Itinerary
- Day 1
Ivalo
You'll land at Ivalo Airport and get transferred to your Arctic hotel, where you can drop your bags and settle in. After dinner, head outside to walk around the snowy grounds if you're up for it, maybe build a snowman, or just warm up by the fireplace inside. The hotel staff will keep an eye out for Northern Lights and let you know if they show up.
- Meals
- Dinner (Delicious dinner at accommodation)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Wilderness Hotel Muotka & Igloos)
Included Activities
- Airport transfer from Ivalo to accommodation
- Dinner at accommodation
Optional Activities
- Explore snowy surroundings
- Build a snowman
- Northern Lights viewing (weather dependent)
- Day 2
Saariselkä
This morning starts with a husky safari into the Finnish backcountry. You'll meet your sled dogs, get the basics of controlling the team, and then head out through the snow. Back at the hotel by afternoon, you can take a quiet walk on the nearby trails or build something with the snow if you want. Then it's time to relax before heading to dinner.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Wilderness Hotel Muotka & Igloos)
Included Activities
- Husky safari with sled riding
- Husky team introduction and sled control training
- Warm overalls provided for comfort
Optional Activities
- Afternoon walk on picturesque trails
- Build a snowman
- Relax in snowy landscape
- Day 3
Saariselkä
Start early with ice fishing by snowmobile-pulled sleigh, where you'll learn how to drill through the ice the traditional way. If you catch something, you can cook it right there over the fire. Lunch happens by the fire with warm food, and then later you'll head out on a snowmobile to hunt for the Northern Lights, stopping to have hot drinks and hang out near the fire.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Delicious outdoor lunch by crackling fire)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Wilderness Hotel Muotka & Igloos)
Included Activities
- Ice fishing expedition via snowmobile-pulled sleigh
- Traditional ice fishing techniques training
- Outdoor lunch by crackling fire
- Night snowmobile expedition
- Northern Lights viewing (weather dependent)
- Warm drinks by fire
Optional Activities
- Cook freshly caught fish over open fire
- Day 4
Saariselkä
After breakfast, a bus picks you up at 11:00 AM to head to a reindeer farm. You'll spend time with the animals, feed them, and take a traditional sleigh ride pulled by reindeer before getting a souvenir driver's license. In the afternoon, you'll try cross-country skiing on groomed trails with views across the Lapland landscape.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Wilderness Hotel Muotka & Igloos)
Included Activities
- Visit to reindeer farm
- Meet and feed reindeer
- Traditional reindeer sleigh ride
- Reindeer sleigh driver's license souvenir
- Cross-country skiing on groomed trails
- Day 5
Muotka
You'll spend the morning on a four-hour snowshoeing trek through quiet snowy forests and rolling hills around Muotka. As you walk, you'll learn about local wildlife and plants. Midway through, there's lunch by an open fire to warm up. Later in the afternoon, you can relax in a private Finnish smoke sauna and, if you're feeling brave, take a dip in the icy river.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Delicious outdoor lunch by warming open fire)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Wilderness Hotel Muotka & Igloos)
Included Activities
- Four-hour snowshoeing trek through Muotka forests and hills
- Learn about Finnish fauna and flora
- Outdoor lunch by open fire during trek
- Authentic private Finnish sauna experience
Optional Activities
- Refreshing dip in icy river
- Day 6
Ivalo
Have breakfast, then arrange your shuttle back to Ivalo Airport (book this ahead of time). If your flight doesn't leave until evening, you can hang out in the hotel's common areas by the fireplace, read, or play board games before you need to head out.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Hotel shuttle transfer to Ivalo Airport
Optional Activities
- Use hotel public areas with fireplace and board games if time permits
