This holiday combines two of the remotest villages in Finland and allows you to experience the people and culture of the region whilst giving you the chance to appreciate the stunning wilderness and wide range of activities. Throughout you will meet the real people of Samiland and get an insight into a way of life that few people even know exists in Europe.

Your journey begins in Utsjoki, a wild and untamed municipality which is the most northerly in Finland. Home to traditional Sami reindeer herders and well off the beaten track, here you will enjoy the company of your Sami hosts and experience the beauty of the wilderness. Your activities here build an introduction to Lapland and are fairly gentle in pace but full of wonderful experiences.

Your second base is Inari, the centre of Sami culture in Finland and situated on the shores of the vast Lake Inari. Here you will learn further details about Sami culture and the pace quickens slightly with snowmobiling and dog sledding safaris.
These two destinations are ideally situated within the Aurora Zone and on a clear night with the correct solar conditions you may be treated to an incredible display of the Northern Lights. With Solar Maximum approaching the likelihood of displays is exceptionally high so keep your fingers crossed and your eyes on the sky.

Day 1: Flights, transfers and introduction.
Upon arrival at Ivalo Airport you will be greeted by your driver and transferred along one of the most spectacular roads in Europe to Utsjoki. The drive is around 2.5hrs but the scenery is spellbinding and you will more than likely see your first reindeer along the way. If your transfer is in darkness then you should also remember to keep an eye out for the Northern Lights.

Upon arrival at Utsjoki you will be greeted by your Sami hosts who will show you to your cosy cabin accommodation. You will be given your outdoor clothing and there will be a welcome meeting before dinner.

To start the day at Heathrow and end it here in the Arctic wilderness is quite a contrast!

Day 2: Winter fishing, snowshoes and reindeer
Today provides a comprehensive introduction to the Arctic and the Sami people.

After a hearty breakfast you will set off for the magnificent fells by snowmobile – pulled sleigh. You will be guided to a lake nestling amidst the fells and here you will try your hand at winter fishing. The catch here could include Arctic trout, grayling or white fish.

During your time in the outdoors you will also get to encounter some of the reindeer that roam this wilderness. You will help to feed the animals whilst your guide gives you an insight into reindeer husbandry. Lunch will be served outdoors (weather permitting) and will give you a chance to soak up your surroundings.

Throughout the day there will also be snowshoes available so that you can explore on foot. Snowshoes allow you to explore deep snow without having to dig yourself out of a waist deep drift. They are also an excellent way to get up close to nature here as you travel in such a peaceful way.

You will be out for around 4 to 5 hours and dinner will be waiting for you back at the cabins.

Day 3: Reindeer safari and Sami culture
You will have noticed the vital role that reindeer play in this region by now and today you will become further acquainted with these animals.

Your hosts here in Utsjoki have their own reindeer farm and you will take the short walk to meet and feed the animals this morning. You will then be taken on a short reindeer-pulled sleigh ride – one of the nicest ways to travel in Lapland.

You will have lunch in a traditional tepee around a campfire and your hosts will divulge some of their vast knowledge of the reindeers, the local culture and the Sami traditions.

After you return from your outing you will be taken into the village of Utsjoki where you will be shown the local historical sites as well as a village house where Sami handicrafts are showcased. You can really appreciate the skills and traditions of this culture here.

This evening back at the cabins your dinner will be cooked in a traditional kota (Lappish wooden tepee) over a camp fire, a fitting and traditional end to your time in this remarkable place.

Day 4: Transfer to Inari, Siida Sami Museum and Aurora snowshoe tour.
After breakfast you will wave goodbye to your hosts at Utsjoki and travel to Inari around 1.5 hours away.

Upon arrival at Inari you will head to the Siida Sami Museum, a place which is famed across Lapland for its exhibits and presentations about the people of the region, the natural environment and the history of the area. There is also a DVD that you can watch which details some of the science behind the Northern Lights.

You can take time to have lunch in the restaurant (not included).

From the museum it’s a very short journey (about 100 metres) to the Kultahovi hotel where you will spend the next 3 nights.

After you’ve had time to settle in to the hotel you will be able to sample the wonderful food that is on offer in the hotel’s excellent restaurant.

After dinner you will be guided on a snowshoe tour in search of the Northern Lights. Your guide will take you to a local view point where if conditions are correct you may witness the Aurora Borealis in all of its glory. During your trip your guides will also impart some of their local knowledge and tell you about the local nature and the Aurora.

Day 5 – Snowmobile safari and Sami culture
Today you will up the pace slightly as you will use snowmobiles to explore the wilderness that surrounds Inari.

You will travel two people per sled and after full instruction and a safety briefing your guide will lead you around some of the fascinating historical sites and across the vast frozen expanses of Lake Inari. You will encounter ancient sacrificial sites, wilderness churches and places of great importance to the local people. You will be out for around 3 hours and will break for snacks by a campfire.

Your hotel is perfectly located to allow you to explore Inari independently. You will be given a map which highlights the shops and studios that you can visit. Inari is pretty small so you won’t be at risk of getting lost and wandering around such a thriving Arctic community is a great way to spend some time.

Dinner will be served this evening in the hotel restaurant.

Day 6: Husky safari
For most visitors to Lapland a husky safari is a highlight and with good reason. There can be few ways of exploring the Arctic which can compare to driving your own team of dogs.

You will be transferred first to a husky farm where you will be able to meet the dogs and will be given details about the lives of the animals and mushing. After full instruction and a safety briefing you will set off with two people travelling per sled (you can swap drivers). You will really be able to absorb your surroundings and appreciate the power of the dog team. It’s a wonderful way to spend your final day in Lapland. The total duration of your adventure will be around 3 hours including a warm drink and snack.

You will have some free time this afternoon to relive all that you have seen before one last dinner in the restaurant.

Day 7: Departure

Tourism in Finnish Lapland has become the main source of employment and income, replacing traditional industries such as forestry. Working within this growth industry in rural and remote areas means that we must take a great deal of responsibility; socially, environmentally and economically. We fully appreciate the impact of tourist visits on local communities and their residents and strive to ensure that we are having a positive effect.

The wilderness hotel in Inari is owned and run by the Lappalainen family, whose Sámi routes have been in this area for centuries. They have a strong sense of tradition and we encourage all of our clients to respect and embrace the lives and culture of all Inari’s local inhabitants by learning a few important words: hello, goodbye, please, thank you etc. We have also included activities with a cultural base. In addition, we always encourage our clients to get involved in local events and activities which help to sustain traditional values and customs.

In all of our destinations we ensure that we use local accommodation, transport and activity providers, enabling locally owned businesses and the economies in which they work to benefit directly. The hotel in Inari also serves as much local produce as possible and stocks locally made souvenirs. Through the tourism multiplier effect, this all helps to generate incomes and employment where the drift might otherwise be towards larger employment areas such as towns and cities. In a small and remote village such as Inari the effects of such a drift could be devastating.

The use of small family run hotels and businesses means that the tourism income, generated by our presence stays where it should, in the local economy. We firmly believe in paying a fair price for all the services provided by our suppliers regardless of where they are in the world.

Our holidays rely on visiting beautiful and un-spoilt areas, and they don’t come more un-spoilt than Inari. Naturally we wish to maintain the natural settings in which we work, not just for the future of our company, but also for future generations. We will always insist that our local providers are equally conscious of this need.

We do appreciate that some may feel that snowmobiles should not be included in such itineraries however in areas such as Inari they are a way of life. They are the only means of keeping in contact with remote reindeer herders and communities as the road infrastructure is not extensive. All trails are well managed. The alternatives to snowmobiles would in most cases be large, gas-guzzling off road vehicles. All snowmobiles are regularly serviced and kept as fuel efficient as possible. The snowmobile service industry is also another vital source of employment in these remote areas.

We always ensure that all litter is removed from any of our activity sites, we strongly encourage group transfers to reduce traffic volumes and we make our clients aware of their obligation to the environment. We always offset our air travel emissions and would encourage you to do the same.