Women only wilderness backcountry ski tour in Finland
Be self-sufficent in the wild in winter, top quality gear provided
No previous cross country ski or alpine ski experience required
Explore true wilderness including the north’s oldest boreal forests
Travel hut to hut and camp in the snow!
Enjoy lunch in a Finnish Kota (wooden tipi) shelter
The chance to see the magical Northern Lights - if the conditions are right
High level of reward - guided access to the silent, pristine beauty of Lemmenjoki National Park!
WHAT TO EXPECT
Join a group of Gutsy Girls and venture into the snowy landscapes of the Arctic north on our guided backcountry ski expedition in Finland. With the expertise of local guides, we've designed a wilderness journey, perfect for those looking for challenging adventure holiday this winter.
Never skied before? No worries! This trip is all about backcountry-style cross-country skiing. Think of it as hiking, just on skis. For those with prior skiing experience, that's an added advantage! We'll fine-tune your skills as we glide through vast expanses, frozen forests, and the mesmerising landscapes of Finnish Lapland.
Our journey is a true hut-to-hut experience. We’ll be skiing 10-17 km daily, diving deep into the wilderness. Pulling sledges with our gear, we carry everything we need. We’ll spend five nights in remote cabins without electricity, warming ourselves with log fires and melting snow for our meals. It’s a real return to nature.
Clear skies and zero light pollution mean there's a good chance to witness the northern lights. And for a touch of relaxation, we start and end our trip in comfortable cabins, enjoying quality meals and the soothing Finnish sauna.
Come along and experience the thrill of backcountry skiing amidst Finland's untouched beauty.
LOCATION
We’ll be heading into Lemmenjoki National Park, which at 2,850 square kilometres, is Finland's largest, most northerly national park and one of the largest in Europe.
Located at 69 degrees north, at the top of Finland and on the border of Norway, Lemmenjoki offers a wonderful environment for remote trail-less ski touring adventures in old-growth boreal forest. This is wilderness proper with no permanent human habitation. With no light pollution in the sky, night time inside Lemmenjoki National Park allows for a very good chance of seeing the atmospheric phenomenon of the Northern Lights, if the conditions are right.
BACKCOUNTRY SKI TOURING
Do you like to hike? Do you like to get away into beautiful, remote locations, away from habitation? Touring skis are the perfect tool to get you right into beautiful elusive places that can’t be reached any other way.
Backcountry ski touring is fast to learn. It is a ski discipline that is designed to let you glide on the surface of deep snow, away from beaten tracks and groomed trails. Known as ‘sliding snowshoes’ in Finnish, backcountry skis are equipped with a skin allowing you to both hike uphill and slide downhill.
They can be used for long Arctic expeditions or shorter day tours into the vast, open, snowy backcountry. It’s great exercise too because it works your whole body, improves balance, proprioception and muscle condition.
FITNESS REQUIREMENTS
This trip is rated moderate to challenging, given its physical demands and the environment involved. While you don't need any prior skiing or wilderness experience to join, a good to high fitness level is essential.
What to Expect
Duration: Prepare for extended days in the Arctic, with daily outings lasting up to 6-7 hours, including around 5 hours dedicated to skiing.
Distance: Expect to ski between 10 km-17 km daily. Note, skiing these distances can feel more challenging than hiking equivalent lengths.
Intensity: While no prior skiing experience is required, backcountry skiing is more than just sliding on snow. As we navigate diverse terrains, having good stamina is essential for the journey.
Towing and Carrying: With sledges for our gear and backpacks to carry, the weight adds an extra challenge, comparable to carrying a loaded backpack.
Terrain: From icy expanses to deep snowy trails and thick forests, Finnish Lapland's diverse landscapes await.
Sub Zero Living: Over 5 nights, anticipate rustic living with no running water or electricity, relying on log burning stoves for warmth.
Communal Living: Embrace the camaraderie! There are no private quarters; you'll bunk with fellow Gutsy Girls.
Consecutive Activity: Five continuous days of skiing in such conditions can be taxing. Gear up for intense, rewarding adventure days.
Mindset: A proactive and positive approach will enhance the experience. When challenges arise, dig deep and lean on the group spirit.
ACCOMMODATION
We will begin and end the expedition with nights in a comfortable log cabin with electricity, restaurant, bar, sauna, inside toilets and showers.
After this starting point, our accommodation will be in simple wilderness cabins, with no electricity or running water, although one cabin in the middle of the expedition has a traditional sauna. These remote cabins do not have electricity or showers, and the toilets are in a shared outhouse, adding to the true wilderness experience. They are lit by candles and heated by wood burning stoves, which will keep us toasty after a day of adventuring in the wilds.
On one night you can also opt to sleep in a snow shelter that we will learn how to build as part of our winter wilderness skills, and there will be a night in a traditional Finnish Kota - a cosy tent-like space constructed of wooden poles and reindeer hide, similar to a teepee.
It is during these wilderness nighttime hours that we will have the best chance of experiencing the spectacular Northern Lights…
THE ADVENTURE
DAY 1 | ARRIVAL DAY
Your adventure begins with your arrival at Ivalo airport. We’ll connect you up with all those on the trip, so you’ll likely have someone to travel with.
A transfer is provided to Lemmenjoki National Park.
On our first night we will stay in the hotel level cabin. Tonight we will start our preparation and packing for the adventure, we’ll have a briefing and get to know eachother!
There’s a chance for a sauna and we’ll have dinner at a restaurant.
DAY 2 - 6 | SKI TOUR
After a hearty breakfast we will head out on our adventure into the Lemmenjoki National Park.
On your first morning we’ll teach you how to move efficiently through the snow on skis and over the course of the week you’ll develop your skills!
Each day we will ski up to 17km, stopping to lunch around a fire in the snow.
INTO THE WINTER WILDERNESS
We’ll ski through frozen forests, alongside rivers and we’ll even see a frozen waterfall. This adventure takes us into an area of true wilderness.
We will stay in a off-grid huts without electricity.
Midweek there will be an opportunity for a sauna at one of our wilderness cabins.
Day 6 - 7
On our last night of our adventure we’ll be returning to a hotel cabin.
We’ll have chance to feed and pet the reindeers on the local farm, before having a sauna and one final meal together.
We will depart early on the final day, returning to Ivalo airport.
2025 PRICE £1750
2025 DATES
Mon 17 February - Mon 24 February
Mon 24 February - Mon 3 March
Mon 3 March - Mon 10 March
2024 DATES
Mon 4 March - Mon 11 March FULLY BOOKED
Mon 11 March - Mon 18 March FULLY BOOKED
Mon 18 March - Mon 25 March FULLY BOOKED
WHAT'S INCLUDED
6 day guided backcountry ski expedition
7 nights accommodation:
2 nights shared hotel room
5 nights wilderness huts / camping
All meals - including 2 restaurant dinners.
Experienced wilderness guide
Gutsy Girls Host
Expedition equipment: skis, ski boots, poles, pulka
Winter camping equipment: Sleeping bag, sleeping mat, tents
Airport transfers from Ivalo airport*
*one single timed transfer per direction
WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED
Flights
Drinks
Travel Insurance
Personal clothing
Check out our packing list below our FAQs here
PAYMENT
Secure your spot with a 30% deposit, your remaining balance is due 45 days before your trip start date.
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Airport: Ivalo, Finland
We provide a single timed airport transfer from and to Ivalo, Finland.
All trips
- Arrival day pickup 7:00 pm
- Departure day drop off 11:30am
Flights
You’ll find flights to Ivalo from Helsinki with Finnair.
You can fly with Finnair from London Heathrow to Ivalo via Helsinki in one day.
You could also choose to spend a night or two in Helsinki before or after your trip.
We recommend using a site like Skyscanner to find the best deals, as you may find them cheaper than booking direct with Finnair.
Due to the remote location of this trip, we cannot arrange additional transfer times. Please ensure your flights lineup with our transfer times.
We recommend using a site like Skyscanner to find the best deals, as you may find them cheaper than booking direct with the airline.
Due to the remote location of this trip, we cannot arrange additional transfer times. Please ensure your flights line up with our transfer times.
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On this adventure we’ll stay in the following:
Night 1: Hotel - shared room
Night 2: Camping - gear provided
Night 3: Wilderness huts
Night 4: Wilderness huts
Night 5: Wilderness huts
Night 6: Camping - gear provided
Night 7: Hotel - shared room
Camping
We provide good quality tents, sleeping mats and sleeping bags to keep you toasty when winter camping!
You will be required to share a tent.
Wilderness huts
These are basic huts with bathroom facilities or electricity. There will be a stove to the rooms heated.
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The majority of our meals on this trip will be expedition food. This is dehydrated food that we add boiling water too. It will provide all the energy we need for long days in the snow!
Please bring your own snacks (energy / muesli bars, nuts, raisins etc) if you might need these for snowshoeing during the week - though there is also a shop in the village for extra supplies!
We can cater for most dietary requirements. Please let us know if you have any dietary requirements at the time of booking.
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This adventure is rated as moderate to challenging. While prior ski and wilderness experience isn’t necessary, a robust fitness level is a must.
What to Expect:
Duration: Expect days in the Arctic to span 6-7 hours, out of which around 5 hours are committed to skiing.
Distance: Daily skiing ranges between 10 km-17 km. This effort can be more demanding than similar distance hikes.
Intensity: New to skiing? That’s okay. However, navigating the diverse terrains requires a solid stamina.
Towing & Carrying: We’ll be using sledges for our equipment and also carrying backpacks. This means added physical exertion.
Terrain: Lapland offers a mix of icy terrains, deep snow trails, and dense forests that we’ll be traversing.
Sub Zero Living: For 5 nights, be prepared for basic conditions without running water or electricity, relying on log-burning stoves for warmth.
Communal Living: Team spirit is at the heart of this journey. We’ll be sharing accommodations and living closely with our group.
Consecutive Activity: The intensity continues with three back-to-back skiing days, demanding but rewarding.
Mindset: A proactive and positive approach will enhance the experience. When challenges arise, dig deep and lean on the group spirit.
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Our experiences are created with solo female travellers in mind, connecting like-minded women through sports, nature and adventure. The Gutsy Girls community is filled with bold and badass women from 18-65 years old, we never ask your age, just that you are up for an adventure!
As a rough guide, most Gutsy Girls guests are 24-60 years old, with around 60% in their 30s-40s.
After a day snowshoeing in the wild, age becomes irrelevant, as we are all connected by our experiences.
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You will need personal travel insurance that covers you for ski touring with a guide - this is a requirement.
We highly recommend you buy your travel insurance as soon as you book your spot to cover yourself should you fall ill or injure yourself before your trip.
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The cancellation will only be effective from the date that the cancellation is received in writing by email. Cancellation charges will be payable as follows:
• Cancellation fee of 100% is charged if cancelled 44 days or less before the trip
• Cancellation fee of 30% is charged if cancelled 45 days or more before the trip
BOOKINGS TERMS AND CONDITIONS
By paying your deposit you agree to the terms and conditions of Gutsy Girls
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Whenever possible we use female instructors and guides, however, we cannot always guarantee this, simply because there are fewer female instructors available!
Our first priority is to work with the most highly experienced and considerate instructors and guides, who are patient, friendly and as passionate as we are about building women’s confidence in the outdoors.
Simply due to the ratio of men to women in the outdoors industry, sometimes this means our guides and instructors are male.
We keep a close eye on the feedback our guides receive from our guests as we believe that overall this is more important than their gender. We sincerely hope that as more women are introduced to adventure sports and activities, the number of female guides and instructors in our industry will increase.
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This trip has a maximum of 6 spots, early booking is advised!
QUESTIONS
Bookings for this adventure are now open, you can secure your spot here.
If you have any questions, please check our FAQs as we’ve likely already answered them!
If not, or if you want to join the waitlist on a sold out date, drop us a message below and we’ll add you to the waitlist and / or get back to you within 48 hours (Monday-Friday) if you have questions!
Frequently Asked Questions + PACKING LIST
HUT TO HUT Packing List
The weather is likely to be cold and changeable. Of course we cannot predict the weather on any given week, but temperatures normally vary between -5 and -20 ° C, and we may sometimes have temperatures of more like -35°C. This sounds cold, however, for most of the winter in Finland it is a “dry” cold which tends to feel less cold than “damp” cold (which we have in the UK!).
You do need enough clothes to stay warm and comfortable though!
Each day, you will pack the pulkas (sleds) such that you do not need to access them during the day and all your daily items should be in a backpack. This includes your insulated jacket for breaks, lunch thermos (provided), drinking thermos, sunscreen and goggles/sunglasses. In general, two people share one pulka and one daypack with each taking turns in pulling the pulka or carrying the daypack, so the daypack should have room for two people’s gear. A lightweight daypack with a volume of 35l-60l works well.
Any luggage you don’t need on the expedition can be left in the first accommodation until you return. We advise packing your essentials such as your skiing clothes and spares in your hand luggage in case your bags are lost in transit (especially if you have a flight connection).
WE PROVIDE
Touring skis and poles
Ski boots
Sled
Sleeping bag
Insulated inflatable sleeping mat
Shovels
Tent
Sledge and expedition gear
YOU WILL NEED
Cross Country Skiing:
Daypack 35l - 60l volume (big enough to fit two people’s day gear as you will swap between pulling the sled and carrying the backpack with another Gutsy Girl)
Wicking sports underwear (preferably not cotton)
Base layer thermal tops (a selection) (synthetic, wool or silk)
Long johns (thermal) (synthetic, wool or silk)
Fleece / Midlayer
Warm sweater
Shell Jacket - windproof and waterproof
Soft shell trousers - windproof, water repellent, breathable (or ski salopettes unlined)
Waterproof trousers
A warm insulated / down jacket (for breaks)
A selection of warm socks of different thicknesses to help you get the best fit in your boots (wool is best)
Sunglasses and / or ski googles with UV protection
Warm hat
Buff (you might want two - one for your neck, one as a headband), scarf or balaclava
Thick mittens (2 pairs, ideally, in case one gets wet - normal ski gloves will do - warm mittens are best if you are prone to getting cold)
Glove liners and/or disposable hand warmers if you suffer from cold hands
Gaiters (optional)
Insulated over trousers (or salopettes) (optional - useful in camp when wild camping)
If you have your own broken in cross country ski boots, we recommend bringing them, but please email us first to check their compatibility at bookings@gutsygirls.co.uk
Off the skis:
Warm, waterproof walking boots (mandatory)
Warm evening clothes
Nightwear
Toiletries
Swimwear for the sauna if you wish (and a dry bag for packing a wet swim suit)
Towel
Sleeping bag liner (optional)
Sunscreen (high factor): non-water based due to frostbite risk (if temps are extremely low)
Lip salve
Any prescription medication
Other medication (paracetamol/ibuprofen) is significantly more expensive in Finland so bring some if you need to
Compeed or moleskin for blisters, just in case!
Slippers / shoes for the cabins
Earplugs and eye mask for sharing rooms / tents
Headtorch
Other Stuff:
Camera
Fully charged power banks (there is no electricity).
Dry bags for inside your day pack to keep stuff dry
Waterproof case for your phone might be handy
Snacks - mandatory; at least 3 good high calorie snacks per day
Water bottle - 1 litre (Nalgene recommended)
Thermos flask for warm drinks