Lapland - Europes last true wilderness.........breathtaking!

I have just returned from the most amazing adventure. With a group of close firends we travelled to the Kilpisjarvi area of Finnish Lapland.  It was a bit of a trek to get there but boy was it worth it.

We flew from London Heathrow via Helsinki to Kittila and then headed an hour north to Harriniva. Here we met our amazing guides, Pasi,Kaitsu and Jussi. Over dinner they went through the plans for the next 5 days, they filled us with confidence even though we all felt as if we were taking a step into the unknown. They kitted us out with outer thermal clothing, helmets, hats, sleeping bags then told us to have a good nights sleep in what would be our last night in civilisation. 

The next morning started with lessons in snowmobiling and on handling a husky sled and then after lunch it was onto the coach departing Hariniva for a two and half hour journey north to the small village of Kilpisjarvi.

We had planned that half the gang would snowmobile and half the gang would husky, swapping activities each day. The excited huskies were awaiting our arrival on the ice. We loaded all of the kit into the snowmobile sleds (tents, food, cooking equipment, we had to take everything with us) and then we were off across the fells. It was just exhilirating heading up hill from the village towards the fells pulled by a team of 5 huskies and looking back over the frozen lake.

After about an hour a storm closed in and we started to experience real Arctic conditions with snow blowing from left to right but it was all part of the adventure. As conditions closed in the guides decided that we should set up camp for the evening! This involved pitch huge army tents at the centre of which was a wood burning stove that was lit in no time at all. As we rolled out our reindeer skings and sleeping bags and settled in we wre met by the most amazing aromas from Kaitsu's kitchen tent. Over the whole trip he never failed to amaze us with the mouth watering menus, steak, salmon with shrimp sauce, Lapp burgers, reindeer stew......and full cooked breakfast!     

The next morning the storm had cleared and we were met by blue skies and sunshine. After we packed up camp we were off again across the fells. This time I was snowmobiling, what a buzz. We could travel for an hour without seeing anyone and then come across 3 cross country skies pulling their kit in little sleds, crazy people.  We came across herds of reindeer and the guides pointed out Wolverine tracks.

We set up base camp, home for the coming days while we explored the area. Once the tents were in place (we wre camping on a huge lake) we drilled holes and set about catching dinner! Some were more successful than others.

I could go on for ever about how beautiful this area is and what amazing activities we did but I think I will let the pictures do the talking.

Thanks to all at Emagine for making it happen, when we said we wanted a once in life time experience you really delivered. Also a big thanks to our guides Pasi, Kaitsu and Jussi for taking such good care of us and for being such fun.