Hossa National Park Backcountry Skiing Tour
Join us for a week of backcountry skiing in the beautiful winter landscapes of Hossa National Park. Ski mainly off the trails on traditional Finnish forest skis, making our own tracks through the snow. In places, we can also use the groomed multi-purpose trails, which make skiing easier in challenging snow conditions. The daily distances vary depending on the route and snow conditions, but the skiing days will typically last 5–6 hours. Around midday, we stop for a traditional outdoor lunch by an open fire, except on the second skiing day, when lunch is served at the Hossa National Park’s visitor centre.
Our base is Teräväpää cabin, beautifully l ocated on the shore of Lake Jatkonjärvi. From here, we make one day tour and two overnight ski trips to wilderness huts. Your luggage is transported between the accommodations by car, so you only need to carry a daypack while skiing. Each day ends with a traditional Finnish sauna. At the lakeside sauna at Teräväpää, you also have the opportunity to take a refreshing dip in an ice hole.
This tour is suitable for participants in good physical condition with some previous cross-country skiing experience. It offers a great introduction to backcountry skiing and is good preparation for more demanding wilderness trips.
Finland backcountry skiing tour highlights:
• Hossa national park scenery with snow- covered forests, ridges and lakes
• Simple but comfortable wilderness accommodation
• Evening saunas & ice-swimming
• Picnic lunches around an open fire
What's included?
- 6 nights’ accommodation (shared rooms with shared bathroom facilities)
- 6 x breakfast, 4 x outdoor lunch, 1 x lunch, 6 x dinner
- English-speaking guide
- Scheduled group transfers from/to Kuusamo airport
- Luggage transfers between accommodations
- Hire of skis and poles
- Hire of winter boots and mittens
- Sleeping bags and mummy liners (2 nights)
- 5 x evening sauna, 3 x possibility for ice-swimming
- Bed linen and bath towels
Detailed program
Day 1 Arrival
Arrival at Kuusamo airpor, followed by a one-hour transfer to Hossa. Check-in at Teräväpää cabin located on the shore of Lake Jatkonjärvi, in a secluded spot at the heart of Hossa National Park. Meet your guide and receive a briefing about the week ahead. Dinner and overnight at Teräväpää.
Day 2 Day tour from Teräväpää
A day tour in the Hossa National Park area. Lunch at the Hossa National Park’s Visitor Centre.
Day 3 Teräväpää–Huosiusjärvi
Backcountry skiing from Teräväpää to Huosiusjärvi. Overnight at a wilderness hut.
Day 4 Huosiusjärvi–Teräväpää
Ski back to Teräväpää along a different route where possible. Sauna with ice-swimming and overnight at Teräväpää.
Day 5 Teräväpää–Joukojärvi
Backcountry skiing from Teräväpää to Joukojärvi cabin.
Day 6 Joukojärvi–Teräväpää
Return to Teräväpää by skis. Enjoy a sauna and a final evening at the lakeside cabin.
Day 7 Departure
Transfer to Kuusamo airport for your flight to Helsinki and onward travel.
Good to know
DURATION
7 days / 6 nights
GUARANTEED DEPARTURE
30.01.–05.02.2027
PRICE 2027: 1300 € (normal price 1450 €)
GROUP SIZE
Guaranteed departure without minimum number of participants. Maximum 8 people.
LEVEL OF DIFFICULTY
This tour is suitable for participants in good physical condition with some previous cross-country skiing experience. It offers a great introduction to backcountry skiing and is good preparation for more demanding wilderness trips. The daily distances vary depending on the route and snow conditions, but the skiing days will typically last 5–6 hours including a lunch break of 1–1.5 hours.
The terrain is quite varied, with many short uphill and downhill sections, but there are no long climbs. The route passes through forests, along ridges, and across lakes. The difficulty of the tour is moderate, however depending largely on the conditions. In places, we can also use the groomed multi-purpose trails, which make skiing easier in challenging snow conditions. From late January to late March, the snow depth is typically 50–100 cm.
ACCOMMODATION
Teräväpää cabin (4 nights)
A comfortable 90 m² cabin with two bedrooms, each with 6 bunk beds (12 beds in total). Living room and kitchen. Two toilets with showers. Electricity. Sauna by the lake
Huosiusjärvi cabin (1 night)
A traditional 48 m² wilderness cabin with 8 beds in two sleeping alcoves. Wood-heated stove. No electricity or running water. Outhouse. Sauna by the river.
Joukojärvi cabin (1 night)
A spacious 70 m² wilderness-style cabin with 8 beds in the loft. Electricity from solar panels. Living area. Composting toilet outdoors. Wood-heated sauna
SKI EQUIPMENT
Ski equipment and winter boots hire is included in the tour price. Please let us know your height and shoe size when booking. The ski bindings are compatible with most winter boots, so you are welcome to bring your own. However, hiking boots are not suitable.
Rental boots are Sorel Caribou or similar warm winter boots. Skis are 7 cm wide and 200–280 cm long forest skis with scales or skins. Poles have large baskets, ideal for skiing off-trail.
TRAVEL
Flights are not included in the tour price. If you have any questions regarding pick-up & drop-off, please contact us before booking your flights. The transfer time from Kuusamo airport to Hossa is approximately 1 hour.
Arrival information
The joining point for this trip is Kuusamo airport.
A scheduled group transfer from Kuusamo airport is organized to meet the following Finnair flight from Helsinki:
HEL-KAO AY487 (arrival at 17.55)
Departure information
At the end of the tour, a scheduled group transfer is organized back to Kuusamo airport to connect with the following Finnair flight to Helsinki:
KAO-HEL AY486 (departure at 10.50).
Travel by bus/train
Upon arrival it is possible take a train (or bus) from Helsinki to Oulu, followed by a bus from Oulu to Kuusamo. The same applies for the return trip to Helsinki. Please ensure that the schedule aligns with the transfer times mentioned above. Note: Pick-up is not available from the bus station.
PAYMENT
Deposit: 20 % of total amount will be charged at the time of booking.
Full payment: The full tour price is due 14 days prior to departure. An invoice or a link to pay online by credit card will be sent by email.
NOTES
We highly recommend purchasing travel insurance that includes cancellation coverage.
The tour is not suitable for people with reduced mobility.
We reserve the right to change the itinerary if necessary due to snow or ice conditions or organizational reasons.
What do I need to bring?
- outdoor clothing
- leisure time clothing
- rucksack (15-20 l)
- thermos flask
- head lamp / torch
The full packing list will be provided after booking.