Cross Country Skiing in Eastern Finland (Finland)

Arrival

For guests arriving by flight, there will be a transfer from Kuopio airport at 18.00 (meeting flight arriving 17.50), from where it is approx. 110-150km (depending on tour itinerary chosen) to your guest house accommodation for the night.

Guests arriving by train to Nurmes will be collected from train arriving 20.06 (transfer time approx. 30 mins). Check-in and dinner at the guest house and a chance to get to know the other participants in your group.

Following Days - Standard Tours

NB: The tracks on which you will be skiing are nature tracks prepared in advance by snowmobile. During windy conditions, track quality may vary. On days where distances are shorter, in some cases these distances can be extended if you wish with extra loops.

Day 2:

Issuing of equipment and a chance to become accustomed to your gear on a day skiing tour around Paalajanvaara in the afternoon, distance max. 11km, before returning to the guest house for dinner and overnight accommodation.

Day 3:

The main tour begins! Today takes you 22km through snow-covered forests, over fields and across frozen lakes. You stop to grill sausages by the campfire before reaching Laitalan Lomat guest house for the evening.

Day 4:

This day features a 15km tour on the Lomat ski track, returning to your accommodation for overnight.

Day 5:

Today's skiing offers varying terrain as you cover 25km towards Pihlajapuu, your goal for the day, pausing along the way at a farmhouse to meet some real locals! You reach Pihlajapuu later in the day, where you will stay for the rest of the tour.

Day 6:

A day's cross country skiing tour (distance variable 15-20km) from Pihlajapuu. If you wish, it is possible to arrange a massage to soothe tired muscles (additional payment made locally)!

Day 7:

A day tour to Nälkömäki, distance approx. 20km. In the evening, you can experience a "smoke sauna" at Minna's followed by a dinner of glow-fried salmon.

Following Days - Discover Tours (introductory level)

NB: The tracks on which you will be skiing are nature tracks prepared in advance by snowmobile. During windy conditions, track quality may vary.

Days 2-4:

Over three days, you will begin to develop your cross country skiing technique and fitness with lessons and day tours in the surrounding forest. Day 2 covers approx. 5-8km followed by a honey sauna and herbal foot bath in the evening to soothe tired muscles! Day 3 increases the level of challenge a little, covering approx. 10-12km and ending with a peat sauna in the evening, while Day 4 brings the distance up to around 10-15km, rounding off the day with a smoke sauna!

Accommodation for the first four nights of the tour is at Pihlajappu, the location of the guesthouse normally used for Day 5 and Day 6 of standard tours.

Day 5:

You should by now feel more confident and capable of covering longer distances. Today you leave for the first point-to-point component of the trip, skiing approx. 25km towards Laitalan Lomat (the accommodation normally used for Day 3 of standard tours), where you overnight.

Day 6:

As Day 4 for standard tours, this day features a 15-16km tour on the Lomat ski track, returning to your accommodation for overnight.

Day 7:

Your last day of skiing, changing location to cover approx. 21km to end your tour at Puukarin Pysäkki, the location normally used for Day 1 and Day 2 of standard tours. Your experience ends with a special Karelian buffet in the evening to congratulate each other on your new skills!

Departure

Breakfast and transfer at 12.00 to Kuopio airport for flight departure 14.30.

Guests departing by train will be transferred to Nurmes (for train departing 15.40 - depending on arrangements, guests may be transferred to Nurmes earlier to spend time there before train departure).

NB: Prices based on two persons sharing. Supplement applies for single occupancy.

Hire of ski equipment is not included for Standard tours. For Discover tours, ski equipment is included.

Included

Accommodation:

Double/twin rooms in guest houses along the route. Single occupancy supplement applies for solo travellers. All guest houses have shared WC/shower facilities. Wood-fired sauna is available each night. Bedding and towels are provided. To reduce environmental impact, bed linen is transported between overnight locations with the luggage transfer. Fresh towels are provided at each new overnight location.

Meals:

All meals from dinner Day 1 to breakfast Day 8. There is a particular focus on local produce. Please let us know any dietary requirements on booking.

Equipment (Discover tours only):

Ski equipment (skis, boots and poles) is included. Please provide height, weight and shoe size in advance. NB: For standard tours, ski equipment is available to hire as an optional extra.

Guide:

Experienced and knowledgeable local guide.

Transfers:

Group transfer from Kuopio airport at 18.00 and Nurmes train station at 20.00 on Day 1. Transfer to Kuopio airport for flight departure 12.00 and to Nurmes train station for train departure 15.30 on Day 8. Please note that airport transfer for guests adding extra days is not included (see under "Optional extras").

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 (Standard tours only - available to hire as optional extra). NB: For Discover tours, ski equipment is included.
• Alcoholic drinks

Required

Health requirements/experience:

Standard tours are suitable for adults (or families with older children aged 15+) with good level of fitness and previous cross country skiing experience and who are comfortable skiing distances of 15-30km per day with light pack. The skiing on this tour can be physically challenging.

Standard tour dates are suitable for participants with an intermediate or higher level of previous cross country skiing experience comfortable with daily distances up to approx. 25-30km.

Discover tours are ideal for guests who have at least a little previous experience on skis (e.g. from downhill skiing or limited cross country experience). In general the tour is not suitable for guests for whom the tour will be their first time on skis of any kind. Note that these tours can also be physically challenging and guests should have a general good level of fitness for this option also. You should be prepared for some falls, bumps and bruises as you're learning!

What makes this "Medium"?

Accommodation is in comfortable guesthouses and, as luggage transfer is included, you will need to ski only with a daypack during the day. However, trail/snow/weather conditions as well as the efficiency of your skiing technique can significantly affect the actual level of challenge.

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 Standard and Discover 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 - English and German are the languages used for guiding.

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

Eco Info

All accommodation for this tour is small-scale and locally-owned. The great majority of food served on the tour is home-made using locally-sourced ingredients.

This provider has a written ecotourism policy.