Pyhätunturi Wilderness Skiing Private Tour with Guide

Wilderness skis let you walk uphill and glide downhill without the resort.

A private wilderness skiing lesson in Pyhätunturi, Lapland, where you learn to ski in snowy backcountry terrain using short, wide skis with built-in skins, guided by a local expert. The tour includes warm drinks and a meal cooked over an open fire. No prior skiing experience is needed, and children from age 6 are welcome.

The experience

Can you learn to ski without a resort? Yes, and the skis themselves make it possible. You'll use OAC wilderness skis, made in Finland and designed for exactly this: short and wide, with integrated skins on the base so you can walk uphill through variable snow without sliding backward, then glide downhill without removing them. Your guide teaches you the technique from the start, so absolute beginners move into the backcountry the same day. The adjustable bindings fit most winter boots, so you wear what you already have.

The three-hour tour stays in relatively easy terrain around Pyhätunturi, where the guide chooses the snow and the slope based on what you're learning. You'll move through untouched snow and quiet forest, stopping to rest and refuel. Warm berry juice or tea and a light lunch made from local ingredients wait at a campsite with an open fire. The meal is cooked there, not brought cold. It's the local way to spend a winter day, and it's how you stay warm and energized between runs.

This is a private tour, so the guide adjusts the pace and the terrain to you alone. Public transportation reaches the area, and the tour suits all fitness levels, though it does ask your cardiovascular system to work. Your guide will know if a modification is needed.

What’s included

• Wilderness skis and poles fitted to your boots.
• instruction from a local guide in English or Finnish.
• warm berry juice or tea.
• a light lunch made from local ingredients, cooked and served at a campfire during the tour.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 11:00 and 15:00Last departure this season: 31 Oct

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (6 to 11 years) · Under 6: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Finnish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 4 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearbyNot recommended with heart problems

Operated by Taste Of Outdoors

Is this one for you?You guide yourself through the snow on skis you control, so this suits anyone who wants to learn and move under their own power rather than watch a demonstration or ride along. The private format means the guide adjusts terrain and pacing to you alone, which works best if you prefer one-on-one instruction or want to move at your own speed without a group waiting.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Finnish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (6 to 11 years). Children under 6 can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

Do I need to have skied before to join this tour?

No. The guide teaches wilderness skiing technique from the beginning, and the skis are designed so beginners can move confidently in the backcountry. No prior experience is needed.

What makes these wilderness skis different from regular skis?

Wilderness skis are short and wide with integrated skins built into the base, so you can walk uphill without sliding back and ski downhill without removing them. They're made to handle variable snow and terrain you'd find in the backcountry, not groomed slopes.

What happens if I get cold during the tour?

The tour includes warm berry juice or tea and a hot meal cooked over an open fire at a campsite, so you stop and warm up partway through. You'll wear your own winter boots and clothing, so dress in layers you can adjust as you move and rest.

How do I get to Pyhätunturi for the tour?

Public transportation options are available nearby. Your booking confirmation will include details on meeting the guide and reaching the starting point.