Day 1: Pyhä Ski Resort, smoke sauna, and ice swimming

Welcome to the Arctic Circle. Our tour commences in Rovaniemi either at the airport or in town at Hostel Café Koti. Grab a coffee with our guides before we load you and your luggage into our 4WD van. We will then commence our journey north across wide open wilderness, frozen lakes and Arctic fells to visit the most northern ski resorts in Europe.

Our next stop is Pyhä Ski Resort, located within the remote Pyhä-Luosto National Park. Pyhä is our base for the next 3 nights and we stay at Hotel Pyhätunturi, a comfortable ski-in/ski-out hotel, just steps from the main chairlift and with incredible views across the Arctic fells.

This afternoon we will drive to Lake Pyhäjärvi to experience a traditional Lappish smoke sauna and take a dip in an Arctic lake. To start, we'll tell you about Finnish sauna culture and how to enjoy the Finnish style smoke sauna. The classic Lappish way is to spend 5-10 minutes in the sauna and then jump into the ice cold lake water. Switching back and forth between the hot and cold is a ritual with its own raw appeal. Our sauna is located on the shore of Lake Pyhäjärvi, so swimming to cool off goes hand in hand with sitting in the heat. We have a hole cut in the ice and you can take a dip in the freezing cold water. A cold plunge after a steamy session increases your blood flow, relieves stress and boosts your endorphin levels.

Join us for a night at our lake-side cabin for a traditional 3 course Lappish dinner. Surrounded by your new friends you can relax by the fire in our cozy log cabin. Our local guides will prepare a delicious dinner made with the freshest local ingredients. A typical Lappish meal consists of Lappish bread, cheese and cloudberry jam, Lake Pyhä fish soup or creamy sweet potato soup, sautéed reindeer stew with smashed potatoes, lingonberries and cucumber, followed by berry pie and vanilla sauce.

Day 2: Pyhätunturi snow-surf session, husky safari

After breakfast at the hotel, gear up and meet your guide. Today we will drive to one of the nearby fells located within the Pyhä-Luosto National Park. We'll spend a half day enjoying one of the favorite local pastimes of snow-surfing in powder on hand crafted binding-less snow-surf boards. Snow-surfing represents a return to the timeless pleasure of gliding, propelled only by gravity. The experience is simple yet infinitely enjoyable. We will choose the spot according to the current weather and snow conditions and try to find untouched powder. We will reach the backcountry with snowmobiles, and then use snowshoes for short ascents after each run. Included is guiding and instruction, Ilahu snow-surf boards, backpack, snowshoes, warm drinks and snacks.

This afternoon we will visit a local husky farm where you will get the chance to be a musher in control of your own team of dogs. Experience the excitement of the dogs as they eagerly wait to pull you at a speedy pace through the breath-taking Lappish scenery. You'll be instructed how to control the sleds, which you get to ride in pairs. When sharing the husky sleigh on the safari one person is standing behind the sleigh as a controller and one is sitting on the sleigh as a passenger. The total duration is approximately 2 - 2.5 hours. Once you return to the farm, relax by having a chat with the head musher about these amazing northern animals.

After returning to the hotel you have free time. Either join your guides for dinner at one of the local restaurants, or enjoy a quiet evening relaxing. Keep in mind that seeing the Northern Lights is a common occurrence at this time of year, so keep in touch with your guide for the latest Aurora forecast.

Day 3: Guided backcountry ski/snowboarding in Pyhä-Luosto National Park

After breakfast at the hotel, gear up and meet your guides. Today you'll explore the best powder-filled freeriding zones within the Pyhä-Luosto National Park. Whether it’s your first time venturing into the backcountry or you’ve done it all before, riding the Pyhä backcountry is an unforgettable experience. And of course we’ll have our photographer on hand to capture all the action. We’ll start the day using the main chairlift to gain some elevation then exit the resort. Hikes are short and snow can be deep, which makes for a fun day skiing and snowboarding in the backcountry. When it’s lunch time out here, it’s time to get out of the elements and escape the cold in a ‘kota, which is a traditional Finnish timber hut in the woods where visitors can cook food over the fire. We’ll break for lunch in a kota and grill some sausages over the fire. After lunch, we’ll ride some more and eventually make our way back into the resort. This adventure is suitable for snowboarders and skiers who can comfortably ride off-piste and in the trees and who have a sense of adventure. Included is a single run lift ticket, professional guiding, snowshoes and snacks. Any additional equipment can be rented for a small fee from the resort base.

After returning to the hotel you have free time. For our final night in Pyhä we head to one of the nearby bars and restaurants for dinner.

Day 4: Pyhä free day, transfer to Saariselkä, home of the Northern Lights

This morning you have free time. You may want to spend your last morning in Pyhä riding the resort, or try some of the other adventure activities on offer like ice-climbing and fat biking. Or you can simply enjoy a well-deserved sleep in after the last 3 action packed days.

At midday, we check out of the hotel and drive north. Our second stop for the tour is Saariselkä which is the most northern ski resort in Europe sitting 250km north of the Arctic Circle. Being so far north, Saariselkä is a prime location for Aurora activity. Our guides will keep a sharp eye on the Aurora forecast during our stay. On arrival to Saariselkä, we’ll check into our hotel. Our base for the next 2 nights is Hotels Riekonlinna, situated next to the Urho Kekkonen National Park, a magnificent Arctic fell that extends to the Russian border. It’s an amazing slice of Finland, home to bears, wolverines and golden eagles, plus thousands of free-grazing reindeer. On arrival to the hotel, we encourage you to settle into your room, unpack and set-up your equipment for the following day.
Either join your guides for dinner at one of the local restaurants, or enjoy a quiet evening relaxing. Saariselkä is one of the best places in Finland to view the Northern Lights so clear your diary between 9pm and 1am for Aurora watch.

Day 5: Saariselkä Ski Resort, Northern Lights Snowmobile Safari

After breakfast at the hotel, gear up and join your guide for a day riding at Saariselkä Ski Resort – the most Northern resort in Europe. The ski area spans across two incredible Arctic fells. Today we’ll show you the best terrain within the resort boundaries.

Join your guides for an early dinner before our evening adventure. Tonight, we will chase the Northern Lights with snowmobiles. Once it’s dark, our guide will take you away from the village glow to the fells of Saariselkä. If nature and weather is on our side, you will get to witness the incredible Northern Lights. We will go to the best spots in the area with our professional guide to search for the Aurora Borealis. You are welcome to bring your own camera and tripod on this trip. Of course, the Northern Lights are a natural phenomenon and we are not able to predict their appearance, activity or colour, but we will do our best to make sure you enjoy the safari. Along the way we will stop to warm up by the open fire and you can enjoy some hot sausages and drinks while we share stories on the Arctic way of life. For this activity a valid driver’s license is required to operate the snowmobile. You will be supplied with a thermal outfit and there will be 2 people per snowmobile. Solo riding is possible, you just need to pay a single supplement of 45 €.

Day 6: Inari cultural visit, transfer to Levi Ski Resort

After breakfast at the hotel, we check out and depart Saariselkä. Today we’ll drive to Finland’s largest resort, Levi. The ride to Levi takes us through the village of Inari which is a remote northern outpost and the traditional homelands of the Sámi, Europe’s only recognised indigenous people. The village of Inari is the heart of the Sámi culture in Finland. The Sámi Museum, Sámi Cultural centre and Sámi parliament are all located in Inari. The Sámi have their own languages and culture, which differ from those of ethnic Finns. We stop in Inari for lunch before we continue our drive to Levi.

We’ll arrive at Levi Ski Resort in the afternoon. Our base for the next 3 nights is the Break Sokos Hotel Levi, located in the main village and just a short walk to the chairlift. Levi is one of the largest ski resorts in Finland and it's known for its world-class slopes, high-quality selection of arctic activities and restaurants plus the mother of all après ski. Levi offers something for everyone, and the exceptional quality of the in-bound runs and park makes Levi one of the best resorts in Finland.


Either join your guides for dinner at one of the local restaurants, or enjoy a quiet evening relaxing.

Day 7: Levi Ski Resort & après-ski

After breakfast at the hotel, gear up and join your guide for your first day riding at Levi Ski Resort. We’ll spend a full day riding the slopes and off-piste routes at Levi and show you the best terrain within the resort boundaries.

Top the day off by enjoying Levi´s legendary après-ski, where you can party like the Finns, see a live band, check out the big screens at the sports bars, or try your luck against the locals at one of their favorite past-times, karaoke.

After a big day riding and enjoying the après-ski atmosphere, it’s time for a well-earned sauna, some beers and some local Finnish cuisine at one of the many restaurants in Levi.

Day 8: Ylläs Ski Resort, Levi après-ski

After breakfast at the hotel, gear up and join your guide. Today we make the 40-minute drive to Ylläs, the largest resort in Lapland and Finland. Ylläs is a free-rider's dream with plenty of access to off-piste areas. Plus, there are four different terrain parks, wide and well-groomed runs, and an incredible backdrop for making those perfect turns. We’ll spend a full day riding the slopes and off-piste routes at Ylläs and show you the best terrain within the resort boundaries.

After a long day riding at Ylläs, we drive back to Levi so you can catch the early evening après-ski party.

For our final night in Levi, join your guides for dinner and drinks at one of the lively restaurants on the mountain.

Day 9: Ilahu Snow-surf factory visit in Rovaniemi, departure

After breakfast at the hotel, we’ll check out and depart for Rovaniemi. For our final day, we stop at the Ilahu Snowsurf Workshop for a quick tour and talk about how their boards are made.

Our tour concludes in Rovaniemi. We say goodbye and transfer you to your hotel or Rovaniemi Airport.