Kalevala ski touring holiday in Finland

Planet

CARBON REDUCTION
The joining point of the trip is Kuusamo, which is the closest airport to the destination. From Kuusamo, we organize 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. Our tour materials provide information on travelling to and from Kuusamo by train and bus. 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.

Vegetarian meals are available throughout the tour on request. Tap water in Finland is safe and of high quality, and bottled water is not available during the tour. Finnish meat, fish and dairy products are preferred. One of the accommodation providers uses mainly local food. For example, berries are picked from the surrounding forests, while fish is locally caught and moose meat is sourced from local hunters.

Lunches are served outdoors during skiing days. Disposable plates, cups and cutlery are not used. Coffee grounds and used tea bags are composted. Other 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.

ENVIRONMENT AND WILDLIFE
The tour takes place in the wilderness areas of eastern Finland during the snowy winter season. One day is skied on maintained trails in Hossa national park. On the other days, we groom the skiing track ourselves using a snowmobile, mostly following an established winter trail. Lunch breaks are taken at designated campfire sites maintained by Metsähallitus, Parks & Wildlife Finland. We pay for the use of these facilities, contributing to their maintenance.

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 ski equipment for rent, allowing guests to use suitable equipment without having to purchase equipment 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.

All three accommodation providers on this tour are family-owned and two of them are operated by two or three generations of the same family. International groups are an important additional source of business for these companies, particularly outside the busiest domestic holiday periods. Tourism therefore provides income and employment in an area where the population and number of local businesses are relatively small. We have worked with these accommodation partners since 2000, when our company was founded.

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.