Highlights:

• Fully guided skiing expedition in Finnish Lapland 

• Pre adventure online course included 

• All meals & ground transportation included

• Accommodation in shared tents in the wild 

• Rental of high quality expedition gear included

Programme

DAY 1: Arrival in Finland and preparations

You will be picked up from Kuusamo airport according to your flight arrival time in the afternoon or evening. After a half an hour drive you will arrive at Adventure Apes Lodge where your guide team will welcome you with a homemade dinner and a tour briefing.

Together with your guides you will review the route plan and 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.

• Meals included: Dinner

• Total driving time: 30 min

• Hiking distance: none 

• Difficulty level of the route: -

• Accommodation: at Adventure Apes Lodge in bunk beds

DAY 2: Preparations for your expedition 

Today is all about practice and right after a healthy breakfast you will start your gear preparations with your guides. You will learn how to ski with skin based skis and how to use snowshoes. You will practice using a fuel cooker and cook your lunch outdoors. You will pack your sledge and test how it feels to pull all your gear in deep snow behind you. 

Finally you will learn how to set up your camp in the snow and test how you will manage to sleep in your four season sleeping bag outdoors. 

• Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Snack, Dinner

• Total driving time: none 

• Hiking distance: 2-3 km (1.2-1.8 miles)

• Difficulty level of the route: 2/5

• Accommodation: in tents at the yard of Adventure Apes Lodge

DAY 3:Time to start your expedition

After spending one night in your tent right next to the Lodge it is easy to do the needed fine tuning for your gear. After a big healthy breakfast you will still have some time to finish your gear preparations. Soon it is time to check out and after lunch you will head your compasses to North and kick off your expedition.

You will use both skis and snowshoes and learn different techniques to move in different terrain. Later in the afternoon you will arrive at your first night's camp. You will set up your tent in the wild and your guides will show you how to give maintenance for your gear. Later on you will cook your dinner together in the wild with your 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.

• Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Snack, Dinner

• Total driving time: none

• Hiking distance: to be informed

• Difficulty level of the route: 2/5

• Accommodation: in tents in the wild

DAY 4:Getting deeper into the wild

After a camp breakfast you will continue your hike towards the North. You will be skiing surrounded by the biggest fells of the area. Around midday you will have a longer break to enjoy your camp lunch together with hot drinks.

You will arrive at your camp late in the evening. Dinner will be cooked together with your guide as always. Night will be spent in the wild again.

• Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

• Total driving time: none

• Hiking distance: to be informed

• Difficulty level of the route: 3/5

• Accommodation: in tents in the wild

DAY 5: Last stretch of your expedition

After a big 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 relax your tired muscles in the warmth of the traditional wood heated Sauna. After some gear maintenance it is time to enjoy a delicious dinner in the dining room.

• Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Snack, Dinner

• Total driving time: none

• Hiking distance: to be informed

• Difficulty level of the route: 4/5

• Accommodation: at Adventure Apes Lodge in bunk beds

DAY 6:Indoor sports, self assessment and movie night

This morning there is no need to cook your breakfast or take your camp down as you will be pampered by the kitchen staff who will take care of the breakfast preparations for you. After some gear maintenance you will compete against other teams in various outdoor sports games. In the afternoon you will have a moment to do some self reflection and think about your leadership skills together with your teacher and guide.

After a delicious farewell dinner party it is time to watch a movie about Finnish nature.

• Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Snack, Dinner

• Total driving time: none

• Hiking distance: none

• Difficulty level of the route: -

• Accommodation: at Adventure Apes Lodge in bunk beds

DAY 7: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. On day seven your skiing expedition in the Finnish Lapland will transform into some of your best memories as you will be transported to Kuusamo (KAO) airport to catch your return flight in the morning.

• Meals included: Breakfast

• Total driving time: 30 min

• Hiking distance: none

• Difficulty level of the route: -

Details 

Tour dates: To be agreed 

Price: 12-14 students: 1299 € per student 

Adults: 2 adults travel for free 

Taxes: According to marginal taxation system 

Availability:  15 December to 30 April 

Ask for availability 

Monday to Sunday:  04 to 10 December 2024

Monday to Sunday: 15 to 21 April 2024

Duration: 7 days, 6 nights 

Group size: 12-14 students, 2 adults 

Activity level: Fit people with previous hiking experience

Suitability: This adventure is best suited for students 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: This tour is planned for students at minimum age of 16 years

Gear needed: Rental of all special winter expedition equipment included. Recommended personal gear list will be provided. Optional winter clothing rental set included in the price.

Transportation: Transfers to and from Kuusamo airport (KAO) and local travel are included; flights are not included

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: Negotiable

Accommodation

Accommodation for nights 1,5 & 6 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 nights 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.

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. Online course fee included in the tour price. Discuss your study schedule with your guide.

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 transfers from/to Kuusamo (KAO) airport. Only one airport transfer per group is possible.

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.

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 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. 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:

• Online course fee

• Transfers - Travel to and from Kuusamo airport (KAO) and all local travel indicated in the adventure program. Only one airport transfer per group is possible.

• 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

Tour does not include:

• Flights or transportation before or after the start of the tour

• Single supplement

• Personal outdoor clothing/apparel (a complete recommended gear list will be provided before the tour)

• 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.