Itinerary Include flights Leave this field blank Expand allMuonionalusta (Rajamaa) to Muonionalusta (Rajamaa) Day 1 Start Rajamaa, Swedish Lapland.This trip starts at Rajamaa, a complex of cosy wooden chalets located on a remote island in the river Muonio, looking out over two countries, Sweden and Finland. Upon check-in we will be welcomed by the friendly Malmström family, our hosts for the week, who have been running the accommodation for over three decades. Depending on the arrival time of the group, the main briefing is usually done tonight or tomorrow morning. Fly to Kiruna or Kittilä; transfer to Rajamaa in Swedish Lapland.After landing at Kiruna Airport or Kittilä Airport (depending on your departure date) we drive for approx. 3 hours to reach our base for the week, Rajamaa, a complex of cosy wooden chalets located on a remote island in the river Muonio. Upon check-in we will be welcomed by our hosts, the friendly Malmström family, who have been running the accommodation for over three decades. Depending on the arrival time of the group, the main briefing will be done tonight or tomorrow morning. Day 2 Snowshoeing through wintry landscape; spot local fauna and enjoy lunch in the forest; walk back to the chalets over frozen swamps and hills.After a hearty breakfast we are provided with all of the equipment and information needed for a week of activities in arctic conditions. Setting off on our snowshoes, we venture into the fabled wintry landscape surrounding Rajamaa and learn more about the unique raw nature of Lapland. Our guide will help us spotting tracks of birds and other local fauna in the snow and explain how the local trees and bushes have managed to adapt to this harsh climate. We enjoy our lunch by a flaming log fire in the forest, before walking back over frozen swamps and hills to our chalets. In the afternoon we have some free time to enjoy a the sauna or a hot drink in the dining room. After dinner we enjoy an interesting presentation and slideshow about one the Scandinavian big predators, the Lynx. Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 3 Enjoy thrilling dogsledding tour through the forest; afternoon introduction to forest skiing.This morning we visit a local sleddog centre and meet a professional musher, who will tell us about the life of the firendly Siberian Husky dogs, their training and behaviour. He will also explain a few simple rules to safely ride and lead the dogs. Divided into pairs, we then enjoy the challenge and adventure of driving our own dogsled for approx. 17km through a magical winter landscape of snow-clad forests and frozen swamps. Taking turns during the tour gives you the chance to feel like a real musher and to enjoy the landscape and take pictures when sitting on the dog sled as a passenger. In the afternoon we return to our accommodation and familiarise ourselves with forest-skiing, in preparation for our two-day expedition later in the week. Forest skis originate traditionally from Scandinavia and Russia and have been used in Lapland as mean of transportation for thousands of years. They are usually wooden and differ from cross-country skis as they are much larger. You can easily glide down hill or go uphill (thanks to the skins located under the skis) but they can also be used in deep-snow and off-track. They come with universal bindings, meaning that you can clip on your regular winter boots. This evening, after a hearty dinner, we enjoy another wildlife presentation at the main lodge. Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 4 Free day; optional snowmobile safari.Today is free for you to enjoy one of the optional activities available locally. You may decide to experience the thrill of driving a snowmobile through snowy forests, over frozen rivers, and hills or explore the surroundings on cross-country skis or snowshoes. Alternatively you may choose to relax at the lodge and enjoy the peace and tranquillity of this beautiful setting. Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 5 Spend a morning with a local Sami family and learn of their culture, ancient traditions and reindeer herding; enjoy the sauna back at the lodge.Today we have a wonderful insight to the life and work as a reindeer herder and the indigenous Sami lifestyle as we visit a local family. Between 75.000 to 100.000 Sami people live in the Arctic regions of Norway, Finland, Sweden and Russia, preserving their unique language and ancient traditions in today's modern world. We spend a couple of relaxing hours, listening to their stories and to the sparkling fire while enjoying some traditional Sami food and hot steaming coffee. We will also be introduced to the reindeer and have the opportunity to get really close to them and perhaps feed them. We return to our lodge in the afternoon and enjoy some free time before dinner. Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 6 Set off on a two-day wilderness expedition on forest skis; cross frozen lakes and pine clad hills and stay overnight in a log-cabin; chance to see the Northern Lights.Today we start a two day tour on forest skis. On our adventure we carry only the necessary equipment for the day in a small rucksack whilst the rest will be transported for us to the cabin. We venture deep into the forest, crossing frozen lakes and swamps, pine clad hills and valleys, until reaching our special accommodation for the night, a cozy log-cabin, traditionally used for for forest workers, heated by fire and using water from melted snow. We will all participate in the preparation of tonight's supper and will enjoy an optional sauna, before going to sleep in our dorm-style rooms. That is, if the impressive Aurora Borealis is not keeping us awake! Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 7 Ski back to Rajamaa; relax in the sauna and enjoy farewell dinner.After breakfast we get on the skis and head back again to Rajamaa. We may be able spot some wild reindeer and moose in the area or even come across the tracks of lynx or wolverine. Back at the lodge, enjoy a final well-deserved sauna before our farewell dinner! Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 8 End Rajamaa, Swedish Lapland.The trip ends in the morning of day 8. Meals included: Breakfast Transfer to Kiruna or Kittilä; fly to London.After breakfast those on the group flight or wishing to join the group transfer will be driven to Kiruna Airport or Kittilä Airport (depending on your departure date). Flights to London are usually via Stockholm or Helsinki. Meals included: Breakfast
SwedenUK passport holders do not require a visa for Sweden.For further Brexit travel advice please visit https://www.abta.com/tips-and-advice/brexit-advice-for-travellers
Rajamaa Our base for the week is Rajamaa, a complex of cosy wooden chalets run by the welcoming Malmström family since 1986. The accommodation lays on an island in the Muonio river, which forms the physical border between Sweden with Finland in a remote and unspoilt area of Lapland.Rajamaa consists of a main building with reception, dining-room, lounge and sauna. Free Wi-Fi is available at the property. Twin and double rooms will be allocated in the big 46 sqm 2-bedroom chalets, equipped with shower/WC, mini-kitchen and electrical drying closet. This means that a maximum of 4 people (2 couples or twin sharers) will stay in each chalet and will have their own twin/double bedroom but shared facilities.Single rooms are limited and subject to availability. These will be offered for a supplement payable upon booking. Single rooms may be allocated in the big chalets (shared facilities) or in a small chalet with private facilities depending on availability.1 night during the trip will be spent in a remote forest lodge where accommodation is dormitory style (usually 4 people per room, single-sex) and with shared facilities. No single rooms are available at this accommodation.Subject to minimum group size, Rajamaa will be exclusively reserved for the Exodus group.
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