A Colourful Mix of Winter Activities
Instead of just skiing or snowshoeing for a week, a variety of activities await you so that you can try them out and never get bored. You will spend two days travelling with huskies through snow-covered forests and on frozen lakes - you will learn how to drive a dog sled in a dreamlike setting. A day of skiing lessons will teach you all the basics of classic cross-country skiing. You will consolidate your skills on an entertaining ski tour on well-prepared trails. You can go snowshoeing, ride a pedal sledge (unique!), try your luck as an ice fisherman and prepare a delicious traditional outdoor lunch over an open fire in icy temperatures.
A wonderful winter holiday for body and soul, with the right balance of activity and relaxation!
Dates:
11-18 Jan. 2025, 6 bookings
18.1.-25.1.2025, 8 bookings
25.1.-1.2.2025, for women only!
1.2.-8.2.2025, fully booked!
8.2.-15.2.2025, fully booked!
Price:1495€/person
Group size: Max. 12 people
Single room supplement: 280€
Services included:
Collective transfer from/to Kuopio airport, all transfers according to the programme, 7 nights in a cosy guesthouse in a double room, each with shower/WC in the corridor, 7x breakfast, 6x lunch, 7x dinner, 1 day of ski lessons, 1 guided ski hike, 1 guided pedal sledge tour with outdoor lunch in a typical Finnish kota, 1 guided snowshoe hike, 1 guided husky tour, 1 half-day ice fishing tour and sauna every day; 1 day of sauna and 1 day of skiing.
Travel advice
The shared transfer from Kuopio Airport departs at approx. 17:30 on the Saturday of arrival (to coincide with Finnair's evening flight, which lands at 17:15).
The shared transfer to Kuopio Airport departs from the guesthouse at around 11:00 on the day of departure (to coincide with the Finnair flight departing from Kuopio at 14:25). For earlier or later arrivals and departures, you can book an additional transfer for a fee.
If travelling by train, the transfer from/to Nurmes station is included.
As this tour is highly dependent on the weather and snow conditions, there may be changes to the itinerary at short notice. The itinerary given here is therefore intended as an example. Changes do not affect the nature and content of the tour.
Programme:
Day 1: Arrival in Kuopio
Around 6 p.m., the shared transfer from the airport to Nurmes (approx. 1.5 h; approx. 150 km) takes you to the ‘Pihlajapuu’ (rowan tree) inn
Day 2: Cross-country skiing taster day
After breakfast you will receive your ski equipment and an introduction with the most important information. You start your first attempts at skiing and practise skiing both on a groomed trail and cross-country. In the evening, pamper yourself in the sauna and with a herbal footbath.
Day 3: Pedal sledge tour around Lake Viemenjärvi
Pedal sledge tour along the road to Minna's Kota (6.5 km). Lunch with sausages and coffee (tea) by the campfire. Across the lake back to the inn (1 km) or around the lake (7 km).
In the evening, sauna again and delicious dinner at the inn.
Day 4: Snowshoe tour in Koli National Park
After breakfast you drive to Koli National Park (approx. 160 km each way). Koli National Park is probably Finland's most important and best-known representative of this genre. You will go on an atmospheric snowshoe hike here.
Day 5: A short ski hike and snowshoeing in the late afternoon
A little more skiing on the lake or up to the Aronsalmi peninsula. (6-11 km depending on your mood). Snowshoeing with lanterns in the late afternoon. Sauna and dinner.
Day 6: Husky tour through snow-covered forests and over frozen lakes
A little adventure awaits you today: a husky tour! After breakfast, a one-hour transfer takes you from the guesthouse to the husky farm
Day 7: Ice fishing, smoke sauna and fire salmon in the evening
Ice fishing on Lake Tiikkaja (1.5 km from Pihlajapuu, with snowshoes). In the late afternoon, a very special experience awaits you: from the guesthouse you walk about 1 km across the lake to Minna's smoke sauna, the original form of all Finnish saunas. After the sauna, the brave ones can cool off in the ice hole. Next door in the kota, Minna shows you how to prepare salmon traditionally over a campfire ... You can then enjoy this ‘fire salmon’ for dinner.
Day 8: Departure from Kuopio
Hei, hei and goodbye to Finland! After breakfast, the shared transfer will take you to Kuopio Airport at 11 am.
