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Letter Randocheval

Why travelling with Randocheval ?

FINLAND - LAPLAND : SUMMER RIDE ON THE POLAR CIRCLE, AMONG LAKES AND FORESTS...

Itinerary - Extensions - Horses and required riding level
Guiding - Accommodation - Dates and rates - More infos / booking

Just in the South of the polar circle, we drag you in one of the wildest regions in Europe, in an itinerary that follows the famous Bears Ring Trail - that'll take some doing! That historic trail is one of the most impressive in Finland, it crosses the Oulanka Park, particularly protected, a vast territory of mighty rivers, breathtakingly high canyons and forests among the most ancient in Europe. Golden eagles, white tailed eagles, reindeers and even bears and wolves live in those vast stretches, but you will rarely pass the large predators, thanks to the vigilance of our guide. In very small groups, from 1 to 6 people (sometimes 8), it is an intense experience for the ones who love nature with its original purity…   Non riders are welcome to join this trail, with paddling and hiking program !

ITINERARY

Day 1 - sunday
Transfer from Kuusamo airport to the horsefarm, north of Ruka. Meet the horses. Overnight in a very comfortable cabin near to the farm. meet the rest of the group and have a chance to learn more about your wilderness trail.

Day 2 - monday
After breakfast, meet the horses at the horsefarm. Set off from the stables, riding through pretty Finnish countryside on sandy roads and forests. We continue to Porontima lake where we stop for lunch. After lunch, we ride past Kiutalake and into the Oulanka Park. Our first camp by Kallio lake. The night will be spent in "lean to" lavuu, tent sauna and dinner around campfire.

Day 3 - tuesday
We continue riding through the Oulanka Park, with a first stop to see the Kiutaköngäs rapids and Oulanka national park visitor centre. The Kiutagöngäs rapids are the best known sight in the Park. The Oulanka river surging down between russet coloured dolomite walls and desconding 14m over a distance of a few hundred metres.

After visiting the rapids we continue into the wilderness, crossing streams, through deep spruce forests and rocky hills and riding past swamps. We have lunch on side by the campfire and after lunch ride down the pineforests. The route now goes along to the Liikanen village. Overnight near the Russian border zone in hut, with tent sauna and dinner by campfire.

Day 4 - wednesday
After breakfast around the campfire, we make visit to Russian border and after visit to border we ride down the Oulanka Valley, crossing the wilderness with its thick forests and rocky landscapes to reach our overnight spot. The night will be spent in a tent next by the Oulanka river. Tthere is not shower or sauna but there is a very nice swimming place in the river.

Day 5 - thursday
From Jäkälämutka, the route follows the Kitkajoki River to Päähkänä hills. We cross Kitkajoki river to the Kahlaamo ford and ride to the top of the valley. We have lunch on the top of a view of the canyon.
After lunch, we continue upstream along Kitkajoki River to Jyrävä, the most powerful rapids in Finland where the waterfalls down more than 10m through a narrow passage between steep rock faces.
We overnight at Jyrävä camp ground in cabin. There is a sauna and shower.

Day 6 - friday
Today we follow up the Kitka River up to the Saarikoski rapids and ride through beautiful and wild countryside.
Lunch next to Kitka river. After lunch, we ride to Käylä village and back to the farm where we leave the horses for a well-earned rest. We return to the cabin and enjoy a final sauna and an evening of final dinner at farm.

Day 7 - saturday
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your flight back home.

Note : We can arrange for you a stay at the "Holiday Club" in Kuusamo that proposes numerous open air activities (15 mn from the ski pistes in Ruka), swimming pools and saunas that will help to erase the tiredness due to those long day's riding.
You can also take advantage of your trail ride in Finland to visit the rest of the country : Helsinki, Rovaniemi, the Santa Claus' village, multi-activities stay… We will be in charge of all the logistics : rented vehicle, hotel and "cabins in the heart of the wood" reservation on the basis of breakfast, half-board etc. For any estimate, contact us.

This itinerary is indicative, your guide, who perfectly knows the region, will be able to change it if the weather or the safety of the group requires it.

NON RIDERS

Non riders are welcome to visit us with their riding friend or parents. We suggest a paddling / hinking program.

Consult the detailled program.

Consult rates.

EXTEND YOUR TRIP

Helsinki 3 days / 2 nights

Price : 330 € / pers. in double room basis from july 1st to august 31.
290 € / pers. In double room basis the rest of the year.

Included : 2 nights in 3* hotel in Helsinki city center + breaksfasts + 3 days rental car (2 pers. min.).

To add : personal expenses (meals, visits, fuel).

HORSES AND REQUIRED RIDING LEVEL

Horses
The horses, which usually are 9, are Finnish horses, the fastest cold-blood horses in Europe!
Finnish horses have traditionally been used as forest horses so they are brave, strong, calm and easy to handle. They are not worried neither about the swamps nor about the rivers swollen when the thaw comes in spring, or about the snow during our winter rides.
They are at ease on the steepest slopes and on every ground, even on the rockiest ones.
This rusticity hides however a lively and playful nature that might surprise even the most experienced riders.

Tack
Western style. The guide will help you to saddle your horse if necessary. Saddle bags are provided by our organization.

Required riding level
It is not necessary to be a very experienced rider, but it is mandatory to be at ease at the three paces. The most important thing is to be able to stay in the saddle up to 3 to 6h each day (30km a day) and to have an adventurous spirit. There are a certain number of rivers to cross that don't present particular difficulties even when the thaw comes, but if you are afraid of water it is a factor to take into consideration.
The guide is responsible for your safety, therefore he can ask you not to ride if your riding level is not sufficient for this ride.
We require that our guests wear a riding helmet, it's mandatory.

We will ask the riders to brush their horse, check and clean hooves, saddle and unsaddle their horse.

Age
This ride is open to riders over 16, with an adventurous nature and who love life in open air.

Maximum weight : 100 kg

Gear to allow
Gear to protect you from the rain, a safety helmet, and a sleeping bag if you don't want to sleep in the ones provided.
A repulsive product against the mosquitoes, OFF, that you can buy at the airport or in the Park.

YOUR GUIDES

Your guide is an experienced wilderness guide and his knowledge of the region allows him to adapt his routes through the park from easy to difficult depending to the experience of the group and local conditions.

ACCOMMODATION

Accomodation
You will spend sunday and friday nights in comfortable cabins near the horse farm and close to a lake. There are nice rooms with open fire, a shower and a sauna. Thursday night will be spent too in a cabin. In the cabins, the rooms are usually for 3 or 4 person, but you may have the possibility to be 2 in the room (subject to availability).

Monday, tuesday and wednesday nights will be spent in tents or traditionnal Laavu (sort of tipi open on one side, in order to light a fire that heats the tent and allows to cook). The comfort is basic but generally without running water, however, there will be a lake or river not too far away. No shower during 3 following days. The tents can be heated given the nights may be cold, even in summer.
It is not possible to guarantee single room/tent.
In the most rustic accommodations and in the tents, sleeping bags and mattresses are provided.

Logistics
A support vehicle will carry your luggage to the camps every day.

Catering
For dinner, an experienced cook used to the wild environment of Lapland will make you discover the traditional Finnish cuisine with reindeer and salmon …but also more familiar ingredients. Picnic lunches will be carried in the saddlebag.
It is possible to allow vegetarian meals on prior request.

DATES AND RATES

Non riders are welcome to join their friends or parents on that trail with paddling and hiking program! Consult the itinerary.

Options
- Extra Night at Holiday Club Kuusamo :
60 € / night / person on double room basis,
105 € / night / person on single room basis.

- For any other service, please contact us.

RATE INCLUDING

- the trail ride as it is described, on full board basis
- transfers from and to Kuusamo airport together with the other riders (transfer if you arrive or depart another day is at your own expense).
- the financial guarantee of the deposits you send to Randocheval

RATE NOT INCLUDING

- flights to Kuusamo - Please contact us to check the best available rate from your country.
- the organisation of a possible stay at Kuusamo Tropiiki Holiday Club before or after the trail ride (in that case, transfert back from Holiday Club to Kuusamo airport will not be included)
- drinks
- any other service (extra stay in Helsinki or tour in Finland)
- tips and personnal expenses
- insurrance : repatriation aid or multiple-risk (cancellation, luggage, repatriation). You can subscribe to these insurrances only if you are resident from E.U. or Switzerland. If you live outside these countries, please check with your local insurrance company. More information.

BOOKING - INFORMATION

Contact Dorothee, the specialist for this destination !

PRATICAL INFORMATIONS

COUNTRY

LENGTH

LANGUAGE

GROUP SIZE

ACCESS

CLIMATE

The air in Finland is always fresh and stimulating!

In June the temperature in the day is about 15 C, and between 5 C - 9 C at night.
In July the temperature in the day rises to an average of 18 C and nights are about10 C.
In August the temperature in the day may rise up to 20 C but the evenings will be starting to get cooler, and in September daytime temperatures can vary from 5 C - 15 C but nighttime temperatures may drop to freezing.

This is the land of the midnight sun, and from June to August, it is clear during 24h.
The autumn colors in mid-late September are very beautiful

It can rain at any time, although July and August should be drier, so allow an efficient waterproof gear. On the contrary, it is not very windy.

Formalities
Check with your local Embassy according to your nationality.

Vaccines-Health
No specific vaccination, we recommend you to be up to date concerning your usual vaccinations, in particular for the tetanus vaccine.
Remember that a repatriation travel insurrance is compulsory.

REFERENCE :

CH27-lapland-summer