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Trip

Arctic Finland

Skiing, Snowboarding

Trip Finland
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Take an Arctic road trip through Finland’s Lapland, known for its incredible powder and 200+ nights a year of visible Northern Lights. 

Set off on a 10-day Arctic adventure exploring the northernmost part of Finland, known as Lapland. This is the magical Arctic region known for its dark winter days, Northern Lights, wide open wilderness areas, frozen lakes and stunning Arctic fells.

On this tour, powered by our partners at Mint Tours, we’ll visit the northernmost ski areas in Europe including: Pyhä-Luosto, Saariselkä, Ounasvaara Levi and Ylläs. Finnish ski resorts, due to their northern location are practically guaranteed to have snow for the whole season, so there’s plenty of opportunity to ride powder with temperatures sitting well below zero.

When we’re not skiing and snowboarding, you’ll be living the ‘Arctic Life’ with uniquely Finnish activities including husky and snowmobile safaris, Lapland traditions such as smoke sauna and ice-hole swimming and touring the picturesque backcountry by snowshoe and snowmobile. We’ll also go pow-surfing using binding-less handcrafted boards and have an opportunity to purchase one direct from the factory in Rovaniemi.

As always, our tours are guided by experienced local hosts who live and work within the outdoor community of northern Finland and Lapland giving you a true ‘Mint’ perspective.


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Itinerary
Itinerary
Please note itinerary subject to change based on weather, conditions, and group preferences.
  • 1
    Day number 1
    Moi! Welcome to Arctic Circle. Our tour commences in Rovaniemi at either Rovaniemi Airport or Hostel Café Koti. Grab a morning
    coffee with your guides before we load you and your luggage into our 4WD van.

    Our first stop of the tour is a visit to our friends at the Ilahu Snowsurf Workshop. Here you'll have a tour and talk about snow surfing and you'll learn how their boards are made. https://ilahuboards.com Ilahu boards are designed and made in Finnish Lapland with natural materials and all boards are carefully finished by hand to ensure the highest quality. Ilahu is a Lappish word meaning REJOICE, which you will surely do, once you get hooked on the pure experience of snowsurfing. If you'd like to buy an Ilahu Snowsurf board that you can use during the tour, just let us know and we can put you in touch with Jan. He will handcraft a custom board for you and have it ready to pick up at the workshop when you arrive.

    Rovaniemi is the capital of Finnish Lapland and has a small local ski hill – Ounasvaara, so naturally this is the first resort we'll ride during the tour. It’s neither the biggest nor the highest hill in Lapland but it’s definitely the most beloved amongst Rovaniemi locals. It’s also a great place to warm up if you haven’t been on snow for a while. Here we will spend a few hours exploring the pistes and small tree-ride areas before we finish with some snacks at the resort. 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 4 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.

    On arrival to the hotel, we encourage you to settle in to your room and get set up so you’re ready for the adventure ahead. At 6:00pm, meet your guide Antti in the hotel bar for an information session. He will answer any questions and let you know what's in store for the next day, the current weather, run through equipment and answer any questions you have. Then join your guide for dinner and drinks at the hotel bar.
  • 2
    Day number 2
    After breakfast at the hotel, gear up and join your guide for your first day riding at Pyhä Ski Resort. The lifts are just steps from the hotel, and the wilderness is truly on our doorstep. Today you'll explore every inch of the resort with your local guide Antti. Being his home resort, he’ll always have a few surprises and adventures up his sleeve.

    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 and 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 meals 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.
  • 3
    Day number 3
    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 and snowshoes. If snow-surfing isn't your thing, you can always bring your regular snowboard and get some short powder laps in.

    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. 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.
  • 4
    Day number 4
    After breakfast at the hotel, gear up and join your guide for your first day riding in Pyhä. Here the wilderness is truly on our
    doorstep. 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. 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 (lunch not included, guests will need to bring lunch). 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, poles and pack, transceiver, shovel and probe. If you're not confident to participate in the backcountry day, you can explore the slopes of Pyhä Ski Resort.

    It's your final night in Pyhä after a massive 3 days of arctic adventures. Your guide will plan a dinner out at one of the nearby
    restaurants.
  • 5
    Day number 5
    After breakfast at the pack your bags and check out. We'll load the van and take a short drive to the Pyhä Fell where you'll get to
    drive your own snowmobile in the forests of Lapland. Our journey takes us through frozen landscapes and arctic forests and on
    our way we stop for a quiet break in the nature.

    At midday, we 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 check in to our hotel. Our base for the next 2 nights is Hotel
    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 in to your room, unpack and set-up your equipment for the following day.

    Tonight, if the forecast looks good, we will chase the Northern Lights (weather and Aurora forecast permitting). 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 to view for the Aurora Borealis. You are welcome to bring your own camera and tripod on this trip.
  • 6
    Day number 6
    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.

    In the afternoon will visit with local Sami reindeer herder. In Finland’s northern Arctic landscape, the Indigenous Inari Sámi
    community practice a unique form of reindeer herding and fishing based on traditional knowledge of the region’s climate, winds, ecosystem structure and species behavior. Reindeer herding communities here, called siidas, were originally nomadic, but the Sámi began domesticating and herding reindeer.

    Join your guide for a 3 course dinner at the hotel (dinner included). After dinner, enjoy a quiet evening relaxing or stay up for Aurora watch! Saariselkä is one of the best places in Finland to view the Northern Lights so clear your diary between 9pm and 1am.
  • 7
    Day number 7
    After breakfast at the hotel, we check out and depart Saariselkä. This morning, you get to partake in the traditional Finnish past
    time of ice fishing on Lake Inari. Your guide Antti will drill a hole through the thick ice with an auger, and you can bait the hook and
    wait for a bite and catch a perch or a whitefish. Ice fishing is a quick adventure, due to the cold temperatures outdoors.

    After ice fishing we start our drive to Finlands largest resort, Levi. The rode 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. In Inari, we visit the Sámi Museum
    and stop for lunch before we continue our drive to Levi.

    On arrival to Levi Ski Resort, check-in and get set up for the days ahead. 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. Your hotel room in Levi is uniquely Finnish, having a private
    sauna in each room! Making it perfect for recovery and relaxation. Levi is one of the largest ski resorts in Finland and its known for
    its world-class slopes, restaurants and 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. Tonight you can either join your guides for dinner at
    one of the local restaurants, or enjoy a quiet evening relaxing.
  • 8
    Day number 8
    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.

    Legendary after ski! The V'inkkari bar is the most famous apres party in all of Finland and is definitely worth dropping into for a shot of Minttu or three. Even if you're not into drinking, the DJ alone is absolutely worth checking out.
  • 9
    Day number 9
    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-riders dream with plenty of access to off-piste areas. Plus, there is 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 offpiste
    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.

    For our final night in Levi, you will enjoy an evening of authentic Lappish food at an underground restaurant that serves traditional
    delicacies besides an open fire (dinner is included, drinks are extra. Allergies and special diets can be catered for). In the
    background, you can enjoy the yoik music and Lapland stories.
    March
  • 10
    Day number 10
    After breakfast at the hotel, we check out and depart for Rovaniemi. Our tour concludes in Rovaniemi. We say goodbye and
    transfer you to your hotel or Rovaniemi Airport.
Trip Package Includes
  • 9 nights twin share accommodation (4 nights Pyhä, 2 nights Saariselkä, 3 nights Levi)
  • All lift tickets
  • Guiding at all resorts
  • Half-day Ilahu SnowSurf session with all equipment, guiding & instruction
  • Guided backcountry day in Pyhä-Luosto National Park
  • Avalanche safety equipment, snow shoes and poles for Pyhä-Luosto backcountry day
  • A traditional Finnish smoke sauna and ice-swimming hole swimming experience
  • Daily breakfasts
  • 1 x 3 course traditional Lappish dinner with drinks at a private cabin in Pyhäjarvi
  • 1 x traditional Lappish dinner in a Kota in Levi (drinks not included)
  • 10km Husky safari sledding adventure
  • Ice fishing experience
  • Wilderness snowmobile safari (1 snowmobile per person)
  • A visit, tour and talk at the Ilahu SnowSurf Workshop
  • Visit to the village of Inari, the heart of Sámi culture
  • Entry to the Sámi Culture Museum
  • Visit with a traditional Sámi reindeer herder
  • Scheduled arrival day pick-up from Hostel Koti or Rovaniemi Airport
  • Scheduled departure day transfer to Hostel Koti or Rovaniemi Airport
  • Private transport throughout the tour in 4WD vehicles
  • Local Arctic host & Mint snowboard guide
  • 20% discount code at evo.com (exclusions apply
Trip does NOT Include
  • Roundtrip airfare to/from Rovaniemi Airport (RVN)
  • Travel insurance (we recommend World Nomads) 
  • Single supplement (by request, contact us if interested)
  • All lunches and 4 dinners
  • Alcohol
  • Ski, snowboard, or personal gear
  • Guide gratuities

Questions? Contact us!
Area Information

Lapland, Finland


Above the Arctic Circle, in the northernmost section of Finland you’ll find Lapland. Famous for being one of the best places in the world to see the Northern Lights, as well as for its skiing, snowboarding, Sami culture, huskies, reindeer and even Santa Claus, this area is rich with wilderness, powder, and culture. Together we’ll explore the region’s best ski resorts. A short drive from Rovaniemi, Pyhä ski area is easily accessible from our ski in/ski out hotel, and serves as a gateway to the backcountry of Pyhä-Luosto National Park. In the far north of Lapland, Saariselkä, the center of local Sami culture, also hosts a wide range of ski terrain and the opportunity to explore beautiful Urho Kekkonen National Park by snowmobile and husky sleds - not to mention, it’s the best place to see the Northern Lights. On to Levi, a world class ski and snowboard destination and the mother of all après-ski. We save the largest and highest ski resort in Finland for last: Ylläs. With 63 slopes and 29 lifts, Ylläs also consistently scores the best powder in Lapland.  
 
FAQ
FAQ
  • What happens once I book the trip?
    After you sign up for this tour, you will receive pre-trip emails from Mint Tours with specific information about your tour, the arrival and departure day process, information about the destination, packing suggestions, and other relevant information to help you prepare for your trip. Mint will send out a Pre Departure Guide 30 days prior to departure. Prior to the tour commencing you’ll be invited to a group chat which is managed by your tour manager and guides.
  • Is my departure guaranteed?
    Please note this trip requires a minimum number of guests to run. Please do not purchase flights or make travel arrangements until you receive confirmation from either evo or Mint Tours.
  • How do I meet up with the group?
    We have set arrival and departure times for this tour to meet our transfers. Please meet at Hostel Cafe Koti in Rovaniemi by midday on Day 1. On Day 10, please ensure your flight departs Rovaniemi (RVN) after 4:00pm. If you are unable to arrive and depart as per noted times, you will need to make your own travel arrangements to/from the airport to your accommodation at your own cost. Please note that bus arrival and departure times are approximate and may be affected by weather and traffic conditions.
  • What are the accommodations like?
    Throughout the tour you’ll stay in modern, 3 to 4 star hotels. The accommodation for this tour is twin share i.e. 2 passengers per room. Our comfortable rooms are equipped with 2 single beds, great heating and private ensuite bathroom. If you are travelling solo, you will be paired with another guest to room with. We aim to allocate rooms by gender, however this cannot be guaranteed. If you'd prefer your own room, please request a single room at time of booking. Single supplements may be available.
  • What skill/experience level is required for this trip?
    This tour is best suited for confident skiers and snowboarders who can link turns in powder snow, can make a variety of turn shapes and can traverse and hold speed. If you’re not sure, give us a call. Weather and ski conditions are impossible to predict so guests must be prepared to ride or ski anything. If you have never ridden in powder or shy away from it at your local resort, this is not the tour to learn. Lapland has glades and trees – please be prepared to ride and ski in the trees.
  • Do you have a deposit option, or is full payment due at time of booking?
    You may either apply full payment at time of booking, or if preferred you can place a 50% deposit ($2500). If you choose to pay deposit, please call in to Customer Care at 1.866.386.1590 as we cannot take deposit payments through the website. If you pay deposit at time of booking, final payment is due 90 days prior to the trip.
  • Do you offer rentals?
    Mint Tours can arrange rental equipment for most destinations, however we do recommend bringing your own equipment.
  • Who will be on my tour?
    Your group will be made up of travelers from diverse backgrounds and will be varied in age. Our groups generally mix well due to a shared interest in snow sports and an eagerness to explore all that each destination has to offer.
  • Who are the guides?
    All of our tours are guided by friendly, knowledgeable and expertly trained guides who are passionate about the mountains. Most of our guides work for us season after season. Arto Pitkainen, our expert guide for Finland, knows all Lapland resorts in detail and is always keeping a sharp eye on the weather to find his guests the best snow and of course the elusive Northern Lights.
  • What will the food be like?
    Daily breakfast is included and will be European style: cheeses, breads, yogurt, cereals etc. For lunch and dinner expect Scandinavian fare including Lappish delicacies such as reindeer sausage, salmon, vegetables, and bread cheese. Most dietary restrictions can easily be accommodated, please feel free to check in with any questions or concerns.
  • How many people are on this tour?
    We know that by offering one of the smallest client to guide ratios in the industry allows you to ski or snowboard at your preferred pace, and ultimately leads to a better experience for everyone. This is a small group tour with a maximum of 6 guests. Our small groups allow greater maneuverability and access to the best experiences a destination can offer.
  • What Covid-19 policies and precautions are you taking?
    Please see https://minttours.com/about-us/coronavirus-covid-19-customer-information/ for details.
  • What happens if borders are closed due to Covid-19?
    The global health crisis has impacted everyone enormously, so we want to make sure your future travel plans are safe and reassure you that we are committed to supporting our customers in the best way that we can. You can view our latest Coronavirus (COVID-19) updates here (https://minttours.com/about-us/terms-and-conditions/).
  • Is trip insurance required?
    Yes. All guests on tour need to be covered by comprehensive travel insurance. Once you have booked on the tour, we strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance. We recommend World Nomads as they are the ultimate in travel protection and global emergencies and evacuations.
  • What if I need to cancel?
    evo upholds Mint Tours’ terms and conditions for cancellation. Should you cancel your trip more than 90 days prior to departure, you will receive a refund minus a minimum fee of 10% (of total package) per person plus any charges levied by ground operators, hotels, airlines or lift companies. A cancellation made within 90 days before departure will incur a 100% cancellation fee of the total booking amount. If you are booked on a tour that has been cancelled due to the pandemic, or borders are closed to the country where the tour is based, you will have the option to receive a refund of monies paid or take a travel credit of 100% of price paid. These options exclude flights and insurance as they will have their own booking conditions.
Testimonials
I've been on 6 Mint Tours (and counting) and cannot recommend the company highly enough. Whether you need a crew to ride with, want to know where the best powder is hidden or want to progress your skills you will be in safe hands with Mint. You will get so much more out of these trips than you will hitting the mountains with a group of your friends, but hey, the more the merrier so bring your crew with you or just come on your own
Nicole
evoTrip Guest
Just returned from a trip riding and finding powder daily with Mint. 3rd trip with Mint and won’t be the last. Cheers for another great one Jarred.
Christian
evoTrip Guest
Exceptional tour! Lapland, Scandinavia! Trip of a lifetime! Good guides, good snow, good everything!
Tristan
evoTrip Guest

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Coming Soon
Sorry, this trip is sold out
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Questions? Let us help! Call us at
1-866-386-1590