THE ADVENTURE COLLECTIVE® · Independent discovery and booking for outdoor travel
Experience a full-day backcountry ski expedition from Rovaniemi on Altai skis. Learn skinning, pulka packing and expedition basics while traversing Lapland’s snowy forests and hills.
Experience a full-day backcountry ski expedition from Rovaniemi on Altai skis. Learn skinning, pulka packing and expedition basics while traversing Lapland’s snowy forests and hills.
Dawn softens the horizon as a small group straps on broad Altai skis and shouldersees a pulka sleigh into a white silence. Snow muffles footsteps and the forest opens into rolling hills; the guide points the line, and the group begins to hike on skins toward a distant ridge where a panoramic view waits.
Verified experiences and guided adventures in the surrounding area.
Operated by Nordic Odyssey · Rovaniemi, Lapland
Dawn softens the horizon as a small group straps on broad Altai skis and shouldersees a pulka sleigh into a white silence. Snow muffles footsteps and the forest opens into rolling hills; the guide points the line, and the group begins to hike on skins toward a distant ridge where a panoramic view waits.
This one-day expedition introduces skiers to Altai skis (Finnish “sliding snowshoes”)—long, wide backcountry skis with climbing skins—used here to navigate deep snow off groomed trails. The route threads boreal forest and glaciated bedrock typical of northern Lapland, crossing terrain shaped by the Fennoscandian Ice Sheet and carrying echoes of Sámi reindeer herding in faint lichen-rich clearings. Cultural context is simple: these lands are working landscapes where reindeer move seasonally and small communities maintain traditional ties to the land.
Practically, expect 6 hours in the field with ski travel of roughly 6–10 km and intermittent climbs up to 300 m cumulative ascent depending on route and conditions. Guides teach pulka packing, basic skinning technique and avalanche-aware route choice; the group pauses for a fire-lit barbecue lunch once a scenic vantage is reached.
Prepare for layered insulation, wind and snow, and short cold snaps even on calm days. Footwear should be warm, waterproof and compatible with hiking-style tech or frame bindings used on Altai skis. Hydrate and bring calorie-dense snacks—the work of skinning and pulka hauling burns steadily. With modest fitness and patience for learning, a beginner can finish this expedition having touched a remote Arctic landscape and learned practical skills for longer expeditions.
No advanced experience is required—this trip is adapted to beginners, though basic balance and willingness to learn skinning technique are helpful.
Yes—the tour provides Altai skis, poles and a pulka; bring compatible warm boots and personal layers.
Temperatures vary; dress in layers with an insulating midlayer and windproof outer shell, plus warm gloves and head protection.
Guides select safe routes for this introductory expedition and teach avalanche awareness; however conditions change, and instructors carry safety equipment as needed.
Nordic Odyssey operates guided outdoor trips and adventures with an emphasis on safety, stewardship, and memorable experiences.
Dawn softens the horizon as a small group straps on broad Altai skis and shouldersees a pulka sleigh into a white silence. Snow muffles footsteps and the forest opens into rolling hills; the guide points the line, and the group begins to hike on skins toward a distant ridge where a panoramic view waits.
Dawn softens the horizon as a small group straps on broad Altai skis and shouldersees a pulka sleigh into a white silence. Snow muffles footsteps and the forest opens into rolling hills; the guide points the line, and the group begins to hike on skins toward a distant ridge where a panoramic view waits.
This one-day expedition introduces skiers to Altai skis (Finnish “sliding snowshoes”)—long, wide backcountry skis with climbing skins—used here to navigate deep snow off groomed trails. The route threads boreal forest and glaciated bedrock typical of northern Lapland, crossing terrain shaped by the Fennoscandian Ice Sheet and carrying echoes of Sámi reindeer herding in faint lichen-rich clearings. Cultural context is simple: these lands are working landscapes where reindeer move seasonally and small communities maintain traditional ties to the land.
Practically, expect 6 hours in the field with ski travel of roughly 6–10 km and intermittent climbs up to 300 m cumulative ascent depending on route and conditions. Guides teach pulka packing, basic skinning technique and avalanche-aware route choice; the group pauses for a fire-lit barbecue lunch once a scenic vantage is reached.
Prepare for layered insulation, wind and snow, and short cold snaps even on calm days. Footwear should be warm, waterproof and compatible with hiking-style tech or frame bindings used on Altai skis. Hydrate and bring calorie-dense snacks—the work of skinning and pulka hauling burns steadily. With modest fitness and patience for learning, a beginner can finish this expedition having touched a remote Arctic landscape and learned practical skills for longer expeditions.