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Women only - Far Northern Finland: Arctic Ski Tour
Finland
From
This trip supports
- Overview
- Itinerary
- Esential info
- Packing list
Grade:
Intermediate
Type:
Activity
Duration:
5 Nights
4 - 12
Group size
Tour Highlights
- Learn ski trekking with pulka
- Experience sleeping in wilderness huts without electricity or running water – back to basics
- Immerse yourself in the true Arctic Lapland
- High chances of seeing the Northern Lights
Into the Arctic Silence – A Backcountry Ski Journey Through Lapland’s Remote Wilderness
For those who seek more than just a holiday—who crave physical challenge, true remoteness, and the kind of quiet that rewires your senses—this 6-day Arctic ski expedition, with 4 full days of skiing, delivers an unforgettable journey through the heart of Finnish Lapland.
Starting in the serene winter village of Ylläs, home to our friendly and experienced tour hosts, the journey takes you north to Kilpisjärvi—where the road ends and the wilderness begins. With pulkas packed and fell skis underfoot, you’ll set out into the vast expanse of Arctic tundra, traversing frozen lakes, ascending wild fells, and navigating your own path across untouched snow.
Each day brings a new dimension of the wilderness: the raw ascent to panoramic summit views, the descent into silent valleys, and the slow, mindful rhythm of skiing off-trail where no one else goes. Nights are spent in simple but atmospheric wilderness huts—without electricity or running water, but rich in warmth, purpose, and connection. Watch the skies for the Northern Lights, and the snow for signs of reindeer, wolverine, or arctic fox.
This expedition isn't just a physical journey—it's a personal one. With no screens, no roads, and no distractions, you'll find space to reconnect with nature and yourself. By the time you return to civilisation, soothed by a traditional Finnish sauna and sharing stories over a well-earned dinner, something within you will have shifted.
Day 1: Arrival in Ylläsjärvi
Dinner
Boutique Hotel
Arrive at Kittilä Airport or Kolari Train Station, both about 35 km from Ylläs. A group transfer takes you to your accommodation in Ylläs (twin room, single room available for an extra fee). In the evening we enjoy dinner together and go through our adventure plan and safety briefing
Accommodation: Hotel Saaga or similar
Day 2: Up into the Arctic
Transfer
Breakfast
Packed Lunch
Dinner
Lodge
After breakfast we drive 3.5 hours to Kilpisjärvi, the starting point of the ski trek. Here we pack our pulkas and set off on skis. The first day includes a gradual ascent onto the tundra, crossing frozen lakes and passing snowy fells. We spend the night at Saarijärvi reserved wilderness hut (no electricity or running water, dormitory bunk beds). Distance: 12 km
Accommodation: Wilderness hut
Day 3: Ascending a fell
Breakfast
Packed Lunch
Dinner
Lodge
After breakfast we tidy the hut and leave everything as it was and make sure to collect all our own trash – leave no trace. We ski through a stunning valley covered in all-white, following a marked route. Here you can spot tracks of Arctic birds, reindeers or even wolverine. In the afternoon we reach the Kuonjar wilderness hut. In the evening, if skies are clear, the Northern Lights are very likely to appear. Distance: 9 km
Day 4: Remote Wilderness
Breakfast
Packed Lunch
Dinner
Lodge
Today we head off-trails. The scenery with untouched snow and small mountains is just stunning. We keep the pace slow, the main idea is to enjoy the surroundings and be at peace. This is true wilderness where you won’t see another human soul. The last three kilometres we ski across a remote lake and follow a marked snowmobile route to the Termisjärvi wilderness cabin. Distance: 17 km
Accommodation: Wilderness hut
Day 5: Kilpisjärvi village & Finnish sauna
Transfer
Breakfast
Packed Lunch
Dinner
Boutique Hotel
On the last day we head back to Kilpisjärvi village, following a snowmobile route. After reaching the village we pack the pulkas in the trailer and drive back to Ylläs (3,5 hrs drive). Check in at Lapland Hotel Saaga and head for a well-earned spa visit with a traditional Finnish sauna. In the evening we gather together for the last dinner at the hotel restaurant and exchange thoughts of new discoveries about ourselves.
Distance: 15 km
Accommodation: Hotel Saaga or similar
Day 6 - Travel home or on to new adventures
Breakfast & Check-out in Ylläs, Finnish Lapland where we end this Arctic ski tour adventure. Refreshed by Lapland's wild beauty.
Adventure Optional Extras
Single Room Supplement
Single rooms are available on a first come, first served basis. We will charge on a pro-rata basis if a single room is only available for part of the trip.
Plant an additional 15 trees for your adventure
Carbon Compensation is not the perfect solution, and it is important to first reduce our carbon emissions as much as we can, yet trees remain an excellent natural technology to sequester carbon dioxide from the atmosphere to slow global warming.
For every client and guide who attends a YellowWood Adventure, we donate £30 to our partner charity WeForest to plant 15 trees to (over) compensate for the carbon footprint of the tour.
We also invite our clients to match this with an optional additional £30 for another 15 trees to be planted to help compensate for the carbon footprint of their international flights.
WeForest run many tree planting and tree maintenance projects such as this seedling nursery in the Amhara region of Ethiopia, the Amazon Rainforest in Brazil and many other projects in other countries including Zambia, Malawi, Tanzania & India.
Click Here to find out more about their amazing projects around the world.
Not Included
- International Flights & airport taxes
- Insurance (compulsory)
- 35 km bus/taxi transfer from Kittilä airport to Ylläsjärvi
Contents
Accommodation
We fully believe in, and practice, Responsible Tourism and recognise the value of using hotels run by locals. The accommodation on this adventure really accentuates your experience with both the hotel you stay in either side of the Arctic ski tour trek and the authentic wilderness hut on the trek itself.
We sleep in very basic, shared wilderness huts with no electricity or running water. This is truly a back-to-basics style accommodation. Drinking water is melted from snow and a wood stove heat the huts. After dark you’ll have a good chance of witnessing the Northern Lights, which appear statistically every other night this far north. Of course only if the sky is clear and you’re patient.
After three nights in the Käsivarsi Wilderness Area with your small group, you will return to Kilpisjärvi and then drive back to Ylläs for one final night in a hotel before heading home.
Facilities
Unless you have booked a single room (where they are available) and paid the single room supplement for those nights, you will be sharing a twin room with another client (of the same gender).
Guiding & Your Group
Supporting you on your trek will be our local, family owned and run certified wilderness guides.
We believe that it is a very important positive aspect of Responsible Tourism, to employ the expertise of local suppliers, as well as offering you a much more informative and authentic experience.
Your Group
Your group will be any number from our minimum group size of 4, up to a maximum of 12 clients. This number works really well with the ratio of guides, and ensures the optimum level of service to you during your adventure.
We get clients booking alone, as couples and in small groups of friends. If you have a group of friends or family who are interested in having their own customised trip, then please let us know and we can cost it for you.
Am I fit enough?
This tour is designed as a beginner-level Arctic ski tour, and no prior cross-country skiing experience is required. While extreme fitness isn’t required, good physical condition is essential for this cross-country ski tour. We are sure you’ll learn to ski in a day. The physical effort is roughly equivalent to hiking 10 km with a 15 kg backpack. While the terrain isn’t extremely steep, the snow conditions can vary significantly. Hard-packed snow makes for an easy day; deep, fresh snow makes pulk travel slower and more strenuous.
Each participant pulls their own gear in a pulk while skiing 9–18 km per day with fell skis. These skis, a hybrid between cross-country and alpine skis, are perfect for ski trekking in Arctic Lapland terrain, especially with heavy pulk. We use comfortable leather ski boots and usually attach climbing skins to the bottom of the ski to help with uphill sections. The pace is slow and suitable also for beginners.
Weather conditions
Winter weather in the open tundra can be unpredictable. Strong winds (15–25 m/s) are common, but you may also experience bright sunshine or heavy snowstorms. Temperatures range from 0°C to –20°C. High-quality, warm and waterproof gear is essential.
Equipment & clothing
Ski equipment is provided by the tour guides including fell skis, poles, boots, pulka for gear, storm goggles, down jacket if needed. However, you will need to provide and bring your own appropriate outdoor clothing for this trip. We will provide a detailed gear and packing list.
Travel & Arrival
Your YellowWood adventure starts at Kittilä airport. We understand that arriving into an unfamiliar airport can be very daunting, so we aim to give you as much information here as possible, to help you prepare.
Finding flights
Flights are not included in the cost of your holiday, and whilst we are happy to help advise you, responsibility for booking the correct flights rests with you. We recommend that you use a comparison tool such as www.momondo.co.uk or www.skyscanner.net when searching for flights. We will send you a Flight Information Sheet with further pointers on which flights to book.
Foreign Travel Advice
For the latest travel advice from the Foreign Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), including security and local laws, plus passport and visa information, check www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice. We also receive notifications direct from the FCDO so we are always aware of the ‘status’ in our destination countries.
Insurance
Holiday insurance is essential for all Yellow Wood Adventures. Unfortunately, anyone without insurance is not able to take part in the holiday, so please make sure you arrange cover. We recommend arranging your insurance cover when you book so that if you have problems during the run up to your holiday, and need to cancel, you are covered.
YellowWood partners with battleface as a travel insurance provider. Click here for a quote.
battleface insurance is provided in the UK by battleface Insurance Services Limited, a UK insurance intermediary authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Details provided on this webpage are for information only. Terms, conditions, exclusions, and limitations apply. Always read the description of cover contained within your policy to ensure it is suitable for your needs.
Prior to the holiday, we will ask you to send us details of your insurer, policy number, 24 hour emergency assistance contact details and the name, address, and telephone numbers of your NOK or persons to be notified in the event of an emergency.
You must ensure the travel insurance you purchase provides you with suitable cover for the entirety of your trip. Your travel insurance must include cover in the event that you have to cancel for a reason outside your control prior to departure, for any medical expenses you may incur whilst away (including repatriation in the case of medical need) and for the activities which you may participate in during your trip.
General Information
For information on Lapland, such as climate, weather, language, social norms, food & drink etc, please have a read of our Country specific information.
Compulsory
This trip supports
Need a little help?
All adventures can be tailored as private bespoke trips.
Please contact us for more information:
+44 207 846 0197
Related Adventures
Booking Process
Select dates: Choose the dates for your adventure and consider adding any extra adventures or add-ons to enhance your experience.
Check the box to agree to our Terms & Conditions.
Make Booking: Click on "Make Booking." If you're booking more than 56 days before your adventure, you'll be redirected to secure WorldPay to make your deposit. If it's 56 days or less before your adventure, you'll need to make full payment. Rest assured, your money is held securely by the Travel Trust Association.
Your booking will show as 'pending' in your YellowWood online account.
Confirmation: We'll be in touch as soon as possible to confirm your booking or discuss any availability limitations. Please refrain from booking transport or flights until we've emailed you to confirm your booking. (Note: Receipt of your booking form is not confirmation.)
Making payment: Once your booking is confirmed, we'll change the status of your final invoice from 'Pending Approval' to 'Outstanding,' indicating that it's ready for payment online.
You will receive a reminder email for your final payment 56 days before the departure date.
Feel free to contact us with any questions about your adventure or booking, we're here to help!
Grading
To help you choose the right adventure for you, we have given each itinerary a grading that relates to the level of Walking / Trekking you will experience during the trip. This grading can be found on the Yellow map on the adventure page of the website.
All of our trips involve a level of general activity so are designed for people who are in good health, enjoy the outdoors, and have a taste for adventure and some level of fitness. As will be clear from our destinations, the climate (and altitude) may be different to that which you are used to, so please take this into consideration when choosing the most suitable holiday.
Please read our Adventure Itinerary & Essential Information for more information and don't hesitate to contact us if you would like to chat through whether you have found a suitable adventure for you.
Grade 1-3: Entry Level
You need to be in good physical health to enjoy your active holiday, but you don’t need to be an experienced hiker. These itineraries offer a mix of sightseeing and easier walking for around 2-4hrs a day, with the emphasis on sights and cultural experiences.
Walks will be well marked or on defined pathways, and often around sites of interest. The expected amount of descent/ascent will depend on the landscapes of the destination, but will not exceed 400m/day, and will often be much less. Walks are at low altitude (below 3000m).
You will not be required to carry more than a day sack with water and essentials. Ensure you are aware of the weather conditions likely in the destination you are visiting and have a pair of comfortable and worn in walking shoes/boots.
Grades 4-6: Intermediate
You need to have a good level of fitness and be a regular walker for these adventures, with ideally some trekking experience. You can expect to be walking for 3-6 hours per day, not including rest stops, normally on good trail paths but with some uneven surfaces at times.
You will not be required to carry more than a day sack. You may be walking in more challenging temperatures. You will generally be walking at low altitude (below 3000m) but may walk at altitudes up to 4000m. The amount of ascent could be up to 800m in a day but will frequently be less. You may walk on consecutive days.
Ensure you are aware of the weather conditions likely in the destination you are visiting and have suitable clothing for this adventure.
Grades 7-9: Challenging
You need to have a good level of fitness with previous experience of trekking. Extra training before your trip will ensure that you get the most out of your adventure. Areas will be remote and terrain uneven.
Expect to walk for 5 – 8 hours a day, not including breaks, with some very steep ascents and descents. You will be walking at altitude (over 3000m but not higher than 5000m).
Ensure you are aware of the weather conditions likely in the destination you are visiting and have suitable equipment/clothing for this adventure (see the packing list for your adventure).
Please check individual itineraries for details of what you will need to be carrying with you.
Get in touch
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