Winter Activities in Finland

Saturday 2nd January 

On arrival at Kuusamo airport, we’ll transfer to the picturesque region of Kylmäluoma, our base for the next eight days. After checking into our cosy wooden cabins, we’ll meet our local guide, who will introduce us to the area and brief us on the exciting week of activities ahead. We’ll also collect any winter clothing rentals, making sure we’re warm and snug as we prepare to explore Finland’s snowy wilderness.

Lunch and dinner included. Overnight Kylmäluoma.

Sunday 3rd January

To start the week, we’ll strap on our skis and learn one of Finland’s most popular winter pastimes: cross-country skiing. Once we’ve mastered the technique, we’ll be free to glide across frozen lakes and through snow-covered pine forests, taking in the serenity of this beautiful winter landscape.

After a fun-filled morning on the skis, we’ll head back to our base for a hearty, well-earned lunch, before returning to the snow once again for another loop of the forest and a chance to enjoy the unique sense of freedom that comes with travelling through the snowy wilderness on skis.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner included. Overnight Kylmäluoma.

Monday 4th January

After breakfast, we’ll head out into the snow for an exciting day of igloo building and the chance to spend the night in your very own icy creation. Working together with shovels and spades, we’ll build up the snow before carefully hollowing it out to create your potential shelter for the night, should you be feeling adventurous! Equipped with warm sleeping bags and a thick mattress, you’ll have the opportunity to put your handiwork to the test. If you’re brave enough to stay overnight, you’ll experience the unique wonder of sleeping in an igloo and discover just how warm and cosy your ‘cool’ hotel can be, no matter how cold it is outside.

With its abundance of lakes and ponds, the Kuusamo region is a paradise for anglers, making it the perfect place to try your hand at ice fishing.  This afternoon, we’ll head out onto the frozen lake beside our cabin, drill holes through the ice and learn the secrets of this traditional winter activity… with perhaps a friendly competition to see who lands the biggest catch!

Patience is definitely needed to reap any rewards, but the real magic of ice fishing lies in the opportunity to pause, embrace the silence and soak up the beauty of this peaceful winter landscape.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner included. Overnight Kylmäluoma.

Tuesday 5th January

Today is yours to enjoy at leisure, with the freedom to choose how you’d like to spend your time. Perhaps you’d like to revisit one of the activities you have already tried such as cross-country skiing, or even ice fishing (if you’re keen to land the catch that got away the first time!). You might try snowshoeing ahead of tomorrow and venture out into the snowy forests, or you might choose to book an exhilarating snowmobile safari to venture further into the wilderness and experience even more of the region’s stunning scenery.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner included. Overnight Kylmäluoma.

Wednesday 6th January

Taking our packed lunch with us, we’ll set out on a snowshoeing tour through the pristine winter landscape. Beginning at our cabins, we’ll follow a trail through the beautiful snow-covered pine, spruce and birch forests that surround us, discovering the beauty and serenity of the Finnish wilderness at a slower pace.

Halfway along the route, we’ll stop for a picnic lunch around an open fire, enjoying a warming break in the heart of the forest. We’ll then continue along the trail back to our cabins, where you may wish to unwind and take advantage of your private sauna before dinner.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner included. Overnight Kylmäluoma.

Thursday 7th January

After breakfast, we’ll take a scenic one-hour drive to a local reindeer farm. Here, we’ll meet a reindeer herder who will share fascinating stories and insights into the lives of these iconic animals, as well as giving us the opportunity to feed the reindeer ourselves.

No winter adventure is complete without husky sledding, so we’ll take a short transfer to the husky kennels for this highlight of the week. With their striking pale blue eyes and thick double coats, the black-and-white huskies are perfectly adapted to Arctic conditions and will be eager to get moving. After learning about the lives and training of the dogs, and receiving a short sled-driving lesson, we’ll mount our sledges in pairs and set off into the magical white wilderness. With two people sharing a sled, and a team of 4-6 huskies pulling, we’ll feel the crisp winter air on our faces as we drive through snow-white forests and across frozen lakes.

(NB – if the group is larger than 10 people, this activity will be split into two shifts, with the second group remaining at the kennels until their turn).

Breakfast, lunch and dinner included. Overnight Kylmäluoma.

Friday 8th January

What has been the highlight of your week so far? Today you have the chance to revisit some of your favourite activities from the trip or, for those looking for one more thrill, take part in an exciting optional snowmobile safari.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner included. Overnight Kylmäluoma.

Saturday 9th January

After breakfast we’ll bid farewell to the beautiful snowy wilderness of northeastern Finland and transfer back to Kuusamo for our flight home, taking with us memories of an unforgettable week in the snow.

Breakfast Included.

If you are travelling on a full British citizen passport, you can enter Finland for tourism visits, without a visa, for stays of up to 90 days.

If you hold a passport from outside of the UK, check with your local embassy, or consulate, for the most up-to-date visa requirements before travelling.

Your passport must have been issued within the past 10-years and be valid for at least 3-months from the planned date of departure from Finland.