DAY 1: Wednesday 8 January 2025 

Arrival in Kuusamo & preparations 

Your guide will meet you at Kuusamo (KAO) airport at an agreed time in the evening and after a half an hour transfer you will arrive at Adventure Apes Lodge. 

Your guide team will welcome you with homemade welcome dinner & tour briefing and you will get familiar with your expedition team members. Right after it’s time to settle in your shared rooms in bunk beds. If you have booked an optional winter clothing rental set your guide will give your set to you to test it. 

Later on, you will start your gear preparations in the sports hall. 

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.

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: Thursday 9 January 2025 

Overnight expedition in the wild 

This morning right after a healthy breakfast you will continue your gear preparations with your guides. You will pack your sledge and get ready for your adventure in the wild. 

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). On steeper downhills and uphills your guide will direct you  to change to snowshoes for safety reasons. 

You will ski through forests, bogs and fields and get deeper into the wild and arrive at your wilderness hut late in the evening. You will cook your dinner together with your team and enjoy the silence of nature. 

Later in the evening you will have the chance to relax yourself in a sauna and take a ice dip under the Northern sky. In case you are lucky you might even see the Northern Lights dancing over your hut. You will sleep with your comfortable sleeping mattress and four season sleeping bag on the floor of a cozy cabin without running water or modern facilities.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Snack, Dinner

Total driving time: none 

Hiking distance: about 10-12 km 

Difficulty level of the route: 2/5

Accommodation:  in a wilderness cabin with shared facilities and outdoor toilet, no electricity or running water. There is a limited number of beds and most of you will be sleeping on the floor with an air filled sleeping mattress. 

DAY 3:  Friday 10 January 2025

Day in the wild 

You will wake up in the brisk morning and cook your breakfast in the wilderness hut. 

Today you will have an optional snowshoe hike with camp lunch along the way. This route takes you to the real winter wonderland with snow covered forests.  You will return to your wilderness hut in the  afternoon. If you want to take it easy you can also choose to stay in the hut and admire the numerous birds around the hut. 

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. After settling into the small wilderness cabin in the evening it is time to cook your delicious dinner together as a team and also enjoy some board games.

 In the evening you might have a small walk outside and admire the Northern Sky. If you are lucky the northern lights might be dancing just above you. 

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Snack, Dinner

Total driving time: none 

Hiking distance: to be decided together as a group (2-8 km) 

Difficulty level of the route: 3/5

Accommodation:  in a wilderness cabin with shared facilities and outdoor toilet, no electricity or running water. There is a limited number of beds and most of you will be sleeping on the floor with an air filled sleeping mattress. 

DAY 4:  Saturday 11 January 2025

Expedition continues

After breakfast, by practicing Leave No Trace policy 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 stop for a longer lunch break along the way. The highlight of the day is to ski on a frozen lake in total silence. 

You will arrive at Adventure Apes Lodge in the evening. As a team, you will do some gear maintenance before gathering for dinner in the dining room.

You will have the sauna warmed up and ready to go right after dinner. Later in the evening there is a possibility for you to have a night out in Ruka ski center, with transfer to Ruka and back to the lodge in the night.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, snack 

Total driving time: none

Hiking distance: about 10-12 km 

Difficulty level of the route: 3/5

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

DAY 5: Sunday 12 January 2025 

Activities at Adventure Apes Lodge 

Enjoy a lazy morning at the lodge and gather in the dining room for late breakfast. After a healthy morning meal, gear up and join your guides in a short walk to the nearby lake. 

Today you will experience ice fishing on a frozen lake and if you are lucky, we might have a fresh catch for lunch. You will head back to the lodge to enjoy lunch and you are up for another classic winter activity.

Head to our backyard with your guides and it is time to put your ice skates on! 

You will have some free time in the evening and also enjoy the sauna before joining everyone for a farewell dinner. 

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Snack, Farewell dinner

Total driving time: -

Hiking distance: none

Difficulty level of the route: 1/5

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

DAY 6: Monday 13 January 2025 

Time to say goodbye

We like to say a great adventure never ends, it merely changes form to become part of who you are. After breakfast you will checkout and get transferred to Kuusamo (KAO) airport for your flight home.

Details 

Availability 1 January - 30 March 2025 

Agreed Tour dates: 8-13 January 2025

Price: 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 summer 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 below. All special winter skiing expedition gear included. 

Transportation: Airport transfer from and to Kuusamo (KAO) airport arrival and departure days. Two airport pickups on arrival day as suggested and agreed.

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% advance payment with the following payment schedule: 

200 euros of deposit to confirm booking. The remaining balance 1 week before arrival. 

Cancellation terms: down payments are not refundable.

In case of bankruptcy of Adventure Apes your downpayments are secured with a bank guarantee with registration number 1571/23/Mj.

Accommodation

Accommodation for night 1,4 & 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 & 3 takes place in a basic wilderness hut in beds (limited number) 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. 

Flights

Flights are the responsibility of the buyer. Please contact us before booking the flights, two airport pick up times can be arranged as per flight schedule suggested and agreed.

Arctic conditions and gear

All the special gear (like skin based skis, snowshoes, sledges, outdoor cooking gear, 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. 

Recommended Personal gear list

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

• Wind and waterproof winter clothing 

• Woolen socks 

• Thermal underlayers 

• Fleece / other warm sweater

• Winter boots 

• Small hat + warmer hat 

• Gloves or mittens 

• Buff 

• Balaclava

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 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

• Buff

• Balaclava

• Head torch

Personal winter gear rental package: The normal price is €100 per participant but for Lizzy’s followers we give this rental set free of charge. 

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 

• Transfers as indicated above

• All special winter skiing expedition gear 

• 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

Tour does not include:

• Flights and Visas 

• Single supplement 

• Personal outdoor clothing/apparel 

• Optional add-ons 

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

• Snacks which every participant will take care of themselves

• 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.

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.