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Winter in Lapland: 8-day Snowshoeing tour with dog sledding, reindeer and the Northern Lights in Finland

Finnish Lapland hiking trip
Finnish Lapland hiking trip
Finnish Lapland hiking trip
Snowshoeing tour in Finnish Lapland

Join this unique 8-day winter trip in Finnish Lapland, with snowshoeing tours, a husky-sledding and a reindeer sleigh ride, with the possibility of watching the Northern Lights, along with certified GeoGuide Markus.

Group

8 Days

Jan


Highlights

* Discover the amazing winter landscapes of Finnish Lapland!

* Observe the Northern Lights and enjoy a reindeer sleigh ride!

* Go on snowshoeing and dog-sledding tours and relax in a sauna!

Description

Experience Finnish Lapland on snowshoes, with an evening reindeer sleigh ride and a husky sled tour in winter! Join me on this 8-day unique experience in the middle of winter, when the chances of seeing the Northern Lights are very high.

Darkness, lots of snow, sauna, Aurora Borealis, are all words that  spontaneously come to mind when we think of Finnish Lapland.  And although winter is cold here, it is dry, so you feel the cold less than in a more humid climate. At this time of the year, it is dark in Lapland, but even now you have daylight. In July there are already 6.5 to 7.5 hours of daylight, thus not much less than in Central Europe.

There is plenty of snow everywhere, which sticks to the trees and transforms them into various fantasy figures. Yes, and the Northern Lights are there too, although seeing them may take a little more time than going for a sauna!

In the northeast of Finland, far above the Arctic Circle, we will take star-shaped snowshoe tours, most of them directly from the hotel and sometimes a bus will take us to the tour starting point. So you can decide every day, whether you want to participate in the tour or do something different on your own.

We will take our time for snowshoeing, experiencing nature, the silence, the seclusion of the area, and we will also visit a tupa or kota (simple huts), where we kindle a fire, warm up and grill something, if we can. We will probably also see reindeer. It is their habitat and also that of the Sami, originally nomadic people in the polar region of Europe.

On one evening, we can comfortably observe the Northern Lights from a reindeer sleigh ride, as it draws its orbits in different colors in the sky. Finally, we will spend a day with huskies and enjoy the winter landscape from a different perspective. Of course, the sauna is also included in our tour!

We will fly comfortably, with only one flight change, from Zurich to Ivalo. The journey by train and bus would unfortunately take almost half of the week.

I am a multi-lingual hiking guide, and I also speak fluent Finnish. I have personally organized this journey. I have been touring Finland and especially Lapland for many years, so I know the different areas from west to east, north to south and I am always enthusiastic about going there again.

If you want to experience the magic of winter in Lapland, just check the date below and book your place! I will be happy to take you on this once-in-a-lifetime tou in Finland!

Price includes

- Accommodation included

- Guiding fee

- Flight to the start

- Transport during the trip

Price details

The prices listed above are for early bird booking: Early bird price per person for Groups from 8 to 12: 2777 CHF. / Prices for regular booking: Groups from 8 to 12 people: 2877 CHF - Groups of 7 people: 2977 CHF - Groups of 6 people: 3047 CHF. // The price includes: Trip organization and guidance by multilingual guide. Flight with Finnair Zurich - Ivalo, economy class, round trip -7 nights in a 3-star hotel in Saariselkä (basic double room, breakfast, sauna) -

Daily guided personal snowshoe tours by Markus Glättli (except arrival / departure day, day husky sleigh ride and free day) -1 Husky sleigh ride (approx. 4h including meal breaks, 2 persons / team) -1 reindeer sleigh ride in the evening with possible Northern Lights sighting -Bus ride Ivalo-Saariselkä-Ivalo - All transfers at the planned snowshoe tours - CO2 compensation in Swiss projects of Ökostrom Schweiz for all flights -Short crash Finnish language course // Not included in the price: Single room supplement (according to availability, CHF 300) -Lunch, snacks, other dinners, beverages, drinks -Surcharge for own husky-team (ie you have your own team all the time, according to availability) -Any admissions and activities out of program -Any additional transport on site except program -Rental equipment (snowshoes, poles)- Activities in the daytime -

Insurance.


Itinerary

Day 1: Ivalo - Saariselkä

Arrival by plane to Ivalo and continue by bus to Saariselkä, check in at the hotel, dinner and overnight stay.

Day 2 to 7: Discover winter in Lapland

From the hotel, we go on shorter and longer, varied snowshoe tours in the region, mostly directly from the hotel, sometimes with a (taxi) bus, in the sprawling tundra landscapes. On one evening, we can also experience the Northern Lights (Aurora borealis) on a reindeer sleigh ride, followed by a crackling fire and learn more about the way of life of the Sami indigenous people and the reindeer. Cold-weather clothes including shoes are provided and are included. Another day we will be traveling with huskies and passing the wintry landscape either as a musher or in the sled. On the way there we will a stop for a small snack. We will finish this day by a crackling fire with coffee, tea and a small snack, learning even more about the huskies and their way of life. Cold-weather clothes including shoes are provided and are included.
There will be 1 free day, at leisure.

During these days, we enjoy quite long daylight despite the Nordic winter. In the evening we have great chances to see the Northern Lights various colors draws.

Day 8: Saariselkä - Zürich

Return from Saariselkä by bus. Plane to Zurich. If possible, there will be some time left after the tour, be it for saunas or shopping in a variety of small shops selling local handicrafts. At dinner we can end the day with local specialties and reminiscences of our trip.

 

Details

More info

*Weather/Daylight The weather is comparable to ours at the same time of the year in the Alps, eg Engadin. It can change quickly. The temperatures can be between about 0 ° C and -25 ° C or even lower. The air, however, is dry, so that you can feel even less cold than, for example, in the Swiss midlands with a rather humid climate. The daylight duration is quite long at this time (6.5 to 7.5 hours)! Every day means almost 10 more minutes of possible sunshine! Comparison: In Zurich about 10 hours of sunshine are possible at the same time.

*Equipment The equipment is similar to snowshoe tours in the Alps. The tours are not avalanche dangerous. So we do NOT need any safety equipment. Together with the detailed information, you will also receive a detailed packing list.

The tours are technically easy, and you just need a basic fitness level. We will be hiking for about 3 to 5 hours a day, with an ascent of approx. 200m-500m, descent: approx. 200-500m, each day. Terrain: easy, flat to moderately rising, in open, hilly tundra landscape and through forests

Meeting point

Zürich

About the guide

Guide profile image

Markus

Hiking Guide

Markus Glättli, Hiking Leader with Federal Diploma of Professional Education and Training, Ranger BZW and GeoGuide Sardona.

Let you whisk away in unique landscapes in Switzerland, the Cinque Terre, the Chamonix region or even Finnish Lapland. Learn stories, legends and interesting information and enjoy local delicious products of the region.

Enjoy full service for individual customers, small groups or companies. Take the time and enjoy the beauty and uniqueness of unspoilt nature. Experience nature.

I offer tours in English, German and French.

Languages

German | French | English


What people are saying about Explore-Share

Kumari

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I’m extremely happy with the ease with which I could book via your site reliable and experienced guide. Thank you so very much, and I’ve started to recommend your site to my friends. Dimitris is not only an awesome guide, but a wonderful person who was always looking out to give me the best experience I can have when he found out how much I love climbing! He is the Best!

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Lesley

4.00

Thank you explore-share for a wonderful via feratta experience. We have been wanting to learn for a long time but don't have the facilities in Scotland. The guide Mitja was extremely helpful and knowledgeable, answering all my many questions and providing advice. On the day head to take another group but he quickly arranged another guide Borut, who was brilliant. We had a fantastic morning learning via ferrata at Hvadnik in the gorge. It gave us the confidence to later hire our own equipment and go out in Mojstrana. Altogether a five star + experience. Thank you.

 

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