The Finnmark Plateau — the name alone brings to mind images of grand nature and magnificent experiences for many European adventurers. The endless rolling terrain, the Northern Lights and the silence will always make a deep and lasting impression on those who see it.

This is the long way across the Finnmark Plateau! There is no other way of saying this: this is a real expedition. The time spent outside, the nature we ski through and the fact that there are no other people in sight make this an Arctic challenge for the true adventurers and explorers.

The route goes from Hatter in the north to Karasjok in the south. Almost the entire route will be off track, and our daily skiing distances will be between 7 and 22 km. The total distance will be between 160 and 210 km.

And the reward: images of magnificent untouched nature forever burned into your memory, the indescribable Arctic light, a relaxed mind and the rewarding feeling of having done one of the toughest Arctic challenges available in mainland Scandinavia.

Warning: an adventure like this can be addictive.

Season, terrain and weather

The programme is 16 days and, depending on the year, we start around mid-February. This is the coldest period of the year, and the light is stunning. Trips later in the winter will have longer days and milder weather.

Depending on what part of the winter you go: February is normally the coldest period of the year, when the temperature can drop to below −40 °C and the weather can vary from clear blue skies with no wind to storms or blizzards. On trips later into spring we can have daily temperatures just around 0 °C and nights a manageable −20 °C. Either way this will challenge you both physically and mentally, but it will also bring forward friendship, character, cooperation, grand nature experiences and a wilderness feeling that few other places in Europe can offer. If in doubt about what part of the winter might suit you best, please don't hesitate to ask us, and we will elaborate on availability and the differences between the offered dates.

How we travel

We will be skiing the whole way, transporting our equipment in pulks.

Comfort, food and safety

If you have no other expedition or tour plans, this tour has so much to offer in itself. Your mind changes mode when you are out beyond 8 or 9 days without contact with civilisation. The white landscape, the silence and the meditative motions of cross-country skiing will give you plenty of time to reflect, philosophise and daydream along the way. Many people find themselves in a very balanced, relaxed and harmonious state of mind after a trip like this. But be aware: this feeling can in some cases lead to a lifelong addiction to long-duration outdoor adventures!

Food on the expedition — breakfast: cereal mix with dried berries, fruits and nuts (those who like can mix with milk and sugar), tea, coffee, berry juice. Lunch: dehydrated expedition food with bread. Dinner: a combination of warm, comforting, delicious home-cooked meals that you'll miss even when back at home, and dehydrated expedition food. We will bring some snacks, but everybody should also bring their own snacks to eat between the meals according to their own preferences. If you like any special tea, coffee or fruit drinks, please bring your own.

The guides on the expedition are very experienced and highly qualified for this type of expedition. Their most important task and their main focus will be making this the best possible experience for you.

Who can join

With this tour you get the opportunity to test yourself and your equipment. You can gain valuable expedition experience before going to Greenland, Antarctica or the North Pole.

This expedition holiday is suitable for adventurous people with strength of will and a can-do attitude. It requires a good level of fitness, and previous camping and outdoor experience is helpful.

In the press

The American travel publication Forbes Travel Guide has ranked the skiing trip on the Finnmark Plateau as one of the 5 most stunning cross-country skiing spots in the world. Read an article about our skiing trips on the Northern Norway tourist board.

Good to know

In Karasjok you will be lodged at Engholm Lodge in double rooms, in cabins with one or two rooms; single rooms are available for an additional cost. On the nights in tents, teams of 2 to 3 persons share one tent. Minimum 3 participants required — in case of fewer participants, we will inform and refund no later than 8 weeks prior. Private trips are available on request from February to the end of April.

Day by day plan

Day 1: Arrival day. You arrive at Karasjok and Engholm Lodge, where your guide will meet you. The programme starts with dinner at 7 pm. After dinner you will be briefed on the route of the expedition, and we will go through your equipment to see and evaluate whether it will be sufficient for the expedition. We will talk through subjects like first aid, safety and how to avoid frost injuries.
Day 2: Day two we will spend preparing for the expedition. We will put together teams of two or three that will work and stay together in the tents throughout the expedition. We will do our final purchases in town, test and pack our equipment, learn more about how to use the equipment like tents and stoves, and ensure that everything is ready for departure. If you like, there might be time this day to do a day trip with dog sledding, visit a reindeer herder or practise your skiing skills (these activities are extra and have to be booked in advance) — please ask us for options if this is of interest.
Day 3: We have breakfast at the lodge, and then we are off to the north and our starting point. On this first day of the expedition we will be skiing only a few hours before we set up our camp for the night. This is to give you the best possible start and to give you the opportunity to adapt to the situation and to make adjustments to your equipment.
Days 3–15: The Finnmark Plateau expedition. We will be skiing an average of 10 to 20 kilometres per day. Some days this will mean skiing into the dark hours of the day, especially early in the season. The landscape will vary from mountainous terrain with steep slopes and narrow valleys by the coast to the typically flat terrain with rolling hills and scattered patches of wood on the inland mountain plateau. On day 15 we ski down to the Karasjok valley and Engholm Lodge. A good shower and dinner are waiting for us.
Day 16: Last day, with breakfast at the lodge, final packing and the journey home.

The price includes

Local transportation
All meals from dinner on day 1 to breakfast on day 16
Lodging in a double room in Karasjok, three nights
Some equipment — see the equipment list

Not included

Travel to and from Karasjok
Personal equipment — please check the equipment list
Travel insurance
Alcoholic beverages
Snacks between the meals — we recommend sweets, dried fruit, nuts, chocolate etc.
Any unforeseen expenses due to delays caused by weather or safety considerations, or if you have to leave the expedition midway for any reason