Winter dream snowshoe Finland: 7 days hiking through the White Expanse of Hossa National Park

Your trip

Experience the wild taiga in the northeast of Finland in the Kainuu region.

This secluded area is a wonderful place to experience true wilderness. Our snowshoe tour leads through white forests and over frozen lakes in Hossa National Park.

They are accommodated in rustic log cabins, whose shared rooms convince with their simplicity and cozy atmosphere. For relaxation in the evening invite the fireplace and sauna.

You will hike with your English speaking guide in an international group of maximum 12 participants.

Requirements

> The daily routes of about 6 hours are mostly hiked in deep powder snow.

> The terrain varies, but is mostly flat with some short climbs and descents.

> The difficulty level of this tour is easy to moderate. You should be fit for long hikes in the snow.

> Experience in snowshoeing is not required, good physical condition is nevertheless desirable.

Together with your group you will manage the overnight cabins in the wilderness mostly by yourself. The material is transported. However, they lend a hand in chopping wood, heating the sauna and everyday life in the hut. Please note: The trip is not suitable for persons with reduced mobility. Please contact us for detailed information if needed.

Equipment

> You can rent snowshoes and hiking poles.

> Please wear your own well-worn winter hiking boots. You can also rent suitable snowboats if you wish.

> You will receive a list of what things you should bring with your travel documents.

Arrival

Meeting point of the trip

The meeting point for the trip is Kuusamo Airport.
On request, we can also arrange for the bus station in Kuusamo to be the meeting point.

Airport transfer

Transfer from Kuusamo airport to the first accommodation and return transfer from the last accommodation to Kussamo airport is included in the price. Flights are not included in the tour price. Please book your flight yourself e.g. with Finnair.

Please note that there is only one transfer per day. The times are each coordinated with a specific flight. If you miss the departure, any extra private transfer is payable locally.

Please be sure to coordinate the times for the transfer with us before booking your flight. Between the bus transfer and the flight should not be less than 1 h. Please do not miss the transfer bus.

The following transfers are regularly scheduled for the specified FinAir flights Helsinki – Kuusamo:

Additional transfer times

Transfers to the following flights are also possible for an additional charge. Please be sure to specify this option when booking.

Please note:

If your flight times do not coincide with the above transfer schedule, please wait at the airport for the next transfer. Please avoid tight connection times. Please pay any extra costs for additional transfers by cab yourself.

The TUI and Eurowings Sunday – Sunday packages require an extra night in Kuusamo after the tour. Please indicate this when booking if you would like to take advantage of these offers. We would be happy to book you an extra night at the Holiday Spa Hotel Kuusamon Tropiikki or the hotel
Kuusanka, for example.

Please be sure to coordinate the times for the transfer with us before booking your flight. Between the bus transfer and the flight should not be less than 1 h. Please do not miss the transfer bus.

Arrival by train and bus

It is also possible to take a train from Helsinki Airport to Oulu and then a bus from Oulu to Kuusamo. Please check the timetables and prices

for trains at https://www.vr.fi and

for buses at https://www.matkahuolto.fi

Travel time by train: approx. 5 to 6 hours, prices: approx. 20 – 60 €

Travel time by bus: approx. 3 hours, price from approx. 30 €.

Accommodation

They are on the road in the wilderness. You will be accommodated in rooms with two, three or more beds in simple but cozy log cabins in the forest. Single rooms are not available.

The cabins each have cozy common rooms.
In the evening, a wood-burning stove and sauna await you.

The first three and the last night you are accommodated in the game lodge
Jatkonsalmi
.

Jatkonsalmi is a traditional, well-equipped log cabin on the shore of Lake Jatkonjärvi. It has 8-bed rooms with bunk beds, shared toilets and showers, a kitchen, dining room and central heating, sauna and fireplace. Possibility of ice swimming.

The fourth night you will sleep – depending on the size of the group – in one of the two forest lake huts Peurapirtti or
Hirvastupa
.

The two cabins each stand about a hundred meters from the shore of Lake Iso-Valkeinen next to each other in the forest. Each house has a double room and dormitories for four. You will find a sauna in the same building, but no showers.

The houses do not have electricity and can be heated with a wood stove.

The fifth night you will be accommodated – depending on the group size – in one of the two forest lake cabins Huosiusjärvi or
Likoski
.

Huosiusjärvi is a log cabin on the shore of lake Huosiusjärvi. The house has a living room and two shared rooms with a total of 8 beds. A neighboring building houses a sauna. No showers. No electricity, wood stove.

Iikoski hut is located about 200 meters from Huosiusjärvi hut on the bank of Iikoski rapids. The cottage offers a room for 2 people and dormitories for 4 people. Sauna in the same building, no showers. No electricity, wood stove heating.

Catering

Your trip includes full board.

We have breakfast at around 8 am.
Breakfast is served in the hut. It consists of plenty of bread, cheese, ham, porridge, cereal, yogurt, coffee, tea.

We usually take our lunch break between 11 and 12.
We usually have lunch at a fire pit in the forest. It consists of hot soup, sandwiches, sausages, coffee & tea with chocolate and cookies.

Around 3 to 4 p.m. we are usually at the destination accommodation. A small snack awaits you.

Dinner is usually a buffet. It includes typical Finnish dishes “homemade style”. It usually consists of a main course
with meat / fish, potatoes / rice, fresh salad / warm vegetables and a dessert.

We provide you first of all with genuine Finnish products. They are always our first choice. In winter, all fruit is imported, so there is little fresh fruit and only at base camp.

We are also happy to provide you with vegetarian food. For people with celiac disease we also prepare gluten-free meals. For people with lactose intolerance we also prepare lactose-free meals. Please let us know when booking if you would like to eat vegetarian or even gluten-free. Please take into account that your choice is valid for the entire tour. A change on the way is no longer possible.

Tap water is good to drink in Finland. Huts where tap water is not available are supplied with large jerry cans. You can always fill your own water bottle.

Please provide yourself with snacks for the walking times according to your comfort.

Note on the program

Please note that the itinerary may change if this is necessary due to snow or ice conditions or for organizational reasons

Country information

Please see our entry information for Finland on our Country Information page.

We recommend that you take out travel cancellation insurance. you can find a quote on our travel insurance page.