Your itinerary
Day 1
Start Basecamp Oulanka
Welcome to the wintery wilds of Finland. Begin your adventure at Basecamp Oulanka, a welcoming complex of wooden buildings in a remote location overlooking Juuma Lake and backing onto Oulanka National Park.Around 6pm, say hei to your tour leader and fellow travellers in the main lodge of Basecamp Oulanka, where we gather as a group to get to know each other and learn more about the adventures ahead.Your tour leader then ensures a big Finnish welcome over dinner together.Want to explore further? Secure pre-tour nights through your sales representative.
Meals: Dinner
Day 2
Gentle half-day snowshoe walk; free use of snowshoes in the afternoon
After sorting out your equipment for a week in Arctic conditions, we explore Oulanka National Park with a gentle half-day snowshoe walk past frozen rapids and following the Kitkajoki River. The afternoon is free for further snowshoeing or enjoying a warm sauna or hot tub. Alternatively, you might wish to try kick sledging, a metal-frame sled you can use on your own or with your children and venture around Basecamp.
Meals: Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner
Day 3
Dogsledding instruction and tour in Riisitunturi National Park
This morning, we head to a husky farm on the edge of the neighbouring Riisitunturi National Park. We start with tuition on how to ride and drive the sled and the importance of caring for the huskies correctly. We then continue into the woods where our dog teams eagerly await our arrival, ready to take us on our 6mi (10km) mushing adventure. With the adults driving and the children sitting in the sled, we appreciate the serenity of this snow-laden landscape.
Meals: Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner
Day 4
Morning cross-country ski lesson
Experience the Scandinavian-born sport of cross-country skiing. Heading down to the nearby Juuma Lake, we learn the basics of cross-country skiing from our instructor. There may be a few tumbles in the soft snow to start, but this is half the fun. After building confidence on the skis, we head onto the lake, gliding through the fresh powder. Keep hold of your skis because we have further opportunities to test out our skills in the afternoon.
Meals: Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner
Day 5
Morning visit to a reindeer farm and short ride on a reindeer-pulled sleigh; free afternoon in Ruka for optional activities
In the morning, we visit a reindeer farm and museum where everyone can ride a reindeer-pulled sleigh. The visit finishes with hot drinks and reindeer sausages around an open fire. We spend the rest of the day at the popular ski resort of Ruka. Your guide will take care of transfers and can book activities for you. Group transfers are included only to the designated areas and are scheduled at specific times; it is advisable to check at reception before making your activities booking. Downhill skiing and snowmobile safaris are available.
Please note, the bookings for activities in Ruka need to be made by Tuesday due to operational reasons.
Meals: Breakfast,Dinner
Day 6
Free morning; afternoon children’s snow games: sledging, building snow forts and snowmen
This morning, we can sleep in and start the day at a more relaxed pace. To kick off the afternoon, we see about making a fire and cooking our own pancakes for lunch.In the afternoon, we are busy with snow games supervised by the Basecamp guides. supervised by the Basecamp guides. Here, children can learn how to build a snow fort followed by hot chocolate and doughnuts. Families can also have a go at making a snow sculpture, among other activities.
Meals: Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner
Day 7
Free day. Optional activities including unguided cross-country skiing or snowmobile tours
Today is left free to spend as you like. Options include unguided cross-country skiing and snowshoeing with all the Basecamp facilities at your disposal and many accessible roads to explore. Otherwise, join in one of the several optional activities available: downhill skiing or snowmobile safaris at nearby Ruka (transport and skiing not included) or a walking trip to nearby Jyrävä waterfall with snacks and hot drinks by a campfire. Alternatively, unguided cross-country skiing, snowshoeing or kick sledging can keep you entertained. We then have our farewell dinner at Basecamp.
Meals: Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner
Day 8
End Basecamp Oulanka
The trip ends after breakfast. Say goodbye to Basecamp Oulanka, which may feel like a second home by now, before your return journey home.
Meals: Breakfast
What’s included
What’s not included
Additional information
Food
All breakfasts, five lunches and seven evening meals are included.
The food at Basecamp is a delicious range of local produce prepared by the in-house chef. Starters consist of a salad buffet with three to four choices. The main courses consist of wild game such as elk, chicken and salmon. There is also vegetarian food. Dessert consists of lingonberries, blueberries and cloudberries, often picked by the chef. It is refreshing to know that what is viewed as superfoods in our supermarkets grows locally to Basecamp. These are served with a selection of quark curd, cream, ice cream, cakes and pancakes. Lunch normally consists of hot soup with elk, salmon or a vegetarian option.
Downhill Skiing at Ruka Ski Resort
Carve turns on the varied, family-friendly pistes of Ruka Ski Resort, a modern Lapland hub with groomed slopes, lifts, rentals, and warm cafés. From confident beginners to cruisy intermediates, enjoy downhill skiing at Ruka amid bright, crystalline winter light.
This is an optional activity at additional cost, bookable on tour with your guide. Group transfers operate to designated areas; check details locally when planning lessons or equipment hire.
Cross-Country Ski Lesson on Lake Juuma
Learn the basics of cross-country skiing with an instructor on gentle terrain by Lake Juuma. Practice balance, braking, and the classic stride, accepting a few soft tumbles as part of the fun before linking confident glides across open snow.
Discover why this Scandinavian-born pastime is Finland’s winter heartbeat as you glide across the lake amid crisp air and pine-framed views. Simple technique, smooth trails, and supportive coaching make this a family-friendly skill you can build on during the week.
Oulanka Snowshoe Walk: Frozen Rapids & Kitkajoki River
Discover the quiet magic of Finland’s taiga on a gentle outing to learn the basics of snowshoeing beside the Kitkajoki River. Follow guides through snow-laden pines, pausing at frozen rapids where ice mist hangs in the air and animal tracks stitch the fresh powder.
Hear stories of Oulanka’s protected landscapes and the famed Karhunkierros trail network, and pause for photos and reflection where the forest opens to sweeping river views. It’s an easy-paced introduction that rewards every step with crystalline winter scenery.
Husky Sledding in Riisitunturi National Park
Make friends with a lively pack before you receive dogsledding instruction and set off along forest trails edging Riisitunturi National Park. Adults take the reins while children ride snug in the sled as the team surges forward, runners whispering over snow beneath snow-laden forests.
Glide through a landscape famed for wintry “snow ghost” trees sculpted by wind and frost. Feel the rhythm between musher and huskies as you drive your own team, experiencing the serene pace of Arctic travel once essential to life in Lapland.
Reindeer Farm Visit & Sleigh Ride
Visit a working reindeer farm and museum to learn about Sámi herding traditions before settling into a short ride in a reindeer-pulled sleigh through quiet, snow-draped forest. Gentle bells and padded hoof-falls set an unhurried rhythm families love.
Warm up around an open fire with hot drinks and local snacks, savoring the smoky comfort of the flames and the herders’ stories. This close-up encounter reveals how reindeer culture shapes daily life and seasonal movement across Lapland.
Children’s Arctic Snow Games & Campfire Pancakes
Join Basecamp guides for playful winter fun: build snow forts, sculpt snowmen, and enjoy sledging on gentle slopes. Families gather to cook pancakes over an open fire—a cozy reward that keeps spirits high in the crisp air.
Friendly, supervised activities encourage teamwork and creativity while parents capture big smiles against sparkling white backdrops. Hot chocolate and sweet treats round off a carefree afternoon of hands-on Arctic adventure close to the lodge.
Snowmobile Safari in the Ruka Wilderness
Throttle up for a guided snowmobile safari across boreal forest and open fells, following well-marked trails under expert supervision. Feel the surge of the engine and the cold rush of air as winter panoramas unfold in every direction.
Everything you need—thermal outerwear and a safety briefing and gear—is provided. This is an optional experience at additional cost, bookable on tour through your guide.
Jyrävä Frozen Waterfall Walk & Campfire
Walk forest trails to the Jyrävä waterfall, where winter temperatures transform the cascade into a dramatic frozen cascade framed by silent pines. Guides set an easy pace with time for photos of sculpted ice and river gorge views.
Warm hands and spirits by a campfire with snacks and hot drinks before returning through the snowy woods. This is an optional outing at additional cost, bookable on tour locally.
Welcome Dinner & Basecamp Oulanka Orientation
Meet your group and meet your Tour Director for a warm Finnish welcome at Basecamp Oulanka, a timber lodge overlooking Lake Juuma and bordering Oulanka National Park. Share hearty, home-cooked Finnish dishes by the log fire while kids and adults get to know one another in a relaxed, family-friendly setting.
Gain an overview of the week’s activities, learn how to dress for Arctic conditions, and hear tips on staying comfortable and safe in sub-zero temperatures. This introduction sets the tone for nature-forward days and cozy evenings back at Basecamp.
