Nightless Night Trek in Muotkatunturi Wilderness Area Lapland
A journey to pristine wilderness where sun never sets. Walk the woods and tundra of Muotkatunturi wilderness area with the newborn reindeer calfs, singing birds and lush vegetetion of brief but intense Lappish summer.
Muotkatunturi Wilderness Area is one of the most remote corners in Lapland. There are no marked trails and the only signs of humans are the occasional old fire pits or reindeer herders ATV tracks. Our route starts from the old pine forests, the last ones surviving this north. Soon as we gain more elevation, pines give space for mountain birch and eventually for ground crawling dwarf birch, crowberry and lichen. Open tundra offers great scenery but also exposes us to the winds from the Arctic ocean just a hundred kilometres away. The water in crystal clear rivers, brooks, ponds and lakes is so pure that you can drink straight from them. These waters are home to trout, grayling and arctic charr. The area is also home for countless reindeers, elks and grouse birds. Even spotting bear tracks from soft ground is possible. Few of the last arctic foxes in Finland also live in the area. With a lot of luck you could even see one of them on a hunt for lemmings.
We will hike moderate distances in various terrain with no trails. Good and tested footwear is essential and a basic level of fitness will make hiking more enjoyable. We will always set our camp in valleys with some forests so camping under a tarp and lighting a campfire is possible.
The trek takes place during the early summer when the mosquitoes and midges haven't yet yet occupied the airspace. Proxmity to midsummer makes sure the sun never sets. Magical time to hike the fjells!
Trek is guided by Sampo Rouhiainen – a wilderness guide specializing in survival and traditional Finnish bushcraft skills. In wintertime Sampo works in Pyhätunturi guiding ice climbing, fat biking and arctic survival. The rest of the year he spends teaching wilderness skills for school kids and youth as well as instructing weeklong survival courses on which people get to eat only the food they can forage or fish and spend their nights without modern sleeping kit such as tents and sleeping bags. Sampo's extensive knowledge on traditional ways of wilderness living, training in adventure education and knowledge on choosing simple, lightweight and functional kit will help you to prepare for the trek, enjoy it and get through the occasional difficulties.
Tour dates for 2023: June 10 – June 17
Tour dates for 2024: June 8 – June 15
What's included?
Transportation from/to the Ivalo Airport (only if requested)
Accommodation in the cabin in Giellajohka Holiday Village (2 nights incl. 2 dinners and 2 breakfasts)
Highly experienced wilderness guide specializing in survival and traditional Finnish bushcraft skills
Breakfasts, lunches and dinners during the trek (dehydrated hiking meals handmade by our wilderness guide)
Digital meeting with the wilderness guide before the trek (clothing & equipment, route, trekking tips and so on)
What's excluded?
- Transportation to/from Ivalo (air, bus, car or train)
- Snacks, alcoholic drinks and personal expenses
- Trekking equipment such as tent, sleeping bag, mattress etc. (we will help renting the gear, if needed)
- Travel insurance that covers trekking in the wilderness
What do i need to bring?
The daytime temperatures in June in Muotkatunturi area typically vary from 10 to 20 degrees Celsius. Nighttime temperatures are typically below 10 degrees Celsius. However you should prepare for night temperatures dropping below zero. So make sure you bring a proper sleeping bag with comfort temperature around zero.
Weather in the area can change quickly so prepare with a windproof and waterproof shell layer but don’t forget to get something warm and fluffy for the cold evenings and mornings at the camp. Durable hiking boots support your ankle best but once they get wet they stay wet. Rubber wellies with a good gripping sole will also work. Many lightweight backpackers enjoy hiking in trail running shoes. If you wish to use them, make sure you have a tested plan to keep your feet dry and warm during the time at the camp.
The campsites are selected so that camping with a tarp is possible but many hikers favour tent to keep the wind and mosquitoes away. Hammock is also an option but at some campsites you might need to look for a pair of suitable trees for a little longer as the mountain birch does not grow very big. Also make sure to have a warm sleeping pad or an underquilt if camping with a hammock.
A detailed clothing and equipment list will be sent to you when you book your trip.
Please note
The family-run holiday village Giellajohka is located between Kaamanen and Karigasniemi villages, 60 km from the town of Inari. Surrounded by wilderness Giellajohka is a perfect place for enjoying the tranquility of the Lappish nature.
To safely enjoy this trip you should have camped out some nights in a tent or under a tarp beforehand. Please note that there are no outdoor toilets or washing facilities along our way. We will teach you the basics of wilderness hygiene to keep unpleasant odours and blisters away. And you can always take a refreshing bath in cool lakes.
There are no long distances but the days are still quite demanding so you should have a decent physical condition. It’s always nicer to start campsite chores when you still have some energy left after the day's walk. However we will always make sure that there is enough time for rest and recovery and hanging around by the campfire before the next day's hike.
Cancellation Policy
We will charge a cancellation fee of 100% if booking is cancelled 29 days or less before event.
We will charge a cancellation fee of 25% if booking is cancelled 59 days or less before event.
We will charge a cancellation fee of 10% if booking is cancelled 365 days or less before event.
Day 1: Arrival to Giellajohka holiday village (D)
- Arrival to Ivalo airport
- Transport to Giellajohka holiday village takes 1h30min. On the way we have a chance to do last minute shopping in supermarket in Ivalo.
- Dinner and introduction to area
Day 2: Trek starts along Giellajohka river (B, L, D)
- We will start out trek after the nutritious breakfast in Giellajohka and trek along Giellajohka river deeper into the wilderness.
Day 3: The beauty and ruggedness of arctic wilderness – Day 3-6 (B, L, D)
- We will start our days by cooking our breakfast and packing up the gear followed by trekking marvelling the beauty and ruggedness of arctic wilderness. Crossing rivers, climbing uphill, going around wet bogs, finding our way in thick jungle of mountain birch, enjoying easy steps in open ground… After a few hours we will stop to cook a quick lunch. In the afternoon we will continue walking for a few hours more. A day’s hike from camp to camp typically takes around eight hours including lunch and snack breaks on the way. When we arrive at our campsite it’s time to put up the tents, cook dinner, stretch, take it easy and tell stories by the campfire. The daytrips vary from 10 to 15 kilometers on the map. As there are no trails to tfollow the actual kilometres can vary. The maximum elevation gain per day will be under 300 meters.
Day 7: The Nightless Night Trek ends (B, L, D)
- Arriving to Giellajohka holiday village in the afternoon
- Dinner
Day 8: Departure from Giellajohka (B)
- Breakfast in Giellajohka
- Transport to Ivalo airport
- Weather permitting. Bliss Adventure reserves the right to make changes to the tour program, any time without prior notice.