Experience life above the Arctic Circle in Finnish Lapland
This isn’t your average adventure. If you want to experience the real Arctic, the places you won’t find in a guidebook, then it’s time to sign up for this tour. You’ll get a unique insight from our local Finnish snowboard guides who have been riding here for a lifetime. They will surprise you with the places we visit and terrain you’ll ride.
Our Arctic tours focus on exploring the northernmost parts 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.
You’ll visit the northernmost ski areas in Finland 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 you’re not skiing and snowboarding, you’ll be living the ‘Arctic Life’ with uniquely Finnish activities including hunting for the northern lights, husky sledding and snowmobiling in the Arctic wilderness, enjoying Lapland traditions such as relaxing in a smoke sauna, plunging into an ice-hole cut into a frozen lake, visiting a cosy kota and enjoying traditional Lappish foods, ice fishing, experiencing Sami culture with the locals, adventuring in the picturesque backcountry by snowshoe, snow-surfing in powder using binding-less handcrafted snowboards and learning about the Sami’s connection to their environment and the magical atmosphere of Lapland with a visit to a Shaman.
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.
Tour Type
Intermediate and above skiers and snowboarders. This is a co-ed adventure.
Why Travel With Mint
In a rapidly changing travel industry it’s important to know that your travel provider is accredited, accountable and responsible. We are a registered member of AFTA and IATA and conduct business in accordance with the ATAS Charter and Code of Conduct. When you travel with Mint you can have peace of mind that you are booking with a qualified and established travel operator with over 20 years of expertise. And as a full-service travel agent, we are able to take care of your flights, insurance, stopovers and pre or post tour arrangements.
RESORTS AND INFO
Get in touch for a detailed tour itinerary and more info
ABOUT PYHÄ
Idyllic Pyhä is our first stop of the tour. Pyhä has easily accessible freeriding right next to the lifts and the Pyhä ski area has 9 lifts including a high-speed 6 seater and is easily accessible from our modern on-mountain hotel. There's many different backcountry touring options throughout Pyhä-Luosto National Park, which is where our local guides take us snowsurfing for the day followed by a traditional smoke sauna and Lappish dinner.
ABOUT SAARISELKÄ
Saariselkä is located in the far north of Lapland and is the centre of local Sami culture and tradition. The ski area offers a wide range of terrain with 15 slopes spanning two fells suitable for all ski and snowboard ability levels. Saariselkä is also our base for exploring the beautiful Urho Kekkonen National Park by snow mobile and husky sleds and due to the lack of artificial light in the evenings our best chance to see the Northern Lights.
ABOUT LEVI
Levi is home to world class skiing and snowboarding in Finland, and the mother of all apres-ski. Levi offers something for everyone, and the exceptional quality of the in-bound runs and parks make Levi one of the best resorts in Finland. Being within the Arctic Circle, Levi gets hit with a good amount of Finnish powder and is renowned for perfect terrain for all skiing and snowboarding abilities. Our day on-mountain ends with experiencing Levi's legendary après-ski bars.
ABOUT YLLÄS
Ylläs is the largest and highest ski resort in Lapland – and the whole of Finland. It has 63 slopes with 29 lifts, as well as the longest ski runs in the country. The Ylläs area is actually made up of seven fells and two villages, Ylläsjärvi and Äkäslompolo, situated on two different sides of the 718 m high main Ylläs fell. Ylläs consistently scores the best powder snow in Lapland due to it's exposure to the winter storms.
SNOW & CONDITIONS
This tour is running at one of the best times to experience the Arctic Circle and the Northern Lights. The days are longer and with the extra hours of sunlight, it's the perfect time of the season to spend more time outdoors. You can still expect to get regular snowfall, with temperatures rarely getting above 0 degrees Celsius. Even if we don’t get fresh snow overnight, the cold temperatures and our local knowledge will ensure you’ll be able to ski and snowboard light dry snow.
SMALL GROUPS
We offer one of the smallest client to guide ratio’s in the industry which ultimately leads to a better experience for everyone. Our small groups allow greater manoeuvrability and ease of access to the best areas a destination can offer. This also makes for a more personal experience between our guests and guides.
ESSENTIAL INFO
INCLUSIONS
✔ 4 nights twin share accommodation, Pyhä
✔ 2 nights twin share accommodation, Saariselkä
✔ 3 nights twin share accommodation, Levi
✔ All lift tickets
✔ Guiding at Pyhä Ski Resort
✔ Guiding at Saariselkä Ski Resort
✔ Guiding at Levi Ski Resort
✔ Guiding at Ylläs or Pallas Ski Resort
✔ Guiding at Ounasvaara Ski Resort
✔ Half-day Ilahu SnowSurf session with guiding and Ilahu Snowsurf boards
✔ 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
✔ 2 x 3 course dinners in Saariselkä (drinks not included)
✔ 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
✔ Shamanistic hut evening – cultural visit with a Shaman and Queen of the North
✔ 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
WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED
✘ Flights
✘ Travel insurance
✘ All lunches – expect to pay EUR $15 – $30 per meal
✘ 4 dinners – expect to pay EUR $30 – $50 per meal
✘ Any activities, meals, drinks, snacks not listed
Included activities
Guiding at Pyhä, Ounasvaara, Saariselkä, Levi & Ylläs/Pallas Ski Resorts
Our local Lapland snowboard guide will show you the best resorts above the Arctic Circle. The Finnish ski resorts, due to their northern location are practically guaranteed to have snow for the whole season and at this time of year you’ll have plenty of opportunity to ride powder with temperatures sitting well below zero. Most of the terrain we ride ranges from mellow groomers, to fun tree runs and open off-piste areas.
Pyhätunturi SnowSurf Session
We’ll spend a half day snow surfing in powder on hand crafted binding-less boards. Snow surfing represents a return to the timeless pleasure of gliding, propelled only by gravity. The experience is simple yet infinitely enjoyable. It conveys the spirit and original stoke of snowboarding and gives the rider a connection with nature. It opens up the backcountry and backyard hills to new forms of riding and exploration. We will choose the spot according to the current weather and snow conditions and try to find untouched powder. We use Ilahu boards that are designed and made in Finnish Lapland. The boards are carefully finished by hand to ensure the highest quality. This adventure is suitable for everyone. 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, snowshoes, warm drinks and snacks.
Guided Backcountry Day in Pyhä-Luosto National Park
There are many different freeride areas within the Pyhä-Luosto National Park, which offers a wide range of terrain which is suited for intermediate and above ability riders. You’ll spend a day exploring the Pyhä-Luosto backcountry with our local backcountry guide who will take you to the best zones to ride powder. When it’s lunch time out here, it’s time to get out of the elements and escape the cold into a Kota. These Kota’s are traditional Finnish timber huts in the woods, where visitors can cook food over the fire. We’ll break for lunch in a Kota, get warm and grill some food over the fire. 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 professional guiding, snowshoes, poles and avalanche safety equipment.
Snowmobiling on the Pyhä Fell
Enjoy the breathtaking scenery of Pyhä Fell while driving 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.
Traditional Lappish Smoke Sauna and Ice-Swimming
Experience a traditional Lappish smoke sauna in a cozy cottage and take a dip in an Arctic lake! A traditional wood-heated Finnish smoke sauna is a uniquely Lappish experience that takes place by Lake Pyhäjärvi. To start, we’ll tell you about Finnish sauna culture and how to prepare the bathing water (there is no shower in Finnish style smoke sauna). Then you are ready to enjoy the soft heat of the sauna which is a very relaxing experience. Let the heat purify your body as the wintery magic of Lapland purifies your soul. It is a place for cleansing and tranquility. While we do our best to prepare you for an evening in the wilderness, it’s up to you decide how you want to spend your time. The classic Lappish way is to spend 5-10 minutes in the sauna and then jump into ice cold water, or even a pile of snow. 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, so swimming to cool off goes hand in hand with sitting in the heat. 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. After this unique Finnish Spa experience, it’s time to get back to our little wooden cabin to enjoy delicious 3 course Lappish dinner by the fireplace. Included in this experience is a sauna guide, slippers and towels, shampoo and body care products, and transfers from our hotel.
Traditional Lappish dinner
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 Lapland log cabin. Our local guides will prepare a delicious Finnish 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. (all dietary requirements can be catered for)
Husky Safari in Luosto
A husky safari is a truly thrilling experience, especially when you have 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. Before departing on the safari, 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. The total duration is approximately 2 – 2.5 hours. Once you return to the farm, relax by having a chat with the head musher about these amazing northern animals. Included is instruction, thermal clothing and a 10km husky ride.
Northern Lights hunting in Saariselkä
Saariselkä is not only the northernmost ski resort in Finland, but also the northernmost ski resort in Europe. At 270km north of the Arctic Circle, this is THE BEST PLACE to witness the northern lights. If the conditions are right, we’ll drive to a the best place to view the Northern Lights and to experience the exoticism of an arctic night. Leaving the illuminated village behind, the dark wilderness will soon envelop you. The snow, glittering under the moonlight, paints the scenery with its magical shine. Your guide leads you towards the best spots to find the Northern Lights. With a little luck, you can witness the sky dancing in the fiery shades of green.
Visit the village of Inari, the heart of the Sámi culture
Inari is the homeland 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. We’ll stop in Inari enroute to Levi Ski Resort. Here you can find out more about Sámi culture with our visit to the museum.
Visit a traditional Lapland Sámi Shaman
One of the most unique experiences of the trip. You will be treated to a Shamanistic hut evening hosted by Mirva, Queen of Lapland, and a descendant of the great witch Torajainen and Poetmsmith Kristian. They will introduce you to Nordic folklore, singing, spells and the shamanistic worldview. Once inside the hut, take a seat on the reindeer skins by the open fire and enjoy some local snacks. The Shaman is an expert storyteller who will provide insights into the magical atmosphere of Lapland, of gnomes, Northern Lights, and of Lappish nature.
Ice fishing on Lake Inari
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.
Traditional Lappish dinner
Our final night on tour you will enjoy an evening of authentic Lappish food at an underground hut restaurant that serves traditional delicacies beside an open fire. In the background, you can enjoy the joikha music and Lapland stories. Lappish dinner consists of delicious fish soup, different reindeer dishes, salmon baked by open fire and traditional Lappish dessert.
DATES
19 March – 28 March, 2024
PRO-TIP – GO PRIVATE!
Book this tour as a private departure – with your own guide and all the benefits of a Mint group tour – for any group, big or small (even just one traveller). Get in touch to discuss.
WHY TRAVEL WITH MINT?
In a rapidly changing travel industry it’s important to know that your travel provider is accredited, accountable and responsible. Mint is a registered member of AFTA and IATA and conducts business in accordance with the ATAS Charter and Code of Conduct. When you travel with Mint you can have peace of mind that you are booking with a qualified and established travel operator with over 20 years of expertise. And as a full-service travel agent, we can take care of your flights, insurance, stopovers and pre-or post tour arrangements.
WHAT IS AN INTERMEDIATE TOUR?
This tour is best suited to confident skiers and snowboarders who can comfortably ride intermediate terrain at their local resort and are willing to ride off-piste. If conditions are right, we’ll aim to ride and ski in powder, glades and trees so please be prepared to ride and ski off-piste and in the trees. Of course weather and conditions are impossible to predict so guests must be prepared to ride or ski anything.
WHAT IS A CO-ED TOUR?
While we will have many women on this tour, it is open to all genders.
WHAT HAPPENS ON ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE DAY?
Once you’ve signed up for the tour we will send you through a comprehensive guide with details about the tour including the arrival and departure day process, a map of where we meet, recommended arrival and departure times, flight options, Visa requirements and transportation information.
WHAT IF I’M TRAVELLING SOLO?
About 99% of our guests are travelling solo, so you’ll be in good company. Our groups generally mix well due to a shared interest in snow sports and an eagerness to explore all that a destination has to offer. If you are travelling solo, you will be paired with another guest to room with. The accommodation for this tour is twin share i.e. 2 beds per room.
HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE ON THIS TOUR?
Each tour is different, but we know that by offering one of the smallest client to guide ratio in the industry allows you to ski or snowboard at your preferred pace, and ultimately leads to a better experience for everyone. This ensures you get the most out of your time with us, and keeping the groups small means less time waiting and more time riding.
IS THIS TOUR RIGHT FOR ME?
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. You will need to be able to ride a T-Bar for this tour. 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.
CAN I ARRIVE EARLY OR STAY ON AFTER THE TOUR?
For most tours you can arrive earlier or stay later. We can tailor the trip to suit your travel plans. Speak with one of our tour specialists when you are booking and they will be more than happy to assist.
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.
ARE FLIGHTS INCLUDED?
No, flights are not included. If you need assistance booking flights, we can book you the best flight options for the tour, with no booking fees.
DO I NEED TRAVEL INSURANCE?
Yes. All guests on tour need to be covered be comprehensive travel insurance. Once you have booked on the tour, we strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance. We offer all of our tour guests discounted snow specific travel insurance.
WHAT HAPPENS ONCE I’VE BOOKED?
Once you’ve booked your spot on tour, we will send you through a booking confirmation and provide updates about the tour including the arrival and departure day process, a map of where we meet, recommended arrival and departure times, flight options, Visa requirements and transportation information. We will send out a Pre Departure Guide 30 days prior to departure. Prior to the tour commencing we will invite you to a group chat which is managed by your guides.
HOW DO I CHECK MY ABILITY LEVEL?
The best way to check if a tour is suited to your ability is by speaking with one of our tour specialists. They will be able to determine if the tour you have selected is a good fit for your ability, as well as suggesting other tour options.
HOW DO I GET TO FINLAND?
We’ll provide you with a guide with options to get to our meeting point. If it’s your fist time to to Europe or if you’re unsure about travel arrangements, often we can link you up with other tour guests to travel with.
HOW DO I CHECK AVAILABILITY?
Speak with one of our tour specialists. As this is a small group tour with limited availability, it’s best to get in touch early to avoid disappointment.
ARE LIFT TICKETS INCLUDED?
Yes, all lift tickets are included for this tour. Please note that none of the resorts that we visit on this tour are on the Ikon or Epic Pass.
BUDGETING FOR THE TOUR
An estimate of spending money for the week is around EUR 500 – 700 to cover lunches, dinners, drinks and snacks. Here’s an indication of what you can expect to pay for meals :
- Lunches – expect to pay EUR 15 – 30 per meal
- Dinners – expect to pay EUR 30 – 50 per meal
HOW FAR IN ADVANCE DO I NEED TO BOOK?
It’s hard to estimate when the tour will fill up. That being said, this is our most popular tour, so our advice is to book as soon as you’ve made the decision to travel. That way you can secure your preferred travel dates and you won’t be disappointed. Bookings close 90 days before a trip departs, however most tours typically fill up well before this.
WHAT IS THE ITINERARY?
For further information, including a tour itinerary send us an enquiry.
FITNESS
Whether you’re a snowboarding veteran or have just booked your first tour, the best thing you can do to get the most out of your Mint experience is to start a pre-trip fitness regime. We’re not looking for you to be an Olympic athlete, but you do need some fitness endurance. You’ll spend every day being active, so you should be physically fit enough to comfortably ski/ride for consecutive days. Your muscles should be up to this task, and your cardio fitness means you can sustain a consistent pace.
DO YOU TAKE SKIERS & SNOWBOARDERS?
Yes! We are ski and snowboard friendly. Please note that the majority of our tours are led by snowboard guides.
CAN I RENT EQUIPMENT?
No, you will need to bring your equipment with you.
WHAT EQUIPMENT SHOULD I BRING?
Temps will be cold, with temperatures ranging from -10 to -30°C / 14 to -22°F. We strongly recommend that guests dress in clothing specific for traveling in backcountry areas. We recommend that guests have a good quality waterproof jacket and pants, lightweight insulated layer, merino base layers, merino gloves and waterproof gloves, goggles with low light & high light lenses, sunglasses, balaclava, beanie, and helmet. We recommend that all guests bring their own ski or snowboarding equipment for the tour (board, boots, bindings & outerwear).
WHO WILL BE ON MY TOUR?
Your group will be made up of travellers 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.
PRICE
EUR 4,450 per person
Ask about the multi-tour booking discount. If you are looking to join another tour before the Arcitc Circle Roadtrip, we are running the Innsbruck Freeride Tour in Austria just before this trip.
DEPOSITS AND PAYMENTS
To secure your spot on tour a 50% deposit is payable to secure your booking. The balance is due 90 days prior to tour departure.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
View our terms and conditions HERE
If you would like some more information or a quote for the tour you can contact us by:
1. ONLINE
Click on ‘Enquire’ below and send us your details. Once we receive your request one of our Japan Tour Specialists will be in touch with a with a quote, availability and further details about the tour.
2. OVER THE PHONE
Call us and follow the prompts to speak to one of our tour specialists.
Within Australia (03) 5296 0314
3. EMAIL
Drop us an email and one of our tour specialists will be in touch with a with a quote, availability and further details about the tour.