Winter adventure week at Lake Inari

For so long we had on our bucket list to visit Lapland in winter once; seeing Husky's and reindeers, tours on snowmobiles and who knows with a little luck spotting aurora borealis... Oh yes, that was what we wanted to enjoy. So few weeks ago, after months of counting down my husband and me could leave to Finnish Lapland.

A direct flight from Amsterdam brought us in 3h to Ivalo, the northernmost airport of Finland, 300km above the arctic circle. After a short transfer we could check-in at Nangu Wilderness Lodge, situated on the banks of Lake Inari which is completed frozen in winter. We got a welcome drink and also a briefing about our program for this adventure week. After that introduction we can enjoy a delicious lunch buffet.

In the afternoon we go discovering the environment of the lodge and also truying to get used to the cold but that last isn't very hard. Good to know that special clothing is included during the stay so an extra warm thermal suit and snowboots are available for each guest. 

Next morning our adventure program can start with a snowshoeing walk. Together with 6 other guests and our guide we make a nice walk of 2h through snowcovered forests and over a part of the frozen lake. Snowshoeing looks a bit like nordic walking in the snow as you use also poles for it. Some steep slopes are heavy to take up. When we have to descend on steep parts it can be slippery and we all fell once or more. It's quit a challenging trip. Around noon we take a break. We arrive at a hut in the forest and the guide makes a fire and starts preparing lunch; we eat reindeermeat. Not my cup of tea. Luckily I had a strong breakfast. After the walk we take some relax in our panorama cabin. It's a really cosy one with a fireplace, a private sauna and jacuzzi. 

Day 3 brings us to the huskykennel for a sledtour through a beautiful snowcovered landscape. First we get an introduction and instruction about the do's and don'ts. Than the dogs are waiting and we need to leave urgent as they are so excited constantly barking and howling. Some more guests of Nangu are joining us so 5 sleds are prepared for our group and a sledteam consists of 5 dogs each. In front the sled of the guide and than we leave for a 8km tour. It's a sensational adventure to race through the forest and over the snowcovered lake. I will be the passenger and my husband the driver. Sitting in the sled isn't that comfortable as there is no ergonomic seat and no shock absorbers. So the passenger's back absorbs all shocks. Our dogteam is a very fast and my husband needs to slow down from time to time in contrast with some other drivers who need to help their dogs in giving speed by running along. At the end of the tour there is some time to take a look in the kennel and cuddle time with the puppy's. They are adorable...

On day 4 we make a walk, we take some relax and in the evening we have another adventure from our program. We are going out for a night tour on the snowmobile and we hope to see the northernlight but the weather conditions are still unfavorable. Too many clouds obstruct the sky and limit our chances to see the magic. We drive a 2h tour adapted for starters, we take the flat trails on the frozen lake.  About the northernlight I can be short : no northernlight at all... Next time better.

The next morning the snowmobiles are prepared again for our group. Today we make a daytour and again I am the passenger and my husband the driver. Driving a snowmobile isn't that easy because it requires quick reaction times and some power to handle the wheel. The weather is again very cloudy and an icy wind is blowing; our thermal suits are very usefull.  Around noon we stop near a shelter and lunch is prepared. After a cup of tasteful reindeersoup we are full ready to continue our adventure.

On day 6 finally the sun is arrived. We decide to make a nice walk on the frozen Lake Inari. But short after we start walking big clouds make appearance and block the sunlight. We keep follow the signs that mark the snowmobiletrail and continue our walk. Than weather is changing very soon and we end up in a snow blizzard; end good all good when we arrive back in the lodge for lunch. In the evening sky is clear enough to make chance for spotting the aurora borealis so we put on our thermal suits and snowboots. I prepare my photogear and around 10pm we are at the lake. First 10 minutes we don't see anything special except a clear sky and hundreds of stars but than the magic happens; beautiful dancing waves in all shades of green and purple. To photograph this amazing phenomena is quit a challenging experience, especially when it is the first time. But after some mistakes I make progress and I can shoot some nice captures. Half frozen (outside temperature -15°C)  but so satisfied we return to our cabin and go to sleep.

On our last day we make another optional excursion. Because we both were so excited about the fun on the snowmobile we go again for a tour. Today is a beautiful day with the sun as our companion shining in an azure blue sky. Temperature is about -20°C around time that we leave. Weather forecast is very clear about northern light; tonight it will 100% favorable so we are very excited as tonight is our last evening and last chance.

But first we gonna enjoy the fun on the snowmobile. The tour is a bit different from the first tour so we can discover new landscapes and also enjoy another picknick around the woodfire in open air. Around noon temperature has risen until -16°C.  After eating a tasteful cup of fishsoup we start the engines again to continue the tour. 

That evening we join the last excursion of our adventure program; a visit at the aurora camp. When we leave temperature is -25°C and sky is clear and filled with twinkling stars. Warm clothed in our thermal suits we enjoy for the second time the amazing aurora borealis that is putting the sky in a magical lightshow. Even more beautiful than the day before.  I have made progress in my photography skills so I can succeed to capture some nice images.

This evening was the perfect and most fantastic end of this fantastic adventure week in Finnish Lapland !!