We know...

Peace, serenity, silence and calm, Saija encapsulates them all. Famous Finnish authors have tried to capture the beauty and wild nature of this region on paper for years but we recommend seeing it for yourself and unwinding in the silence.  Bliss!

Please note this programme is also available over the Christmas and New Year period with a slightly different itinerary.  

You know...

“The food was excellent, the staff were so friendly and our guide was brilliant.  We can’t put into words the way we are feeling about the holiday at Saija but we would have been happy to have stayed there.”  Stephen Bowden – January 2011

Day 1: Flights, arrivals and introduction
You will be greeted on arrival at Kuusamo Airport and transferred directly to Saija Lodge. After settling in, it’s a short walk over to the main building for dinner.

Day 2: Husky training run
This husky week is ideal for those who want to develop their mushing skills gradually whilst still experiencing a great wilderness experience.

After breakfast on day one you will meet your guide and the all important huskies. After instruction on managing your team and sled you leave on a training circuit of around 13km driving your own team of 4 to 6 dogs through scenery reminiscent of Narnia.

It’s difficult to explain the contrasting emotions as you encourage your dogs on this first safari. There’s the thrill and excitement as you leave the husky farm and venture into the wilderness and on the other hand the silence is so intense that it is also a very tranquil experience.

Day 3: Full day husky safari
After yesterday’s training run we step it up today on a full day safari. You will drive your team through snowy forests and across frozen lakes and rivers. You will have lunch around an open fire and by the time you arrive back at the lodge your team will have covered between 25 and 35km.

Day 4 and 5: Overnight husky safari
Howls of excitement make it plain that the dogs are as anxious as you to be on the trail. By now you will be used to the “swish” of your sled cutting through the snow, the panting of the huskies and their reproachful looks when you let them do all the work on the inclines. They expect you to provide some momentum by pushing off with your feet when the going gets tough. Anything less can be rewarded with a somewhat disdainful lack of effort from your team.

You are entirely responsible for the care of your team when you arrive at your overnight base.

They must be fed, watered and settled for the night before you enter the cabin to help prepare dinner. It’s not all hard work though and the sauna provides somewhere to relax and share tales of the day’s adventures. The cabin is also remarkably cosy with the fire ablaze and the silence of the wilderness means you should get an excellent night’s sleep.

You will be awoken early by the dogs and after breakfast your adventure continues. Once again, you will have lunch around an open fire before the final leg of your journey brings you back to the lodge. A hot shower and dinner are a welcome treat after your time in the wilds.

Day 6: Free day or optional activities
Today is free so you can try some of the other Nordic winter sports and tailor the end of your holiday. Why not try snowmobiling, snowshoeing or cross country skiing?

Day 7: Departure

Please note this programme is also available over the Christmas and New Year period with a slightly different itinerary. Please click here to view the Christmas programme and click here to view the New Year programme.

Tourism in Finnish Lapland has become the main source of employment and income replacing traditional industries such as forestry. Development from a period of extractive industry to an industrial society has come about quickly. In 1950 the largest part of Lapland's inhabitants lived in rural areas and more than half the workforce worked in forestry and agriculture. Today 65 % of the workforce is in the service industry, 22% in processing and 10 % in primary production.

This huge growth in tourism and service provision has been developed in conjunction with a long-term sustainable tourism plan with one of the primary objectives being to maintain nature in its natural state while guaranteeing the traditional way of life. Much of this has been achieved along with membership of EU development programmes, aimed at diversifying sources of livelihood, effective usage of resources and to increase export.

Approximately a quarter of Lapland's 100 000 strong workforce was unemployed in 1997. Promoting entrepreneurship, ongoing re-education of the workforce and development of the educational system to suit the needs of enterprises is continuing. The target is to diversify the sources of livelihood, increase the value of refinement production and develop new enterprises particularly in the area of tourism. National measures as well as EU-programme measures support this objective.

We embrace this philosophy, employing local activity providers and using only locally owned hotels. In this manner we help to maintain jobs in an area where unemployment was, until recently, very high. Additionally, the use of local suppliers ensures that the tourism spend filters through to local economies via the tourism multiplier effect.

Saija Lodge is absolutely no exception. It is one of the most peaceful destinations we offer and so the responsibility attached with that is great. The environment is pristine and the accommodation is locally owned and cherished. The food served is locally produced and their focus is on traditional regional dishes which give guests a great insight into the culture and traditions of the area.

Saija provides a vital source of employment to local people and is run by a delightful couple whose heart and soul has gone into their business. Their knowledge and passion of the area makes Saija all the more special and their passion for their 100 sled dogs is totally evident.

Saija is a small destination and the level of tourism is closely matched to the environment in which the activities take place. It is all very well managed and trails are all well maintained.

All the wooden accommodation is built from sustainable sourced timber. There is a strict recycling policy in place and a leave no trace principal is applied to all activities.