For sporty people with a spirit of adventure: Week-Program with Cabin-Night
A week-program with 1 overnight in the wilderness cabin Aittokoski, which we reach by dog-teams. After 2 training-days, also beginners are able to cover the long and demanding distance up north. It takes 3 - 4 hours, depending on snow cover, temperatures and fitness of the group. More highlights of this week? A night-hike with torch with aperitif in the middle of the forests, special 4- and 5-course-dinners and a snowshoe-hike in a nearby nature resort.
Detailed program
Day 1: Individual arrival in Kuopio, we will pick you up in the evening and drive to the lodge, which is about 2 hours away. Dinner, getting to know the guide and overnight stay in the guesthouse.
Day 2: You will get your equipment and the theoretical introduction to sledding after breakfast. Your first sledge ride after your introduction takes - depending on the skills of your group - 1 ½ - 2 hours. We will serve the training soup to the dogs immediately after returning in the kennel, thereafter you eat lunch with your guide and discuss the sled ride. The rest of the afternoon is at your free disposal.
Day 3: We will drive with the dog sleds through the snowy Finnish nature for the second time and after yesterday's easy introductory lap, we will ride technically more demanding trails which our region is famous for. We will harness our dog teams together, as we will do it during the whole week and distribute snacks to our hard-working runners afterwards. Ride duration about 2 hours. We will have lunch soup in the lodge afterwards and the rest of the afternoon is free.
Day 4: This morning you can sleep a bit longer. We serve a late breakfast in the lodge, before we get a short car-transfer to the nature resort of the Lakes Änäkäinen. Here we explore the area around the lakes by snowshoes and have late lunch in the Kota from open fire or even outside, if weather is nice. Relax afterwards in the sauna or in the lobby of the lodge, before dinner is served again in our restaurant.
Day 5: This is your Relax-Day for own activities. You can borrow snowshoes or skis and explore the area by your own. Or just relax in the lodge. Lunch is served in the lodge, in late afternoon we heat up the sauna again for you and later we serve dinner.
Day 6: After a rich breakfast in the lodge we will load our sleds with the most necessary for our overnight tour together with the guide. Food, bedlinen, dog food and straw are already at the Aittokoski hut, which is our destination for the day. Depending on temperature, snow cover and trail conditions, the distance will be accomplished in 3-4 hours. We will serve snacks and soup for the dogs first after our arrival at the hut, later we make a fire in the cabin, heat up the sauna and prepare a late lunch ourselves. After having lunch you can enjoy in the wood sauna on the shore of a small pond or relax in the cosy hut. Later we have dinner together and feed the dogs at night.
Day 7: Today, after the morning feeding and loading the sleds, we will start on the trails from the Aittokoski. We are estimated to be 3 - 4 hours on the sledge once again and return to Eräkeskus about mid afternoon. We unload the sleds together and have a late lunch. Would you like another sauna before having dinner?
Day 8: Breakfast at the lodge, transfer to Kuopio and departure home according to your flight schedule.
Depending on your chosen arrival date, the activities of the days might be changed. For example the day off or the snowshoe-hike can be switched to the end of the weeek.
Christmas- & NewYear-Special
Here at Eräkeskus we celebrate the special days with a festive 5-course-dinner, which is served on December 24th, 25th and 31st, as well as January 1st. On Christmas- and NewYears-Eve we undertake a night-hike with torches to our open fireplace in the forest, where we serve a traditional finnish "Glögg" and some own baked starters. On top of that, our own tradition is to play "secret Santa" with all our guests on 24th December with small gifts for everybody.
Travel Dates
8 days / 7 nights
Saturday - Saturday, 21. - 28.12.2024 & 28.12.2024 - 04.01.2025
(Christmas Eve, Christmas & NewYear`s Eve, NewYear spent in the lodge)
Sunday - Sunday, 22. - 29.12.2024 & 29.12.2024 - 05.01.2025
(Christmas Eve, Christmas & NewYear`s Eve, NewYear spent in the lodge)
Thursday - Thursday, 19. - 26.12.2024 & 26.12.2024 - 02.01.2025
(ChristmasEve/NewYear`s Eve spent in the wilderness cabin, Christmas/NewYears dinner in the lodge)
Friday - Friday, 20. - 27.12.2024 & 27.12.2024 - 03.01.2025
(ChristmasEve/NewYear`s Eve spent in the wilderness cabin, Christmas/NewYears dinner in the lodge)
Rates
Rate per person in a double room € 2340.--
- Supplement single room in the lodge € 400.--
- Booking ½ Double room possible until 4 weeks before arrival
- Reduction 3rd person in extra bed: € 200.--
- No children reduction,
Included
- Transfers from/to Kuopio
- 6 nights at Eräkeskus Wilderness Lodge, basic double room, shower/WC
- 1 overnight in the Aittokoski wilderness cabin, shared room
- full board from dinner 1. day to breakfast 8. day
- Coffee/tea
- 4 days own dog team
- snowshoe-hike with lunch outdoor
- night-hike with torch and aperitif in the forests
- 6 days winter equipment (overall & boots, sleeping cotton linerfor cabin-overnight)
- 5 days with our english speaking guides
- snowshoes, cross-country skis or icefishing-equipment for daily use
- Daily evening sauna
Not included
- Gloves (fleece finger gloves and thick overgloves recommended), cap
- Thermos bottle for hot drinks during the tour
- Headlamp or flashlight
- optional sled breakage insurance € 50.--/guest
Additional information
Have a look at our equipment list for details about the equipment you need to bring and the equipment we will provide.
Our general terms and conditions apply.
We recommend an insurance for cancellation fees in case of sickness or accident!