Day 1: Arrival
Arrival at Kuusamo airport where you will meet your local guide. Transfer (approx. 1 hour) to Hossa where we will accommodate in Jatkonsalmi cabin for first three nights. The cabin is situated on the shore of Lake Jatkonjärvi in an isolated spot in the heart of Hossa national park.

Day 2: Russian border
After a brief introductory session on snowshoeing technique it is time to set off for the first day trip which takes us to explore the Russian border area. We go the first kilometres in the narrow gorge and then mostly on the lakes until the Russian border zone. It is strictly prohibited to step on the border zone but we follow it for a couple of kilometres southwards. In the evening, after snowshoeing for hours in the cold, it is nice to relax and warm oneself in the lakeside sauna.

Snowshoeing 7 km, 6 hours

Day 3: Rock paintings
Today it is time to take a glance at the history. We will first take a short car transfer and then snowshoe to the Colour Rock to see its rock paintings dating back to 4000 years. The picnic lunch will be taken in a kota in the mid-way (Lappish tepee). Coffee will be brewed on an open fire and it will be taken with sandwiches. In the afternoon we will return to the cabin to spend one more night there.

Snowshoeing 7 km, 6 hours

Day 4: Snow white forests, Jatkonsalmi – Peurapirtti/Hirvastupa
Today’s route goes along the top of a ridge between two frozen lakes through the beautiful snow covered pine, spruce and birch forests. It is more probable that we will meet some reindeer than human beings. After 7 km on snow shoes we will reach the northern shore of the lake Iso-Valkeinen and the cabins where we will accommodate for one night.

Snowshoeing 7 km, 6 hours

Day 5: Ridges and lakes, Peurapirtti/Hirvastupa – Huosiusjärvi/Iikoski
After breakfast we will go on snowshoeing along the ridges and on the lakes. The surrounding forests are home for many animals like elks, wolfs, lynxes and hares but unfortunately they are seldom seen. Also bears inhabit the area but in winter they hibernate. Halfway we will take the picnic lunch around an open fire at a lean-to-shelter situated near a rapid. In the afternoon we will arrive at the last cabins where we will stay in, called Huosiusjärvi and Iikoski situated 200 metres apart from each other.

Snowshoeing 8 km, 6,5 hours

Day 6 : End of snowshoeing and reindeer farm Huosiusjärvi/Iikoski – Jatkonsalmi
The last day of snowshoeing takes us back to the start point. Following ridges we will reach the Hossa Visitor Centre where we will have lunch and it’s also possible to visit a small souvenir shop. Our snowshoeing tour will be completed on arrival at the cabin. At night we will visit a local reindeer farm where we learn about reindeer herding today and enjoy a delicious farewell dinner. Snowshoeing 5 km, 4 hours

Day 7 : Return
Breakfast and transfer to Kuusamo airport.

NOTE:
We reserve all the rights to change the itinerary (route, accommodation) if the group size is 3 persons or less or if necessary due to weather/snow conditions.