A Festive Getaway with Sled Dogs – 8 Days/7 Nights
Celebrate the holidays and New Year's in a warm and cozy atmosphere
Spend Christmas or New Year surrounded by Finland’s snow-covered wilderness, accompanied by your own sled dog team. This exclusive winter holiday offers a truly special escape, combining magical landscapes, peaceful moments in nature and exciting adventures in the snow.
Whether you are travelling by dog sled, walking through deep, snow-covered forests or enjoying a cosy evening in a wilderness cabin, you will find peace, a genuine connection with nature and the true spirit of a Nordic festive season.
Come along on a journey that slows you down, moves you, and inspires you—far away from the hustle and bustle, close to nature, in peace and harmony.
What to expect:
- Two guided sled dog tours where you steer your own team and experience the incredible power and joy of the dogs up close.
- A snowshoe hike through enchanting winter landscapes—relaxing, peaceful, and breathtakingly beautiful. With lunch by the open fire.
- Ice fishing (optional) on a frozen lake—with a little luck, a fish might take the bait while you enjoy the peaceful atmosphere in the middle of the wilderness.
- A torchlight hike through the winter landscape—an atmospheric experience at twilight under the starry sky.
- Visit the highest point in North Karelia and the impressive icefalls
- Sauna sessions to warm up and relax—traditional Finnish style, soothing, and the perfect way to end an active day in the snow.
- A traditional Finnish Christmas/New Year’s Eve feast —enjoy regional specialties in a cozy setting by the crackling fireplace.
Look forward to a holiday week full of magical moments and heartwarming encounters, as well as an unforgettable experience with our sled dogs.
Detailed program
Day 1: Arrival and welcome
Welcome to Finland! Your journey begins upon arrival in Kuopio or Joensuu, where we will meet you and take you to Eräkeskus. After checking in and settling into your cosy room, you will have the chance to meet our team and get to know your new surroundings.
In the evening, we enjoy a delicious dinner together in the warm and welcoming atmosphere of our lodge – the perfect beginning to your winter adventure.
Day 2: Learn the Basics of Dog Sledding
After a hearty breakfast, you will receive your equipment and take part in a theoretical introduction to dog sledding and working with our dogs. Then it’s time for the real adventure: together, we harness the dogs – an intense and rewarding experience that helps you build a connection with your team.
Afterwards, we head out on our first, relatively easy sledding tour (approximately 1–1.5 hours, depending on the group’s driving skills). Back at Eräkeskus, we first take care of and reward the dogs before gathering for lunch and sharing the experiences of the ride.
The afternoon is yours to enjoy at your own pace – relax in nature, explore the surroundings, or warm up with a cup of tea.
Day 3: Dog Sledding Tour through the Wilderness
Today, you’ll build on your skills as we head out on a more technically challenging trail. Together, we harness the dogs before setting off on a ride lasting around 2 to 2.5 hours, with sparkling snow, silent forests and endless winter landscapes along the way.
Back at the lodge, you’ll reward your team with their well-earned soup before we enjoy lunch together in the restaurant. The afternoon is yours to spend as you wish – perhaps with a gentle walk alongside one of our senior dogs, some quiet time surrounded by nature or a relaxing visit to the sauna.
Day 4: Snowshoeing Through the Winter Forest
After breakfast, we set off on a guided snowshoe hike through the peaceful, snow-covered landscape. Following a short drive, we strap on our snowshoes and make our way into the deep winter forest. Some of our dogs join us along the way, adding plenty of special moments to the experience.
We spend around 3 to 4 hours outdoors in total, including a lunch break. At a suitable spot, we make an open fire and enjoy our meal surrounded by the winter landscape. As the fire crackles and we warm up with a hot lunch, there is time to simply enjoy the silence and breathe in the crisp winter air.
In the afternoon, we return to the lodge, where the soothing warmth of the sauna awaits.
Day 5: Christmas / New Year – Festive Dinner & Torchlight Walk
Today is yours to enjoy at your own pace before we set off on an atmospheric torchlight walk in the evening. Our destination is a cosy resting place, where we’ll treat you to hot Christmas glögi and traditional Finnish piparkakku gingerbread.
Afterwards, a traditional Finnish festive dinner awaits you at the lodge, featuring Karelian stew, ham with a mustard crust, Karelian pasties with egg butter, smoked salmon, rosolli salad, a selection of casseroles and more.
Dessert comes with a special surprise: according to an old Finnish tradition, an almond is hidden in the joulupuuro, or Christmas rice porridge. Whoever finds it is said to have especially good luck in the year ahead!
Day 6: Ice Fishing & Grill Hut (Optional)
Today you can sleep in and start the day at a leisurely pace. After a cozy breakfast, the choice is yours: If you’d like, we’ll take you ice fishing—with a little luck, you might even catch your own lunch! Back at our Grillkota, we’ll cook your catch together over an open fire. And if luck isn’t on your side today, we’ll just grill some sausages and enjoy each other’s company.
Or you can spend the day however you like: Take a walk through the snow-covered countryside, read a good book, or simply enjoy the silence and open spaces around you.
In the evening, a delicious dinner awaits you before you wind down the day in our sauna—warm, soothing, and in perfect harmony with the rhythm of the North.
Day 7 - Trip to Koli National Park and the Ice Falls
Today we’re visiting one of Finland’s most beautiful natural attractions: Koli National Park! After breakfast, we’ll drive about 1.5 hours to the highest point in North Karelia. After a short hike, we’ll be rewarded with a breathtaking view—the perfect spot for some impressive souvenir photos.
Afterward, we’ll take a roughly one-hour loop hike through the snow-covered landscape of the national park. Then we’ll enjoy lunch at one of the many campfire sites in Koli National Park.
In the afternoon , we’ll continue on to the impressive icefalls, which freeze into fascinating formations in the winter and create a very special atmosphere.
Afterward, we’ll head back to the lodge, where a hot sauna will be waiting for you to relax after this eventful day.
Day 8: Farewell & journey home
After breakfast, it’s time to say goodbye. We will organize your transfer and bid you farewell with our best wishes. You travel home with many new impressions, touching moments and extraordinary memories in your luggage.
Note: This program is an example. Depending on the weather, our group dynamics or other circumstances, the days and activities may change slightly. Flexibility is part of the adventure – but one thing is certain: every day will be special!
Prices
Prices:
- Per person: €2,379 in a double room.
- Single room supplement in the Eräkeskus guest house: € 400.
- Reduction 3rd person in extra bed: 200,- €.
- Booking of a ½ double room (up to 4 weeks before departure): On request.
- No child discount available.
Optional:
- Full Sled Damage Cover: 25,- €.
Travel Dates
Available dates:
Christmas Week: December 19–26, 2026
or December 20–27, 2026New Year’s Week: December 26, 2026 – January 2, 2027
or December 27, 2026 – January 3, 2027
- Check-in Saturday–Saturday or Sunday–Sunday
Services
Included:
- Transfer: From/to Kuopio/Joensuu or Lieksa and all necessary tour transfers.
- Accommodation:
- 7 nights at the Eräkeskus Guesthouse (double room with private shower and toilet).
- Meals: Full board from day 1 dinner to day 8 breakfast (breakfast, lunch, dinner with 3-course menu).
- Weekly program:
- 2 x dog sled tours with your own team of sled dogs.
- 1 snowshoe hike.
- 1 ice fishing trip.
- 1 trip to Koli/the icefalls.
- 1 torchlight hike.
- 1 traditional Finnish feast.
- Drinks: coffee/tea included.
- Daily sauna: alternating between the electric sauna in the lodge and the traditional wood-fired lakeside sauna.
- Free use of skis and snowshoes, subject to availability.
- Guide: German, English, Finnish speaking guide.
- Final cleaning: Included.
- Bed linen and towels: are provided.
- Overalls and winter boots are provided. Available sizes for overalls range from XXS – XXL, and for boots from size 36 – 47.
- Winter gear for excursions: snowshoes , ice fishing gear.
Not included:
- Travel: Flight, train ticket.
- Drinks: Except tea, coffee and water.
- Clothing/equipment: gloves, hat, thermos flask, headlamp. Please be sure to take a look at our equipment list.
- Day backpack: For the snowshoe hike.
Tips:
- Money-saving tip: Travelling by train from Helsinki to Joensuu, Kuopio or Lieksa is often considerably cheaper than taking a domestic flight to Kuopio or Joensuu. Train timetables are usually released around two months before departure and can be found at www.vr.fi. If you plan to arrive by train, please confirm your arrival time with us in advance so that we can arrange your transfer accordingly.
- Pro tip: We recommend taking out cancellation and return travel insurance.
General Terms and Conditions:
Our General Terms and Conditions apply.
Level of difficulty
Eräkeskus 1
Our tours are designed for anyone who wants to actively experience the winter wilderness. We tailor the distances and difficulty levels of the sledding training days to the specific conditions and the group. Snowshoe hikes can also be tailored to be shorter or longer, depending on your preference.
However, our tours require a good basic level of fitness. Driving a dog sled is an active sport: the dogs need your support, whether at the start, on uphill sections or in deep snow. Walking in thick winter clothing can also be more demanding than usual.
You don’t have to be a competitive athlete, but a certain level of physical fitness is required to enjoy the tours safely and with pleasure.
Not sure if this tour is right for you? Then just get in touch—we’d be happy to help!
Why you should choose us:
Eräkeskus stands for authentic experiences in the untouched wilderness of Finland – far away from mass tourism and in a family-like atmosphere. You can expect real adventures, a deep connection to nature, and a truly relaxing slowdown.
- Familiar atmosphere – With only 10 to a maximum of 16 guests at a time, you will experience personal care, genuine warmth and the feeling of being part of a small community.
- Small groups, big experiences – Our dog sledding tours take place in small groups of 2 to 5 guests – for intensive, individual experiences close to nature.
- Untouched wilderness instead of mass tourism – In North Karelia, you will hardly encounter any scooter traffic or overcrowded trails – instead you will find endless expanses, deep silence and pure nature.
- Get as close as possible to the dogs – Our dogs are not just part of the tours, but part of the family. You can accompany them in everyday life, cuddle with them and learn more about their lives and training.
- Gentle tourism & respect for nature – We focus on sustainable experiences with minimal impact on the environment – for adventures in harmony with nature.
- Peace & relaxation – Experience winter in a different way: without the hustle and bustle, but with cozy evenings by the fireplace, Finnish sauna and plenty of time to take a deep breath.