Wilderness Travel 2018 Catalog of Adventures

Expedition to Lapland NORTHERN LIGHTS AND REINDEER HERDERS

Winter fun, WT style! We’ve chosen the pristine, snowy wilds of Lapland, stretching across Finland’s northern realm, for this action-packed journey. We’ll take an icebreaker into the pack ice (with an optional polar plunge, dry suit provided), snowshoe in deep winter forests, ride a sleigh pulled by reindeer, pan for gold, and race across the snowscapes in our husky-powered dogsled. Our journey gives us a true insider’s look into Lapland’s culture as we meet Sámi reindeer herders, taste traditional specialties, spend a night in a glass-ceiling “igloo” cabin, and with luck, see the surreal northern lights dance across the night sky. Our hotels keep us warm and comfy, and at day’s end, we can unwind with a sauna.

“AMAZING! An incredible itinerary that showcased the Lapland culture, cuisine, and landscape beautifully. So very fortunate to experience this trip!”

HIGHLIGHTS • Visit the spectacular SnowCastle, take a ride by icebreaker • Meet traditional Sámi reindeer herders and dogsledders • Look for the elusive northern lights flickering across the heavens • Experience Finnish and Lappish culture, enjoy relaxing saunas • Try Nordic skiing, ice fishing, snowshoeing, and other winter adventures DETAILS • 12-day trip begins and ends in Rovaniemi • 11 nights hotels • All meals included except 1 dinner

way of life, continuing reindeer husbandry and dogsledding. With their help,

Days 1-2 Rovaniemi / SnowCastle / Icebreaker Expedition Getting right into the winter spirit of Lapland, we head to the spectacular SnowCastle, rebuilt from fresh snow and ice each winter in a new style. After a sip of hot cocoa or a cocktail at the castle’s Ice Bar, we board the icebreaker Sampo to navigate through the pack ice that separates Finland and Sweden. We can walk out on the ice, or for the brave, take a dip in the bracing waters!

Dianne B., Evanston IL

we learn to work their dogsleds and take a ride on their sturdy horses. One evening, we set off by husky-drawn sled in hopes of seeing the northern lights, with an overnight in “glass igloos” that give us a planetarium feeling from our beds. Depart from Rovaniemi on Day 12.

DATES Feb 21-Mar 4, 2018 Mar 6-17 Mar 14-25 Alternative itinerary

Laplanders really knowhow tomake winter fun—we’ll join them in the adventure! PHOTO:MIKKOKARJALAINEN

Days 3-4 Pyhä-Luosto / Snowshoeing / Reindeer Sleigh In the fells and rugged hills of Pyhä- Luosto National Park, we strap on snowshoes for a hike with sweeping mountain views. We also travel these Arctic landscapes the age-old way—on sleighs pulled by reindeer. Days 5-7 Cooking Class / Ice Fishing / Nordic Skiing These days are for ice fishing, sampling Finnish specialties cooked over a wood fire, and Nordic skiing, all authentic traditions of Lapland. Days 8-12 Sámi Culture / Husky Sledding / Glass Igloo The only indigenous population of Finland, the Sámi embrace their traditional

TRIP COST $6995 (10-12 members) $7395 (7-9 members) Single supplement: $1195

TRIP LEVEL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 A mix of moderate to strenuous hiking and snowshoeing, 1-3 hours most days

GUNTER GRAFENHAIN

WWW.WILDERNESSTRAVEL.COM/TRIPS/EUROPE 74