On the first day, you will arrive either in Kuopio or Joensuu, where we will warmly welcome you. Alternatively, you can travel to the lodge independently. After checking in and settling into your cozy room, you will have the opportunity to meet our team in person. We will end the evening with a relaxing and delicious dinner in the cozy atmosphere of our lodge – the perfect start to your adventure.

After enjoying a hearty breakfast, your day begins with an exciting activity: you’ll get to assist with the morning feeding in one of our two kennels. Afterwards, we’ll stay in the kennel, where you’ll have the opportunity to meet our dogs and get to know their unique personalities. You’ll also learn fascinating details about their care, living conditions, and the daily work involved in looking after them.

After lunch, you’ll move on to the second kennel. Can you spot the differences? Here, we’ll explain everything you need to know about putting on the dogs’ harnesses, attaching them to the vehicles, and working with our dogs. After dinner, you’ll have the chance to either join the evening feeding or gain insights into the creating of the training plans for the next day.

Today, it’s time for your first training run with the dogs! After breakfast, you will assist in preparing the vehicles and training materials. A theory session will teach you about the different vehicles (ATV, Troll, or – if weather permits – the sled) and how the training process works. Then, we will harness the dogs, and you will start your first run with your own team. If you feel unsure, you can ride along with your guide. After returning, we reward the dogs, and you will assist in unhitching them.

In the afternoon, after lunch, we will prepare one or two sleds for the upcoming winter season. They will be thoroughly checked, and any necessary repairs will be done. The day will end with a shared dinner in the lodge.

Today, it’s all about training in the wilderness! After breakfast, we will start with the dogs on different routes, depending on their training condition. If the dogs are ready for longer routes, we will take breaks at a Laavu or a campfire site, where the dogs can rest, practice stake-out, and enjoy snacks. We will also take a break, enjoying a lunch cooked over an open fire, coffee, stories about the dogs, and some cuddle time.

If a longer route isn’t possible, we will take one or two shorter runs, with lunch at the Grillkota or by the fire. In the evening, you will have time to relax in our lakeside sauna – and perhaps even try a cold-water plunge for some ice bathing. Afterward, we’ll discuss the upcoming hike to our forest cabin Aittokoski during dinner.

After breakfast, we pack our backpacks with the essentials. Our transfer driver takes us to the starting point of our hike, which we discussed the day before, while the rest of our luggage and food supplies are transported directly to the cabin, allowing us to hike freely. Together with a few dogs, we hike along the Karhunpolku, the famous Bear Trail, through the stunning natural landscape. Along the way, we take a break to enjoy our lunch.

In the afternoon, we arrive at the idyllic forest cabin Aittokoski, where you can relax in the wood-fired sauna. We spend the evening enjoying a rustic dinner in the cozy cabin – a true highlight in the heart of the wilderness.

After a traditional cabin breakfast, you can relax, take a short walk with the dogs, or simply enjoy the tranquility of nature. Next, we dive into a practical workshop: you'll learn how to splice tug lines and create sections for the sleds from wire rope – a valuable skill for working with sled dogs. After a hearty lunch, we begin our return journey to Eräkeskus, where you can enjoy a delicious dinner at the lodge in the evening.

The final day is at your leisure. You can join us for the feeding sessions, take a walk with the dogs, or – depending on the season – book additional activities like a canoe tour, ice fishing, or snowshoeing. In the evening, we’ll heat up the electric sauna for you, followed by a festive farewell dinner. To remember your time with us, you will receive a small farewell gift.