Tourism in Finnish Lapland has become the main income 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 are 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.

Day 1:  Flights, Arrivals and Transfers
You will be met in Kittila Airport, before being transferred to the Harriniva Hotel where you can truly get into the spirit of the Finnish lifestyle with a warm sauna and a meal in the hotel restaurant, which specialises in traditional Finnish delicacies. We recommend you try everything possible, it’s all delicious!

Day 2 - 10:  Nine day husky safari

After breakfast you will have a meeting together with the whole safari group and your guide. This is a brilliant opportunity to meet others in the group and for the guide to explain the itinerary and answer any questions you may have. You will then be issued with your cold weather clothing equipment and visit the Husky Farm at Harriniva, which is home to more than 400 dogs. It will then be time to begin to pack your sleds and have a short demonstration on riding the sleigh along with a safety briefing before you set out on your expedition.

Your husky safari will take you from Muonio in Finland on a journey North West to Kilpisjarvi. Lake Kilpisjarvi extends to the point where the three countries of Norway, Finland and Sweden meet. You will cover between 30km and 70km per day depending on the weather conditions and the skill and ability of the participants. The beauty of a long husky safari such as this is that the group will get to know, not only each other, but the guides and most importantly the huskies incredibly well. You are completely responsible for your own team of dogs and you will quickly learn that they need to be fed before you are!

The scenery you will come across on this trail is jaw dropping. It’s almost as though no one has ever been there before you. You will follow special trails over the vast frozen lakes and through the snow covered forests. Your guide will use his vast experience to ensure that you are completely safe at all times.

The days are long and quite warm at this time of year in Finland, in fact, you will probably have longer daylight hours than in central Europe. The temperature does drop at night; however this is vital to maintain the snow conditions. You will be cosy and warm in the excellent sleeping bags which are provided.

During the safari you will spend the nights in small wilderness cabins and tents. Do not worry about being cold in the evenings as you will be provided with an arctic level sleeping bag when packing your sleigh ready for departure. The accommodation is not the most luxurious we offer by any means, however, it truly is a wonderful authentic wilderness experience. Your meals will be cooked by your guide and will be simple, delicious and filling, Most of the time they will be cooked over an open fire, which is where you will spend your evenings after a day on the sleigh.

Day 11:  Transfer to Harrininva

After breakfast you will transfer back to Harriniva by bus for a well deserved shower and sauna. After you have recovered and are feeling slightly more human again, the group will come together for one final time for a delicious farewell dinner. After your meal. you can enjoy a few more drinks in the hotel pub and recall stories from your journey well into the night.

Day 12:  Departure
You will have breakfast and, after saying your goodbyes, you will be transferred to Kittila Airport for your return flights home.

Thought you'd done it all?  Then think again.

This is an itinerary for the real adventurers.  During the course of your journey you will cover 250 kilometres.  The group will travel to the village of Kilpisjarvi which is the last town in Finland before you reach the Norwegian border and you will be able to watch as the landscape changes dramatically from the snow covered forests of Finland to the vast snow deserts of the Sami land.  During the safari you will learn to control your dogs and interacting with them during the expedition will show you how they will grow to respect and understanf you as their musher.

Anybody aged 18 years or over.