty. The route winds through the vast Kalevala Park nature reserve, characterized by its forests, mires, low hills, lakes, and rivers. On the final day of skiing, we will explore the stunning landscapes of Hossa National Park. Each night, you’ll stay in cozy, family-run lodges, where you can unwind in traditional Finnish saunas, savor delicious homemade dinners, and experience the warmth of local hospitality. Over the course of five days, the tour covers 150 km, with daily stages averaging 30 km. Participants should be reasonably fit and have strong cross-country skiing skills.

Tour highlights:
• Endless kilometers in complete wilderness
• Snow-covered landscapes
• Peace and silence of nature
• Picnics around an open fire
• Evening saunas and ice-swimming

Detailed programme

Day 1. Arrival

Arrival at Kuusamo airport followed by a 2-hour transfer to Martinselkonen Wilds Centre, a former guard station transformed into a modern guesthouse. After check-in, enjoy a dinner and attend a briefing with your guide about the upcoming adventure. (On late arrival an evening snack will be served and briefing will take place in the morning.)  

Day 2. Day tour from Martinselkonen 23 km

After breakfast, it's time to hit the trails! We begin our expedition heading east towards our farthest point. We’ll stop for a picnic lunch at a Finnish Parks & Wildlife wilderness hut before continuing for a few more kilometers. Upon arrival at our accommodation, we’ll unwind in a traditional wood-heated sauna, soothing tired muscles after a day of skiing in the crisp winter air.

Day 3. Martinselkonen-Arola 28 km

Today´s route takes us through the Martinselkonen nature reserve where we’ll ski through a network of swamps and ancient spruce forests. These forests are home to Finland’s large predators - wolves, lynxes, wolverines, and the hibernating brown bear. While rarely seen, their tracks may be visible in the snow. In the afternoon, we’ll arrive at Arola guesthouse, renowned for its local, home-cooked meals. Dinner will be served in the cozy ambiance of a traditional log house.

Day 4. Day tour from Arola 27 km

Today’s tour takes us to Teerilampi Wilderness Hut, where our assistant guide has been preparing a hearty lunch for us while we ski. We’ll enjoy hot soup and sandwiches around an open fire before skiing back to Arola for another night of warm hospitality and relaxation.

Day 5. Arola–Rajakartano 43 km

The longest skiing day of the tour takes us northward through a diverse landscape of forests, lakes, and wetlands. We’ll stop for lunch midway through the journey before continuing to Rajakartano, another former border guard station converted into a charming guesthouse. Located on the shore of Lake Hossanjärvi near Hossa National Park, Rajakartano offers a traditional Finnish lake-side sauna. The more adventurous amongst us, can even try ice swimming – dip yourself into the hole in the ice!

Day 6. Day tour in Hossa national park 20–35 km

Our final day of skiing takes us through the trails of Hossa National Park, established in 2017 to celebrate Finland’s centennial. The landscape here is defined by ridges, small lakes, and stunning pine heathlands. Unlike previous days, today’s route includes a few steeper (but mostly short) uphill sections.

Lunch will be at Hossa Visitor Centre, where you can also visit a small souvenir shop. After lunch, we have the option to take either a shorter or longer route back to the guesthouse, where a well-earned sauna awaits us once more. In the evening, we will enjoy a farewell dinner to celebrate the end of our journey. If we are lucky, the magical Northern Lights might top off our skiing week, though nature alone will decide if the show unfolds tonight! 

Day 7. Return

Breakfast and transfer to Kuusamo airport (1 hour).

Included in this programme

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

You will need

• ski clothing
• leisure time clothing
• rucksack (15-20 l)
• thermos flask
• head lamp / torch
• ski equipment 

The full packing list will be provided after booking.  

Good to know

DURATION
7 days / 6 nights

GUARANTEED DEPARTURES
28.02.–06.03.2027
07.03.–13.03.2027

PRICE
1280 €
Ski equipment hire (skis, boots, poles) 70 €

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

SOME BASIC FACTS ABOUT THE TOUR
- This is a cross-country skiing tour on tracks. Only the classical technique can be used on this tour.
- This tour is for experienced cross-country skiers requiring good fitness and strong skiing skills. Check our guidelines for choosing the correct tour here.
-  Daily skiing distances are 25–43 km. Daily skiing time including breaks is 5–8 hours.
- The track is groomed by snowmobile especially for the group and is not a maintained trail.
- The terrain is relatively easy, with no major hills along the route. However, there are some ups and downs, partly steep, on the last skiing day. The route takes you through forests, across lakes, and over swamps.
- Approximate daily elevation gain: Day 1 100 m, days 2 and 3 150 m, day 4 300 m, day 5 200-250 m.
- Cross-country skis (width approx. 44 mm) for classical style are the correct choice for this tour.
- See a rough route map here.

ACCOMMODATION
Accommodation is provided in small, family-run guest houses, mostly in twin and triple rooms. In some cases, quadruple rooms may also be used . Solo travellers will be paired with a fellow traveller(s) of the same gender. Couples will be accommodated in private twin rooms. Single rooms cannot be booked. Most rooms have shared facilities, except on days 1 and 2, when most rooms include private facilities.

TRAVEL
Flights are not included in the tour price.
If you have any questions regarding pick-up & drop-off, please contact us before booking your flights.
On arrival, the transfer time is approximately 2 hours, and on departure, 1 hour.

Arrival information
The joining point for this trip is Kuusamo airport.
A scheduled group transfer from Kuusamo airport is organized to meet the following Finnair flight from Helsinki:
28.02. and 07.03. HEL-KAO AY487 (arrival at 19.55)

Departure information
At the end of the tour, a scheduled group transfer is organized back to Kuusamo airport to connect with the following Finnair flight to Helsinki:
06.03. and 13.03. KAO-HEL AY486 (departure at 13.00).

Travel by bus/train
Upon arrival it is possible take a train from Helsinki to Oulu, followed by a bus from Oulu to Kuusamo. The same applies for the return trip to Helsinki. Please ensure that the schedule aligns with the transfer times mentioned above. Note: Pick-up is not available from the Kuusamo bus station.

PAYMENT
Deposit: 20 % of total amount will be charged at the time of booking.
The full tour price is due 14 days prior to departure. An invoice or a link to pay online by credit card will be sent by email.

NOTES
We highly recommend purchasing travel insurance that includes cancellation coverage.
The tour is not suitable for persons with reduced mobility.    
We reserve the right to change the itinerary (route, accommodation) if necessary due to snow or ice conditions, or if the group is 3 people or less.

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