DAY 1: Arrival in Kuusamo

You will be picked up from Kuusamo (KAO) airport according to your flight arrival time in the evening. After a half an hour drive you will arrive at Adventure Apes Lodge where your guide team will welcome you with a homemade dinner and a tour briefing. After getting to know your guides and other families on this tour it is time to settle in your family room and get some rest before your Arctic adventure begins.

• Meals included: Dinner

• Total driving time: 30 mins

• Accommodation: at Adventure Apes Lodge in bunk beds in a family room

DAY 2: Gear check, Quinzee building, Sledding and Sauna intro

Today you will gather enough energy from a big family breakfast to build quinzees, which are a special kind of igloos. Before heading out, your guides will go through a gear check to ensure everyone has what they need to stay warm, dry and comfortable including clothes, shoes, and ski boots.  

With your guides you will build the quinzees in two parts starting with the base – a huge pile of snow which we will let freeze and harden overnight. Two families get together to build a quinzee and take turns sleeping in them. 

In the afternoon it is time to have some fun and go sledding! Later on you will get an introduction to Finnish sauna culture. Your guide will tell you interesting facts about the history and traditions of the sauna while you learn to heat up the traditional wood heated sauna stove. Each family will have their private sauna time in the evening. 

• Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Evening snack

• Accommodation: at Adventure Apes Lodge in bunk beds in a family room

DAY 3: Finishing  quinzees and Outdoor cooking

You will have your breakfast in the dining hall and head out to finish the quinzees. You will work hard as a family to hollow the snow out and make your quinzee a perfect place for overnight adventure together with your family.  Soon you will have another family challenge: you will make a fire without matches and cook your own lunch on open fire. 

Later in the afternoon you will participate on Monkey Olympics in the sports hall indoors. No previous skills are required but you need to be prepared for lots of laughs. Half of the families will have the chance to sleep a night in the quinzee, staying plenty warm with our four-season sleeping bags. 

• Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Evening snack

• Accommodation:

• Half of the families at Adventure Apes Lodge in bunk beds in a family room

• Half of the families in the quinzee with four season sleeping bags

Day 4: Ice Fishing, Ice Skating & Games  

Start your day with a big healthy breakfast before exploring the winter wonderland. After some play in the snow your guide will walk with you to the biggest spring in Europe, lake Kitka, and teach you the basics of ice fishing. Your family will have a chance to drill their own ice holes to catch fish. If you are lucky, we can have some fresh pike or perch for dinner at the lodge tonight!

After enjoying lunch at the lodge you will put your ice skates on and learn how to skate like a Finn. Do not worry, your guides are there to help you and you may even use special skating aids to finetune your moves on the ice. 

Each family will have their private sauna time while others are enjoying some snacks and playing educational games in the dining room. After dinner let the sense of togetherness and community linger on. Learn some Finnish, play some games and head to bed for some well deserved downtime. 

• Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Evening snack

• Accommodation: 

• Half of the families at Adventure Apes Lodge in bunk beds in a family room

• Half of the families in the quinzee with four season sleeping bags

Day 5: Snowshoe Adventure, Baking & Night Walk 

After a well slept night it is time to enjoy your healthy breakfast as a  family in the dining room and soon head out to prepare for your snowshoe hike. Your guide will provide you with special snowshoes and lead you through the winter wilderness path. Would you like to compete in Winter Bingo along the way? Maybe you are lucky enough and you will find some animal tracks in the snow! After this exciting adventure, you will return to the lodge to enjoy your lunch. 

Post lunch it is time to bake a special winter treat! Join the guides and other families at the lodge and bake some gingerbread together with the children. Today the parents will have some private time and may soothe their tired feet in a herbal bath in the sauna while the guides are playing some indoor sports with the children in the sports hall. 

After dinner it is time for a night walk at a relaxed speed. Everyone will switch off their head torches when it is time to enjoy the night sky. In case there aren’t clouds you may see million stars or perhaps the Milky Way. If you are lucky there might be even some Aurora Borealis dancing above the Northern Sky!  

• Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Evening snack

• Accommodation: at Adventure Apes Lodge in bunk beds in a family room

Day 6: Full Day Excursion: Reindeer Farm Visit, Husky Safari and Free Time in Ruka  

Today you will have a full day excursion outside of the Lodge. Right after breakfast you will get transferred to a traditional reindeer farm where you will meet and feed reindeer. You may also take a short reindeer sleigh ride if you wish to do so! You will also visit a small souvenir shop at the farm. 

Next you will get transferred to a husky farm where you will team up in pairs and take a short husky safari around the snow covered forest. 

In the afternoon you will get transferred at Ruka Ski Centre where you will have some free time to explore on your own as a family. There are some optional activities you can choose from. Maybe you would like to go downhill skiing or snowboarding? Or maybe you would like to do some souvenir shopping? These optional activities do not require preliminary booking and will be paid by the participants directly to the providers. 

You will meet your guide and the other families on a farewell dinner in a restaurant in the Ruka Ski Centre. The children will receive adventure certificates which are signed by the tour mascot Andy the Ape. 

• Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

• Accommodation: at Adventure Apes Lodge in bunk beds in a family room

Day 7: Time to say goodbye 

We like to say a great adventure never ends, it merely changes form to become part of who you are. Today your family adventure in the Finnish Lapland will transform into some of your best memories as you will be transported to Kuusamo (KAO) airport to catch your return flight in the morning. 

• Meals included: Breakfast

Details

Price:

1399 euros including local VAT per adult 

1099 euros including local VAT per child (8-17 years old) 

Single supplement: is not possible at Adventure Apes Lodge due to limited number of rooms.

Taxes: According to the marginal taxation system, Finnish VAT Act 80 §.

Availability:  15 December 2024 to 15 April 2025

Dates available: 3-9 January 2025 

Duration: 7 days, 6 nights 

Group size: max 6 families with 1-4 children each 

Activity level: Easy

Suitability: This adventure is best suited for families with children aged 8-17 years. Previous experience in winter conditions is not required.

Minimum Age: This tour is tailored for families with children. Minimum age to participate is 8 years. 

Gear needed: Rental of all activity equipment included (for the activities guided by Adventure Apes, but not for optional activities in Ruka). Please see the recommended personal gear list below. 

Transportation: All local transfers included as per tour program. Only one airport transfer is possible per group.  Flights are not included. 

Language: English, Finnish (Other languages available on request)

Route planning: not applicable in this tour

Booking: Pre-booking is required, please contact us for availability

Payment terms: negotiable 

Professional guide team available 24/7

The lead guide is a professional wilderness and outdoor sports guide with adequate safety and first aid training and a team of assisting guides. Adventurers are requested to follow the guide’s instructions in all circumstances. 

The guide(s) may be male or female depending on availability of staff. Main guide will be available for 24/7 but will stay the nights in a separate staff building right next to customer accommodations.

Safety

The adventure is led by a professional wilderness and outdoor sports guide who has suitable safety training for all the activities in the program. Adventure Apes has a detailed safety plan and risk assessment for all the activities. Safety training will be given before every activity.

Weather

The winter weather in the area can vary a lot day by day. Typical temperature is around 10-25 Celsius degrees below zero but the weather can be also colder or warmer. The amount of daylight is limited meaning that the days are short. Due to extreme weather conditions you need to be equipped with proper wind and waterproof clothing. Please see the personal gear list provided for further information. Also an optional winter clothing rental set is available at extra cost.

Accommodation

Accommodation takes place at Adventure Apes Lodge in the countryside of Kuusamo. Once a public primary school, the guesthouse has been newly renovated to provide clean and cozy, standard-level accommodations. The dorm-style rooms have bunk beds with a maximum occupancy of six people per room with private bathrooms. Bed linen, towels and access to the traditional wood-heated sauna are included. See video and pictures here: www.adventureapes.fi/lodge

Room capacity at Adventure Apes Lodge 

Room 1: 4 beds 

Room 2: 4 beds 

Room 3: 3 or 4 beds  

Room 4: 6 beds 

Room 5: 6 beds 

Room 6: 4 beds + 1 sofa bed 

Total: max 6 families

Rooms 1-5 are located in the main lobby and room 6 is separate behind the kitchen with a separate entrance. 

The families will also have the option to spend one night in an quinzee built from pure snow. Proper sleeping bags and sleeping mattresses are included. 

Food & drinks

The meals are included as follows

• Day 1: Dinner

• Day 2: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Evening snack 

• Day 3: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Evening snack 

• Day 4: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Evening snack 

• Day 5: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Evening snack 

• Day 6: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

• Day 7: Breakfast

When you are staying at Adventure Apes Lodge all the meals will be served in the cozy dining room. All food is included as outlined in the programme. The menu typically consists of typical Finnish foods which are sourced as locally as possible. The food is plentiful, generally local in style, and will give you lots of energy. 

Specific dietary requirements can be accommodated. Please note we require special dietary requirements 45 days before the start of the tour.

The participants will take care of their own snacks (such as fruits, nuts & raisins, chocolate, energy bars & drinks etc.)

Drinking water: Finland has the cleanest drinking water in the world and tap water is safe to drink. We do not sell bottled water for sustainability reasons. 

Flights

Flights are the responsibility of the buyer. Please check with the airline directly to ensure arrival and departure times. The organizers cannot be responsible for changes to the schedule because of flights, however, we will work with you whenever possible to adjust the programme to provide the best possible experience. 

This program includes transfer from Kuusamo (KAO) airport to Adventure Apes Lodge on arrival day and transfer from Adventure Apes Lodge to Kuusamo (KAO) airport on departure day. Only one airport transfer per group is possible.

Arctic conditions and gear

This adventure takes place in Arctic conditions. All the special gear needed for the activities guided by Adventure Apes (Special outdoor sports gear rental such as ice fishing gear, ice skates, snowshoes) will be provided; however, adventurers will be expected to come prepared for low temperatures varying from zero degrees to minus 25 degrees celsius.

Personal gear list

We recommend you to bring the following personal gear with you: 

• Wind and waterproof winter clothing 

• Woolen socks 

• Thermal underlayers 

• Fleece / other warm sweater

• Winter boots 

• Small hat + warmer hat 

• Gloves or mittens 

• Buff 

• Balaclava

Adventurers who do not own suitable outdoor clothing (such as boots, thermal base layer, etc.) are advised to budget an additional fee for the add-on gear package rental which should be reserved together with the booking. 

Personal winter gear rental package *

Some adventurers prefer not to buy personal outdoor winter clothing. If you are traveling light or just prefer not to add to your closet, we are happy to offer a winter clothing gear rental package that will help to keep you warm and dry in Arctic conditions. Preliminary booking is required to ensure appropriate sizes are available. 

The gear package includes:

• One set of thermal underlayer (trousers and shirt)

• Woolen socks

• Fleece

• Wind and waterproof jacket and trousers

• Down jacket

• Winter boots (suitable for snowshoes & skin based skis)

• Small hat + big hat for extra cold weather

• Gloves + mittens

• Buff

• Balaclava

• Head torch

Personal winter gear rental package: 100 euros per person including local VAT

This is how the winter gear rental package looks like:

Wildlife

There are wild animals in the area and most probably you will see a lot of their tracks in the snow. Unfortunately the animals are afraid of people and they are masters in hiding from people. You have to be lucky to spot some wild animals along your route but there is a chance to see some birds such as Siberian Jay, Capercaillie or different owls. 

Insects 

There are not any insects in winter time in this area.

What’s in the price?

Adventure Apes’ commitment to fair pay and supporting the local economy: 

Adventure Apes is a responsible travel provider. We are committed to supporting both travelers and our local economy in a way that respects the best interest of all parties. This means our tours may not always come in at the lowest price, but you can rest assured the money goes where it should go: to the local guides, bakers, fishermen and women and other small producers and local partners that make you feel part of the community. Our price includes: 

Tour includes:

• Availability of a professional guide team 24/7 

• Complete tour planning 

• Accommodation as indicated above

• Meals and activities as shown in the program 

• Transfers - Travel to and from Kuusamo airport (KAO) and all local travel indicated in the adventure program. Only one airport transfer per group is possible. 

• Rental of all activity based special gear for activities guided by Adventure Apes (but not for optional activities in Ruka)

• Group safety gear: full safety plan with risk analysis, first aid bag, space blanket, whistle etc. 

• Liability insurance of Adventure Apes

Tour does not include:

• Flights or transportation not mentioned in the program 

• Single supplement 

• Personal outdoor clothing/apparel (see personal gear list above)

• Optional add-ons 

• Meals and drinks other than those listed, and alcoholic drinks

• Snacks which every participant will take care of themselves

• Optional activities, gear rental and meals in Ruka Ski Centre 

• Travel insurance 

Other details

Please note that modifications to the route, program or activities are possible due to weather and/or safety reasons. We follow the leave no trace policy and require all participants to follow our example.

Seeing the Northern Lights is a natural phenomenon which can never be guaranteed. In case there is a chance to see them your guides will change the evening program accordingly.

Nice to know 

• Small souvenir and snack shop at Adventure Apes Lodge 

• Laundry service available at extra cost 

Organizers

This tour is provided by Adventure Apes. We are a partnering company with Parks & Wildlife Finland and pay a fee to support the funding of the facilities of the nature areas we are exploring.