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Lapland: A Winter Adventure
Lapland
From
This trip supports
- Overview
- Itinerary
- Esential info
- Reviews
- Packing list
Grade:
Entry Level
Type:
Cultural
Transfers
Duration:
8 Nights
4 - 12
Group size
Leaders
Tour Highlights
- Experience the Northern Lights
- Take a ride on a Husky tour
- Reindeer Farm with snowshoes & ski
- Finnish Sauna
- Hiking the “Koronjää”-trail
- Cross-country skiing & optional slalom
Experience the wonders of Lapland in this small group adventure holiday
Go on a husky tour, meet reindeer and experience the breathtaking Northern Lights. This trip to Lapland also includes hiking the Koronjää”-trail.
The natural environment in Finland is unique and plays an incredibly important role in the lives of Finns. Known as the ‘land of a thousand lakes’, Finnish Lapland has one of the largest archipelagos in the world. With the forests considered as ‘green gold’, and the heavy snow in the winter reflecting the majestic luminescence of the Aurora Borealis, it is indeed a magical land.
Join this adventure to get back to nature whilst practising local cultural activities such as cross-country skiing, riding on a dogsled, ice fishing and exploring the local crafts and food. Since ancient times, people in Finland have believed that many gods, spirits and elves are living in the forests – perhaps you will meet them!
(Available as a small group tour or tailor-made holiday)
Finland was named the happiest country in the world for the fourth time in a row in 2021, and this is no accident: Lapland’s incredible natural beauty is where people go to relax and take time off from their busy schedules, calming them down. Experience the Finnish way of bathing and relaxing in a sauna - with even an icy plunge in a frozen lake! - finding happiness in your everyday life as the locals do.
Day 1: Welcome & Guided Northern Lights moonlight ski tour
Transfer
Lunch
Dinner
Lodge
You are welcomed at Finland's Rovaniemi airport before being transferred to Metsä Kolo hotel and lodge in Ranua, which takes a couple of hours by car. This is a chance for the group to first get together, when you will be introduced to the eco-resort and safety information over coffee.
Dinner is served in the main house before we depart for our guided Northern Lights & Moonlight Ski tour with Finnish forest skis or snowshoes depending on what you prefer, for approximately two and a half hours. You can see in the darkness clearly without artificial light because of the incredible brilliance of the stars and moon overhead, which light your way to observe the magical Northern Lights over the frozen lake and snow-laden forest.
Upon return there is a wood-heated log sauna and even a dip into the cold water of the a frozen lake if you feel daring. Feel the Finnish cleansing ritual for your body and soul as you are initiated into the Lappish way!
Day 2: Ice fishing
Transfer
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Lodge
Our guide for this excursion is a local fisherman and we will be out on the ice for about two and a half hours, well stocked with hot drinks.
You will learn how to set the net – and then check for the catch of the day. Whitefish, perch or whatever we manage to get will be prepared together and enjoyed with traditional Lappish side dishes. Fresh fish as never before! Lunch will be eaten in a traditional teepee style wooden hut in Metsä Kolo.
Then there is time to play around on the Electric Snow Scooter, not guided, with a duration per person of at least 30 minutes. A world innovation from Finland, eLyly electric snow scooter allows you to surf on the frozen lakes, through white forest and across icy swampland; it really is great fun. We finish (no pun intended) the day with a cozy dinner to chat and review our experiences, always with the traditional Finnish sauna at your disposal should you want a relaxing dip.
Day 3: Husky tour
Transfer
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Lodge
Today after breakfast everyone gets to experience a one hour and forty minute husky ride on a two-person sledge. After short driving lesson, you will get to your sled dogs – the huskies want to run!
The drive traverses 14–20 km, including a break and switch between the drivers. After the ride, you have time to thank the dogs for a memorable safari and ask the guide about the lives of the huskies in general. Lunch after/during the ride is two courses including natural water and coffee/tea.
In the afternoon free activities at Metsä Kolo according to the weather conditions include: snowshoeing, forest skiing, ice skating, ride the napa-ice-sledge on the frozen lake, ice-kick sledding, ice fishing, campfire, bob sledding and more.
Day 4: Reindeer Farm with snowshoes & ski
Transfer
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Lodge
We visit a neighbour's Reindeer Farm on snowshoes or ski, or by car if you prefer (2 km), for about four and a half hours. You may feed Rudolph and take all the pictures you like. Chat with the reindeer herder Miikka about his life and job in the arctic nature. His family runs a cow farm, owns forest, and the mother Tiina produces regional organic natural cosmetics and wellbeing products.
Lunch is around the bonfire at the farm, including homemade and local food, including delicious meat and hot drinks Free activities at Metsä Kolo according to the weather conditions as usual upon your return before dinner, chat, a review of the day's experiences and the Traditional Finnish sauna - enjoy & relax.
Day 5: Transfer to the wilderness hotel in Posio
Transfer
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
3 star hotel
After breakfast we say farewell to our host family and transfer to Kirikeskus Wilderness Hotel in Posio which is only about an hour away. After being introduced to the resort and safety information over coffee and snacks you are free to explore at leisure the beautiful surrounding area.
This includes the wilderness hotel’s own Kiri slopes which are perfect for beginners or for the family, although some of the slopes also have a little challenge for those who need it. There are three slopes, two of which are illuminated. The height difference is 110 meters.
The Arctic Ceramic Center is the northernmost ceramic centre in the world. Located on the ground floor of the hotel’s main building, the large workspace with stunning views has convinced many professionals and enthusiasts. It can be hard to find a more inspiring environment for making ceramics. The day concludes with a group dinner.
Day 6: Hiking the Koronjää Trail
Transfer
Breakfast
Packed Lunch
Dinner
3 star hotel
After breakfast we will hike along the 'Koronjää' Trail for about five kilometres in the Korouoma Canyon. It is the only trail in Finland where you can admire gorgeous frozen waterfalls in winter.
The trail runs along a former horse road, and there are information boards on the area's logging history along the trail. The trail takes hikers along the top of cliffs with magnificent views, and to the bottom of the canyon. You will get the chance to admire the three largest frozen waterfalls at Korouoma, which are called Jaska Jokunen (Charlie Brown), Ruskea virta (the Brown River) and Mammuttiputous (the Mammoth Fall).
During the hike we will stop at campfire for picnic lunch including local soup, sandwiches, hot juice and sausages before returning for our cosy dinner at restaurant Kisura
Day 7: Cross-country skiing
Transfer
Breakfast
Packed Lunch
Dinner
3 star hotel
Today there are lessons (if you need them) for cross-country skiing. You will learn which kind of equipment you need and how to use the traditional cross-country skis. You do not need any prior experience as professional instructors will choose the appropriate equipment for you and start the skiing lesson from the basics upwards.
After the lesson you can practise on the ski tracks close by and use skies for as long as you wish. A delicious two course lunch at restaurant Kisura awaits after the physical exercise.
Would you like to continue skiing? That is of course possible because you can use the equipment freely - perhaps after a small nap! As always a relaxing sauna bath in the hotel's saunas awaits you at your convenience. The day ends with dinner comparing the results of the skiing day.
Day 8: Free day - slalom, hiking, sauna, relaxing in nature
Transfer
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
3 star hotel
Now you can either relax after a busy week or choose an extra program from the myriad activities on offer based on your own preferences. You can use the skies freely, try the slalom on the nearby slopes, or take a hike to the top of nearby Kirintövaara and look across the beautiful, snow-covered scenery. The day is yours.
Day 9: Departure
Transfer
Breakfast
After breakfast we transfer to Rovaniemi airport which takes just under two hours for your flights home, relaxed and infused with the spirit of Lapland!
Adventure Optional Extras
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.
Contents
Accommodation
We fully believe in, and practice, Responsible Tourism, using hotels run by locals. We put time and effort into building our relationship with them to ensure you have a a great trip.
We choose hotels based on cleanliness, comfort, safety, proximity to our route (to avoid unnecessary extra travel), and a warm client welcome, as well as reliability in their service to us. Some hotels will be basic, and in modern buildings and or in towns. Wherever we can, we will choose smaller more characterful, individual hotels, but in areas where tourism is still developing, this may not be available.
An aspect of our adventures is to escape the ‘trappings’ of modern Western lifestyles and to experience new things which is exciting and memorable, and reflects the countries we are visiting.
This is adventure travel and on occasion the advertised services at a hotel , guest house or camp (eg wifi, or hot showers!) may not be functional on our arrival.
This tends to occur in the smaller, more remote hotels. Very rarely a hotel lets us down and we are required to find alternative suitable accommodation that might not be our first choice.
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).
Accommodation:
Metsäkolo, Ranua for 4 nights
Kirikeskus, Posio for 4 nights
Travel & Arrival
Your YellowWood adventure starts at Rovaniemi 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.
Reviews
Catherine LA
Thanks so much YellowWood Adventures! We had such a brilliant time. The perfect trip with lots of adventure and lots of time to relax too!! One of our best holidays ever! Really appreciate everything and all your attention to detail to make sure we had such a brilliant itinerary! We can’t wait for our next trip.
Lapland: A Winter Adventure
Receive a 15% discount off Water-to-Go filtration water-bottles to help reduce plastic waste.
Compulsory
- Passport & insurance documents
- Credit / debit card for ATM use
- Prescription medication & antibiotics such as Azithromycin to stop serious traveller's diarrhoea
- First aid kit: paracetamol, antihistamine cream, ibuprofen cream, thermometer & blister kit (eg plasters & zinc oxide tape)
- Washbag & usual contents
- Travel adaptor model C
Items for walking / sightseeing in Finnish Lapland
- Warm, windproof and water-resistant winter coat or parka, hip length or longer and with a looser fit so it can easily fit over bulky sweaters, and layers that are as important as the warm outerwear
- Warm, comfortable and water-resistant trousers / pants (those designed for skiing are perfect)
- Warm winter shoes / boots (waterproof), for example leather hiking boots
- 1-2 pair of warm (and waterproof) woollen gloves
- A warm, thick and windproof beanie or something that protects both your head and your ears from the wind and cold weather
- A warm scarf to keep your neck warm
- Shoes to wear around the sauna - NB flip flops aren't good in the snow
- Swimwear
- Warm pyjamas / nightwear (flannel, wool, cotton)
- Woollen socks or slippers for relaxing inside
- Warm, moisture-wicking and well-fitting socks - merino wool recommended
- Woollen pullover or sweater
- Merino wool underwear: a long-sleeved top and a set of bottoms
- A Headlamp or flashlight as daytime is very short
- Some dry bags or waterproof cases to keep your phone and any electronic gear dry
- 20-30L daypack for hiking / sightseeing, preferably with waist and ideally, chest strap
- Water-to-Go filtration water-bottle & additional storage water-bottle - ideally 2 litres per person
- Extra batteries for your electronic gear, as batteries die faster in cold weather
- Sunglasses and high factor suncream
Optional
- Mini crampons that fit your walking boots - available from stores such as Blacks, Decathlon etc
- A good face moisturizer
- A moisturizing lip balm
- A camera and tripods for capturing the Northern Lights and low light situations
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.
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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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