Winterweek "Plus" Detailed Program – 8 Days/7 Nights

After a hearty breakfast, you'll receive your gear and a theoretical introduction to dog sledding and working with our dogs. Then it’s time to get hands-on: together, we harness the dogs – a meaningful experience that helps you connect with your team. We’ll then go on our first easy sled ride (approx. 1 to 1.5 hours, depending on the group’s skills). Back at Eräkeskus, we care for and reward the dogs before enjoying lunch and sharing our impressions of the ride. The afternoon is free for you to relax, enjoy nature, or warm up with a hot cup of tea.

Today, we take your skills to the next level with a technically more demanding trail. After harnessing the dogs, we head out for a 2 to 2.5-hour sled ride through sparkling snow, silent forests, and vast open spaces. Along the way, you’ll learn to handle the dogs during breaks and solve small issues independently. Back at the lodge, you reward your team with their soup before we sit down for lunch and discuss the upcoming overnight tour. The rest of the afternoon is yours – maybe join a gentle walk with our senior dogs or relax in the sauna.

Today we head deep into untouched nature with the dogs – covering more than 30 km. Our goal is the forest cabin Aittokoski – a rustic, remote hut with special charm. Water is collected manually, the cabin is heated with wood, and the sauna (about 50m away) is also wood-heated. You’ll be in the heart of the Finnish wilderness – and the dogs have their own cozy huts, too.

Alternatively, we may head to the holiday cabin in Ruunaa. This option offers more comfort: running water, a dishwasher, heated rooms, and a bathroom. It’s less remote, with some other cabins nearby – ideal for guests who prefer a little more comfort.

Regardless of the destination, teamwork is essential: we care for the dogs together with snacks, bones, and warm soup, prepare straw beds, and then make ourselves at home in the cabin. We light the sauna and cook a tasty dinner, finishing the day with a cozy cabin evening.

After a filling breakfast for both humans and dogs, we tidy up the cabin, refill the firewood, and prepare for the return trip. Once the sleds are packed, we head back to Eräkeskus. The afternoon is free – perhaps for a walk with one of the dogs, a nap, or simply enjoying the peacefulness. We end the day with a warm dinner in the lodge.

This day is completely yours. Explore the wilderness with snowshoes or cross-country skis – we’re happy to provide the equipment. Or simply unwind by the fireplace or in the sauna. Our dogs always enjoy a walk, especially the seniors who love extra attention. If you like, you’re welcome to help with the morning or evening feeding – a special way to experience sled dog life.

Today, we’ll go on a snowshoe hike through the protected nature area around the Änäkäinen lakes. You’ll experience a traditional Nordic way of moving through snow and take in the serene beauty of winter from a new perspective. We’ll prepare lunch over an open fire – a true nature experience! In the afternoon, we return to the lodge. Then it’s time to relax and enjoy the sauna.