Mountain Adventure Holidays
Enjoy a ski journey across the stunning Finnmarksvidda. This plateau in the Arctic Circle is a popular training ground for polar explorers, and home to vast herds of reindeer tended by Sámi people. Sleep in remote wooden cabins in comfortable surroundings, while the Northern Lights dance overhead.
The Finnmarksvidda is a plateau north of the Arctic Circle in Norway, near the town of Alta. It is the largest such environment in Norway being 22,000 square kilometres (8,500 square miles) in size. It is best know as the land of the indigenous Sámi people and their reindeer herds.
Today you will arrive in Alta, Norway. For details refer to 'Arrival & Departure' under 'Trip Information'. Tonight your guide will meet you at your hotel before dinner to brief you on the trip.
Welcome to the Arctic Circle and a day of exploring the ski trails around Alta. We will begin with sorting out any hire skis and checking our kit before a day of finding our ski legs exploring the local ski trails through the birch forests. This a chance to test your equipment and remind your muscles what cross-country skiing is all about. You will have a local qualified ski guide and this is your chance to find out about this remote part of Norway which will be your home for the rest of the week. We like to do this trip in March as it is the peak season for the Northern Lights and we will be crossing our fingers and skis that they put on a show for you.
We begin our adventure by loading our kit and our dog sled into the trailer and then sitting back and taking in the scenery with a drive of around 2 hrs. We arrive at a very remote location, literally at the end of the road! The cold will ensure that we are soon keen to ski and warm up the muscles. There is a buzz of excitement as we prepare the dog sled and our kit for our epic journey. Immediately we are in the wilderness and we ski steadily across gentle terrain until we reach a lake where we stop for a rest before tackling a climb. It is here that we divert off our route to make the ascent of a local viewpoint with stunning views down Alta Canyon, one of Northern Europe's largest. A chance for your guide to talk about the protests carried out by theSámi people against the planned flooding of their land for a hydro scheme. This was to become a pivotal point in the history of theSámi people and the protection of their lands. A swooping whooping descent from the viewpoint and we make our way steadily south east towards our overnight at Jotka mountain lodge. On arrival at Jotka, our hosts Steinar and Lisa are waiting to welcome us. This mountain lodge is one of the checkpoints on both the Finnmarksløp sled dog race and the Offroad Finnmark mountain bike race.
Ascent: 185m (606ft) Descent: 194m (636ft) Distance: 16.9km (10.5 miles) Duration: 04h00 - 05h00
After breakfast, we leave Jotka behind as we set off on the longest leg of the our Finnmarksvidda Crossing. It always takes a good third minutes to warm up the legs and settle back into a distance covering stride. The first section is relatively flat and we can make good time. We follow sections of the course for the famous Finnmarksløp sled dog race and cross Iesjavri, Finnmark’s largest lake. Eventually we arrive at Mollisjok Fjellstue or mountain lodge. We are now right in the heart of the famous Finnmarksvidda mountain plateau, in the true Norwegian wilderness. We will be greeted by our host Margit, who has a hot sauna and delicious dinner waiting. You can expect reindeer to feature on the dinner menu during this trip!
Ascent: 80m (262ft) Descent: 90m (295ft) Distance: 29 km (18 miles) Duration: 07h00 - 08h00
Today we journey to Ravnastua as we cross the “hundevidda” or dog plain. This is one of the most challenging sections for the dog teams in the Finnmarksløp sled dog race. Competitors are often exhausted after little sleep and more than 800 km (500 miles) on their sleds. The terrain is slightly uphill for the first while, before reaching the top of the eastern plateau and levelling out allowing some respite from the climb. This area is exposed to the elements, so be ready for an adventure in the wild weather. As the day progresses we start to ski gentle downhill towards the birch woods. On arrival at Ravnastua, we are greeted by our host Oskar. If we are lucky, he will play his accordion in the evening!
Ascent: 116m (380ft) Descent: 169m (554ft) Distance: 23.5 km (14.7 miles) Duration: 05h30 - 06h30
Today we have our final day in the arctic wilderness. After waving goodbye to Oskar we set off for the trail head. We ski mostly through forests of mountain birch and the gentle terrain is a chance to relex on your trip across Norway's largest plateau. The Finnmarksvidda is a staggering 22,000 square kms (8,500 square miles) and provides a wonderful opportunity to spend time in a true wilderness. Our day ends with a swooping descent through the trees where a good deal of concentration is required to enjoy this rollercoaster. We arrive into the fertile Karasjokdalen valley, ending at Assebahkte, a short distance west of Karasjok. Here our taxi will meet us for the journey back to Alta.
Ascent: 77m (252ft) Descent: 329m (1079ft) Distance: 15 km (9.3 miles) Duration: 04h00 - 05h00
This morning you can enjoy a final breakfast in Alta to mark the end of your trip to Finnmark.
It is always our aim to complete the proposed itinerary outlined above, however, it may be necessary for our guides/instructors to adjust the daily itinerary based on the weather conditions, group safety and enjoyment.
On all of our trips we aim to accommodate our guests in well-situated, comfortable, characterful, family run accommodation. We take time to research, update and view the best options available. On this trip we will be staying in a hotel in Alta, the principal town in Finnmark, on the first two nights, and the final night. The other nights when we are making the Finnmarksvidda crossing we will stay in wooden cabins managed by Sámi families, the indigenous people of Finnmark. In these cabins accommodation will be dormitory style. Each cabin has a wood burning stove for warmth, and they are very cosy. Water for washing will come from a portable tank fetched from the river. It is not possible to have showers on the three nights on Finnmarksvidda, but you can have a wood fired sauna on one of the nights and we highly recommend it. We are happy to answer any questions about the accommodation. Contact Us if required.
In Alta we stay at the Canyon Hotel in the centre of the town. This family run hotel has a range of cosy Nordic style bedrooms with en suite facilities. The hotel breakfast is a buffet and extensive where you can eat as much as you like to kick start your day in the Arctic Circle. The hotel has a sauna on the top floor which is available for an additional fee and does require booking in advance. The shops and supermarket are just a short walk from the hotel.
At Jotkha Fjellstue our hosts are Steinar and Lisa who are happy to share their Sami traditions and folklore with their guests. This traditional mountain accommodation has no fixed road connection and is to be found in a small valley between two fish-rich lakes. Joutka means connecting link and comes from the waters being connected. There is a main building where we eat dinner and a few separate buildings where we will sleep in cosy dormitory style rooms which have wood burning stoves for warmth. You will not be cold! There is no running water and we will fill up a bucket from the river for washing. During winter Norway's top dog sled teams use the lodge as a training base as there is guaranteed snow.
Mollisjok Fjellstue is a haven in the Norwegian wilderness. Mollisjok is run by Torfinn who is the 7th manager to take over the lodge, providing shelter in this remote environment. Expect traditional reindeer stew for dinner, and enjoy hearing tales from the trail from your hosts. Outside you will see chunks of reindeer meat in cages, which are being air-dried on the barn walls. There are five cabins around the main building and these have anything from 4 to 8 beds per cabin. There is no running water but once again we fetch water from the river, and we can heat it on the wood-fired stove which makes the rooms really cosy. None of the cabins have an inside toilet and the toilets are situated in a nearby cabin. All these cabins have electricity so there is the chance to recharge phones, etc.
Oskar is our host at Ravnastua Fjellstua where he and his family have been offering hospitality to skiers and hikers for many years. History dates the first settlement here at 1850. As with all our accommodation our ski route is long the old post route from Alta to Karasjok and this was one of the staging posts for the mail. The family took over the management of Ravnastua in 1947. At this point all the buildings had been burned down, so re-buildnig was the first task post war. The Fjellstue can accommodation thirty people and as with the other overnights, there is a main building with cabins scattered around which provide the dormitory accommodation. Again there is no running water, but there is electricity to charge items, AND there is an indoor dry toilet so no venturing into the snow during the night.
Alta, Norway can be reached by air from Oslo and other destinations. The flight time is around 3 hours. Alta airport is located only 4 km from the city and a taxi transfer or the local bus is easily arranged. Alta can also be reached by road from Oslo, but it is a drive of nearly 22 hours.
When booking a trip we ask you to acquire insurance to cover you for the following:
Mountain Rescue Insurance
It is a condition of booking that you are insured against medical expenses, injury, illness, death, mountain rescue, cost of repatriation and personal accident risks. Please ensure that your insurance covers you to the maximum altitude given on your trip itinerary. The maximum altitude for any trip can be checked on the 'At A Glance' box on each trip page. Most of our trips have a maximum altitude of 3,000 metres. If you are unsure or are joining a bespoke trip, then please ask us for specific details.
Trip Cancellation/Curtailment Insurance
You should also have insurance to cover trip cancellation and curtailment. Please note that your deposit and balance payments are non-refundable, unless it is Tracks and Trails who cancel the trip due to a failure to reach the required minimum numbers. In this case we will offer you a refund or the option of transferring to another trip if one is available. We also advise that you should have insurance which covers baggage loss/equipment damage as Tracks and Trails will not be held responsible for loss/damage to baggage/equipment.
COVID-19 Insurance
As well as medical cover, we recommend that you have appropriate travel insurance so that if you fall ill and test positive for COVID-19 prior to (or during) your trip, you will be financially covered for cancelling your trip. You should also consider booking a policy that covers you if you have to cancel or curtail your holiday because you have to self-isolate. If you choose to cancel, cancellation charges will be payable, but if the reason for your cancellation is covered under the terms of your insurance policy, you may be able to reclaim these charges. Please read the clauses below detailing trip cancellation and curtailment.
Travel Insurance covering COVID-19 is now available from a number of suppliers, Campbell Irvine, Trailfinders and Staysure. Please check their websites for the latest information on what is and isn't covered. It is likely that more companies will offer COVID related cover in the future.
All of the above insurances are detailed in our Terms and Conditions.
If you are joining a trip in the UK helicopter/mountain rescue insurance is not required as this is a free service.
For further details, please read the Insurance section on our website.
Winter temperatures in Scandinavia are 'according to the locals' becoming warmer, which is why we now run trips in the months of January, and February, as well as the traditional ski touring months of March and April. Even in January when the daylight hours are short we find that we have more than enough time for skiing. We have never yet had guests feeling they were losing out in terms of ski hours by booking in January or February. There is a special pleasure to starting your ski day in the sunrise, and skiing back with the sunset.
Historically temperatures in December have averaged -8°Celsius (17.4°F), in January -9.7°Celsius (14.5°F), in February -9.2°Celsius (15.4°F), in March -6.6°Celsius (20.1°F), and in April -2.3°Celsius (27.9°). Clearly there is the potential for temperatures to drop much lower, but rarely lower than -15°C (5°F).
We have found over the years that these temperatures have not been unpleasant nor have any guests had problems dealing with the weather as it is generally a 'dry' cold, and of course this helps create great snow and therefore great ski tracks. If we do experience a cold snap where temperatures drop then we ensure that everyone is appropriately clothed and kitted out for the ski day. In this respect energy snacks and a thermos with a hot drink are a great comfort!
If you are booked on one of our 'Advanced' or 'Challenging' point-to-point journeys and we experience very cold temperatures eg -15°Celsius (5°F) then we would expect you to be able to be efficient and keep moving and to manage your comfort.
You can hire skis at the start of the trip. These will be non metal edged off-track skis, and off-track boots. The hire skis do not have metal edges to avoid injury to the sled dog as often they love to run amongst the skiers! They are good skis and the correct model for the terrain you will encounter. You can, however, use your own metal edged skis provided you are aware you must keep your distance from the dogs. The 5 days of ski hire in 2025 will cost 1909 NOK. The ski tracks are free to use and no ski pass is required.
When packing for a trip in the mountains it is important to have appropriate equipment and clothing. This kit list features items we believe are necessary for the weather you will encounter and accommodation you will be staying in. You will carry a day pack while skiing, but can also add a 5 kg (11 lbs) bag to the dog sled for overnight items, and a change of clothes.
Group equipment - we share out emergency lightweight shelters between the group.
Equipment
The preferred skis and boots for this trip are Nordic touring skis similar in width to the Åsnes 'Finnmark 54', with a side cut of 68-54-61or the Fischer 'Transnordic 59' with a side cut of 59-49-55. The 'sidecut' refers to the width of the ski in millimetres; at the tip, the middle, and the tail. The hire skis will be of good quality and from the range of off-track skis by Åsnes. They will be 'fishscale', also known as 'crown' skis. They do not have metal edges to avoid injury to the polar dogs who love to run amongst the skiers. You can bring your own metal edged skis, but we ask you take care when near the dogs.
Boots should be BC NNN profile and made of leather or soft plastic with vibram soles. Poles should be of touring length and fit snugly into the armpit with the basket on the snow surface. If in doubt about the suitability of your own skis please contact us.
Skis, boots, and poles - can be hired on arrival, you should have notified us upon booking if you require to hire. If you are hiring boots we strongly recommend that you tape up your heels and any areas which are possible issues, such as a bunion, BEFORE skiing in the boots. Do not take any chances and risk ruining your holiday. We recommend Tensoplast as a tape that can help avoid blisters. It should be applied the night before and left to 'set' into the shape of your foot.
Clothing
Comfort
Personal First Aid
Documentation
Additional Items
**Supplementary snacks if you follow a gluten free or coeliac diet**
Leaders are all first aid trained and carry their own first aid kit
On many of our trips there will be an element of 'group kit' which will be shared amongst our guests. As mountain people you will be used to team work and working together to the mutual benefit and safety of the group.
The 'group kit' will be minimal and usually just a case of sharing a few lightweight 'survival shelters'. For example on a week-long trip you may carry a small shelter for just one day before passing it on to the next person.
If you are booking a trip in winter there will be a few additional safety items. These will be distributed in such a way that no one is over burdened.
Other group items necessary for safety and comfort will be carried by your guide/instructor.
This trip is unusual in that we use off-track skis, but often we are skiing on skidoo tracks which offer a pressed snow surface. So rather a hybrid of the two styles of off-track and on-track. You should be happy at Off-track Intermediate level, you can view the grade here. Most of the terrain is flat or gentle undulating, but the final day is a sustained descent to end of the trail. You should enjoy staying in remote wilderness areas and in basic but cosy accommodation. There is no running water, but we will collect water from a nearby source. On one of the nights you have the luxury of a wood fired sauna.
You should be a person who loves an adventure, and who has the mental and physical stamina to deal with all weathers, which at times may mean being uncomfortable, and dealing with biting cold, strong winds, and difficult visibility. You much be self-sufficient in terms of keeping yourself hydrated, warm, and fuelled. If using grip wax you should be competent at waxing and able to deal with any wax requirements quickly and efficiently.
Trips become guaranteed when we reach a minimum numbers of participants, in this case 4. We take a maximum of 7 guests on a trip of this nature.
There is the possibility of booking a single room on this trip for a total of three nights. The first two nights in our hotel at Alta, and the final night at our hotel in Alta. For a single room for these three nights the supplementary payment will be £400. Please contact us if you want more information.
This trip will be led by a locally based Norwegian Nature Guide who is well versed in dealing with the conditions on the Finnmarksvidda. Unlike our other Nordic ski trips this trip is not intended as a trip with ski instruction. Your guide can give some coaching on technique, but they are not ski instructors and their primary focus is on keeping you safe, warm, and fuelled. Because of the specialised nature of this trip we have partnered with a local team of guides who have been working on this route for many years. You will most likely have a polar dog pulling a pulka (sled) carrying extra emergency items and your small kit bag.
Lunches are included in your trip fee. In Norway it is traditional to make your own packed lunch sandwiches from the breakfast buffet. This would be forbidden in many other countries, but in Norway it is the norm. A paper bag will normally be supplied in which to wrap your lunch, but feel free to bring a small plastic box if you wish. There is also the option to fill your thermos with either tea or coffee. You might want to bring tea bags of your favourite brew, or a bottle of diluting juice?
On your itinerary you will find an indication of the amount of ascent and descent you can expect each day. This offers a guideline to how much effort might be expended each day and allows you to decide, based on previous experience, if your fitness and stamina are correct for the trip.
We make every attempt to ensure these statistics are as accurate as possible, but ask you to note that the most modern of technology used to record these details can show considerable variations in terms of ascent, descent, and in particular distance. In other words no two people using GPS devices on the same route will have exactly the same details recorded at the end of the day.
The statistics given should be used as a 'general' indication of the effort required.
Your leader will carry the correct maps and you are not expected to navigate, but if you would like to have a map detailing the trip you can refer to the ones below. The maps are usually available in Alta in the local book store, but no promises!
Øvre Stabbursdalen 1: 50,000 Nordeca 10175
Máze 1:50,000 Nordeca 10170
Karasjohka 1:50,000 Nordeca 10171
During this trip you will ski with a day pack with essential items , and you will have the chance to take a small extra pack of no more than 5 kg (11 lbs) which will be towed in a pulka. A pulka is a short, low, small sled used in these parts for transporting food and equipment. In this case it will be pulled by a polar dog. Your main luggage can be left at our hotel in Alta for your return.
A passport with 6 months remaining validity at the end of your stay is generally required. Please check the relevant embassy or consulate for the country you are visiting, paying attention to your citizenship. It is your responsibility to ensure that you have the correct travel documents and visas for your holiday. Visa requirements and charges are subject to change without notice.
We ask that you carry a paper copy of your passport with you on your trip. We suggest keeping your passport in your rucksack, and a paper copy of your passport in any luggage you might have. If your trip is without luggage transfers then keep a paper copy somewhere in your rucksack, separate from your original document.
We recommend you check if you require an adaptor for your electrical items at:
Plug, Socket & Voltage by Country
Note that if your trip involves staying in a mountain refuge/rifugio/hut that electric sockets may be in short supply and for that night you may not be able to charge any items. Although the accommodation will have electricity this will often be supplied by solar panels or a generator and limited to use by the staff. For this reason we advise that carrying a small slimline and lightweight 'battery pack' can be very useful for recharging phones which many of you will also use as your camera.
Tracks and Trails pays guides/instructors a fair and appropriate fee for their professional service. However, if you feel your guide/instructor has provided an excellent service that went 'above and beyond' then it is at the discretion of each guest whether to tip or not. Guests will often give a tip of between 2 - 5 per cent of the total value of their trip. It is entirely up to you and any gesture will no doubt be appreciated no matter the size.
Before booking consider whether you expect to be in the appropriate physical condition on the date of your departure to allow you to fully participate in and enjoy your holiday. If you have any doubts because of an illness or injury it would be advisable to check with your doctor.
For UK residents travelling to an EU country you should obtain and bring with you a free Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC). This entitles you to state provided medical treatment in certain European countries, but is not a substitute for medical travel insurance.
If you have a UK European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) it will be valid until the expiry date on the card. Once it expires, you’ll need to apply for a GHIC to replace it. The UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) lets you get state healthcare in Europe at a reduced cost or sometimes for free. Please check this before departing. We advise that you always carry your insurance documents with details of the Emergency Medical telephone number for your insurance provider, and your policy number.
We feel strongly about protecting the environment and do not encourage the use of single-use plastic items. We would ask that you arrive with a ‘water bottle’ or ‘hydration system’ that can be used repeatedly. We would point out that we operate a ‘zero tolerance’ for rubbish, and would ask you to remove all your rubbish items from the mountain even those you consider to be bio-degradable. In particular we ask that you remove any toilet tissue.
You can read our full policy here.
Working across international boundaries, and with various currencies means that the price of our trips can change overnight. We have, however, undertaken to guarantee that once you have paid your deposit the price of your trip is fixed. In this respect we urge you to book early to ensure that you receive the price advertised on our website. The website price may increase due to currency fluctuations, but we guarantee that the price advertised on the date of your booking will be maintained in your individual case.
Prices may vary depending on date.
| Dates | Price | |
|---|---|---|
|
Sun 02 Mar - Sat 08 Mar Code: FIN1 |
Price: £2395 | Full |
| From Price | £0 |
| Holiday Type | Nordic Touring 'Off Track' |
| Duration | 8 Days |
| Group Size | 4-7 |
| Minimum Age | 18 |
| Maximum Altitude | 1000m (3280ft) |
| Countries Visited | Norway |
| Meet In | Alta, Norway |
