Description
Wild Camping Ski Expedition
Wild Camping Ski Expedition – A demanding tent-based ski expedition through the remote Arctic wilderness of Finnish Lapland.
Experience a real winter ski expedition in the far north of Lapland. This Wild Camping Ski Expedition is demanding small-group pulka expedition, designed for adventurous travellers who want to go beyond day tours, hotels and easy Lapland experiences. On this tour we will spend 4 nights in tents and all together 3 nights in cosy accommodation.
During the expedition, you will ski with backcountry skis, pull your own expedition pulka and sleep in winter tents surrounded by open fell landscapes. Before heading into the wilderness, Pihka Outdoors guides will spend a full preparation day with participants teaching the essential skills needed for safe and comfortable tent expedition. On the next day we head out into the wild.
This is our most demanding winter expedition but not the hardest. With professional guides, proper equipment, warm sleeping bags and long bright spring days, this wild camping expedition is a safe and also educational way to experience true winter camping.
Wild Camping Ski Expedition highlights:
- Demanding small-group ski expedition in Finnish Lapland
- Tent-based winter camping in remote Arctic fell landscapes
- Full preparation/learning day before the expedition
- Nordic skiing with pulkas
- Learn practical winter camping and expedition routines
- First tent night near a wilderness hut for extra safety
- 3 nights camping in remote open fell terrain
- Long bright spring days
- Professional local guides
- Warm expedition sleeping bags and quality group equipment
- Winter clothing rental available through us
Who Is This Ski Expedition For?
This Wild Camping Ski Expedition is designed for active and adventurous travellers who want to experience a real winter expedition without hut-to-hut trails.
You do not need previous winter camping experience, but you should have good physical fitness, a positive attitude and a willingness to learn. Previous winter trekking experience is useful, and you should be able to tolerate cold conditions. The expedition includes long days outdoors, skiing with a pulka, cold temperatures and sleeping in tents without the warmth of wilderness huts.
Spring winter in Lapland offers long daylight hours and often beautiful sunny conditions. Temperatures can rise above freezing during the day, but they can also drop to -25°C. With the right equipment, warm sleeping systems and professional guidance, you will learn how to stay safe, warm and functional in Arctic conditions. We will help you with right clothing.
This expedition is ideal for travellers who want a deeper challenge, not just a comfortable Lapland holiday.
This expedition is suitable for you if:
- You are physically active and comfortable spending full days outdoors
- You want a real winter expedition, not a standard Lapland holiday
- You are ready to sleep in tents in Arctic winter conditions
- You can tolerate cold and changing weather
- Previous winter trekking experience is useful
- You are motivated by challenge, learning and meaningful achievement
- You are willing to take part in camp routines and expedition life
How demanding is this ski expedition?
This expedition is physically and mentally demanding.
You will ski several consecutive days while pulling your own pulka and sleep in winter tents without heated hut accommodation during the main expedition section. Daily distances are typically 10–20 km depending on weather, snow conditions and group strength.
Previous winter trekking experience is useful, and you should be able to tolerate cold conditions. You do not need to be an expert skier, but good fitness, resilience and a positive attitude are essential.
The pace is steady rather than fast. The goal is to move safely, build strong expedition routines and experience Arctic winter wilderness in a real and meaningful way.
Ski Expedition Itinerary
Day 1 – Arrival in Lapland
Arrival by flight or train to Kittilä, followed by transfer to Ylläs.
After settling into the accommodation, we meet the group, go through the week’s expedition plan and check personal equipment. In the evening, we enjoy a welcome dinner together and prepare mentally for the week ahead.
Accommodation in Ylläs.
Day 2 – Preparation Day: Winter Expedition Skills
Today is a full preparation day before entering the white wilderness.
We combine theory and practical outdoor training to make sure everyone is ready for the expedition. During the day, we practise the key skills needed for Arctic ski travel and winter camping.
Day’s topics:
- Camping stoves in tent
- Backcountry skis & skins
- Packing and pulling a pulka
- Setting up winter tents & winter camp
- Clothing systems and staying warm
- Daily expedition routines
- Managing cold, wind and changing weather
This day gives the group confidence before heading into more remote terrain.
Day 3 – Transfer to Kilpisjärvi & First Ski Day
After breakfast, we drive to Kilpisjärvi, where the ski expedition begins.
Our first ski day takes us approximately 11 km towards Saarijärvi wilderness hut. We set up our tents near the hut, giving everyone the opportunity to experience the first winter camping night in a controlled environment.
The hut provides extra safety and shelter if needed during the first night, making this an ideal first step before moving deeper into the wilderness.
Accommodation in winter tents.
Day 4 – Into the Arctic Fell Wilderness
After breakfast, we pack down camp and continue deeper into the open fell landscape.
From this point onward, we leave the safety of the hut area behind and begin the true expedition phase. We ski through remote Arctic snowy terrain, pulling our pulkas and choosing the day’s route according to weather, snow conditions and group strength. Professional guide will let team also to navigate.
Accommodation in winter tents.
Day 5 – Remote Winter Camping in the Fells
Today we continue travelling through the Arctic fell wilderness.
Daily distances are typically between 10–20 km depending on conditions and the group. The focus is not only on distance, but on moving efficiently, managing energy and building strong expedition routines and etting used to skiing.
In the evening, we establish camp again, melt snow for water, prepare dinner and settle into the rhythm of winter expedition life.
Accommodation in winter tents.
Day 6 – Final Night in the Wilderness
This is our final full day in the remote fell area.
By now, the group has built confidence in skiing, skiing with a pulka and winter camping routines. The landscape is wide, silent and exposed — a true Arctic environment where weather, light and snow shape the experience.
We spend our final night in tents in the wilderness.
Accommodation in winter tents.
Day 7 – Return to Kilpisjärvi & Transfer to Ylläs
After breakfast, we pack camp for the final time and ski back towards our van in Kilpisjärvi.
From Kilpisjärvi, we transfer back to our accommodation in Ylläs. In the evening, we enjoy a warm dinner together, recover properly and look back on the highlights of the expedition.
Accommodation in Ylläs.
Day 8 – Departure Day
After breakfast, it is time to begin the journey home.
Transfers to Kittilä Airport or the train station are arranged according to the group schedule.
The environment is wild, open and beautiful
The expedition takes place in the remote fell landscapes around Kilpisjärvi, close to the borders of Norway and Sweden.
This is open Arctic terrain: wide snowy valleys, rolling fells, frozen lakes and exposed winter landscapes. Weather can change quickly, and wind, snowfall and visibility are real factors.
In spring, the days are long and bright. Clear weather can offer unforgettable Arctic light, wide horizons and a deep sense of space that is difficult to experience anywhere else.
Logistics and preparation
The expedition begins and ends with comfortable accommodation in Ylläs.
Before the wilderness section, we spend one full day preparing the group for Arctic ski travel and winter camping. This includes both theory and practical outdoor training. Pihka Outdoors guides will teach and show different winter skills that you will need during the ski expedition.
We also help with equipment choices before arrival. Personal winter clothing is required, but winter clothing rental is available through us. All technical expedition equipment, including skis, pulkas, tents and warm sleeping systems, is provided.
