South Lapland Winter Experience

Syöte National Park is one of the most famous places in Southern Lapland. Maybe you have seen the beautiful snow-covered candle trees on pictures? During your tour you will also meet cute huskies and calm, sweet-tempered reindeer that will make your vacation unforgettable! On a two-day 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 as well as adventurous time in Southern Lapland!

Southern Lapland Winter Trip: 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 Holiday House. 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 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 southern 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 Rock awaits you. Here you can enjoy a sandwich and a picnic in nature. You will also visit the Pentik Hill (Pentikmäki) cultural center. Here you will learn about Pentik's ceramic wares, candles and artwork. Glass walkways connect several buildings that house the factory store, a museum, an exhibition and a café. On the way back to Syöte, there will be a stop at a local ecologically sustainable and organic farm. This is where the meat products for your meals and the restaurant Café Korppi in Syöte National Park Visitor Center that you will also visit are purchased. During your stay there, you will have the opportunity to meet the farm family over coffee and sandwiches. You will also meet their beautiful cows with the long shaggy fur! After that you will go back to the accommodation. A delicious dinner and a restful night after a hot sauna awaits you. 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-prepared cross-country ski trails. After a short ski lesson you will start on a day tour of about 25 km on groomed trails. This will take you from hut to hut through a beautiful landscape. 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 for a day tour of about 10 km and 5 hours on skis with skins. 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 large frozen lakes. During this day tour you can feel the fresh wind in your hair and enjoy a delicious soup by the open fire. Afterwards, ski back to Taigalampi cabin where sauna and dinner are waiting for you.

Day 6: Dog sledding tour with huskies
After breakfast, you leave for an unforgettable two-day 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 several hours 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 there, 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: Huskies and reindeer
After a delicious and nutritious breakfast, you head back to the husky farm on the dog sleds. After a snack, you say goodbye to the huskies and go back to Taigalampa cottage by car.
In the afternoon you have another great experience: you meet the local reindeer! These are happy to be fed and petted by you. Afterwards, it's time for a delicious dinner at the cottage. In the evening you can use the cozy sauna again.

Day 8: Departure Day
On this day, depending on your wishes and departure time, you can go downhill skiing or participate in a 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 skis with skins 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.

Accommodation:
The accommodation on this trip is located in the Syöte hiking area. Taigalampi Holiday House is a log house built in 1989, which was renovated in 2010 and 2021. The vacation house is an ideal place for larger groups and extended families to enjoy their vacation together. It has a fully equipped kitchen and a spacious common room for dining, gathering and relaxing. It also has its own sauna, three toilets, a dressing room and a terrace for cooling off. The cottage is located in the area of Pytkynharju in the hiking area of Syöte. Taigalampi cottage has 8 bedrooms for 2 persons. The whole cottage can accommodate a total of 16 guests.
One night in a wood heated wilderness cabin with sauna, but no running water or electricity.
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