Cross Country Skiing in Hossa and Kalevala (Finland)

Luggage transfers to lighten your load by day and saunas to soothe your muscles by night!

Your main luggage is transported betwenen overnight accommodation, meaning that you need to ski with only what you need during the day and allowing you to enjoy to the full the experience of skiing through landscapes of ancient forests, ridges and frozen lakes.

Accommodation is at a selection of guesthouses and cabins along the route. On most nights, sauna is available to soothe any aching muscles from the day's skiing, including one location with ice hole to take a dip when you overheat!

Are you brave enough to take the plunge? Photo: UT.

Choose your skiing distance and level of challenge

There are two tour options available for your cross country ski tour. Both are located in a similar general area and use many of the same overnight locations, but have different routes, daily distances and levels of challenge. The terrain is relatively flat with no significant ascents/descents, but there are uphill and downhill sections:

• Option 1 (100km): This tour has daily distances 17-25km and covers total approx. 100km over the 5 days' skiing during the tour. The tour requires previous experience of cross country skiing and general competence with basic skiing technique and confidence negotiating short hills.
• Option 2 (150km): Offering an additional level of challenge with daily distances 25-42km and covering around 150km during the tour. Suitable for experienced cross country skiers with a good level of fitness.

Lunch is normally taken outdoors around the fire. Photo: UT.

Local cuisine and Northern Lights add extra dimensions to your trip

In addition to the enjoyment of the cross country skiing aspect of the tours and the beauty of the landscapes, there are a number of other elements to enjoy:

• A focus on locally-sourced produce with some of the overnight locations being particularly well-known for their cuisine.
• Being located relatively far north, you have good possibilities to see the Northern Lights during your week.

Cross Country Skiing in Hossa and Kalevala is available on a number of scheduled dates for public tours and is also ideal as a private experience for groups on request.

Option 1 (approx. 100km)

Day 1: Arrival

Transfers will meet flights as follows:

• All tour dates except 19.03-25.03-24 and 26.03-01.04.24: Finnair flight AY497 from Helsinki arriving Kuusamo 17.30 (departs Helsinki 15.50). Alternative option: For an additional transfer supplement of €30 Euros/person (payable locally in cash on arrival), it is also possible to arrive with the later Finnair flight AY487 arriving Kuusamo 21.45 (departs Helsinki 20.00).
• Tours 19.03-25.03-24 and 26.03-01.04.24: Finnair flight AY487 from Helsinki arriving Kuusamo 21.45 (departs Helsinki 20.00).

Guests arriving by public transport from Helsinki to Kuusamo or overnighting locally in Kuusamo must travel to Kuusamo airport for pick-up in connection with times as above. Pick-up from the bus station or accommodation in Kuusamo is unfortunately not possible.

Transfer time to accommodation at Rajakartano near Hossa National Park is approx. one hour.

Day 2

Your first day of skiing on prepared tracks in beautiful Hossa National Park, a landscape of ridges, pine forests and frozen lakes. Lunch is taken at the park visitor centre with possibility to visit the souvenir shop before returning to Rajakartano for second night.

The afternoon is a chance to relax with a traditional Finnish sauna - an essential part of any adventure in Finland - with an ice hole for the brave available for a dip!

Skiing distance: approx. 17km

Day 3

The day begins with a 45 min. vehicle transfer to Martinselkonen Wilderness centre, where you'll stay for the next two nights.

This reserve protects important swampland, lake and forest habitat, home to a wide variety of birds and insects. You will stop for lunch at a wilderness hut operated by the Finnish Forest and Parks service.

Your accommodation for the night is the wilderness centre at Martinselkonen.

Skiing distance: approx. 17km

Day 4

Today you head south through the Martinselkonen reserve, over frozen lakes and through forest. The silence with the landscape carpeted by snow is almost palpable.

Martinselkonen wilderness centre is a former border guard station and an excellent place to see bears in the summer, though they will be hibernating now!) through a landscape of spruce forest and frozen marshland. The area is also home to wolves, lynx and wolverine and with luck you may see some tracks and other signs during the day.

Skiing distance: approx. 23km

Day 5

Today you ski through the reserve to reach Arola.

Accommodation for these last two nights of the tour is in rooms at the farm, with dinner served in the traditional log house and with a special focus on local ingredients.

Skiing distance: approx. 22km

Day 6

A day's skiing tour in the reserve completes your week, with a final sauna and farewell dinner in the evening to reflect on your adventure.

Skiing distance: approx. 20km

Day 7: Departure

Transfers will meet flights as follows:

• All tour dates except 19.03-25.03-24 and 26.03-01.04.24: Finnair flight AY486 from Kuusamo arriving Helsinki 15.25 (departs Kuusamo 13.40).
• Tour 19.03-25.03-24: Finnair flight AY482 from Kuusamo arriving Helsinki 11.15 (departs Kuusamo 09.30).
• Tour 26.03-01.04.24: Finnair flight AY438 from Oulu (OUL) (NB: not from Kuusamo) arriving Helsinki 15.30 (departs Kuusamo 14.30). Transfer time from the end point of the tour to Oulu is around 3.5 hours.

Guests overnighting locally in Kuusamo after the tour can have transfer to one of the following hotels on departure (must be advised well in advance): Holiday Spa Hotel Kuusamon Tropiikki, Hotel Kuusanka, Hotel Goiglo.

Guests departing Kuusamo by public transport should plan for departure time earliest 1.5 hours before flight departure as above.

Option 2 (approx. 150km)

Day 1: Arrival

Transfers will meet flights as follows:

• All tour dates: Finnair flight AY487 from Helsinki arriving Kuusamo 21.55 (departs Helsinki 20.35).

Guests arriving by public transport from Helsinki to Kuusamo or overnighting locally in Kuusamo must travel to Kuusamo airport for pick-up in connection with times as above. Pick-up from the bus station or accommodation in Kuusamo is unfortunately not possible.

Transfer (approx. 2 hours) to your accommodation at the wilderness centre at Martinselkonen, a former border station, for light meal and introductory meeting for the week ahead.

Day 2

Your first day of skiing, heading east. You take lunch at one of the wilderness huts before returning for an evening sauna - the perfect way to end a day in the Finnish winter outdoors!

Accommodation this night is again at the wilderness centre.

Skiing distance: approx. 23km

Day 3

Today you ski towards Arola, through the Martinselkonen nature reserve. This area is rich in wildlife with many of Finland's most impressive animals found here. In addition to brown bears (which will of course be hibernating at this time) the reserve is home to wolves, lynx and wolverine, and though you will not see these animals as they are very shy, with luck you may spot tracks and signs in the area.

The accommodation at Arola is famed for its food, and a dinner focusing on local produce is served in the traditional log house here.

Skiing distance: approx. 28km

Day 4

A day tour from Arola, taking you towards the wilderness hut at Teerlampi, where a lunch will have been prepared for you to enjoy around the open fire before returning to Arola for the evening.

Skiing distance: approx. 27km

Day 5

A long day today, skiing north through a variety of forest, lake and wetland landscapes which typify this region, stopping for lunch halfway through the day.

Accommodation for the final two nights of the tour is at the former border station of Rajakartano on the shore of Lake Hossanjärvi just outside the National Park. Traditional Finnish sauna awaits, along with the opportunity to try a dip in an ice hole for the adventurous!

Skiing distance: approx. 43km

Day 6

Today you are skiing on the tracks of Hossa National Park through its renowned ridged landscape and forests. Lunch is taken at the visitor centre with a chance to visit the souvenir shop.

For the afternoon, there is a choice of shorter or longer route taking you back to Rajakartano. A final sauna (and ice hole dip) provides a wonderful way to end the week.

Skiing distance: flexible 20-35km

Day 7: Departure

Transfers will meet flights as follows:

• All tour dates: Finnair flight AY486 from Kuusamo arriving Helsinki 15.25 (departs Kuusamo 13.40).

Guests overnighting locally in Kuusamo after the tour can have transfer to one of the following hotels on departure (must be advised well in advance): Holiday Spa Hotel Kuusamon Tropiikki, Hotel Kuusanka, Hotel Goiglo.

Guests departing Kuusamo by public transport should plan for departure time earliest 1.5 hours before flight departure as above.

NB: Hire of ski equipment is not included.

Included

Accommodation:

Sleeping accommodation is normally in shared 2-4 person rooms with shared WC/shower facilities.

Option 1 (100km):

• Days 1-2: Accommodation for both nights is normally a former border guard station guest house with five sleeping rooms, living room, kitchen, shower and toilets and with sauna in separate building by lake with ice hole.
• Days 3-4: Former border guard station guest house with 12 rooms for up to 26 persons. As all nights, accommodation is normally shared but 1-person rooms may be offered locally if available. Rooms here may have private or shared WC/shower facilities.
• Days 5-6: Guesthouse with six rooms accommodating up to 14 persons. Dinner served in traditional log house.
• Sauna available on total 5 nights, ice hole swimming available on 1-2 nights.
• Bedding and towels provided.

Option 2 (150km):

• Days 1-2: Former border guard station guest house with 12 rooms for up to 26 persons. As all nights, accommodation is normally shared but 1-person rooms may be offered locally if available. Rooms here may have private or shared WC/shower facilities.
• Day 3-4: Guesthouse with six rooms accommodating up to 14 persons. Dinner served in traditional log house.
• Days 5 and 6: Former border guard station guest house with five sleeping rooms, living room, kitchen, shower and toilets and with sauna in separate building by lake with ice hole.
• Sauna available on total 5 nights, ice hole swimming available on 1-2 nights.
• Bedding and towels provided.

Example accommodation during the tour

Meals:

• Option 1 (100km): All meals from dinner on arrival day to breakfast on departure day: 6 x breakfast, 4 x outdoor lunch and 1 x indoor lunch, 6 x dinner (or evening snack for late arrival times on arrival day), 5 x afternoon coffee/snack during the tour.
• Option 2 (150km): All meals from dinner on arrival day to breakfast on departure day: 6 x breakfast, 4 x outdoor lunch and 1 x indoor lunch, 6 x dinner (or evening snack for late arrival times on arrival day), 5 x afternoon coffee/snack during the tour.

Guiding:

• Experienced and knowledgeable guide accompanying you during the tour.
• Additional guide to prepare the ski tracks with snowmobile, transport luggage between overnight accomodation and assist with preparation of outdoor lunches.

Transfers:

• Local transfers between arrival/departure airports and start/end points of the tours in connection with fixed flight times as per itinerary.
• Transfer of main luggage between overnight locations.

Ski waxing:

Whether you are hiring ski equipment as optional extra or bringing your own, glide and grip waxes, wax removal liquid and other equipment needed for waxing (such as an iron for applying glide wax and a heat gun for wax removing) are provided. A waxing bench will also be available. NB: It is not permitted to fly with wax removal liquid.

If bringing your own skis, these can be waxed or unwaxed.

Not Included

• Travel: We do not arrange flights or domestic travel, but are happy to advise on suitable connections and assist you with any aspect of planning your journey. See under "Getting There" for general travel information.
• Ski equipment (available to hire as optional extra).
• Alcoholic drinks.

Required

Health requirements/experience:

Minimm age 18 (younger participants aged 16-17 may be possible by arrangement).

Both tours require previous experience of cross country skiing and a general good level of fitness. For both tours, members of the group can ski at their own pace - the group does not need to stay together. Faster skiers can follow the track made by the snowmobile and the guide can ski with slower skiers. So that the group arrives at the same time at lunch stops, faster skiers may be requested to start later in the day. On days where tracks are prepared by the service snowmobile (not all days), there is one seat available on the snowmobile in the event that a participant is unable to complete the daily distance or has blisters, etc.

For Option 1 (100km) tours, you should have general confidence with cross country skiing, be able to manage short downhill sections safely and be comfortable with daily distances of 17-25km. Skiing time typically up to max. 7 hours including breaks.

Option 1 tours may also be suitable for participants with limited cross country experience but good level of fitness and previous experience of other related activities such as ice skating or rollerblading. However, please note that the tour includes no formal instruction in cross country skiing techniques and is not a training course, though of course your guide will be happy to offer advice and tips on improving your technique.

For Option 2 (150km) tours, you should have an advanced level of previous cross country experience and higher level of fitness and be able to ski at average speed of 7-8kmh to cover the distances required. Skiing time typically up to 8 hours including breaks and you should be comfortable with daily distances 25-42km.

What makes this "Medium-Hard"?

Option 1 has Medium level of difficulty, while Option 2 has Medium-Hard level due to the longer daily distances, but both tours require previous cross country skiing experience.

Both tours have luggage transfer between overnight locations. Accommodation is of simple but comfortable standard with electricity and running water at most or all locations depending on the tour chosen.

NB: Perception of difficulty is very subjective. What is hard to one person may be easy for another and vice versa, depending on factors including level of fitness, age and previous experience. Weather conditions/temperatures can also dramatically affect the actual level of challenge encountered.

Equipment/clothes needed:

For information on any equipment and/or clothing included as standard for this experience, please see under "What's Included".

A detailed recommended packing list for personal items to bring will be sent with your booking documentation.

NB: We advise you not to buy equipment or clothes for your trip or to incur other non-refundable expenses such as flights until you have received confirmation of your booking from us in writing. Note of course that the most appropriate clothing to use as well as the level of challenge experienced during any outdoor activity may vary significantly depending on factors such as the time of year and the particular weather/temperature conditions during your trip.

Preparing for your trip:

For further reading, we also have a number of general information articles to get you ready for your trip, covering a wide variety of topics from what to do on a city break before/after your tour, advice on packing, eyewear for winter and considerations for female travellers.

Minimum number:

The tours have no minimum and are guaranteed to run from the first booking.

Groups

Maximum 12 participants. Groups may be made up of participants from a number of countries.

Private groups can book this experience on other dates by arrangement - please contact us to discuss your requirements.

Eco Info

This provider has a written ecotourism policy and has achieved Travellife Partner certification.

"Very good pre-departure information and service. The highlight was the silence and vast landscape of endless forest." Heike, March 2024

"The guide and track setter were brilliant and did a great job. The highlight was skiing through forests with the trees covered in snow." Robert, February 2024