Finland wilderness activity vacation

Planet

The recently refurbished Wilderness Hotel Juutua is situated right in the heart of Inari village, which has huge cultural significance to the Finnish Sámi population both historically and today, which is reflected in the ownership of this hotel. The hotel became part of the Wilderness Hotel family in October 2022, who have put a classic Scandi-chic design style on the hotel, designing the interior to be sympathetic to its Sámi heritage.

The Wilderness Hotel group is locally owned and runs a number of fantastic, environmentally friendly, hotels in the Inari region of Finnish Lapland. Since taking ownership of the Wilderness Hotel Juutua, they have completely revamped the hotel, committing themselves to decrease water and energy consumption. All waste is sorted and recycled where possible, whilst any single-use cups have been replaced with more ecological options.

The hotel uses plenty of local ingredients, reducing its carbon footprint by not having to import and transport food from across the world, and also ensures guests can eat authentic Finnish meals, gaining an insight into the culture of this region.

Dog sledding and snowmobiling are included as a part of the itinerary of this trip. These always take place on specific, marked, and monitored tracks, limiting the effect on the local environment and wildlife. Finland has stringent regulations in regard to animal welfare, and the dogs you’ll encounter on this trip are extremely well cared for, and regularly checked.

Guests receive full training from local guides, who will teach them how to minimise the chances of causing a disturbance by driving effectively and efficiently. The snowmobiles are 4-stroke engines which are less polluting than a 2-stroke or a 4x4 vehicle. They are exceptionally well maintained, for guests’ safety and minimise the impact on the local environment. Guests travel two per sled as standard and in small groups to limit the number of machines on the trail.

People

Inari, and Finnish Lapland as a whole, is an area where tourism plays an integral role in supporting the economy and maintaining a population that might otherwise be dwindling. Employment and investment from hotels such as the Wilderness Hotel Juutua mean the money that tourists spend here, stays in the local economy.

As a whole, the Wilderness Hotel group employs over 180 people, of which over half are local. Whilst in 2019 they were the biggest taxpayer in Inari, further emphasising the essential role they place in supporting the local economy.

As Inari is the traditional center of the indigenous Sámi population and their unique culture, we believe that it’s important for guests to learn more about their traditions whilst they are away. Included in the itinerary is a morning at a local reindeer farm, where guests can gain a rare insight into the lives of Lapland’s traditional reindeer herders and their animals. Both today and historically, reindeer have played a pivotal role in life in Finnish Lapland. You will learn about the reindeer's life and their value to the community and economy.

We have left a couple of afternoons free for guests to explore the local area, we recommend that all guests visit the Sámi Siida Museum, where you can further learn about Sámi culture and the nature of Northern Lapland.