Family winter sports holiday in Finland
| country: | Finland |
| departures: | 2009: 17 Dec, 26 Dec 2010: 15 Feb, 18 Dec, 27 Dec 2011: 19 Feb, 20 Dec, 27 Dec |
| price: | From £1319 - £1719 (7 days) per adult and from £839 - £929 per child including flights from the UK. From £949 - £1389 per adult and from £499 - £619 per child excluding flights. |
| offers: | NEW LOWER PRICES: 17th December was £1,449 now £1,319 SAVE £130 26th December was £1,449 now £1,319 SAVE £130 Price quoted includes flights, subject to availability. Child price reductions also apply, please contact us for details. |
| vouchers: | Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday |
read 3 travellers reviews
the amazing things you'll be doing
Deep in snow throughout winter, Karelia is the perfect setting for an active and exciting winter break
Husky Dog-sledding
Learn how to harness your dog team and handle the sled, then it's off through pristine wooded wilderness only hearing the crisp snow crackle and the odd bark from the dogs as you go.
Snowshoeing & Skiing
Snowshoeing is great fun and a fantastic way to get off the beaten track for a close look at the surroundings. You’ll also head onto Lake Pielinen to do some cross-country skiing and maybe explore the delightful Karelian village of Vuonislahti.
Snowmobiling & Beautiful Wilderness
You have the opportunity for a snowmobile ride. It’s a real thrill whizzing through the magical winter countryside and something you’ll remember for a long time! Your traditional log farmhouse accommodation is veiled by deep forest and tucked away in the beautiful Finnish countryside. Only reached by winding country tracks, it really is in the middle of nowhere - the perfect place for relaxation and adventure, Finnish style!
Fun in the Snow!
During your stay you’ll have plenty of time to build igloos and have snowball fights! You can also try ice fishing, or walk to the summit of Ukko Koli for Finland's most famous view over icy Lake Pielinen.
Husky Dog-sledding
Learn how to harness your dog team and handle the sled, then it's off through pristine wooded wilderness only hearing the crisp snow crackle and the odd bark from the dogs as you go.
Snowshoeing & Skiing
Snowshoeing is great fun and a fantastic way to get off the beaten track for a close look at the surroundings. You’ll also head onto Lake Pielinen to do some cross-country skiing and maybe explore the delightful Karelian village of Vuonislahti.
Snowmobiling & Beautiful Wilderness
You have the opportunity for a snowmobile ride. It’s a real thrill whizzing through the magical winter countryside and something you’ll remember for a long time! Your traditional log farmhouse accommodation is veiled by deep forest and tucked away in the beautiful Finnish countryside. Only reached by winding country tracks, it really is in the middle of nowhere - the perfect place for relaxation and adventure, Finnish style!
Fun in the Snow!
During your stay you’ll have plenty of time to build igloos and have snowball fights! You can also try ice fishing, or walk to the summit of Ukko Koli for Finland's most famous view over icy Lake Pielinen.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Depart London Fly from London Heathrow to Helsinki, where you catch a connecting flight to Joensuu in Karelia. On arrival in the evening, you are transferred to your accommodation at Heraniemi. You drive for round an hour (50 kilometres). After supper you are provided with thermal clothing for the duration of the trip. Heraniemi is situated on a hill overlooking the forest north of Joensuu. Heraniemi feels very much like the middle of nowhere – a perfect location for this winter adventure! This evening there will be a briefing on the week ahead, and a chance to make use of the sauna. Guesthouse – 2 nights (BLD) Your accommodation in Heraniemi is a big three-storey house built of old logs in 2007. There are four bedrooms of which three are situated upstairs. Downstairs there is a workroom and fireplace room, as well as WC and shower. The entrance hall, kitchen and a large living room are situated in the middle floor as well the last bedroom. The main room is typical of many buildings in Karelia, formerly used for carpentry and other handicrafts. It is also a place for eating and features a large wood-heated stove perfect for cooking traditional Karelian specialities. There is electricity and running water (hot and cold). Two hundred metres from the main building is a traditional sauna and there are a variety of animals on the farm – cats, dogs, sheep and horses. The courtyard offers beautiful views over the surrounding hills and natural landscape, including a small lake close to the main building. You may be asked to help with odd chores like carrying wood, laying the table, washing up, etc. Of course it gets dark quite early so there are a selection of books and board games at the guesthouse to provide evening entertainment. |
| Day 2: | Heraniemi – Snowshoeing After breakfast you can try your hand at snowshoeing; this is not only great fun, but a fantastic way to get a close look at the surroundings. You’ll have lunch next to an open fire and then follow a trail through the snowy forest. Your day’s outing will end back at the guesthouse where you can take it easy and have a sauna before dinner. (BLD) |
| Day 3: | Vuonislahti- Cross-Country Skiing Once you’ve had breakfast, it’s time to head out onto Lake Pielinen to do some cross-country skiing and maybe around the delightful tiny Karelian village of Vuonislahti. You’ll also be able to try your hand at ice fishing – a fantastic activity for the kids! After lunch on the lakeshore, you’ll spend the afternoon outside building igloos and making snow sculptures – with, of course, the inevitable snowball fight with your guide! (BLD) |
| Day 4: | Winter games Today you will have the opportunity to have fun in the snow as you are encouraged to take part in Winter games. Try your hand at igloo making and creating snow sculptures, go sledging and play a variety of different outdoor games. today is all about having fun and throwing plenty of snowballs at your new friends. This afternoon you have the opportunity of going on an optional snowmobile excursion (extra charge). After a comprehensive safety briefing, you take a test drive and then you’re off through the magical winter countryside! Somewhere en route you’ll stop for lunch cooked over an open fire. You take it in turns to drive, so everyone has a chance to take the wheel (or handlebars)! A snowmobile (sometimes called a skidoo) is a bit like a jet-ski that runs on snow rather than water, powered by a petrol engine that drives a single caterpillar track. Like a motorbike, it is steered by handlebars connected to two parallel skis at the front. The brakes are on the handlebars, and there is a single forward and a single reverse gear. Larger models with powerful engines can travel at over 100 kilometres per hour, but you’ll be using mid-range models and taking things a lot more gently! The driver and a pillion passenger sit on a motorbike-style seat, but - for safety - smaller children may be towed behind on a sled. Snowmobiles are simple and straightforward to drive, but it is important to take care until accustomed to the way they handle. |
| Day 5: | Hike To Ukko Koli After breakfast you will drive to Koli where you will have a short hike to the top of Ukko Koli hill for spectacular views of the Finnish Lake District. The view from this famous beauty spot is probably the most photographed in the entire country. After the hike you will have a choice of optional activities. Why not try your hand at downhill skiing or snowboarding (N.B. ski and snowboard hire and ski pass are not included), or sledding (toboggan hire included). For those who would like to see the Finnish countryside from a different vantage point there may also be the opportunity to go horse trekking with Icelandic horses; this is not suitable for beginners or children, but ponies may also be available nearby. At the end of the afternoon you drive back down to your accommodation in Herranniemi. (BD) |
| Day 6: | Dog-Sledding After a good breakfast to set you up for the day, you’ll drive about 45 minutes to the kennel of Erakeskus in Nurmijarvi. Here you learn how to harness your dog team and handle the sled. The dogs always get really excited as soon as they see the sleds coming out, and it’s often a struggle to hold them back, so the sleds have a snow anchor just for that purpose. Each sled carries two people - a driver (or musher) and a passenger (or two, in the case of small children) - pulled by a team of 4-6 huskies. It takes a while to get everything ready but eventually you’ll set off in crocodile file, with the dogs tugging hard at their harnesses before they break into a smooth rhythm. All you can hear are the runners of the sled fizzing over the frozen snow and the odd bark or yelp from the dogs. The route takes you across frozen lakes and through dense forests to today’s snack stop. After refuelling you continue the dogsled safari with good views of the surrounding countryside. The aim is to cover around 25km in two hours, before arriving back at the kennels for lunch. Transfer back to Herranniemi. (BLD) |
| Day 7: | Trip Ends; Fly To London After breakfast you transfer to the nearby town of Joensuu; you should have some time for a brief walk around the town and the chance to buy souvenirs or visit Vesikko Spa before transferring to Joensuu airport. Clients travelling on our group flights catch the flight back to Helsinki and onward connecting flight to London. (B) NB: in the event of some activities not being possible due to weather conditions e.g. lack of snow, we reserve the right to substitute other activities and/or change the location of the trip in order to try and provide those activities. |
travellers' tales
Excellent. We didn`t want to leave Karelia! (more)
small group family holiday
This is a 'small group family adventure' - typically you will join several other families and travel in a group of approx. 16 people. The trips are great value and a great way for you and your children to meet new people! While itineraries are pre-planned there is some flexibility and you'll have plenty of time to yourselves. Most adventure kids tend to be aged between 7 and 15, but some are younger (minimum age is usually 5) and some older (perhaps travelling as part of a larger family group). Please check with the operator to confirm the minimum age for this trip how this holiday makes a difference
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Our policy of staying in locally owned hotels and having local guides and group leaders wherever possible is continued in Finland. Our Finnish local agent books our accommodation and provides us with our transportation. We also use other Finnish specialists to provide us with the various activities. This all means our money stays in Finland and directly provides employment for our contacts, their staff (and dogs!). Our small groups (approx. 16 people) have a minimal impact on the fragile environment. All group leaders are responsible for ensuring that the guests understand the nature of the environment that they are in and minimise the impact that they may have.
Our Responsible Travel Code: Clients who travel with us will automatically receive a copy of our Responsible Travel leaflet. This contains details and advice on how you can make a positive difference when you travel. If you would like a copy in advance of travel please contact us. Charity Partnerships: We work in partnership with Plan International. Plan works with some of the world’s poorest communities where three out of four children die before the age of five. We also support Friends of Conservation – an international charity committed to working with local people to develop a balance between their needs and the wildlife with which they share the natural habitat and ecosystems. Carbon Balancing: Global warming is a real issue and is a direct result of your travel. We have teamed up with Climate Care to give you the opportunity to offset the carbon emissions from your flight. You’ll be asked upon booking if you want to donate – with set amounts from £5. As a company we offset the carbon emissions from all staff travel in full.  Our Foundation: We’ve highlighted a few of the ways in which we offer our support, financially or otherwise, and now you can, too. We have set up our own foundation, which will administer funds donated by you. A small donation of £1 per person will be taken when booking a holiday and that money will be put to good use by one of our carefully selected projects. If you don’t want to make the donation, just tell us when you book. |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |