Winter Week – 8 Days / 7 Nights

Winter holidays at Eräkeskus – an experience for young and old!

Pure winter – for everyone longing for peace, wide open spaces and the magic of the Finnish wilderness. Experience a magical week filled with crunching snow, dog power and a deep connection to nature!

Do you dream of gliding through snowy forests with your own dog team?
Would you like to feel the magic of silence as the snow crunches beneath your feet?
Are you looking for a break from everyday life, where you can feel free and alive?

Then our Winter Week is just right for you!

What to expect:

  • Three guided dog sledding tours, where you drive your own team and experience the power of the dogs up close.
  • A snowshoe hike through untouched winter landscapes – peaceful, quiet and beautiful.
  • Plenty of time for yourself: Head out into the snowy nature on your own, enjoy the silence, or join one of our dogs for a relaxed walk.
    Use the freedom to shape the day at your own pace – active, relaxed, or a little bit of both.

Look forward to a winter week full of magical moments and heartfelt encounters, especially with our sled dogs.

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Day 1: Arrival and welcome

Your journey begins with your arrival in Kuopio or Joensuu, where we will give you a warm welcome and then drive towards Eräkeskus. After checking in and moving into your cozy room, you will have the opportunity to get to know our team personally. We will end the evening with a delicious dinner in the cozy atmosphere of our lodge – the perfect start to your winter adventure.

Lodge inside

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, a slightly more technically demanding tour through the breathtaking Finnish winter landscape awaits you. Once again, we will harness the dogs together before heading out on a 2 to 2.5-hour ride through untouched nature – with sparkling snow, silent forests and endless wide-open spaces all around. Back at the lodge, a warming soup will be waiting for you. In the afternoon, you can join our oldies for a relaxed walk or simply enjoy the peace and quiet.

Day 4: Snowshoe Hike

Today, we head out on a snowshoe hike of around 3 to 4 hours through the nature reserve around the Änäkäinen lakes. You will discover another traditional Nordic way of moving through the winter landscape and experience the quiet beauty of winter from a completely new perspective. Along the way, we will take a break and prepare our lunch over an open fire – a true nature experience! In the afternoon, we return to the lodge, leaving time for sauna and relaxation.

Day 5: Final Dog Sledding Tour

As the highlight of our active days, we head out on one final dog sledding tour – along especially beautiful trails with a little challenge and lots of joy. After taking care of the dogs, our warm sauna awaits you in the evening – the perfect opportunity to slow down and reflect on the experiences of the past few days.

Day 6 & 7: Your Time, Your Choice!

These two days are completely yours to enjoy as you wish. You can explore the wilderness on snowshoes or cross-country skis – both are available for you to use. Or you may choose to spend relaxing hours by the fireplace or in the sauna. Our dogs are always happy to go for a walk, and our oldies especially love the extra attention. If you like, you can also visit us in the kennel – a wonderful opportunity to get to know the everyday life of a sled dog.

Day 8: Farewell & journey home

After breakfast, it is time to say goodbye. We will organise your transfer and send you off with our warmest wishes. You will travel home with many new impressions, touching moments and unforgettable memories.

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!

  • Per person: €2,090 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.
  • Seasonal reduction: 120,- € per person, for arrivals on 27.03.2027, 28.03.2027, 03.04.2027, 04.04.2027.
  • No child discount available.

Optional:

  • Full sled damage protection: €50.

  • Available dates: from 02.01.2027 – 11.04.2027
  • Arrival only possible Saturday – Saturday or Sunday – Sunday

Included:

  • Transfer: From/to Kuopio/Joensuu or Lieksa and all necessary tour transfers.
  • Accommodation: 7 nights in the Eräkeskus guesthouse in a double room with private shower and toilet.
  • Meals: Full board from dinner on Day 1 to breakfast on Day 8, including breakfast, lunch and a 3-course dinner.
  • Weekly program:
    • 3 dog sledding tours with your own dog team.
    • 1 x snowshoe hike with lunch by an open fire.
  • 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 equipment for the tours: snowshoes.

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: The train route from Helsinki to Joensuu, Kuopio or Lieksa is usually much cheaper than a domestic flight from Helsinki to Kuopio or Joensuu. Train schedules are generally available around 2 months before travel at www.vr.fi. If you would like to arrive by train, please check your arrival time with us in advance so that we can plan the transfer accordingly.
  • Pro tip: We recommend taking out cancellation and return travel insurance.

General Terms and Conditions:

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 do not need to be an athlete, but a certain level of physical fitness is required to enjoy the tours safely and with confidence. If you are unsure whether the tour is suitable for you, feel free to contact us – we are happy to advise you individually!

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.
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