Magical Winter Holidays in Lapland

Syöte National Park is one of the most famous places in Lapland. Maybe you have seen the beautiful snow-covered candle trees in pictures? During your tour, you will also meet cute huskies that will make your vacation unforgettable! On a two-days dog sledding tour, you will become a real musher! For photographers, there is always a great variety of different bird species around the house. We can also arrange special photography sessions close by. Welcome to a quiet and adventurous time in Finnish Lapland!

Magical Winter Holidays in Lapland: The Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival
Upon your arrival at Oulu airport or bus/train station, your guide will be waiting for you. After an approximately two-hour drive, you will arrive at Taigalampi cabin. Make yourself comfortable, meet the group, and enjoy your welcome dinner. After that, there will be a short briefing and presentation of the program. You will discuss safety issues as well as sustainable tourism and how you will put this concept into practice during your stay. End your first day with a relaxing sauna visit and your first overnight stay surrounded by peaceful nature.

Day 2: Snowshoeing in Syöte National Park
After a hearty breakfast, your unique vacation begins with a snowshoe hike to the great white forests and fells in the famous Syöte hiking area. The tour will be approximately 10 km long and take about 5 hours. Along the way, marvel at the ancient snow-covered trees and listen to stories about life in these remote areas of Lapland. You will enjoy your lunch in a wooden shelter in the middle of nature, around an open fire. Afterwards, you will hike back to the starting point on snowshoes and then stretch with the instructor. Tonight you will relax in the accommodation with a sauna, dinner, and a good night's rest in the silent surroundings.

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Day 3: Culture and nature in Riisitunturi National Park
After an early breakfast, you will be taken to Riisitunturi National Park, where a beautiful winter hike of about 5 km around the famous Riisitunturi fell awaits you. Here, you can enjoy a sandwich and picnic lunch in nature. You will also visit the Pentik Hill (Pentikmäki) culture center and northermost ceramics factory in the world. Take a look at the exhibitions, buy sustainable souvenirs for your loved ones or treat yourself to a hot drink in the café. After that, you will go back to your accommodation. A delicious dinner and a restful night await you after a hot sauna. Moreover, there are good chances to see the Northern Lights!


Day 4: Cross-country skiing
This day starts with a hearty breakfast and takes you to the well-maintained cross-country skiing tracks. After a short ski lesson, you will start on a day tour. This will take you from hut to hut through a beautiful landscape. The day's skiing distance depends on your skills and fitness but the maximum is about 25 km. Lunch will be served during the tour, your dinner will be served at the cabin.

Day 5: Another ski tour
After breakfast, you will set off by transfer on a back-country skiing day trip of about 10 km and 5 hours on skin-based skis. These skis are made for skiing in deep snow and having grip on hills. The trails will take you in tranquil areas through snow-white forests up to the hills, along the ridges, and over frozen lakes. During this day tour, you can feel the fresh wind in your hair and enjoy a delicious soup. Afterwards, skiing back to the starting point. There you will be taken to your accommodation, where sauna and dinner are waiting for you.

Day 6: Dog sledding tour with huskies
Start the day with breakfast and look forward to an unforgettable two-days dog sledding tour. After the drive to the husky farm, you get a detailed briefing on how to become a real musher (sled dog driver) and safely steer your huskies through the winter landscape. Then you all start on your great tour, each with your own sled, and enjoy the several hours ride through the beautiful Finnish winter landscape. You spend the night in a wood-heated wilderness cabin. There are no modern amenities like running water or electricity, but deep sleep is guaranteed after such an active day! Feel free to relax in the sauna before dinner and enjoy your time in the middle of nowhere.

Day 7: Back to the husky farm
After a delicious and nutritious breakfast, you head back to the husky farm on the dog sleds. There you can enjoy a snack before saying goodbye to the huskies and going back to your accommodation by car. On the way, you will stop in the small village of Taivalkoski and visit the old grocery store Jalavan kauppa, which has been supplying people with everyday goods, handmade souvenirs and coffee since 1883. In the evening, it's time for a lovely farewell dinner. You can also use the cozy sauna again.

Day 8: Departure Day
On this day, depending on your wishes and departure time, you can book additional activities or participate in an one-hour nature photography course for a small extra charge. Of course, you can also just relax in the cabin, read, or watch a movie about the Finnish wildlife. Snowshoes and skin-based skis are available free of charge for you to make your own little rounds through the beautiful surroundings.
For your onward or return journey, you will be taken to Oulu, to a hotel, to the airport or to a bus or train station.

The tour service starts with pick-up and dinner on the first day and ends with breakfast and transfer back to Oulu on the last day.

Accommodation:
Taigalampi cabin is located in the Syöte hiking area and has a well-equipped kitchen and a large living room for eating and socialising. It also has its own sauna and a terrace for cooling off. In addition to three toilets and a utility room with washing machine, drying cabinet and drying machine, there are 8 bedrooms in the house. Two of them are 3-room-apartments with their own toilets and showers (bookable for an extra charge). You will also find a two-bedroom separate compartment. Enjoy your time in this authentic cabin and relax by the fireplace. With floor heating, internet connection and TV, you should want for northing during your time in the north. The Syöte trail network is just 100 meters from the cabin.
During the husky tour, you will stay in a simple, wood-heated wilderness hut with sauna, but without running water or electricity for one night (shared accommodation).

It is also possile to stay in the KIDE Hotel for an extra charge. Please contact us if you are interested.
It may be that the stay does not take place in Taigalampi cabin but in another, similar cabin.

For a fee, you can rent winter clothing and equipment for polar temperatures. Just let us know about this.

All participants should take out their own insurance for outdoor activities in Finland and in arctic weather conditions.
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