Ski the Finnish Russian Frontier
Ski the Finnish Russian Frontier
Ski the Russian Finnish Frontier
Clearly enjoying themselves!
Ski Lapland Beyond the Artic Circle
Ski the Finnish Russian Frontier

Ski the Finnish Russian Frontier


Cross Country Skiing in Finland

NOTE THIS ITINERARY WILL BE UPDATED AND ADJUSTED FOR 2024. WE SUGGEST YOU CONTACT US FOR INFORMATION BEFORE BOOKING. 

A unique opportunity to develop your skiing in Vuokatti, Finland then put it into practice and ski a point-to-point journey along the frontier between Finland and Russia. Ski 105km over 6 days on prepared trails. Our route follows the Eastern Border winter trail, taking you through pristine wilderness areas. If you have a sense of adventure and would like to experience the joy of skiing through a beautiful winter landscape where few others go, then this is the trip for you. With luck, you may even witness the Northern Lights dancing across the night sky! 

Highlights

  • Epic journey on a remote frontier
  • Ski tracks prepared just for you
  • 3 days of tuition & 3 days of touring
  • Perfect first point-to-point tour
  • Cosy log cabins in the wilderness
  • Saunas in the woods
  • Expert local Wilderness Guides 
  • Learn about reindeer herding
  • Chance to see The Northern Lights
  • Learn with a BASI Approved Nordic Ski School

We have teamed up with excellent Finnish Arctic Wilderness Guides to take you on an incredible journey through the winter landscape. You will also have the benefit of a BASI qualified Cross Country Ski Instructor from the Tracks and Trails team. A wonderful opportunity to learn about the culture and people of this Russian Finnish frontier area while also improving your ski technique. From December to April the area is deep in snow, offering a long season of winter ski tours. Don't be worried it will be too cold, even if it drops to -25 degrees Celsius the dry continental climate doesn't pose a problem. Throughout our ski trip we stay in comfortable wilderness cabins and guest houses, with saunas available every night except one.


Delightful company, very experienced coach, I learnt a lot! Excellent coaching at the first venue. The Hossa National Park was breathtakingly beautiful, and it was clear there would be spectacular views and wildlife opportunities. Am really keen to try and get back next year!
 

 
 
- Gail, UK, 2020

An excellent experience all round. You really feel that you are out in the wilderness. We saw more reindeer than cars and the sauna and ice dips were amazing.

- Helen, England, 2019

The food was amazing with perfect hospitality. Sitting on the veranda in the sunshine mid sauna was glorious. Close second would be the night before in the deserted farm. Our guide…immensely skilled and experienced with a wealth of stories and a fierce sauna technique!

- Sarah, England 2018

Itinerary

  • Today you begin your journey in Finland with your arrival at Kaajani airport, and then your 45 minutes transfer to Vuokatti. This area is without doubt one of the most famous cross country ski resorts in Finland. This evening your ski instructor, who will be a qualified professional, will discuss your trip and answer any questions you might have about the days ahead.

  • Vuokatti is one of the most versatile all-year-round holiday destinations in Finland offering an almost endless list of trails and activities. The first snow usually arrives in November and lasts through until at least the end of April. The cross-country ski tracks are among the best in the country especially during the first snow of the season attracting many of the world’s top cross country skiers to early season training camps. Many trails start from the main Vuokatti Sports Institute, which sits at the crossroad of around 150 km (94 miles) of ski trails. About 32 km (20 miles) of which are a network of illuminated tracks for evening skiing. 

    It's here at Vuokatti that we take time to re-fresh our ski skills and find our ski legs. We will structure the day in such as way that a natural progression is taken allowing you to pick up new 'tips and skills' to improve your ski technique to ensure your enjoy your three day ski journey along the Finnish-Russian frontier.

    Ascent: 120m (393ft) Descent: 110m (360ft) Distance: 8-10km (5-6.2 miles)

  • After a hearty breakfast we will once again take to the tracks and enjoy the best that Vuokatti has to offer. They say that 'Champions are made in Vuokatti' and we will be doing our best to help you at least a small way along that road! But don't worry we firmly believe that skiing is all about having fun and we aim to make sure you have a great time learning to the art of 'nordic' skiing. It is worth noting though that such is the quality of the cross country skiing in Vuokatti that Finland's largest long distance cross country ski race is held here each March. Today we will continue to explore the vast network of cross country ski trails, developing your confidence and furthering your ski skills with your own highly qualified Tracks and Trails ski instructor.

    Ascent: 348m (1141ft) Descent: 340m (1115ft) Distance: 19km (12 miles)

  • We enjoy our last ski in Vuokatti this morning when we will consolidate the skills that you have picked up over the last few days. Then in the afternoon we have a private transfer of 2h30 to Jatkonsalmi cabin located in the heart of the new Hossa national park where we meet our Finnish wilderness guide.

    Ascent: 120m (393ft) Descent: 120m (3938ft) Distance: 11km or 16km (7 or 10 miles) 

    The Hossa National Park was established in 2017 as the 40th national park in Finland with the aim of marking 100 years of independence. The village is a popular outdoor tourist destination and is known for the oldest rock paintings in Northern Finland, dating back to 1500-2500 BC. The name "Hossa" originates from the old Sami word Huossa meaning "a place far away". Tonight we stay in a traditional log cabin in Jatkonsalmi on the shore of Lake Jatkonjärvi complete with a sauna.

  • After breakfast, we begin our ski journey to the former frontier guard station at Rajakartano. Each day we will help you to improve your technique while travelling through the forests, providing a great mix of culture and instruction. The forests are very atmospheric with lichen hanging from the trees as 'old mans beard', which is always a sign of the purity of the air. The reindeer feed on it when there is too much snow and they have nothing else. The local Finnish people will sometimes use it to make tea, and it is known as ‘poor mans spaghetti'. We will aim to do 9km (5.6 miles) in the morning, and then take lunch at the Hossa Visitor Centre, where we can also see the exhibition featuring Finland's newest National Park. 

    In the afternoon we continue our journey across the lake as we make our way towards the Russian frontier. Late afternoon you can relax in a traditional Finnish sauna, and the more adventurous among us can even try ice swimming, though it's more a case of an 'ice dip'! At night we will visit a local reindeer farm, where we will enjoy a traditional dinner and of course, learn about reindeer herding. Our accommodation tonight will be at Rajakartano, a wooden cabin by the edge of a lake. Showers and sauna are available.

    Ascent: 377m (1236ft) Descent: 456m (1496ft) Distance: 16km (10 miles)

  • We have our longest skiing day today, beginning on the tracks of Hossa before following the border guard’s trail southward. We cross many small marshlands, and ski through ancient forests. Although we have 25 km (15.6 miles) to ski today the terrain is easy and with much of it flat you will find you can enjoy the kilometres and the experience of arriving on the frontier with Russia! Every few metres there will be a pole with a yellow band around the top. This is the entrance to 'No Man's Land', and you will be warned not to stray into this area! Our accommodation tonight is a lovely experience as it is in a rustic old wooden house on the top of the Kovavaara hill. The house is very simple, and accommodation will be between the main building and two smaller log cabins. There is a wood-fired sauna to relax the muscles after your ski day, but no shower. However, you can do things the local way and douse yourself in warm water from the wooden bucket to clean off! Even if the temperatures are cold, the house and the two smaller cabins, have wood burning stoves which makes it very cosy. Even if Kovavaara doesn’t have modern comforts, in fact it's like stepping back in time to a 1950's living museum. Our guests usually say it is one of the highlights of the tour.

    Ascent: 256m (839ft) Descent: 221m (725ft) Distance: 26km (16 miles)

  • This morning we continue our journey along the Russian border zone. We will follow the yellow border zone markers, and these will be our guides for the entire day. On several occassions today we have a view into Russia. In the afternoon we will arrive at Arola situated just a stones throw from the Russian border. Arola is famous for delicious food made by our hostess Helena from local ingredients. The farmhouse, which was built in 1936, also has an interesting history. At that time the owner, Lempi, towed her children on a sledge for over 10 km (6.3 miles) to escape from Russian soldiers invading Finland. She was able to warm the local villagers of the danger and the villages were evacuated. All this and more to be learned over a cosy dinner in a traditional log house served by our hostess. Helena revels in telling tales of the past and the relationship between the local Finnish people and their Russian neighbours. Be prepared to be entertained over a delicious home cooked meal! Showers and sauna available.

    Ascent: 170m (557ft) Descent: 215m (705ft) Distance: 19.4km (12 miles)

  • Today is your departure day. We have breakfast and then we have our private transfer to the airport at Kajaani. Please contact us to confirm arrangements before you book any flights.

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. 

Accommodation

We always aim to accommodate our guests in well-situated, characterful, family run accommodation. Our suggested accommodation is subject to availability at the time of booking. We have given details below of our favoured accommodation for this trip and the ones we intend to use. If unavailable we will book alternative accommodation of similar standard.

Our trip fees are based on two people sharing a room. If you are travelling on your own your booking will be based on a twin bedroom sharing with someone of the same gender. Single rooms may be available on the first 3 nights when we stay in a hotel at Vuokatti, but, if requested, these will incur a supplementary fee. We recommend booking as early as possible to secure a single room as these are always limited in number. Please contact us for details.

On this trip we stay in a hotel for three nights and then we begin our hut to hut ski tour when we stay in comfortable wilderness log cabins and a guest house. All the accommodation except Kovavaara has electricity, and there is a sauna at all of the cabins to ease those muscles! The accommodation is mostly in twin rooms, but on rare occasions triple/quadruple/mixed gender rooms may be used.  In reality we find that with a group of 10 guests there is enough room in the large wooden cabins for people to spread out and it is not unusual for couples to have a room to themselves. 

Sokos Hotel, Vuokatti

Hotel

For the first three nights of this trip we are in a very comfortable hotel at Vuokatti. The rooms are spacious, and decorated with natural colour tones taken from the surrounding nature. There is an entire sauna 'department' on the top floor of the hotel offering panoramic views to the hills. 

The hotel has all the major facilities you would expect to find in a resort hotel and is just 45 minutes from Kajaani airport. The airport bus does in fact stop right at the hotel door. There are two restaurants in the hotel, one which serves traditional Finnish food featuring reindeer on the menu, and another that is more casual dining. They cater well for all diets. The bedrooms all have wifi, a kettle for tea making and they have hairdryers. There is a gym and stretching room at the hotel, and a large sports centre with 3 swimming pools just a 5 minute walk. The ski tracks leave from the hotel door, and it is a short walk to the ski hire shop, beginners arena and a large sports shop. There are male and female saunas on each floor of the hotel. On the third day of the trip when we have an afternoon departure for Hossa and out point to point tour, you will be able to leave your luggage with the hotel and take a shower in the gym before we depart. 

The hotel is certainly a contrast to the accommodation on the hut-to-hut segment of your holiday where you will be able to revel in the silence and remoteness of the traditional cabins you will be staying in. 

Jatkonsalmi

Cabin

Jatkonsalmi will be your first trip experience of a traditional Finnish log cabin. It is in a lovely setting in the Hossa National Park, on the shores of Lake Jatkonjärvi. The cabin is spacious with a total of 8 bedrooms, with 28 beds. There are shared toilets and showers, but given that our group is not likely to be more than 10 this means there is plenty of room for everyone. 

There is a large lounge area and a log fire to keep us cosy. There is also a sauna nearby which is shared with Teräväpää cabin. Meals are served by our guides, and will be simple, but plentiful.

Rajakartano

Cabin

The wooden cabin at Rajakartano is a former frontier guard station. Again it is in a lovely setting in the forest by the lakeside. It has a kitchen, living room, 3 toilets and a shower. There is a separate sauna building by the lake, where you can go to dip in the ice cold lake! Showers are also available at the sauna.

The accommodation is spread across 5 bedrooms, of which 3 are twin rooms, and 2 are quads. Dinner will be a traditional Finnish meal taken at the local reindeer farm which is about 15 minutes walk from the cabin. The herder who is called Kimmo will no doubt introduce you to his 30 reindeer. 

Kovavaara

Cabin

For many the night at Kovavaara is one of the highlights of the trip. A simple wooden cabin in a remote location in the woods, and certainly a delight to find it at the end of your longest ski day. There is even a wood fired traditional sauna where you can wash yourself down with steaming hot water! Dinner is prepared by your guides and taken by candlelight!

The main building at Kovavaara has three different rooms with several beds in each, but there are also two smaller log cabins available, so there is enough space for everyone and a cosy atmosphere. The sauna is in the separate building, and there are no showers. This is the only accommodation with an outhouse. There is no central heating, but the house is heated with several wood fired stoves, and in case it is very cold we have warm sleeping bags. 

Arola, Finland

Guesthouse

Arola is simply a lovely place to stay, made all the more special by the hospitality of Helen who is definitely a 'character'. The accommodation is in traditional Finnish style with a lot of 'wood'. Guests are usually accommodated in a range of cabins near the main building. As always there is a sauna available, after all it is part of Finnish life!

In total Arola has a number of bedrooms accommodating up to 14 people. These are mostly twin rooms, with shared toilet and showers. Arola is well-known for delicious food mostly from local ingredients. Dinner is served in the main building in a traditional log-house, Helena will no doubt take the chance at dinner to tell you many tales of her life as a Finn - she's great! You may also meet her husband Eero, their son Jeru (who may be your skidoo driver of the trip) and his wife Jonna. A real family concern. 


  • Arrival

    The meeting and departure point for this trip is Kajaani airport in Finland. The transfer from Kajaani to Vuokatti takes 45 minutes and is included in your trip price. The transfer time on arrival is set to meet the flight leaving Helsinki at 1550hrs, arriving to Kajaani at 1710hrs.

    If you arrive at a different time or miss your connecting flight and arrive later than the allotted time you can either take the public ski bus, costing approximately 10 Euros, which will take you to your hotel, or book a private taxi.

    When booking a taxi we recommend that you to ring to book it immediately. If booking 6 or more hours in advance you secure a fare of 35 Euros to Vuokatti, otherwise it will be 95 Euros. The taxi number is +358 40 660 8000 and the website is Ktaoy Airport Taxi.

    Please be aware that Finnair often sells flights from London with just a 40 minute change time in Helsinki. In our experience this is too short a time to get through passport control to make the next flight. If the flight times are not convenient for you then we suggest you arrive a day earlier and take time to explore Helsinki before taking the internal flight to Kajaani. 

    Departure

    At the end of your trip you will be transferred from Arola back to Kajanni airport. This transfer is included in your trip fee. We will depart from Arola at 0740hrs and arrive at the airport at 1000hrs in time to check-in for the flight departing for Helsinki at 1125hrs going via Jyvaskyla arriving to Helsinki at 1320hrs.

    Kajanni is a very small airport and arriving 1h30 ahead of a departure is normal. There is also a second flight departing at 1735hrs if you choose to take this then we can still take you to the airport on the morning transfer but you might like to have time in Kajanni centre before the flight.

  • Activity, Injury and Mountain Rescue

    It is a condition of booking that you are insured against medical expenses, injury, illness, death, cost of repatriation and personal accident risks. For all of our trips your insurance must also cover mountain rescue. The exception to this is if the trip is being held in the United Kingdom or Norway where mountain rescue is free of charge. 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. 

    Trip Cancellation/Curtailment Insurance

    You should also have insurance to cover trip cancellation and curtailment. Insurance should be booked as soon as we have confirmed that your trip is going ahead. 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.

    All of the above insurances are detailed in our Terms and Conditions. For further details, please read the Insurance section on our website.

  • We ski in Finland at the time of year when the snow is at it's best, which is from mid-February onwards. The snow season in the inland regions of southern and central Finland, see the first snow falls at the beginning of December and it usually melts during late March and April. The temperatures in February are usually around -3°Celsius (26.6°F) during the daytime, and dropping to approximately -10°Celsius (14°F) during the night. 

  • In Finland the use of the ski tracks is free so there is no ski pass required.

    The skis needed for this week are 'classic style'. The ski hire for the week is expected to be 90€ for winter 2022, and we will be renting from https://www.vuokattiskiservice.fi/

    In Vuokatti the ski rental is skin-grip technology with NNN bindings. If you prefer to bring your own shoes and rent just skis and poles that is possible but the price is the same. Please make sure that your boots are compatible with NNN bindings. Ski rental can be paid for by credit card.

    To ensure we get the correct sizes, equipment hire is arranged in advance. Please make note of your equipment hire on our Booking Form. We will need to know your height, weight, normal shoe size (you must give us your everyday shoe size and not your personal adjustment for wearing boots) and the measurement of your height up to your armpits (for ski pole hire). The skis we use are “normal” cross-country skis for classical style, and the width is usually 44 mm.

  • Your safety while skiing is our top priority. All skiers are requested to adhere to the Code of Conduct published by the International Ski Federation, or FIS. The aim is to make you, the skier, aware of how to avoid risks, take responsibility and act thoughtfully while on the cross-country ski tracks. 

    • Respect for others
      A cross-country skier must ski in such a manner that he/she does not endanger or
      prejudice others.
    • Respect for signs, direction and running style
      Trail marking signs must be respected on any trail marked with an indicated
      direction. A skier shall proceed only in that indicated direction and ski in the
      indicated running style.
    • Choice of trails and tracks
      On cross-country trails with more than one packed track, a skier should choose
      the right-hand track. Skiers in groups must keep in the right track behind each other. With free
      running style, skiers shall keep to their right-hand-side of the trail.
    • Overtaking
      A skier is permitted to overtake and pass another skier to the left or right. A skier ahead is not obliged to give way to an overtaking skier, but should allow a faster skier to pass whenever this is possible.
    • Encounter
      Cross-country skiers meeting while skiing opposite directions shall keep to their
      right. A descending skier has priority.
    • Poles
      A cross-country skier shall make the utmost effort to keep his poles close to his/her
      body when near another skier.
    • Control of speed
      A cross-country skier, and especially going downhill, shall always adapt his/her
      speed to personal ability and to the prevailing terrain and visibility and to the
      traffic on the course. Every skier should keep a safe distance from the skiers ahead. As a last resort, an intentional fall should be used to avoid collision.
    • Keeping trails and tracks clear
      A skier who stops must leave the trail. In the case of a fall, he/she shall clear the trail
      without delay.
    • Accident
      In case of an accident, everyone should render assistance.
    • Identification
      Everybody at an accident, whether witnesses, responsible parties or not, must
      establish their identity. 
  • 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. 

    Equipment

    This trip uses ‘classic’ cross country skis and if you are hiring they will usually come with a NNN binding.  If you are considering bringing your own, it is acceptable to use ‘fishscales’ or ‘skintec skis’ on this trip, but they must fit in the tracks, so should be a maximum of 66mm at their widest point. The skis you will hire will not be ‘fishscales’, but are more likely to be ‘skintec’. If in doubt about the suitability of your own skis please contact us.

    Skis, boots, and poles with large baskets (not racing baskets) and standard wrist loops (so that you can easily use a large glove if needed). These can be hired at the start of the trip. If you are intending to hire you must inform us as soon as possible as equipment must be booked in advance. The type of ski supplied by the hire shop and costs are in the 'Ski Rental' section of the Trip Information page.

    • Ski ties - to hold your skis together, useful but not essential
    • Rucksack - 20 to 25 litres with waist and chest strap. You need space to carry your kit, and an item of group kit
    • Rucksack waterproof cover or liner to keep contents dry
    • Water container - 1 litre, drink tubes and bottles stowed on the outside of your rucksack usually freeze in winter
    • Whistle

    Clothing 

    • Waterproof jacket - essential, this must keep you dry during a day of continuous snowfall or at least as dry as any waterproof jacket ever keeps you!
    • Waterproof trousers - in case of heavy snowfall
    • Trousers - lightweight, windproof and warm 
    • Thermal top - long sleeves
    • Thin fleece - long sleeves
    • Waistcoat - fleece/wind stopper 
    • Gloves x 2 (one thick and one thin)
    • Over-mittens for colder days can be useful
    • Warm hat
    • Sun hat
    • Head/ear band 
    • Duvet jacket (or second warm layer)
    • Scarf or 'Buff' for neck
    • Socks - 2 or 3 pairs

    Comfort

    • Lip salve
    • Sunscreen - essential
    • Sunglasses - essential
    • Goggles - or Nordic Ski Visor
    • Snack bars/chocolate
    • Tissues - we recommend biodegradable bags to dispose of rubbish
    • Anti-bacterial hand wash
    • Toilet tissue - for the nights in cabins

    Personal First Aid

    • Personal medication 
    • Blister plasters (e.g. Compeed)
    • Painkillers/anti-inflammatory
    • Glucose tablets/Energy gel
    • 2 x Rehydration sachets - eg Dioralyte
    • Throat lozenges
    • Antiseptic cream/spray

    Documentation 

    • Mountain Rescue/Ski Insurance documents - compulsory
    • Passport
    • Credit card
    • Cash - Euros
    • GHIC - if travelling from UK for medical cover

    Additional Items

    • Slippers for use at accommodation
    • Clothing for use at accommodation
    • Hair dryer if required (it is not standard for hotels to provide one)
    • Travel Kettle if required (it is not standard for hotels to provide one)
    • Swimwear for when sauna is available
    • Camera/ Book/Music
    • Toiletries – soap/shower gel; not all accommodation supplies these
    • Ear plugs - if room sharing
    • Small thermos for hot drinks
    • Short gaiters for snowy days
    • Head torch - plus spare batteries 
    • Padlock - for luggage being transferred

    Items that are provided

    •  Towels
    • Bed linen
    • Sleeping bags and liners when staying in Kovavaara Cabin
    • Ski waxes and other material needed for waxing

     **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.

  • For each of our trips a minimum number of guests is required before we can confirm that your trip will go-ahead. The minimum and maximum number of guests on your trip is displayed in the 'At a Glance' box on the righthand side of the trip page. 

    We strongly advise you do not book travel until we have confirmed your trip is 'guaranteed' to run. If you book travel before we have confirmed it is 'guaranteed' we cannot be held responsible for any financial loss if the trip does not go ahead.

  • When booking a holiday as a solo traveller a twin bedded room comprising of two single beds, is booked as standard. This will be with someone of the same gender unless you request to pay extra for your own room. Single rooms are often limited in supply so if you would like to pay a supplement for a single room we urge you to get in touch as soon as possible.

    On this trip single rooms are available on the first three nights at Vuokatti. In which case the single supplement is £250. However, it is possible that on the other nights in the forest cabins you may have a single room by default due to the amount of rooms available.

  • We go to great lengths to work with first class ski instructors who are passionate about their work. 

    Your ski instructor will be a BASI qualified, or equivalent, Nordic Ski Instructor. BASI is the British Association of Snowsport Instructors and is one of Europe's leading examining boards for those choosing a career in snow sports. For some countries your ski instructor will hold the national qualification required for the country you are visiting. All are all fully qualified, insured, and hold the correct documentation.

    In the majority of cases your instructor will also be a fully qualified and experienced International Mountain Leader. International Mountain Leaders are not only qualified to ensure the safe management of the group, but are also a source of knowledge about the local flora and fauna, and traditions of the area which you are visiting. 

    Please note your instructor has complete discretion to make a daily decision on whether or not to take the advertised route based on the weather and the ability of the members of the group. They have our authority to make any route changes they believe are necessary in the interests of safety and enjoyment. 

    You can learn more about our guides and instructors on the About Us page. 

  • During this trip you will have access to your luggage each day, firstly in an hotel, and then on the journey element of the trip while staying in cabins. It means your bags are transferred each day to the next accommodation and you only need to carry a small/medium sized 'rucksack' for items you might need during the course of the day. Please refer to the kit list for this trip for guidance on the size of rucksack required.

    As your luggage will be moved along the route by taxi/skidoo we ask that you keep the weight to a maximum of 15kgs (33lbs), and ONE bag per person. Also with regard to weight be aware that you will have to carry your luggage to your bedroom, which may involve climbing stairs. Luggage on wheels is generally a good idea.

    On some occasions, luggage can be misplaced in transit between flights. We therefore recommend you bring some clothes and shoes in your hand luggage so that you can still ski on the first day while your luggage catches up with you. If you opt for a flight which has a relatively short 'connection' time at Helsinki then this is important. 

  • For the first three skiing days at Vuokatti your lunch is not included. You will be able to either order a packed lunch, or we may plan to stop at a cafe by the tracks. Your instructor will advise you of the options. 

    For the three days when we are journeying along the Finnish Russian frontier your lunch will be included. This will be a picnic often taken in the outdoors. Usually you will be served soup and a sandwich. 

  • 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 maps of the itinerary you will find that the one given below covers your route:

    Hossa-Martinselkonen 2013: 1:50,000

     

  • It is useful to arrive at your destination with some cash in the local currency, however, on most occasions it is relatively easy to visit a 'cash machine' after arrival and withdraw money on a credit or debit card. Some of our locations are an exception to this in particular Norway, where the accommodation will often have no facilities for withdrawing cash, but they will take a credit card. 

    On many of our trips we will visit remote cafes/farms where it is wonderful to enjoy a drink and a cake, at places such as these they will often only accept payment in the local currency in cash.

  • Food

    On all of our trips we encourage you to experience local tastes and dishes. 

    If you are vegetarian catering for your diet is not generally a problem.  If you have a 'special' diet because of an allergy/intolerance we would ask that you make your needs clear on your booking form so we can discuss your requirements with the accommodation as soon as possible. A diet that is not related to an allergy/intolerance or beliefs cannot be catered for. It is simply not possible for mountain accommodation to deal with many variations in diet while providing meals for groups. 

    In addition, if you have an allergy/intolerance we would suggest you bring/purchase suitable snacks as a supplement to the picnic lunches. At times finding gluten free bread, for example, can be an issue.  If you would like to discuss the suitability of a trip for a vegan diet, gluten or lactose intolerance please contact us

    We request that you do not CHANGE your dietary requirements during the trip as we will have pre-ordered your meals.

    Water

    The countries we visit all have tap water which is drinkable. If for any reason a particular hotel or mountain hut is having a problem with a water supply they will normally post a sign over the tap indicating that you must not drink the water. 

  • 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. 

  • We believe in team work, and enjoy working with other small high quality companies. In this respect due to the specialised nature of our holidays, we co-sell a number of trips with 'partner' companies. All the trips being sold by Tracks and Trails are organised by Tracks and Trails, but you may find guests from other companies on your trip. Partners are carefully selected to ensure they reflect our ethos and standards. By encouraging other companies to sell our trips it means your chosen holiday may reach its 'minimum' number earlier, allowing us to guarantee the trip and to give you the go-ahead to book your travel arrangements. We guarantee that companies with whom we work will offer the same price package. If you have any questions about this policy contact us and we will be happy to discuss it with you. 

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Grade: Improvers

READ GRADE DESCRIPTION

At a Glance

From Price £0
Holiday Type Point to Point Track Skiing
Duration 10 Days
Group Size 5-10
Minimum Age 18
Maximum Altitude 350m (1148ft)
Countries Visited Finland
Meet In Kajaani Airport, Finland
View all Point to Point Track Skiing Holidays

Ski the Finnish Russian Frontier

Vuokatti Winter Wonderland

Why book with T&T?

  • Highly professional guides
  • Personal service guaranteed 
  • Attention to detail throughout
  • Explore off the beaten track
  • Single rooms on request
  • No surcharge guaranteed
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