Winter Wonders for Families

Detailed program

Day 1 Arrival

Arrival at Kuusamo Airport and group transfer to Hossa, where you will settle into comfortable forest cabins just outside the national park. Dinner and a briefing about the upcoming program. (For late arrivals, an evening snack will be served, and the briefing will take place in the morning.)

Day 2 Snowshoeing

Snowshoeing is a great way to explore the winter wonderland and be immersed in the purity of the Finnish wilds. After a short introduction, we’ll set off straight from the accommodation, trekking through snow-covered forests and across frozen lakes. Midway, we’ll take a break and enjoy a picnic lunch around an open fire. In the evening, you can unwind in your private apartment’s steaming hot sauna.

Day 3 Cross-country skiing and igloo building

Today, we’ll learn cross-country skiing - an essential Finnish tradition and a mode of transport for centuries. It may take some practice, but once you get the hang of it, you’ll love gliding through the snow. After technical instruction, you’ll have the chance to follow easy tracks through the flat pine forest and across frozen lakes.

In the afternoon, we’ll begin building igloos. Using shovels and spades, we’ll create large piles of snow, which will be hollowed out later in the week once the snow has hardened enough.

Day 4 Husky sledding

After breakfast, we’ll take a one-hour transfer to a husky farm for what is often the most anticipated activity of the trip - dog sledding! Glide through the silent wilderness as a team of eager huskies pulls your sled. Born to run, our four legged friends will take us on an unforgettable ride. Two people share a sled, taking turns driving, or if you prefer, you can relax under warm blankets and enjoy the ride. After the safari, we’ll have lunch before transferring back to our base camp. Driving 10–15 km, duration of the activity 2,5–3 hrs.

Day 5 Snowshoeing and igloo building

Today, we head out on snowshoes once again. Hossa National Park is famous for its scenic ridges, and we’ll explore this area, encountering some short but steep ascents and descents along the way. The surrounding forests are home to elk, wolves, lynxes, and hares - although they are rarely seen, we may spot their tracks in the snow.After lunch, it’s time to finalize the igloos. Once completed, those who wish can spend some quiet time inside their “snowy home”. 

Day 6 Reindeer farm visit and wilderness skills

This morning, we’ll visit a local reindeer farm just a few kilometers from our accommodation. Here, we’ll meet these iconic Arctic animals and learn about their life, behavior, and remarkable adaptations to the harsh northern climate.
In the afternoon we learn some exciting Arctic bushcraft skills like fire-making and try eg. ice-fishing. 

Day 7 Optional activities

The final day of your adventure is dedicated to optional activities. Now that you have had a taste of the various activities, you can choose to experience your favourite one again.. It is possible to do some more cross-country skiing, snowshoeing or ice-fishing. You could rent skishoes (“Altai skis”) or fatbikes, mountain bikes with wide tyres, and do a cycling excursion on snowy roads and trails (this activity is not suitable for the youngest kids). It is also possible to book a snowmobile safari (availability to be confirmed).
In the evening, we’ll gather for a delicious farewell dinner.
Prices of optional activities: Snowmobile safari (2,5 h) from 115 €/person/2 persons per snowmobile plus transfer cost depending on the group size. Fatbike hire 30 €/3 hours. Skishoe hire 25 €/3 hours. Bookings and payments locally.

Day 8 Return

Breakfast, check-out and transfer to Kuusamo airport.  

Good to know

DURATION
8 days / 7 nights

GUARANTEED DEPARTURES
20.12.2026–27.12.2026
27.12.2026–03.01.2027
14.02.2027–21.02.2027

PRICES
1560 € p/p in apartment for 2 people
1370 € p/p in apartment for 3 people (Price requires 3 people per booking.)
1200 € p/p in apartment for 4 people (Price requires 4  people per booking.)
1125 € p/p in apartment for 5 people (Price requires 5 people per booking.)
1100 € p/p in apartment for 6 people (Price requires 6 people per booking.)
Christmas week supplement (20.–27.12.) 50 € p/p

Discounts
Children 7–12 years, discount -100 €
Log cabin discount -120 € per family (see accommodation details below). Please select the log cabin option on the booking form. The discount will be applied to the final invoice.

Extras
Hire of winter clothes (overall, boots, mittens) 60 €
Hire of winter boots and mittens 30 €

GROUP SIZE
Guaranteed departures without minimum number of participants, maximum 30 people. Large groups will be divided into two groups for all activities, each led by an own guide.  

LEVEL OF DIFFICULTY
Minimum age 7 years. All activities are suitable for beginners and no previous experience is needed. 

TRAVEL
Flights are not included in the tour price. If you have any questions regarding flights or transfers, please contact us before booking your flights! Transfer time from Kuusamo airport to Hossa is approx. 1 hour.

Notes for arrival
The joining point for this trip is Kuusamo airport.
Single-timed group transfers from Kuusamo airport are organized to meet the following Finnair flights from Helsinki:
20.12. and 27.12. HEL-KAO AY487 (arrival at 19.55)

Notes for return
At the end of the tour, a scheduled group transfer is organized back to Kuusamo Airport to connect with the following Finnair flights to Helsinki:
27.12. and 03.01. KAO-HEL AY486 (departure at 13.00).

Transfer schedule for February 2027 will be published in March. Additional arrival transfer with supplement available from TUI flights from UK (LGW, MAN, BHX). Please ask for more information.

ACCOMMODATION
Apartments
The twin houses consist of two identical apartments. On the ground floor, there is one bedroom with twin beds, and the living room includes a convertible sofa bed (140 cm wide). The loft upstairs has four single beds. Each apartment has a bathroom and a private sauna. Electric heating and fireplace. Facilities: electric stove, dishwasher, microwave, coffee maker, refrigerator, TV, drying cabinet for clothes, and free Wi-Fi.
Maximum capacity 6 people.

Log cabins
The log cabins (35 m²) feature a sleeping alcove with two bunk beds (four beds in total) and a convertible sofa in the living room. They are equipped with electric heating and a wood-burning stove. The bathroom includes a shower.
Facilities: electric stove, dishwasher, microwave, coffee maker, refrigerator, TV, and drying cabinet for clothes. A sauna is available in a separate building in the area. No Wi-Fi. Maximum capacity 4 people.

PAYMENT
Deposit: 20 % of total amount will be charged at the time of booking.
Full payment: Due 14 days before the departure. The invoice for full payment will be sent by email.

NOTES
We highly recommend purchasing travel insurance that includes cancellation coverage.
The tour is not suitable for persons with reduced mobility.    
We reserve the right to change the order of the activities or the content of the programme if necessary due to the weather or snow conditions.

What do I need to bring?

• warm jacket and pants
• leisure time clothing
• winter boots
• rucksack (15-20 l)
• thermos flask
• head lamp / torch

The full packing list will be provided after booking.  

Reviews of Finland family holiday “Winter wonders”

2026

Enjoy Christmas in a winter dream landscape with lots of fun for you and your family.

We came as a family of two adults and two teenagers for a White Christmas, we were not disappointed. Hossa is a quiet and unspoilt wilderness. The equipment and advice made sure we were not cold, the guide was top quality. We had a traditional Finnish Christmas dinner and plenty of other treats like camp fire toasted marshmallows. The day at the husky farm was the highlight for the teens who loved petting the dogs and were even allowed to drive the sleigh. The grown ups loved snow shoes, easy to learn (just like walking) and you could go at your own pace.

2025

Our holiday in Hossa national park was quite simply the best holiday experience we have ever had. The scenery is breathtaking, the resort is peaceful, the activities are great fun and our guide was outstanding; he really added to the holiday with his friendliness, encouragement and knowledge. I would 100% recommend Hossa and Upitrek, we loved it!

A fabulous week with lots of variety. In free time you could relax, have a sauna or continue with some of the activities.

We had the most amazing adventure as a family at Hossa. The activities, the scenery and the guide’s enthusiasm made it a holiday we will never forget.

My family and I have had an absolutely fantastic week at Hossa national park. The holiday exceeded all expectations. Our guide was attentive, knowledgeable and great with both the adults and children. We have no hesitation in recommending this trip and we look forward to returning to the area soon. Andrew. England.

We had a fantastic time at the Hossa national park! The location was beautiful, the houses very comfortable, the food was great and the activities were a lot of fun. For every meal there was also a very good and full vegetarian option. Special thanks to the team, who did everything to make us feel welcome, have fun and provide everything we needed.