Authentic Finland by dog sled and beyond

This 8-day journey to Syöte combines Nordic nature, authentic Finnish culture, and a 2-day husky safari with an overnight stay in the wilderness. You will spend the remaining nights in a hotel, setting off from there on various excursions, such as visiting a reindeer farm, a snowmobile safari, or a ski hike. Your hotel is also conveniently located in a small ski resort, just a short walk from the slopes. Yet, there is still plenty of time to relax and soak in the peaceful atmosphere of the Finnish winter. Expect a varied week immersed in stunning landscapes.

Authentic Finland by dog sled and beyond: The Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Pikku-Syöte
Upon arrival at Kuusamo Airport, you will be picked up and transferred to the hotel. After checking into your room, you can unpack at your leisure and explore your new surroundings. Dinner will be your first meal at the hotel. If conditions are good, you should keep an eye on the sky. With a bit of luck, you might spot the Northern Lights.

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Day 2: Nighttime Snowshoe Hike & Hut Experience
Today is yours to spend as you wish. Explore the surroundings, enjoy the quiet after yesterday's travel day, or book one of the many optional activities (see extras). After dinner, gear up for a hike under the stars as you ascend the peak of Pikku-Syöte Fjell on snowshoes. The summit offers expansive views of the night sky - an ideal spot for Northern Lights if the weather plays along. Afterward, enjoy a traditional hut experience around an open fire with a hot drink, a small snack, and local stories before returning to the hotel (duration: 2 h).

Day 3: Reindeer Farm and Ice Fishing
Today takes you to a family-run reindeer farm, where a seventh-generation farmer shares insights into reindeer herding, a central way of life for the Sami, Europe’s only indigenous people. You will feed the animals, visit a small home museum and gain insights into Finnish culture. Afterwards, head out onto the frozen surface for ice fishing. With guidance you drill your hole in the ice, set the line, and practise patience in the quiet landscape of Syöte. A wilderness lunch is part of the programme (duration: 6,5 h).

Day 4: Snowmobile Safari
After breakfast, pick up the pace and drive a snowmobile together with a partner (single driver available for surcharge). Before setting off, you dress appropriately, test the equipment and receive an introduction to safe driving. Then you head out with the guide through snowy forests and across frozen lakes around Syöte. During a break, you make a fire together and have a hot drink and a snack, with the chance to swap places so everyone gets a turn at driving before the route continues in varying conditions (duration: 2,5 h).

Day 5: Ski Hike to the Smoke Sauna Through Arctic Wilderness
Starting from the peak of Pikku Syöte Fjell, embark on a guided ski tour using wide ski glides designed for stability in deep snow. Tailored to the group's ability, the route leads downhill through winter scenery to a hand-built smoke sauna. Following a guided sauna session and time to unwind, transfer back to the hotel, where you can wrap up the day over dinner (duration: 4 h).

Days 6 to 7: Overnight Husky Safari
On Day 6, you will leave the hotel behind and head to a husky farm. The dogs will be waiting, eager to get out on the trail. After an introduction covering everything you need to know, you will take the reins of your own sled (1 person per sled) and drive your dog team along varied trails through the forests, bogs, and hilly terrain. At lunchtime, you will pause for a campfire meal in the wild. Once you arrive at a traditional wooden cabin, you will help the guide unharness the dogs and assist with task around the cabin. In the evening, you can enjoy a sauna with ice swimming, followed by dinner. Far from any light pollution, you also have great chances to spot the Auroras.

The next morning begins with breakfast and preparing the cabin, equipment, and dogs for the return journey. Enjoy another campfire lunch en route before arriving back at the farm to thank your huskies and wrap up the adventure with your guide and group. Finally, you will transfer back to the hotel for the final night of your trip (covered distance husky tour: about 30 km per day, so about 60 km in total).

Day 8: Departure After Breakfast
After breakfast, catering ends and it's sadly time to say goodbye. A transfer will take you to the airport for your onward journey home.

Accommodation:
Far from mass tourism, Pikku-Syöte offers an authentic stay in simple, timeless design. Look forward to natural rooms in soft tones and an Arctic Gastronomy Journey featuring meals that change daily and are served exclusively at your table. You will immediately taste the passion and expertise with which the dishes are prepared using wild, regional ingredients, as well as the Nordic flavours that inspire them. Syöte itself is a national park with rolling hills and vast forests. A small ski resort is located right at the hotel, allowing you to reach the slopes on foot.
You will spend six nights in a Wool Superior Room, a spacious, bright double room with a bathroom, depending on the room with a private sauna or jacuzzi, plus a separate shower. Amenities include a TV, kettle, hair dryer, and Finnish herbal tea, and a wool rug covers the floor.
During the husky safari you will stay for one night in a traditional wooden cabin in the wilderness with no running water and no electricity. There are no private bedrooms and you will sleep in bunk beds with sleeping bags (shared accommodation). The guide sleeps in a separate building.

Important information:
You will drive your very own husky sled, which requires focused control of the team and sled in changing terrain. In the wilderness cabin, participation and personal responsibility are part of the concept. You help unharness the dogs and take on light tasks in and around the cabin. Conditions are intentionally simple, with no electricity and no running water, and shared sleeping arrangements. A sauna option is planned for the cabin evening, but you will need to bring your own personal hygiene items. Northern Lights are possible but weather dependent. Routes and daily schedules can also be affected by snow, wind, and temperatures. For the snowmobile safari, a valid driving licence is mandatory for the driver, minimum age is 18.

Please note that neither coffee nor tea is included in the full-board rate. All drinks must be paid for separately (exception: herbal tea in room).
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