Harriniva - Five-Day Husky Safari

Harriniva – Five-Day Husky Safari

Details

Details

Take part in an epic five-day dog sledding adventure through the wilds of Lapland in Harriniva, Finland. Journey through the frozen wonderland of Pallas-Ylläs National Park with a small group of like-minded travellers, spending your nights in wonderfully remote cabins. This is sure to be an unforgettable experience.

Driving your own team of huskies through the Finnish wilderness for five days, staying in remote cabins far from civilisation, is an arctic holiday experience that will stay with you forever. The stunning Pallas-Ylläs National Park in North West Lapland is said to have the cleanest air in Europe. You will get to fill your lungs and refresh your senses speeding through the snowy forests and across frozen lakes in this untouched wilderness.

Your journey begins at the Arctic Sled Dog Centre at the renowned and respected Harriniva Wilderness Hotel.

Your team of four to six dogs comes from the 400 huskies looked after here by expert mushers. These guides will teach you how best to act and react with your dogs when out on the trail. Soon you'll be working with your team as a motivational musher of your own dog sled - it's a valuable lesson in teamwork. These amazing animals very quickly understand what you want them to do and deliver it with an enthusiasm and energy reserved for this particular breed of beautiful, hard-working dog.

Depending on the group's ability and the weather conditions, you can cover daily distances of between 25 to 40 kilometres. Over this distance and five unforgettable days, you will really get to know your dogs who all live and love to run in this Arctic playground.

Itinerary

Day1: Flights, Arrival, Introduction

From the airport, you will be transferred to your shared accommodation for the first night of your holiday. This will vary depending on availability but could be at any of the Pietikäinen family’s three hotels or a safari house located near the Harriniva Wilderness Hotel (max distance of around 5km). If you are staying in one of the hotels then you will enjoy your evening meal in the hotel restaurant; if you are staying in one of the safari houses the hotel will provide a minibus to take you to dinner. You will be provided will full information regarding your accommodation for the first and final nights of your stay upon arrival. If you would like to upgrade to a private en-suite hotel room for the start and end of your stay then please ask our Travel Experts for a quotation.

For an extra special start or end to your holiday, it is possible to upgrade to an Aurora Dome or a night in the Torassieppi Winter Village. Please see the ‘Personalise’ section for more details.

Included Meals: Dinner

[KTT] Kittila Airport, Finland To Harriniva Wilderness Hotel

Airport Transfer

Harriniva Adventure Resort - Check In

Day2: Husky Safari

After breakfast, you will meet with your guide for a full briefing and instruction session, before getting acquainted with your dog team. Then the sleds and equipment will be packed ready for the awaiting wilderness.

Your route takes you out into one of Europe’s most pristine environments, with the dogs leading the way through snow-laden forests and across frozen lakes. When weather conditions and the terrain are right you can cover up to 40km per day, with the only sound being the soft rustle of the sleigh and the patter of paws on the snow. You and your team will become one, with you aiding the dogs by helping push up the hills and maintaining the speed of the sled on the downhill sections and technical bits.

This is a really hands-on holiday and, whilst on the trail, your dogs are your responsibility and they’ll be fed and watered ahead of any of their human companions. There are also an array of camp chores to be shared amongst the group and so you’ll get together to prepare breakfasts and dinners and will be involved in tasks such as carrying water, preparing the dog food (frozen meat in some cases), chopping wood and setting up the dogs’ resting areas. In our experience and that of our guests, this all adds to the atmosphere and really builds camaraderie amongst the group.

Your accommodation is in simple, yet cosy wilderness cabins. They are not always equipped with showers, indoor toilets or electricity and accommodation is dormitory style. A traditional Finnish sauna is normally available (depending on the route you take and the wilderness cabin you will stay in) to help you relax and steam clean after a day of adventure. Dinner will be cooked by your guide over an open fire and you’ll be able to discuss the day’s adventures.

A huge benefit of the wilderness locations is that there will be little or no light pollution and so you will have a great chance to see the Northern Lights if the conditions are right.

Please note: physical fitness required for this holiday

To fully enjoy this holiday you do need a good level of physical fitness. Temperatures can be anywhere between -5ºC to even -45ºC but the thermal clothing you are provided will keep you toasty warm whatever the conditions. You will spend long parts of your day standing on the runners of the sledge for a few hours at a time but when required you may also be needed to walk/ jog behind the sledge for a short period and help the dogs push the sledge up any short hills (which are few and far between in this part of the world). Anyone with any recent injuries or longer term medical conditions who would like to discuss the level of physical activity required are more than welcome to speak to our travel experts who have all been lucky enough to take part in husky safaris of varying lengths (and are all manner of ages and levels of fitness too!).