This is one seriously cool Best Life Adventure – in more ways than one. The magnetic magic of the Northern Lights has long been a drawcard to explore the frozen tundra of the Arctic Circle; hence, our Tri-Nation Arctic Challenge was born.
This Extreme Dreams expedition sees us power our way to the nexus of three snow-covered countries in the depths of winter, with the iconic Aurora Borealis to light our way.
Together, we tackle an endurance journey across the frozen wilderness towing our gear-laden Pukla (sled) across the border of Norway and Finland before resting in remote huts in the middle of a vast frozen wilderness high in the Arctic Circle.
To end our week, we climb aboard dog-sleds for a safari race across mountain ranges, carve through deep powder and race through snow-laden pine forests.
But, that’s only half of it. We’ll also enjoy several other mad experiences, which are best suited to the Arctic (think ice lake immersions in the snow followed by sauna sessions and ski shots to warm the cockles).
This will be a true challenge of the mind and body for us all. To step away from comfort and take on something new is the epitome of adventure, right? Who knows what we’ll find when we get out there.
Physically, this is one of the toughest expeditions you'll ever take on. So, grab your down jacket, find your winter gloves, chuck on your snowshoes (we provide all of these don't worry) and embark on the adventure of a lifetime.
See you in Norway!
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MINIMUM NUMBERS - this expedition is subject to a minimum number of paying guests and once reached, the expedition is guaranteed to go ahead if not, it will be cancelled, and you can transfer amounts paid to an alternate expedition, departure date or receive a full refund.
INSURANCE - We highly recommend that you take out personal travel insurance within seven days of booking this expedition, which will ensure you are covered if things go pear-shaped. In the past we’ve worked with several different companies and have had the best customer experience and speed of response with World Nomads, but the decision is 100% yours if you have a preferred company.
It's finally time to embark on your incredible Extreme Dreams: Tri-Nation Arctic Challenge Expedition. Make sure your bags are packed, you're physically and mentally ready, and up for the adventure of a lifetime.
Welcome to the fascinating city of Tromsø, nestled in an archipelago of islands at the northern tip of Norway. Famed as the perfect viewing point for the Northern Lights, it's where our Extreme Dreams expedition starts. Please ensure you arrive in Tromsø no later than midday today for your check-in at Clarion Edge hotel.
Today, we issue you with the essential winter clothing required to adventure deep in the Arctic Circle, pour over maps of the area as we run through the itinerary, before dining on a sumptuous group welcome dinner. Early to bed, the adventure starts tomorrow.
We leave the comfort of Tromsø behind and take a transfer to start our journey across the border in Finland, just outside Kilpisjarvi on the edge of the frozen lake.
Strap on our snowshoes, load the sleds and head up the valley on a trail that winds through silent birch forest, up onto exposed, frozen Arctic tundra where the challenge of the expedition becomes real.
Today we snowshoe around 15km to Saarijärvi - our first wilderness hut. On arrival, we light the fire, crank up the stove and prepare to soak up the most remote location on the trip, and if we're lucky the Northern Lights will be firing across the skies above our heads.
Waking up in the Arctic wilderness is an incredible experience. We spend a few hours taking in the majesty of the region, before preparing the sleds for an easier day covering around 8-10km on the tundra, travelling to our overnight destination of Kuonjarvaarri Hut.
Leaving the comfort of the hut behind, we venture into the frozen Arctic wilderness as first light touches the horizon, far away to the south. We walk as far as we can during the twilight hours, to reduce time under headtorch at the end of another physically and mentally challenging day.
Keep your eyes peeled for Moose, Arctic Fox and Reindeer as we drop into the gorges and cross frozen lakes.
Today we snowshoe around 15km to our final wilderness hut - Termisjärvi.
Our final day on snowshoes is an epic one. Leaving the hut behind we navigate along the frozen shores of Lake Terbmisjärvi, winding our way slowly downhill towards the twinkling lights of Kilpisjärvi (Finland), our destination for the night, after a mammoth snowshoe adventure.
Our final few kilometres are a true mental battle, where one foot in front of the other is the name of the game, as we wish the lights closer and closer, in the darkness of the winter night.
On arrival, our reward is the luxurious comfort of the alpine-style chalet where we celebrate with a mammoth local meal and enjoy the Finnish tradition of a steaming sauna and a dip in the ice-covered lake. It's the perfect tonic for our aching limbs.
After a relaxing morning recovering from the exertions of our days on the tundra, we devour a hearty breakfast at Tundrea before heading out to try a new means of transport, back-country skis.
We'll traverse the lake opposite our accommodation and find some hidden trails and slopes to explore.
Today we embrace another skill that’s a way of life in this part of the world and learn what it takes to become an experienced dogsledder, with a half day of exploration and discovery along the snow-covered lake trails to reach the Tri-Country cairn where the nexus of Norway, Finland and Sweden collide.
It's a worthy destination for our teams of dogs and riders, and after lunch, we prepare for the return journey towards the road border of Finland and Norway where we end the day.
The minibus then transports us to a wilderness retreat for the night - Camp Tamok, which has been built with a balance of authenticity and comfort with traditional and rustic Northern Norwegian buildings: several lavvus, timber cabins and Arctic glamping tents, as well as our husky kennel and a reindeer camp.
After a hearty dinner, we spend time outside around the campfire, staring at the heavens awaiting a display from the Aurora.
We reunite with our dog-sled teams and prepare for a huge day on our Extreme Dreams expedition that everything loves. Our route takes us along the valley that divides Finland and Norway, heads across a mountain range, then tracks down through snow-laden forests and finishes by the ocean, at Skibotn. Normal dogsled adventures cover up to 10 km a day. We push you a little further with a challenging 50 km marathon.
After a week of constant physical exertion, it's time to head back to our hotel in Tromsø and wrap up with a farewell celebration dinner and some well-earned rest.
**Your Best Life Adventure ends here**
Tromsø, Norway 
