Packages and Options

Helsinki is nearest international airport. Kuusamo Airport in Northern Finland should be your ultimate flying destination. Sunday arrival day & Saturday departures. We will be meeting you at the Kuusamo Airport and transfer to the horse farm abgout 30 miles away. Please. let us know your arrival details and departure details at least 3 weeks prior to arrival. You can also take the bus from Helsinki if you like and we will pick you up from the bus station in Kuusamo.

Dates Note:

Day 1 Sunday: Transfer from Kuusamo Airport to the horse farm, north of Ruka. Meet the horses. Overnight in a very comfortable cabin near to the farm. Meet the rest of the group and have the chance to learn more about your wilderness trail.
Day 2: After breakfast meet the horses at the horse farm. Set off from the stables, riding through pretty Finnish countryside to Käylä village. Continue to Porontima Lake where we stop for lunch. After lunch, ride past Kiutalake and into the Oulanka Park. Our first camp by Kallio lake. The night will be spent in “lean to” laavu, Tent sauna and dinner around campfire.
Day 3: Continue riding through the Oulanka Park, with a first stop to see the Kiutaköngäs Rapids and Oulanka National Park visitor centre, The Kiutaköngäs Rapids are the best known sight in the Park; the Oulanka River surging down between russet coloured dolomite walls and descending 14m over a distance of a few hundred meters.
After visiting the rapids we continue deep into the wilderness, crossing streams, through deep spruce forests and rocky hills and riding past swamps. We have lunch by the side of a spring and after lunch ride down the Oulanka. The route now goes along to the Liikanen village. Overnight near the Russian border zone in hut, with tent sauna and dinner by campfire.
Day 4: After breakfast around the campfire, we visit the Russian border and then ride down the Oulanka valley, crossing the wilderness with its thick forests and rocky landscape. To reach our overnight spot, The night will be spent in tents next by the Oulanka River. There is no shower or sauna but a very nice swimming place in the river.
Day 5: At Jäkälämutka the route follows the Kitkajoki river to Päähkänä hills. We cross the Kitkajoki River to the Kahlaamo ford and ride to the top of the valley. We have lunch on top of the world with a view of the canyon and into Russia. After lunch we continue upstream along Kitkajoki to Jyrävä, which are Finland`s most powerful rapids, where the waters fall down more than l0 m through a narrow passage between steep rock faces. We overnight at Juuma campground in cabins. There is sauna and shower.
Day 6: Today we follow up the Kitkariver to Saarikoskirapid and ride through beautiful countryside and wilderness to the lunch place next to the Kitkariver. After lunch, we ride to the Käylä village and back to the farm where we leave the horses for a well-earned rest. We return to the cabin and enjoy a final sauna and an evening of final dinner at farm.
Day 7: Saturday. Transfer to the airport for your return flight to Helsinki.
subject to change

Temperatures are moderate during the day and may cool off in the evening.
 In September the evening temperature may drop below freezing. It can rain at any time although the summer months are generally drier. Good rain-riding gear is recommended. It will remain light most of the night.

Ride in whatever you are most comfortable, whether it is English or Western style. Do bring warm clothes (such as woolen underwear, woolen socks, rubber boots, warm wool gloves) and plan to dress in layers. A heavy wool sweater and a very warm jacket (down or equivalent) are recommended. We have found paddock boots to be beneficial; worn large to fit heavy wool socks. Bring raingear. Remember to think ‘dry’ and ‘warm’. You can expect all sorts of weather on this adventurous tour!

We will provide sleeping bags and ground mats for the camping nights and sheets/blankets at the cabins. 

An experienced "wilderness" cook will accompany the riding group. Finish food is basic stuff with grains, toast, meats and cheeses for breakfast along with coffee or tea. Lunch involves depending on your location, typical trail food consisting of a sandwich, fruit, sweets and soft drinks -  while dinner can often involve if you are lucky fresh caught salmon or caribou. 

The first and last night you will spend in cabins on the farm - with a nearby lake. The rooms have a shower, sauna and cheminée.
On the ride you will spend one night in a comfortable cabin with sauna and shower and the other 3 nights in tents or rustic forest cabin. On those 3 nights there is no running water, but usually there is a lake, sauna etc.  The tents can be heated at night if necessary. Also included are sheets and blankets at luxury cabins. For nights in tents sleeping bags are also included, together with inflatable mattresses.

Passports
A valid passport is required by all nationals referred to in the chart except:
1. EU nationals holding a valid national ID card.
Passport Note
Finland is a signatory to the 1995 Schengen Agreement.

Visas
Not required by all nationals referred to in the chart above for stays up to 90 days in any six-month period.
Note: Nationals not referred to in the chart above are advised to contact the embassy to check visa requirements (see Contact Addresses).
Visa Note
(a) Spouses and children of EU nationals (providing spouse's passport and the original marriage certificate/children's full birth certificate is produced), and nationals of some other countries, receive their visas free of charge (enquire at embassy for details). (b) 2. EU and British nationals, who do not require a visa, will need to apply for a residence permit if staying longer than 90 days.