ARCTIC MOUNTAINS

The Kola Peninsula is a 100,000-sq-km knob of tundra, bogs and low mountains between the White and Barents Seas. Lying almost entirely north of the Arctic Circle, its mesmerising expanses of wilderness are fabulous places to be dazzled by the aurora borealis or midnight sun..

​

ITINERARY

Day 1 Murmansk
After the flight via Moscow, arrival at Murmansk international airport, located on the Kola Peninsula. Transfer to the hotel.

Night in the hotel, double room.

Day 2 Murmansk
After waking up in the morning and having breakfast, we run over the materials and the presentation of the schedule. During the day, there is a chance to make any last-minute purchases and adapt to the arctic environment by visiting the largest city located to the north of the Arctic circle.

Night in the hotel.

Day 3 Murmansk-Lovozero
In the morning, we transfer to the village of Lovozero in the van. Around 3 hours of driving through the taiga and mountains of the Kola Peninsula will take us to the starting point of our adventure in this rugged and seldom-visited environment. Using skis and a pulk, we will look for our path to walk the ice of Lovozero lake for the first time. To the south, we can see the mountains, which, with good weather, will serve as a reference point for the next few days. We may come across some areas of open water as we leave the lake, picking a path between ice and earth as we journey onwards.

Night in a tent.

Day 4 Lovozero - Taiga
Waking up to a great white blanket dotted with the green of the taiga, we will strike camp and head north. During the journey, we will be able to observe, since we are in the land of the Sami, herds of reindeers and/or their tracks. Following the course of the great river, we move across the ice pulling the pulk. The landscape of the tundra surrounds us, rich in biodiversity as we search for the tracks of its inhabitants, such as the wolverine, lynx, fox, and rock ptarmigan, among others. Grizzly bears will be hibernating.

Night in a tent.

Day 5 Lovozero River
Possibly with the memory of having watched the magical dance of the aurora borealis, we climb out of the sleeping bags and load up on the energy needed to get the next stage of our expeditions started along the Kola Peninsula. Always travelling to the north, we will pick out a path between the river, the islands, and the small peninsula that we come across on the way. It is possible that we will find some lines that the fishermen and women use to capture fish below the ice. The route is flat and generally progress will not be technical.

Night in a tent.

Day 6 Lovozero River - Hunter’s Lodge
By now, the body has got used to the surroundings and we are, more or less, a third of the distance along this true adventure in the Russian arctic. We find ourselves in a wild landscape where there is practically no human presence expect a few Sami, hunters, or fishermen and women. We will try to make contact with a hunter who lives in a cabin far away from civilisation.
Night in a tent or hunter’s lodge.

​

Day 7 Lovozero River
We wake up early to make the most of the day and cover enough distance to be able to make the crossing. With the sun on our backs, we follow the river and now, little by little, we will begin to see the environment change. The taiga is increasingly giving way to forests of smaller birch trees. The river grows wider and our way along the ice forces us to pay attention to the meteorological conditions and the condition of the ice, since this will affect how far we can travel each day.

Night in a tent.

Day 8 Lovozero Dam
The route begins in the morning as we can see the tundra lying before us. Skiing with the pulk,we find our bearings and set out into this new landscape. The aim is to reach the end of the lake where there is a dam that generates electricity for some of the villages in the area. It is a crucial location since we cross the only road that crosses this area.

Night in a tent.

Day 9 Tundra and lake
We abandon the flat Lovozero area and enter into more technical terrain where we have to look for a path between small mountains and vegetation. Finally, we will reach a small lake. We will cross its ice for 15 kilometres, swinging to the east at the end. We will search for a good place to set up camp on a patch of ice suitable for spending the night and keeping out of possible winds.
Night in a tent.

Day 10 Tundra and mountain
A day of navigating between mountains, lakes, rivers, and possible stretches of flowing water awaits us. The natural spectacle of the tundra and the clouds tinged dark blue by the reflection of the Barents Sea that lies to the north-east of our path. The mountains are increasingly stripped of their snow by the harsh wind that exposes the rocks, leaving various colours of lichen visible. Some of the descent stages will put our skiing skills to the test.

Night in a tent.

Day 11 Teriberka
With the first glimpses of the sea and the Teriberka fjord just a few kilometres away as the crow flies, a day lies ahead of picking the best way between the walls and mountains of the coast covered with icy waterfalls, finding a way through to the river that will take us to open water. The river snakes between hillocks with birch trees and we finally catch sight of civilisation in the form of the cabins of fishermen and women. Reaching the river as it spills into the sea, we have to find the safest way to cross the ice, because there may be cracks and areas of open water caused by the current. Taking advantage of the fishermen and women’s snowmobile tracks, we leave the river and follow the way to the road that will take us to the end of our expedition: Teriberka.

Night in a cabin, Teriberka.

Day 12 Spare day
Night in a cabin, Teriberka.

Day 13 Teriberka
A tour day to visit Teriberka and an optional trip on skis towards one of the nearby mountains that offers us a view of the immensity of the Kola Peninsula and the Barents Sea.

Night in a cabin.

​

Day 14 Murmansk.
Morning transfer to Murmansk. During the journey, we are able to appreciate the various arctic landscapes of Russian Lapland. A visit to the city during the day.

Dinner and night in the hotel, shared room.

Day 15

Night-time departure at 00.30, transfer to the airport to catch the night flight to
Moscow.

 

The journey across the Kola Peninsula is physically demanding and we recommend that you have prior experience in winter activities. The stages last between 8 and 9 hours and the distance covered may be between 20 and 25 kilometres. The way lies across ice, taiga, tundra, and mountains, and there are some stretches of level change that are of medium difficulty.

Temperatures may vary between 0 C to -20 C, with it feeling lower when there is wind. During the crossing, we will be in a wild and isolated area that requires a significant level of self-sufficiency.

Participants will share tents and work together throughout this expedition. If you are not sure whether this expedition is suitable for you, get in touch with us.

​

HIGHLIGHTS
• Journey of exploration with self-sufficiency.
• Wild nature
• Enjoy the landscapes that change around you as we move towards the coast: taiga,
tundra, mountains
• Reach the shores of the Arctic Ocean in Teriberka
• Get to know a little-known area of Lapland with impressive landscapes

​

PRICES
5-6 persons: 3.150 €
7-9 personas: 2.975 €
(cost can fluctuate in case of significant fluctation of RUB)

INCLUDES
• Transports according program
• 2* Hotel Murmansk (double rooms)
• Tents during skitraverse
• Shared cabins in Teriberka
• Arctic guide (WGA Level II Arctic)
• Food during skitraverse
• Skitraverse equipment (pulks, ski´s)
• Safety equipment
• Invitation letter visa

NOT INCLUDED
• Flights
• Any food, drinks in cities (murmansk/Teriberka)
• Personal equipment/clothes
• Visa (Russia)
• Airport taxees, extra luggage/overweight
• Travel&rescue insurance
• Any service not specified in “Includes”