Family winter activity holiday, Finland

Planet

CARBON REDUCTION
The joining point of the trip is Kuusamo, which is the closest airport to the destination. From Kuusamo, we organise a scheduled group transfer to Hossa. At the end of the tour, a group transfer takes guests back to the airport or Kuusamo bus station for those continuing their journey to Helsinki by bus and train. Transfers are often shared between participants from different groups, reducing the number of kilometres driven compared with separate group transfers. For each transfer, we choose a vehicle suitable for the group size.

Direct flights to Kuusamo are available from a few European destinations during the winter season. When possible, we encourage guests to use direct connections. For our family tours, we organise an additional shared transfer to meet a few direct flights. We recommend using shared transfers instead of booking private transfers.

Accommodation on this tour is mainly in apartments heated with geothermal energy. The cabins have electric heating as well as air-source heat pumps. Both apartments and cabins have a wood-burning stove. To reduce laundry, bed linen and towels are not changed during the week, and there is no cleaning during the week.

On two days, lunch is served as a picnic around an open fire. Disposable plates, cups and cutlery are not used. Waste is taken back to the accommodation, where it is sorted and recycled as far as possible. Guests are instructed not to leave any waste in the wilderness.

Finnish tap water is safe and of high quality, so there is no need to purchase bottled water. We ask our guests to bring a reusable water bottle or thermos, which can be filled in the morning for the excursion. Vegetarian meals are available on request.

ENVIRONMENT AND WILDLIFE

The tour takes place in Hossa National Park during the snowy winter season. On skiing and snowshoeing days, lunch breaks are taken at designated campfire sites maintained by Metsδhallitus, Parks & Wildlife Finland. We pay a fee for the use of these services, contributing to the maintenance of facilities in the national park.

We have prepared sustainability tips for our customers, including advice on preparing for the tour and reducing their environmental impact during their holiday. The tips are available on our website and are also included in the pre-tour materials.

We offer winter clothing for rent, allowing guests to use suitable equipment without having to purchase clothing that they may otherwise rarely use.

People

LOCAL ECONOMY

We aim to ensure that tourism income benefits local businesses and communities. Our company does not own any cabins, hotels, restaurants or buses. Instead, our operations are based entirely on cooperation with a local network of partners. We work with small, mostly family-owned accommodation providers, restaurants, transport companies and other service providers in the countryside. We use local guides whenever possible. We maintain fair and reliable partnerships with our suppliers. We honour our agreements and pay our partners according to the agreed terms.

Our main local partner on this tour is a family-owned company. During the winter season, international groups are an important additional source of business for them. Tourism therefore provides income and employment in an area where the population and number of local businesses are relatively small. We have worked with this partner since 2000, when our company was founded.

The tour also includes visits to a small family-owned husky farm and a nearby reindeer farm. The husky farm is Green Activities certified, which includes criteria for the welfare of tourism animals.

EMPLOYMENT, INCLUSIVITY AND DIVERSITY

Our employees and guides are paid in accordance with Finnish legislation and applicable collective labour agreements. We expect our operating partners and service providers to comply with the same legal requirements.

Recruitment and employment decisions are based on qualifications, experience and the skills required for the job. Age, gender, sexual orientation, nationality or other personal characteristics do not affect our decisions when recruiting guides or other staff. Our responsible tourism policy prohibits all forms of discrimination and promotes equal treatment and opportunities in employment.