Availability

27 February to 4 March 2025 

18 to 23 March 2026 (registration opening soon)

DAY 1: Arrival in Kuusamo & preparations

Adventure Apes guide will meet you at Kuusamo (KAO) airport in the afternoon after which you will take a short transfer to Adventure Apes Lodge.

After you have settled into your room and received your optional winter clothing set it is time to face the first challenge of the week together with your skiing expedition team. You will need to make a fire (without matches) and then cook delicious dinner around the campfire in a traditional Finnish “kota”. This is a real team building activity and makes you familiar with your team members. 

Soon after you will start preparing your gear for the coming expedition. You will learn how to pitch your tent, and how to use your sleeping bag and sleeping mattress, for example. You will test your snowshoes and pack your sledge and get ready for your adventure in the wild. 

Later in the evening you will get an introduction to Finnish sauna culture and have a chance to relax in a traditional wood heated sauna.

• Meals included: Dinner

• Total driving time: 30 min

• Hiking distance: none 

• Difficulty level of the route: -

• Accommodation: at Adventure Apes Lodge in bunk beds in shared rooms

DAY 2: Expedition kick off

After a healthy breakfast you will continue your gear preparations with your guides. You will get familiar with all the personal and common gear, ensuring you have everything you need to stay warm, dry and happy during your adventure and know how to use any equipment that may be new to you.

After lunch you will review the route plan and safety plan and do final preparations for your expedition. Soon it is time to test your skin based skis and start pulling your gear in an expedition sledge (two people sharing). 

You will ski through forests, bogs and fields and get deeper into the wild. You will arrive at your wilderness camp late afternoon and pitch your tent in the snow with the help of your guides. 

You will cook your dinner with the fuel cookers together with your team and enjoy the silence of nature under the Northern sky. In case you are lucky you might even see the Northern Lights dancing over your camp.

• Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Snack, Dinner

• Total driving time: none 

• Hiking distance: 5-7 km 

• Difficulty level of the route: 2/5

• Accommodation: in tents in the wild (2 ppl sharing), no facilities available

DAY 3: Setting your compass to North

You will wake up in the brisk morning and cook your breakfast in the wild. After taking your tent down with the leave no trace policy it is time to pack your sledge and continue your hike towards the North.

Today you will use both snowshoes and skis depending on the elevation and terrain. You will have a longer lunch break along the route and also learn interesting facts about Finnish nature. 

After settling into the small wilderness cabin in the evening it is time to cook your delicious dinner together as a team. Later in the evening you may  pamper your tired muscles in the warmth of the wilderness sauna and take it easy in the total silence. 

• Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Snack, Dinner

• Total driving time: none 

• Hiking distance: 5-7 km 

• Difficulty level of the route: 2/5

• Accommodation: in a wilderness cabin with shared facilities and outdoor toilet, no electricity or running water 

DAY 4: Getting deeper into the wild 

After breakfast you will clean the cabin, pack your sledge and continue your hike towards the North. 

You will use both skis and snowshoes and learn different techniques to move in different terrain. You will arrive at your camp in the wild around noon. You will set up your tent in the snow and also build your communal kitchen in the winter wonderland. 

After a quick lunch you will have a chance to choose if you would like to explore the surrounding fells with snowshoes or skis. No need to pull your sledge this time and you can just admire the beauty of nature at a relaxed speed.

After you have returned to your camp it is time to cook your dinner together with your expedition team with fuel cookers. 

Those who are looking for an extra challenge will have a chance to do another skiing trek in the dark. If you are lucky you might even see some Aurora Borealis dancing in the Northern sky. 

Later it is time to gather together and share stories with your new friends around an evening campfire.

• Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Evening snack 

• Total driving time: none

• Hiking distance: 3-5 km 

• Difficulty level of the route: 3/5

• Accommodation: in tents in the wild (2 ppl sharing), outdoor eco toilet + “kota” available 

DAY 5: Last stretch of your expedition 

After another outdoor breakfast it is time to take your camp down with the leave no trace policy and start heading back to Adventure Apes Lodge. 

Today you will experience how it is to ski on a frozen lake and what kind of safety procedures you have to follow when skiing on ice. After enjoying your “running lunch” it is time to take a real challenge as you will summit the steepest hill along the route. Now you will have your chance to show what kind of team player you are as this challenge needs all the possible team spirit to take everyone up there. 

When you have returned to Adventure Apes Lodge it is time to do some gear maintenance and enjoy well deserved dinner in the dining room. 

After all hard work you will have a chance to relax your tired muscles in the warmth of the traditional wood heated sauna again. 

In the evening it is time to gather where it all started - in the “kota” to enjoy traditional Finnish delicacies and see your fortune around the evening campfire. 

• Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Evening Snack 

• Total driving time: none

• Hiking distance: 10-12 km

• Difficulty level of the route: 4/5

• Accommodation: at Adventure Apes Lodge in bunk beds in shared rooms

DAY 6: Time to say goodbye and airport transfer 

We like to say a great adventure never ends, it merely changes form to become part of who you are. Today your skiing expedition in the Finnish Lapland will transform into some of your best memories as you will be transported to Kuusamo (KAO) airport right after breakfast.

• Meals included: Breakfast 

• Total driving time: 30 min 

• Hiking distance: none 

• Difficulty level of the route: -

Details 

Availability 

27 February to 4 March 2025 

18 to 23 March 2026

Price of Expedition: 1499 euros per participant

Taxes: According to the marginal taxation system, Finnish VAT Act 80 §.

Duration: 6 days, 5 nights 

Group size: 12-14 participants 

Activity level: Fit people with previous hiking experience

Suitability: This adventure is best suited for participants in good physical condition and who will be comfortable with six to ten hours of physical activity per day. Experience in winter conditions is not required. 

Minimum Age: 18 

Gear needed: Rental of personal winter clothing set available as an option. Recommended personal gear list provided below. All special winter skiing expedition gear included. 

Transportation: As mentioned in the program

Language: English, Finnish (Other languages available on request)

Route planning: Your guide team is responsible for route planning but you will participate in navigating

Booking: Pre-booking is required, please contact us for availability

Payment terms: 100% pre payment with the following schedule: 200 € non refundable pre payment as a deposit. Balance 1 month prior arrival.

Professional guide team available 24/7

All our guides are professional instructors with experience in similar and more demanding conditions. They are also trained and certified in first aid and hygiene.

Safety

This expedition takes place in demanding winter conditions and you need to follow the safety instructions given by your guides at all times. 

Your guides are trained to guide you safely through this expedition and you will be using high quality equipment designed for this purpose in demanding conditions. 

You will discuss the safety plan with your expedition team and learn to use all the safety gear at hand. 

Weather 

The winter weather in the area can vary a lot day by day. Typical temperature is around 10-25 Celsius degrees below zero but the weather can be also colder or warmer. The amount of daylight is limited meaning that the days are short. Due to extreme weather conditions you need to be equipped with proper wind and waterproof clothing. Please see the personal gear list provided for further information. Also an optional winter clothing rental set is available at extra cost. 

Accommodation

Accommodation for nights 1 & 5 takes place at Adventure Apes Lodge in the countryside of Kuusamo. Once a public primary school, the guesthouse has been newly renovated to provide clean and cozy, standard-level accommodations. The dorm-style rooms have bunk beds with a maximum occupancy of six people per room with private bathrooms. Bed linen, towels and access to the traditional wood-heated sauna are included. See video and pictures here: www.adventureapes.fi/lodge

Accommodation for night 2 & 4 takes place in high quality Vaude tents shared by two people. High quality sleeping bags and sleeping mattresses are included. You will have plenty of space in the main entrance for your dry sacks and gear. 

Accommodation for nights 3 takes place in a basic wilderness hut in beds in a shared room or on sleeping mattresses on the floor. No running water or electricity. Outdoor eco toilet available. 

Food & drinks 

All food is included as outlined in the programme. The menu typically consists of typical Finnish foods which are sourced as locally as possible. The food is plentiful, generally local in style, and will give you lots of energy. There will be some variation at the camp lunches offered on hikes. Some trekking meals have been dried earlier by your guides, sometimes it is commercially sold adventure food and sometimes it is fresh. 

Specific dietary requirements can be accommodated. Please note we require special dietary requirements 45 days before the start of the tour.

Drinking water: Finland has the cleanest drinking water in the world and tap water is safe to drink. We do not sell bottled water for sustainability reasons. On winter expeditions your guide will teach you how to melt snow and use it as drinking water. Sports drinks recommended in case your stomach is used to them. 

Online course before the expedition 

Each participant will need to participate in an online winter hiking course before the expedition. The course includes everything you need to know about winter hiking in Finland. 

See online course details at: Online course

Flights

Flights are the responsibility of the buyer. Please check with the airline directly to ensure arrival and departure times. The organizers cannot be responsible for changes to the schedule because of flights, however, we will work with you whenever possible to adjust the programme to provide the best possible experience. 

This program includes transfer from Kuusamo (KAO) airport to Adventure Apes Lodge on arrival day and transfer from Adventure Apes Lodge to Kuusamo (KAO) airport on departure day. Only one airport transfer per group is possible.

Please discuss the flight schedule with Adventure Apes representative before booking your flights. 

Arctic conditions and gear

All the special gear (like skin based skis, snowshoes, sledges, outdoor cooking gear, tents, sleeping bags etc.) will be provided; however, adventurers will be expected to come prepared for a variety of weather conditions. Adventurers who do not own suitable outdoor clothing (such as boots, thermal base layer, etc.) are advised to budget an additional fee for the add-on gear package rental which should be reserved together with the booking. 

Personal gear list

Recommended Personal kit list for Skiing expedition 

We recommend you to bring the following personal gear with you:

• Clothes & accessories

• 1 pant per day 

• 1 socks per day + 1 extra socks per day of expedition

• 1 lightweight thermal gloves / running / windproof (not fleece/wool)

• 1 thermal base layer (long sleeve top + bottom)

• 1 light buff/ soft snood for hiking

• 1 set thermal warming pad

• 1 swim shorts for sauna

• 1 sliders/slippers for sauna

• 1 t-shirt per day 

• 1 hoodie/ jumper

• 1 tracksuit trousers

• 1 sunglasses

• Lip balm, toothpaste, toothbrush

• Deodorant (roll-on only, no aerosols)

Personal winter gear rental package *

Some adventurers prefer not to buy personal outdoor winter clothing. If you are traveling light or just prefer not to add to your closet, we are happy to offer a winter clothing gear rental package that will help to keep you warm and dry in Arctic conditions. Preliminary booking is required to ensure appropriate sizes are available. 

The gear package includes:

• One set of thermal underlayer (trousers and shirt)

• Woolen socks

• Fleece

• Wind and waterproof jacket and trousers

• Down jacket

• Winter boots (suitable for snowshoes & skin based skis)

• Small hat + big hat for extra cold weather

• Gloves + mittens

• Buff

• Balaclava

• Head torch

Personal winter gear rental package: €100 per participant 

This is how the winter gear rental package looks like:

What’s in the price?

Adventure Apes’ commitment to fair pay and supporting the local economy: 

Adventure Apes is a responsible travel provider. We are committed to supporting both travelers and our local economy in a way that respects the best interest of all parties. This means our tours may not always come in at the lowest price, but you can rest assured the money goes where it should go: to the local guides, bakers, fishermen and women and other small producers and local partners that make you feel part of the community. Our price includes: 

Tour includes:

• Basic level of accommodation as indicated above

• Meals and activities as shown in the program 

• Group safety gear: full safety plan with risk analysis, first aid bags, space blankets, emergency shelters, gps, whistles etc. 

• Guide services - private, professional wilderness and outdoor sports guide(s)

• Liability insurance of Adventure Apes

• Main guide available 24/7

• Online course fee

Tour does not include:

• Flights or transportation (which customer wants to arrange)

• Single supplement  (not possible)

• Personal outdoor clothing/apparel (a complete recommended gear list provided above)

• Optional add-ons 

• Meals and drinks other than those listed, and alcoholic drinks

• Snacks which every participant will take care of themselves

• Commissions 

• Travel insurance (Travel insurance is required and should cover possible evacuation from the wilderness by helicopter)

Other details

Please note that modifications to the route, program or activities are possible due to weather and/or safety reasons. We follow the leave no trace policy and require all participants to follow our example.

Seeing the Northern Lights is a natural phenomenon which can never be guaranteed. In case there is a chance to see them your guides will change the evening program accordingly.

Nice to know 

• Small souvenir and snack shop at Adventure Apes Lodge 

• Laundry service available at extra cost 

Organizers

This tour is provided by Adventure Apes. We are a partnering company with Parks & Wildlife Finland and pay a fee to support the funding of the facilities of the outdoors we are adventuring in.