Snowshoe Expedition In Finnish Lapland

Experience the Finnish arctic wilderness on this amazing all-inclusive snowshoe expedition.

Level Moderate

6 days in total, 4 days on trail

Price

2400€

(incl. VAT 25,5%)

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Availability

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Location

Kilpisjärvi, Finland

Meeting point

Ylläs

Difficulty level

Moderate

Duration

6 days

Key information

Ask for suitable dates for you. Group size 4-10.

Day 1. 

Arriving in Kittilä airport / Kolari  railway station, night at accommodation (quality hotel or B&B, twin room, extra fee for single room) in Ylläs, home of Pihka Outdoors. We enjoy dinner together and conduct a safety briefing. Chance to do last minute shopping.

Day 2. 

A good breakfast and 3,5 hours of transport to the starting point in Kilpisjärvi. Pack the pulkas and start the arctic adventure on snowshoes. The first day includes a fair amount of slow ascending to the open arctic plateau, crossing frozen lakes and passing beautiful fells. We stay the night at Saarijärvi reserved wilderness hut, without electricity or running water. Sleeping is in a dorm in bunk beds. Distance: 12 km.

Day 3. 

We pack our sleds and continue our adventure after breakfast. We ascend to the top of a fell to admire the far reaching views. The ascend might be sweaty but views worth it. After this we start a slow descent to a valley where a wilderness hut Kuonjarjoki awaits. Keep an eye on the sky in the evening, as the northern lights are very likely to appear whenever there is no cloud cover. Distance: 9 km.

Day 4. 

Continuing our journey through snow and ice in remote wilderness. Today we go totally off marked tracks on our own path. Keep and eye on the surrounding snow for tracks of wolverine, arctic fox or reindeers. This is true wilderness where you won’t see another human soul. We stay the night at Termisjärvi wilderness cabin. Distance: About 15 km.

Day 5. 

On the last day we head back to Kilpisjärvi village, following a snowmobile route. Distance is around 15 km. After reaching the village we pack the pulkas in the trailer and drive back to Ylläs (3,5 hrs drive). Check in at accommodation (hotel/B&B in twin rooms), good wash and maybe a traditional Finnish sauna. We have a nice well earned dinner together and exchange thoughts of new discoveries about ourselves. Self-growth is guaranteed on this trek.

Day 6. 

Breakfast & Check-out in Ylläs, Finnish Lapland. End of adventure.

The nearest airport is Kittilä Airport, 35 km away, and Kolari train station is 37 km away. Both have bus connections to Ylläs. You can also book a private transfer through us for €150 – ask for more details.

  • Two nights in a Lapland Hotels Saaga in Ylläsjärvi (two persons/room), three nights in wilderness huts (dorm). 
  • All food (breakfast, lunch, dinner, small snacks). Dinner at the hotel on two evenings.

You don’t need previous snowshoeing experience to join this expedition, but solid fitness and strong legs are a must. Expect the effort to be similar to hiking 15 km a day with a 15 kg backpack.

  • Snowshoe equipment: Snowshoes, poles, boots, pulka for gear, goggles, down jacket if needed
  • Accommodation before and after the hike (comfortable hotel, cabin or B&B), nights in twin rooms, extra charge for single room
  • Accommodation during snowshoe expedition in dorm style wilderness cabins
  • Dinner & breakfast at accommodation upon arrival and after the hike
  • Breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks for each day on trail
  • Clothing & Gear -list
  • Pihka Outdoors professional hiking guide
  • Video meeting with the group, Whatsapp group chat, help with packing
  • Transport to the starting point
  • Flights/train/bus to Ylläs, Finnish Lapland (nearest airport Kittilä only 35 km away)
  • Transportation to the accommodation (there is a direct bus from Kittilä airport to Ylläs)
  • Outdoor clothing (gear list will be provided)
  • Own travel and accident insurance (mandatory on this trek)

After your booking, we’ll send you a detailed gear list and full expedition info.

Detailed information

Description

Snowshoe Expedition in Finnish Lapland. Easy way to experience true Arctic wilderness without cross-country skiing skills.

General information about the Snowshoe Expedition:

This snowshoe expedition is the ultimate arctic winter adventure in Finnish Lapland. The six-day snowshoe hiking tour includes four days of trekking through the arctic plateau on snowshoes while pulling a sled loaded with gear. The adventure also includes hotel accommodation before and after the expedition. This all-inclusive snowshoe hiking tour is designed for those seeking a physical challenge, breathtaking arcrtic landscapes, and true arctic conditions.

During the four days in the wilderness, daily distances range from 10km to 18 km. Participants pull their own sleds which weigh between 15–30 kg depending on the amount of personal gear. The group also carries shared equipment, such as emergency tent, gasoline, extra pair or snowshoes and so on. The group gear is divided among the participants based on their individual strength and capability. The hiking route takes you across a spectacular arctic plateau between snowy fells, where the landscape is an endless white wilderness stretching as far as the eye can see. The total distance of this snowshoe expedition ranges from 35–50 km depending on weather conditions and group endurance.

snowshoe trek in lapland

Accommodation during the snowshoe hiking tour:

During the snowshoe expedition overnight stays are in basic-level wilderness huts, which have no electricity or running water. Each hut accommodates approximately 10 people. Pihka Outdoors provides a sleeping bag for each participant and there are blankets, pillows and mattresses in huts. Drinking water is melted from snow or taken from open streams. Warmth is provided by wood-burning stoves.

Physical level:

No prior snowshoeing experience is required for this expedition, but good physical fitness and strong legs are necessary. Your fitness level should be comparable to carrying a 15 kg backpack for 15 km per day. 

Snowshoe expedition in Lapland, Pihka Outdoors

Weather Conditions & Arctic Enviroment:

The snowshoe expedition takes place in Kilpisjärvi, a vast wilderness area near the Norwegian and Swedish borders in the northernmost part of Lapland. The area has very few marked trails, so depending on conditions, we may follow existing snowmobile tracks or navigate through unmarked terrain. Cell phone coverage is limited allowing you to fully disconnect from daily life. 

The weather can be highly unpredictable. Since the area is treeless, strong winds are pretty common (15m/s – 25m/s). You may also experience extremely bright sunshine or intense snowstorms. Temperatures can range anywhere from 0°C to -30°C, so high-quality, weatherproof gear is essential.

The local wildlife includes various bird species, foxes, arctic foxes, reindeer, and wolverines. You might even spot a herd of reindeer along the way!

Before the Expedition:

Before the arctic expedition, a WhatsApp group will be created, including all participants and guides. This allows you to get to know other adventurers and ask any questions related to the expedition or gear. 

After booking you will also receive a detailed gear list via email to help you prepare for thissnowshoe hiking tour. We will also arrange a video call well in advance of the expedition to go over all key details.

Feel free to ask more about this and  join us on this arctic expedition into the wild!

Booking & Cancellation policy

 

snowshoe trek in lapland

 

Snowshoe Expedition, Pihka Outdoors

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Adventure gallery

Customer reviews

Five star rating
These guys are champs. Very skillful guides with loads of experience and a pleasant laidback style. Good sense of humor as well ;-). Strongly recommend them for off the beaten track trips in Finnish Lapland!
Thijs
Joona and Tommi are super professional and social guides. The experience with Pihka Outdoors was just amazing! Top nodge gear, phenomenal sceneries and once in a lifetime trip!
Jim
Just had a great 5 day trip with Pihka! Great experience...very well prepared and organised, all equipment provided excellent, and great guides who also provide plenty of tips and tricks during the trip. Atmosphere with them wonderful, lots of fun and they know what to do and not to do. Leave your worries home and enjoy maximum!
Xander
Great trip, from novice to pro in four days😃. A truly artic adventure fun cold and plenty of snow. Thanks to all at Pihka, especially our lovely guide Minttu. Hetta-Pallas 4 days ski trek
David
A winter wonderland, for an Irish lad. Hetta- Pallas, 4 day trek, on skis/ snow shoes. Challenging and rewarding time spent in Lapland. The guides Minttu, Tommi & Joona were just like friends of old, in a short time, with there laid back comfortable manner, clearly very competent in the roles as outdoor specialists. Also did a very nice ice fishing trip at the end. "The big one got away"
James
Joona and Tommi from Pihka Outdoors were incredible guides. Safely navigating us on snowshoes through the incredible scenery along the border or Norway, Sweden and across into Finland. They were incredibly knowledgeable and welcoming to the whole group. From the northern lights to racing us to build a snow cave and so many frozen lakes! Although not always accurate when I asked how long there was left to walk! Plus or minus 10 kilometres 🤣🤣🤣. They provided all the support and jokes to get me to the end of the trek! Can't wait to come back in Summer!
Kate
Our guides Tommi and Joona were extremely experienced and professional Adventurers! They kept our crew safe through the Arctic Circle yet challenged to ensure everyone got the most out of the experience. There wasn’t a day where we weren’t entertained by their knowledge and humour. I couldn’t recommend Pihka Outdoors enough! I can’t wait to come back to Finland !
Karina

Frequently Asked Questions

The tour price includes all required equipment for the trip, transportation, a full food package, safety planning, guide services and accommodations.

We offer cross-counry ski tours in winter and backpacking hiking tours in summer at different difficulty levels. Our goal is to always provide an proper adventure. We can also tailor or customize adventures to many different needs.

You do not necessarily need previous hiking experience. It is enough to have a positive sense of adventure and a reasonably good fitness level. As professionals, we can recommend the right tour for your ability.

After your booking we will send you a detailed gear list. It includes personal clothing recommendations and small personal items that are useful to bring. Pihka Outdoors provides all other equipment needed for the tour. You can always ask more!

Daily distances vary quite a lot. In summer we do wild camping, which allows us to adjust the day distance more freely. Summer days typically range from 5 to 20 kilometers.

In winter we travel hut-to-hut and daily distances are also around 5 to 20 kilometers. Skiing with a pulka is different from skiing on groomed tracks.

In summer during multiday hiking tours we sleep in professional level tents (Fjällräven). High quality inflatable sleeping pads and appropriate sleeping bags are included in the price.

In winter reserved wilderness huts provide the overnight shelter. The huts have a wood stove for heat, mattresses and pillows ready for use. Pihka Outdoors provides all overnight equipment needed for every tour. On our all tours comfortable indoor accommodation before and after the tour is included in price.

On our hiking tours the main food is dehydrated meals. It is an easy, fast and practical solution when spending time in the wilderness. We use only high quality and great tasting dehydrated food packs and brands. The tour price also includes a snacks pack with treats such as chocolate and nuts etc.

We can also provide food packages for different dietary needs, for example vegan, vegetarian, gluten free and milk free.

Transportation from the accommodation to the trailhead and back is always included in the price. There is a bus connection from Kittilä Airport or Kolari train station to Ylläs. You can also ask us about a private airport transfer for an additional fee. We will help you to find a perfect and safe solution.

We respect the conditions of nature and client’s safety is always our top priority. During the tour we make weather appropriate decisions. The guide is responsible for safety throughout the entire hiking or cross-country skiing tour. We reserve the right to delay the start or adjust the route if the weather requires it.

Professional guides have the tools and skills needed to ensure safety. On cross-country ski tours we use professional level winter tents that can handle storms and strong winds. We also check every participant’s clothing / gears so that no one starts the tour with inadequate gear.

We ensure safety on our tours by choosing safe routes and avoiding unnecessary risks. Our high quality equipment is part of that safety and can be trusted even in difficult moments. A Garmin satellite communicator is also with us for situations where there is no mobile signal.

Bring a power bank with you. It is the only source of electricity on our tours.

Reindeer, foxes, rabbits,many bird species and moose can be seen in Lapland. There are also wolverines and bears, but they avoid people in the Nordics.

Yes, in Lapland the Northern Lights light up the sky on average every second night. The sky must be clear and there should be no light pollution from streetlights or other sources. The best time to see them is from October to March.

In summer trekking tours the water source is crystal clear streams and rivers. It is generally drinkable, but we recommend using a water filter or purification tablets. In winter drinking water is made by melting snow and boiling it.

We try to schedule our summer hiking tours for the time when the worst mosquito season is already over. We don’t like them either!

Travel insurance should cover all accidents, cancelled flights and any costs caused by interrupting the trip.

Ylläs is easy to reach. It is about a thirty minute drive from Kolari train station and from Kittilä airport. There is a bus connection to Ylläs from airport and railway station. The area belongs to the municipality of Kolari and includes two  villages, Äkäslompolo and Ylläsjärvi, located on opposite sides of the Ylläs fell (mountain).

We use a wide range of gear and only choose high quality and reliable equipment. We always test them well before use. The brands we work with include for example Fjällräven, Fjellpulken, Madshus, Crispi, Alfa, Marmot, Primus, Rottefella and Real Turmat

We keep our group sizes small on our hiking tours. This allows us to offer as  personal as possible and high quality experience and service. The group size is also limited by the accommodation capacity. Our group size is usually 3-10 persons.

Absolutely, just send us an inquiry and let’s plan a perfect adventure travel holiday for you and your group.

We do not take children on long hiking tours for safety reasons. Services and products designed for children and families are planned separately. Ask us for more information about this option.

Yes, we are happy to organize events and hiking tours for teams, work groups or management groups. Ask us for more details and we can plan the experience together. Various training sessions are also possible.

Mainly Finnish and English.

No one is left behind. We move as one group on every hiking tour and follow the pace that the situation allows. These hikes are not meant to be fast sprints, the purpose is to enjoy the surroundings and the experience itself.

You can cancel your participation free of charge up to 32 days before the tour. Cancellations made after this will incur administrative costs of about 20 percent of the tour price. This covers expenses already caused to us, such as accommodation reservations and food orders.

Send us an email or contact us through the inquiry form. First we discuss which tour option suits you best. Once a good choice is found we add you to the participant list. After that you will receive the hiking materials such as the gear list.

The tour is paid by a normal invoice after the hike. The price has no hidden costs and remains the same unless something else is agreed individually.

Contact us and we can talk more. If you have normal basic fitness, can do regular walking and maybe some running, and you do not injure yourself when lifting about twenty kilograms, you are very likely suitable for our tours.

It varies a lot! Sometimes we are moving in the area where you doesn’t have mobile connection.

In summer hikes we normally sleep in tents. Normally two people share a tent, although the tent size is meant for three. The camp is always set up in the nicest possible place, usually near water so drinking and cooking water is easy to access. After long days it is sometimes possible to wash in the lake or river as well.

Lets go for an adventure.

Fill in the form below to book your adventure. We will send you an email confirmation and further instructions.

 

Snowshoe Expedition In Finnish Lapland