Finnish Husky Week - Christmas and New Year 2008 / 2009

Day 1: Depart UK

Fly with Finnair from London Heathrow to Helsinki (1335-1830) in economy class. Connect with the domestic flight to Kaajani (1920-2020) in economy class. On arrival at Kaajani airport you will be met and transferred to your accommodation near to the Russian border, Kivikiekki Wilderness Lodge which will be your base for the following week.

Day 2:

The first day with the dogs will be spent hiking and husky trekking to study the behaviour of these strong dogs and for you to get to know them. You will get warm winter equipment (shoes, overalls and mittens). After lunch you go husky trekking - everyone will get a dog and a special belt and leash to walk tied to the dog. You will walk for about 5 kilometres. Husky trekking is like power walking, just a bit more demanding than normal walking. Today you will also select a spruce tree from the forest and bring it back to the lodge with a sledge! In the evening you will be able to enjoy a sauna followed by dinner. (B,L,D)

Day 3:

This morning you will have a gear check, a kennel tour and a team assignment! Proper driving and safety instructions will follow. After lunch at the lodge you will harness the dogs and head out for an afternoon training run of about 15 kilometres. After you return from the run you will take care of your own dog team. Once the dogs are sorted you can then enjoy some baking of Christmas goodies such as cinnamon biscuits before a sauna and a home-style dinner. (B,L,D)

Day 4:

After breakfast hitch up your own dog team and head out on the trails for a morning of "mushing", approximately 10 kilometres. During the morning you will be able to learn more about the skills of dog sledding and to get to know your own team and especially the personalities of your dogs. The guide will drive first with a snowmobile, but when you are confident you can stay further behind and enjoy the only sounds that can be heard - dogs breathing and their paws hitting the snow. You will help the dogs when going uphill or when the weather conditions are heavy - working together makes you and your dogs a team. After the run you will take care of your dog team. As this is Christmas Eve (on the Christmas departure) you will decorate the tree you collected from the forest yesterday and eat a Finnish style Christmas Dinner. After the guide of Ultima Taiga will tell you travel stories he will also explain about the rare breed of huskies, the Greenland dog. For the New Year programme, on the long evening of the 31 December you will melt tin together, telling your plans for the future of the coming year. (B,L,D)

Day 5:

Today is a time for rest and relaxation and eating the food left over from Christmas Eve. You can make hikes with the Lapland dogs and feed the birds and in the evening, if the sky is clear, look for stars and satellites. (B,L,D)

Day 6:

Today you will take a sledge ride, mushing through the wilderness to a log cabin, where the host has warmed up the house, the sauna and is waiting for you with a welcoming hot drink. You spend a night in wilderness like in the old days - no electricity, no running water, but the spirit of the place is very special. There is only one room in the cabin but as an extra place for you if you would like to sleep in a "kota", a wood-heated tent. Following a sauna, dinner and stories you can fall asleep listening to the crackle of the burning wood. (B,L,D)

Day 7:

A tour through the wilderness, mushing back to base, Kivikiekki Wilderness Lodge. After a short break and a snack during the day, there is a welcoming coffee or tea and fresh baked pie in the afternoon. Enjoy a final sauna and dinner in the evening. (B,L,D)

Day 8:

Day 8: After breakfast transfer to Kajaani airport for your flight to Helsinki (1430-1530) in economy class. Connect with your flight with Finnair to London Heathrow (1710-1820) in economy class. (B)

Extra activities include fishing, cooking and puppy care. This is also the time to see the stars and hopefully the Northern lights. Weather can be anything from +0 to -30 C. The weather is dry, which means that -30 is not as cold as you might think!