Backcountry Skiing and Northern Lights in Finnish Lapland (Finland)

Ski equipment (skis, poles, skins and boots) as well as all camping equipment is included as standard. Rucksack can also be borrowed if required.

Expedition tours using pulks and backpacks

While extensive ski experience is not necessary, these are challenging outdoor tours requiring a good level of fitness and stamina.

On the tour, the group will carry equipment using a combination of backpacks (typical weight around 10-15kg, mostly for personal items) and "pulks" (sleds, especially for the heavier items such as tents and provisions, typical weight around 35kg). Exact arrangements will differ depending on group size and composition, but you will typically use one backpack per two persons, and alternate between skiing with pack and skiing with pulk.

The number of pulks taken on a tour depends on group size (max. 8 persons + guide for scheduled tours) and the task of pulling these will be shared between the group.

Whether you choose the Lemmenjoki or Halti tour options, you'll be coming home with some memories to last a lifetime from a winter expedition in the wilderness of the far north.

This tour uses Fischer easy skin Xtralite skis, which are relatively easily manageable for the less experienced skier while providing better control for the descents.

Option 1: Lemmenjoki National Park

Lemmenjoki, at 2,850 square kilometres, is Finland's largest national park and one of the largest in Europe. Located at 69 degrees north at the top of Finland bordering Norway, Lemmenjoki offers a wonderful environment for remote trail-less ski touring adventures in old-growth boreal forest.

This is a real "backcountry" tour, skiing without prepared trails with typical daily distance around 10-17km. Beginning and ending with nights in comfortable cabins at a reindeer farm, along the tour itself accommodation is in simple wilderness cabins, with no electricity or running water (sauna is available at one location for a touch of luxury!), as well as one night in a "kota", a traditional Sami wooden tipi.

Ski between simple wilderness cabins with the option to camp on some nights. Photo: WH.

You will be carrying full camping equipment for safety and so also have the option to spend one or more nights in tents if you wish. During the tour, you will also be increasing your knowledge of wilderness skills from your guide, and build a "quinzee", or snow shelter, in which you can optionally choose to sleep for one night.

Option 2: Halti (Käsivarsi Wilderness Area)

Käsivarsi Wilderness Area, at the very top of Finland, is also a very large protected area at 2,206 square kilometres. All of Finland's fells over 1000m are located in this area. This option takes you to the "roof of Finland", to the Halti fell, which at 1324m is the highest point in Finland.

This is very much an arctic wilderness experience, taking place entirely above the tree-line in terrain that can be very exposed. For this tour, skiing is partly off-trail and partly using a snowmobile track. Daily distances covered are up to 23km and the route involves more ups and downs than the Lemmenjoki tour. The level of challenge of this tour will typically be higher than the Lemmenjoki option.

Accommodation is in simple hotel room at the start/end of the tour (sauna available) and in simple wilderness huts along the trail, which have no electricity or running water. The cabins are heated with wood-burning stoves and you will melt snow for water during the tours.

You will be carrying tents and camping equipment for safety, and can optionally choose to sleep in tent rather than inside the cabins if you wish for one or more nights.

Option 1: Lemmenjoki National Park

Day 1: Arrival

• All tour dates: Transfer will meet Finnair flight AY 605 from Helsinki arriving Ivalo 18.25. You are of course welcome to arrive with an earlier connection if you wish).

You will have a final chance to buy snacks for your tour stopping at Ivalo en route to your accommodation for the evening (transfer time approx. 1.5 hours). Tonight you will stay at cabins owned by a local Sami family, who have lived there for generations with their reindeer, which roam around the yard at the Sami camp. The camp has a restaurant where you will be having dinner and there's an opportunity to have your first sauna!

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Option 2: Halti (Käsivarsi Wilderness Area)

Itinerary below is for standard tours, based on wilderness cabin accommodation. See following for itinerary information for Option 2a Halti Lite New Year tour and Option 2b Halti Wild Camping.

NB: This tour takes place in terrain that can be very exposed, and outdoor experiences in the arctic fells can be very demanding depending on conditions. The route taken avoids steep cliffs or areas with high avalanche risk, but it is possible that blizzards and very low temperatures may be encountered. You will be carrying high-quality 4-season tents for safety and, on rare occasions, it can be necessary to take shelter in the tents or cabins for an extended period if conditions are judged to be unsuitable for moving. If storm warnings have been issued before the tour begins, the itinerary below will be substituted for an alternative route a more sheltered area. Every effort will be made to offer the highest quality alternative itinerary, but no refund can be offered in this case should the planned Halti itinerary not be possible. Safety is a high priority and itinerary variable at the discretion of the guide.

Day 1: Arrival

Transfer will meet flights arriving Tromsø latest 18.50* (you are of course welcome to arrive with an earlier connection if you wish). Transfer (approx. 2.5 hours) to Kilpisjärvi. Overnight accommodation at the hiking centre hotel in 2-person hotel rooms or 4-person cabins depending on availability.

Dinner and introduction to the tour ahead. Sauna is available.

*Time given is the latest possible arrival time. On some dates, available flight times may vary.

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For private tours, please contact us to discuss your requirements.

Included

Accommodation:

Option 1 (Lemmenjoki):

Sleeping accommodation is shared on all nights. At the wilderness cabins, beds can be reserved in most cases, but the cabins are open for use by other travellers. Everyone assists with tasks around the cabin such as preparing food, washing up, etc.

• Days 1 and 7: Sami camp with restaurant, bar and sauna, electricity, inside toilets and shower. Sauna is available and there are always reindeer at the camp. Accommodation in simple 4-person cabins.
• Days 2, Days 4-6: Wilderness huts along the route. No electricity/running water, wood-burning stove, gas cooker, dry outside toilet, bunk beds. Sauna available on Day 4 and Day 5. Day 5 has option to sleep in the quinzee you have constructed.
• Day 3: Traditional "kota" (wooden tipi) with central fireplace.

Example accommodation for the tour. Photos: WH

Option 2 (Halti):

Sleeping accommodation is shared on all nights. At the wilderness cabins, beds can be reserved in most cases, but the cabins are open for use by other travellers. April/May are the most popular periods, so at this time you may meet other travellers in the cabins. At other times, you are likely to encounter very few other persons during the tour. Everyone assists with tasks around the cabin such as preparing food, washing up, etc.

• Days 1 and 7: Simple 2-person hotel rooms or 4-person cabins in Kilpisjärvi with own WC/shower in room/cabin. Restaurant (licensed) and sauna. Free wi-fi available.
• Days 2-6 (standard tours): Wilderness huts along the route. No electricity/running water, wood-burning stove, gas cooker, dry outside toilet, bunk beds.
• Days 2-6 (Halti Wild Camping tours): Wild camping on all nights.

Example accommodation for the tour. Photos: WH

Meals:

All meals are included from dinner on arrival day to breakfast on departure day. The group will cook and eat together. As dehydrated camping foods are often used during the tour and cooking facilities are simple/shared, common dietary requirements such as vegetarian, etc, can normally be accommodated, but opportunities to accommodate more restrictive diets (such as gluten-free, vegan, particular allergies) may be limited. Please advise any dietary needs in advance and contact us to discuss your requirements.

Equipment:

• Skis, bindings and poles: Skis used are normally Fischer easy skin Xtralite skis (models with the widest cut and shorter sizes, e.g. 180-190cm), which are relatively easily manageable for the less experienced skier while providing better control for the descents. Other skis that may be used include Åsnes Nansens, Madshus Panorama M50 and Voss. All skis use Rottefella NNN BC (not XC) system bindings. Guests wishing to bring own boots and/or ski touring equipment are welcome to do so - please provide details of your equipment in advance to ensure it meets the requirements for the tour.
• Boots: Boots compatible with the skis used for the tours (which have NNN BC bindings) are provided and include Scott, Rossignol BCX2, Alpina BC 1600, Alpina outlander and Lundhags tour. The ski boots serve as the main boots for the tour - no additional winter boots are required. Overboots are also included for additional warmth/snow protection. If bringing your own boots but using the skis provided, boots must be compatible with NNN BC bindings.
• Camping equipment: Winter sleeping bag with liner and closed cell sleeping mat; tent (tents are carried as safety equipment and as optional overnight accommodation).
• Pulk(s): number required depends on the size of the group, typically one per two participants.
• Cooking equipment.
• Backpacks are provided to use free of charge if required. Backpacks provided will be 45-75 litres. You are of course welcome to bring your own if you prefer.
• Camping plate/bowl, mug and cutlery.
• Toilet paper.

Ski and camping equipment used for the tours. Photo: Nature Travels

Guide:

Experienced and knowledgeable local guide.

Transfers:

Arrival/departure transfers between Ivalo (Lemmenjoki tour) or Tromsø (Halti tour) airports and start/end point of the tour at fixed times (see "Itinerary").

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.
• Alcoholic drinks.

Required

Health requirements/experience:

You must have a general high level of fitness, be used to the outdoors and be prepared for travelling in a remote area. Previous experience of skiing is required for Halti tours. Experience of backcountry skiing/touring is an advantage but is not essential for the tour.

You should be comfortable skiing daily distances of up to 17km (Lemmenjoki) or 23km (Halti), often without trails. Arrangements and total number of packs/pulks used will vary depending on the tour, but the general intention is that when you are not skiing with a backpack, you will be pulling a pulk, and vice versa. The most appropriate arrangements for total number of packs/pulks taken will be made when the group packs for the tour at the start. Any items not needed can be left behind at the start point, and if necessary backpacks can be loaded on the pulks or the items from some packs transferred to pulks.

Backpacks will be used to carry personal items to which access is required during the day, such as spare clothing, thermoses, snacks, etc. Typical pack weight should be max. around 15kg. Pulk weight is typically around 30-35kg.

Tour dates taking place during the deep midwinter (especially during the polar night) and up to around mid-February may have the most challenging weather conditions and lowest temperatures. In this region, very low temperatures (-30 degrees C or less) may be encountered. For the Halti tour there may be no snowmobile tracks or trail markings to follow on tours in the early part of the season (up to around mid-February) as would normally be the case, increasing the level of physical challenge.

Minimum age 18 years.

Is this experience suitable for me?

Expectations for participants for this experience are as follows. There is some flexibility - for example, additional hiking experience may compensate for slower running:

• For Lemmenjoki tours:
  • You should be able to run at jogging speed (10km/h) for 5-10km.
  • You should be able to hike with a 20kg rucksack for 10-15km/day.
  • Experience of any or all of the following is helpful but not essential: downhill skiing, cross country skiing, backcountry skiing, pulling a pulk, 3-season wild camping, wild winter camping in snow.
• For Halti tours:
  • You should be able to run at jogging speed (10km/h) for 10km+.
  • You should be able to hike with a 20kg rucksack for 20km/day.
  • You must have previous experience of downhill skiing.
  • Experience of cross country skiing is preferred but not essential.
  • Experience of any or all of the following is helpful but not essential: backcountry skiing, pulling a pulk, 3-season wild camping, wild winter camping in snow.

What makes this "Hard"?

Halti tours taking place in the early part of the season (December-February) may have Hard+ level of difficulty.

These tours take place in very remote wilderness areas with simple accommodation along the route and no mobile phone coverage. Your guide will carry a satellite communicator in case of emergency.

You will be skiing with a pack and/or pulling a pulk (shared with other participants). For the Lemmenjoki tour, skiing is not on prepared tracks, and for Halti will normally be on a mix of snowmobile tracks (when available) and off-trail.

It is important to bear in mind that skiing on unprepared terrain is much more physically demanding than skiing on tracks.

Daily skiing time is typically between 4-8 hours for the Lemmenjoki tour and 6-8 hours for the Halti tour, including lunch break and several shorter stops.

When trail breaking is required, participants will take it in turns to go at the front.

The Halti tour in particular takes place in very exposed terrain, where weather conditions encountered can make the tour very challenging, and also requires more climbing. This will typically be the most challenging of the two tour options. The Lemmenjoki option is also a challenging tour, but being located in boreal forest is less exposed to blizzards and storms and with the option to light a fire if necessary.

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:

• Lemmenjoki: Scheduled tour dates require total minimum 2 persons to be guaranteed to run. You are of course welcome to book as a solo traveller.
• Halti: No minimum required. Tours are guaranteed to run from the first booking.

Groups

Max. group size 8 participants for scheduled dates for Halti tours, max. 6 for Lemmenjoki tours. For private tours, groups of more than 8 persons may be possible by arrangement (in this case, tents must be used as sleeping accommodation for some persons on some nights during the tour).

Eco Info

This provider has a written environmental policy.

"My favourite part was camping in an alpine environment for the first time - with backup hut!" Peter, March 2024

"The best part was seeing the first sunrise in Northern Finland this year!" James, January 2024