Trip Ref #10373
DURATION
LOCATION
ANNUAL LEAVE
SEASON
GROUP SIZE
MEETING POINT
ACCOMMODATION
Cabin · Snow Shelter
DIFFICULTY
No experience needed for the nordic skiing, but do bring good fitness levels and a love of cold temperatures in proper winter landscapes
Clip on wilderness skis for a journey through icy taiga forest and learn how to survive during an Arctic winter
Keep lookout for the aurora borealis deep within the Arctic Circle and warm up in a traditional Finnish sauna
Bunk down in a cosy Lapland cabin in the woods and build your own snow shelter for a night out in the wilds
Day 1
The adventure begins
Head into the Finnish wilderness and settle into a cabin in the woods where your guide will lay out the plan for the next few days. After a welcome dinner with your fellow adventurers, your guide will tell you about the skills and gear that have kept the native people, as well as modern-day explorers, alive in sub-zero temperatures. If the conditions are good you can wrap up warm and head outside the cabin to peer out at the aurora borealis.
Day 2
Ski hike to your overnight wilderness camp
Skiing
This morning you'll clip into your skis as your guide shows you how to move through the soft snow. Journey through the fresh powder to Pyhä-Luosto National Park, taking turns to pull the pulka sledge with the essential provisions for a night in the frozen wilderness. Set about building your quinzee and learn how to make a fire in cold and snowy conditions before tucking into traditional Finnish wilderness supper. Relax around the fire and wait for the northern lights to appear before crawling into a warm sleeping bag inside your snowy den.
Day 3
Journey back to the cabin
Skiing
Wake up in the most surreal place imaginable, warm up over a campfire breakfast and set off on the journey back to the forest cabin. Tracing a different route today you'll push through the snow marvelling at the winter wonderland around you, learning about the ecology and history of the taiga forest's inhabitants. The ultimate prize awaits after your time in the Arctic wilds: a traditional Finnish sauna, with an optional dip into a hole cut into a frozen lake! Tuck into a Finnish home-cooked dinner before crawling into a well earned and cosy bed.
Day 4
Time to go home
After a final breakfast in your cabin, catch the Skibus back to the airport in time for your flight home.
Included
Guides
Expert, English-speaking wilderness guides
Accommodation
2 nights in a Lapland cabin, 1 in a quinzee
Meals
Delicious and filling Finnish meals
Transfers
To and from the airport and everything in-between
Equipment
All the skiing and survival equipment you will need
Not Included
Flights to and from the meeting point
Travel insurance
Personal expenses
Visas where required
Day 1
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Day 2
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Day 3
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Day 4
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
What is the food like?
Finnish food is delicious, blending traditional and modern continental cuisine. Breakfasts are buffet style with a range of local and continental options. Lunch and dinner dishes commonly include fish, pork, beef or reindeer, but also involve lots of vegetables such as locally sourced mushrooms. Your meal on the overnight wilderness section of the trip is simple but nourishing food cooked by your host on an open fire.
Vegetarians, vegans and other dietary requirements and allergies can be catered for - please just request on your passenger info form.
What is the accommodation like?
Pyhä
You'll be staying in a cabin in the woods – the genuine Lapland way. After a day of Arctic adventures, step into the warm ambience of a cabin in the woods and enjoy a roaring fire and sauna. The cabins are equipped with clothes dryers, WCs, a shower and a shared kitchen with facilities such as a filter coffee maker, electric kettle, microwave oven. There is also a bar and relaxing lounge area for evenings. You will typically stay in a twin or triple room (with a shared bathroom). Double rooms are available on request.
Should you wish to book additional nights' accommodation in Pyhä before or after the trip, we recommend booking Hotel Pyhätunturi as this is located close to the ski bus stop and within walking distance of the slopes.
Quinzee
The second night of the trip is spent sleeping outdoors in the wilderness. Your guide will teach you how to build a quinzee: a type of snow shelter that is made from a large pile of loose snow that you'll shape and then hollow out. The quinzee will protect you from the wind and freezing temperatures outside, and actually makes for a cozy nights sleep, believe it or not! You will be kitted out with a winter expedition sleeping bag and pad and will team up with one or two others in the group to dig out and sleep in the quinzee together. A proper adventure! Of course, if you prefer to build and sleep in your own quinzee solo, this is fine.
Upgrades
For solo travellers looking for their own space, an optional private room in the Lapland cabin can be booked for an extra charge, see Optional Extras for the price. Please request this at the time of booking (this is subject to availability).
The Area
Logistics
Starts
Last Skibus stop in Pyhä
No later than 20:15 on Day 1
Ends
Skibus stop in Pyhä
Any time on Day 4
Transfers
You can book any flight arriving to Rovaniemi Airport (RVN) before 17:30 on Day 1. Round-trip airport transfers on the Skibus are included or you can upgrade to a private transfer, see Optional Extras below. From Rovaniemi Airport (RVN) board the Skibus to its last stop in Pyhä where your guides will meet you. The Skibus travels between the airport and Pyhä several times a day. Check the updated timetable. Catch the 18:05 bus at the latest on Day 1. Travel time: 2 hours.
Travel options
There are regular flights to Rovaniemi Airport (RVN) from major airports across the UK and Europe.
Enjoy 12.5% Off Outdoor Gear
In need of a few more items? All bookings receive a 12.5% discount to use at Cotswold Outdoor, Snow + Rock and Runner's Need.
Whilst the weather can be unpredictable and temperatures can fluctuate significantly from one week to the next, it's important to be prepared for all possible eventualities. A layering system works best so you can put on and take off items to adjust your temperature. Loosely fitting layers that fit on top of each other work best (to trap air and keep you warm, whereas tightly fitting layers will restrict circulation and make you feel cold). If you don't own appropriate cold weather gear and don't want to break the bank by purchasing it, please contact your host in advance as they have a limited supply of equipment (including down jackets) that they can loan out.
What's included?
- Altai wilderness skis and ski poles
- Warm overalls
- Winter boots
- Winter expedition sleeping bag and mat
What do I need to bring?
Bags
- Soft overnight duffel bag or rucksack
- Daypack (20-30 litres)
- Waterproof liner for kitbag/rucksack or drybags
Clothes
- Insulated synthetic/down jacket with hood (not too fitted - large enough to fit layers underneath)
- Waterproof winter jacket with hood
- Waterproof winter trousers
- Mid layer: trousers and jumper/fleece or similar
- Base Layer: Thermal long johns and long-sleeved top (wool/merino is best)
- Warm hat
- Thick warm gloves or mittens and glove liners
- Buff/neckscarf or balaclava
- Underwear
- Warm socks, 2 pairs (ideally wool)
- Something warm to sleep in (bed socks also recommended)
- Warm waterproof boots (of similar type to 'Sorel Caribou' snow boots, with enough space for two pairs of socks)
Other
- Swimwear for sauna (and frozen lake dipping!)
- Sunglasses
- Padlock for left luggage
- Universal travel adapter
- Power bank or solar charger
- Passport
- Earplugs
- Personal first-aid kit
- Personal items (biodegradable toiletries, sanitary wear etc)
- Toilet kit (toilet paper, biodegradable bags to carry it out)
- Quick-dry towel
- Headtorch or torch
- Reusable water bottle
Padded Insulated Jacket
Payable Before Departure
Padded Insulated Jacket
…
Winter Boots
Payable Before Departure
Winter Boots
…
Sleeping Bag
Payable Before Departure
Sleeping Bag
…
Sleeping Mat
Payable Before Departure
Sleeping Mat
…
Optional Private Room Upgrade
Payable Before Departure
Optional Private Room Upgrade
…
Private Airport Transfer (min. 3 people)
Payable Before Departure
Private Airport Transfer (min. 3 people)
… Per Person
The trip was exhilarating and we learnt some interesting new skills. The highlight was waking up in our quinzee and experiencing the silence of the beautiful environment.The kit list was really accurate and ensured we were warm and safe. Our guide was outstanding in knowledge and looked after us carefully. We will book another trip with MBA for sure .
Wonderful location and superbly put together trip. Can't recommend enough how brilliant it was to have local guides who not only had well thoughts the journeys & shared copious amount of local knowledge they had shared, they cared to cater all food diets and adhered strongly to the motto "leave nothing behind but prints" . They extended their support before & after the trip, ensuring safe journey to all to get there and make it safely home as well as recommendations on additional activities we could take for those like myself who extended their stay.
This tour was perfect from start to finish. Upon arrival we were greeted by our friendly guides- couldn’t have asked for better. We were checked in to our accommodation (where our belongings remained for the entire weekend). The lodges were beautiful and practical, with the highlights being the sauna, and the dryer for any wet kit. The kit list provided was very accurate, further warm weather gear was provided which was very high quality and super warm. After a tasty dinner, a briefing and kit check, the northern lights made an appearance and performed- a simply magical experience. The following day our experience began, after getting our skis we set off into the wilderness, taking turns to pull the sleighs. Nordic Skiing was easy to pick up and very enjoyable. At the campsite we had many informative and practical sessions of quinzee building, the Finnish wilderness and fire making. Our guides made a delicious meal for us to enjoy. I opted to sleep under the stars that night, due to super weather conditions. It was the best night sleep I had in Finland! The journey back to the lodge the following day was just as enjoyable as we took a slightly different route. That evening we were rewarded with a fabulous local meal and an exciting sauna with Ice lake dipping (I’d recommend taking water shoes or neoprene socks if you have them).
On the final day we were given the opportunity to book an extra tour if interested (ice climbing or fat biking). I tried ice climbing- definitely not to be missed.
A big shout out to Tiina and Sampo our guides, you really made the tour perfect!
Book this trip you will not be disappointed :)
I loved every second of the trip. The local guides were fantastic; sharing their of wealth of knowledge with huge enthusiasm and good humour. There was a slight air of mystery which added to the excitement and anticipation for what will be happening next.
Amazing - I can't recommend it enough.
We've crunched the numbers to work out the total carbon footprint of this trip, and plant enough trees to suck 2x as much back out the atmosphere.
What's the number?
It works out on average at 52kg of CO2 emissions per person, including all local transport, accommodation, food, activities, guides, staff and office operations.
The only thing it doesn’t include right now is flights and travel to the destination. We do make an overall estimate across all our customers separately, but as we don’t book flights, have customers from all corners of the world, and no way of reliably knowing their travel plans, we simply can’t include an individual number in the figure on display here. We’ve got a goal for 2023 to fix that, so that when you book, there is a way to measure and mitigate the carbon emitted by your flight too.
But what does the number mean?
Yep, hard to picture eh? To give you an idea:
- Driving 1000miles/1609km would be approx. 281kg of CO2 in an average car (or 140.5kg per person if there was 2 of you in it).
- A return economy class flight London - New York would be approx. 1,619kg (1.66 tonnes) per person.
- 10 trees in a temperate forest are estimated to remove approx. 250kg of CO2 from the air in a period of 5-10 years.
What are we doing about it?
Our trips are relatively low-carbon by design, and we're working with all our hosts to develop long term carbon reduction plans. For every person booked with us since 2016 we’re planting enough trees to suck at least 2x more carbon out the atmosphere than is emitted by their trips. All native trees, as part of amazing projects that are re-foresting degraded land, tackling the biodiversity crisis and supporting local communities at the same time. We go further than that too, also funding re-wilding projects worldwide to help protect important keystone species from extinction. See the reforestation and re-wilding schemes we support. See our carbon action plan.
Want to know more?
Amazingly, no international travel company has ever publicly published their carbon measurements before, as far as we know. We believe that must change, quickly. So we’re openly sharing the method we used in the hope that other companies will be able to more easily follow suit and build on what we've done so far. You'll find it all here.
The skis you'll be clipping on to move through the powder snow are called Altai skis. They are a cross between a traditional long backcountry ski and a snowshoe, giving you the best of both worlds. A wide, short, agile ski makes it easy to travel across thick snowfields. No previous skiing experience is required for gliding across the puffy snowfields. Exploring the Arctic forest in this way is easy and completely manageable for all beginners. Expect the odd tumble in the snow - all part of the fun!
To enjoy the skiing and survival tasks, a basic level of fitness is needed, however, no previous experience is required at all. You will need to have a head for adventure and be up for a challenge - sleeping out in the Arctic wilderness is no mean feat, and although you will be perfectly prepared and supported by your guide, your experience will be all the more enjoyable if you come mentally prepared for a proper winter adventure.
Sure can! Over 50% of our travellers travel solo, it’s a great way to meet like-minded people.
Winter in northern Finland is very cold, so be prepared for a truly Arctic experience! In January and February temperatures range from -18°C to -8°C. In December and March it is slightly warmer, ranging from -13°C to 3°C, with snowy days around half of the time. Days are very short, but that just increases your chances of seeing the Northern Lights.
Any excess luggage you bring with you can be safely left in your cabin while you are out adventuring.
The tap water at the cabins and at your host's base during meal times is perfectly safe to drink. Be sure to bring along a reusable water bottle to take with you on the skiing adventures. Your host will ensure the group has enough water on the overnight wilderness section of the trip, and part of the survival skills will be how to melt snow safely to make drinking water.
We recommend checking out the country specific information here and also talking to a travel nurse.
Our recommended travel insurance provider is Campbell Irvine.
Travel insurance is compulsory for all of our adventures and you are required to provide your policy information before departing.
Your insurance should include adequate protection for overseas medical treatment, evacuation/repatriation, your baggage and equipment and the specific activities involved on your adventure. We also strongly recommend it includes cancellation and curtailment insurance, should you be unable to join your trip for specific reasons such as illness.
We fully endorse Campbell Irvine as their insurance offers all of the above, so get in touch with them or call on 020 7938 1734 to get your insurance sorted. We suggest that you book travel insurance as soon as you book your adventure, just to cover you for any last-minute life changes. We know you’re an active lot and injuries do happen!
We automatically convert prices from the local currency that a host receives to your chosen currency. We update our exchange rates on a daily basis so this does mean that prices displayed on the site are subject to currency fluctuations, which is why you may see them change over time.
If you wish to change the currency you pay in, head to the bottom of the page.
All of our group adventures are specially designed for adults to enjoy (18+) as we want these adventures to bring together outdoorsy people who are truly like-minded. Children can be accommodated on some private departures.
You're in good company. Our adventures are typically made up of a mix of solo travellers and small groups of two or three friends who simply love adventure, pushing themselves and meeting awesome like-minded people. See here for more info about our lovely bunch of Much Better Adventurers.
Want to book a private trip? Just tap ‘Private Group’ in the dates and prices tab.
Your trip is led by carefully curated local hosts and expert guides. See here for more info about the guides we work with.
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