KOLA PENINSULA CROSSING WITH SKIS AND PULKAS

Russia

Wild Russian Lapland

departure: February - April

Duration: 16 days

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2.975€

Russian Lapland is a geographical region of Northern Europe. It terminates in the north at the Arctic Ocean, in the west with the Norwegian Sea, and in the east, with the Barents Sea. Lapland is divided between Norway, Sweden, Finland and finally Russia, in what is known as the Kola Peninsula . Kola was closed for most of the 20th century to foreigners for military reasons, and only for a few years has it been possible to visit it, albeit with restrictions.

The Arctic Circle crosses the southern sector of the peninsula. The highest altitude is reached at Cassnacorr peak (1,191m). The soils are thin and poorly developed. There are numerous wetlands and swamps scattered throughout the territory, and rivers form rapids, several of which are exploited for hydroelectric use. The climate is rigorous, with very low temperatures and a predominance of tundra, except in the south, where the taiga extends and you can find birch, fir and pine forests.

On our journey we will explore the peninsula, traversing with skis and pulka from the Khibiny Mountains to the beach of the Arctic Ocean. A landscape characterized by large lakes and rivers, snow fields, high tundra, taiga, and finally the canyons of the Teriberka coast. A journey that covers a total of 180 km, where we can enjoy this unusual wild and isolated landscape.

Best season:
February - April

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TYPE OF ACTIVITY:

PHYSICAL:

TECHNICAL:

WILDERNESS:

TRAVEL ITINERARY

DAY 1. ORIGIN- MURMANSK
After the flight via Moscow, arrival at Murmansk International Airport, located on the Kola Peninsula. Transfer to the hotel.

Hotel accommodation, Murmansk.

DAy 2. MURMANSK
After the flight via Moscow, arrival at Murmansk International Airport, located on the Kola Peninsula. Transfer to the hotel.

Hotel accommodation, Murmansk.

DAY 3. MURMANSK-LOVOZERO
Breakfast, lunch, dinner.

In the morning we travel by van to the town of Lovozero. After about 3 hours of driving through the taiga and mountains of the Kola Peninsula we will arrive at the starting point of our adventure in this wild and little visited environment. With skis and pulka we look for our way to step out on to the ice of Lake Lovozero for the first time. To the south we can see the mountains, which will serve as a reference point in good weather for the coming days. We may find some areas of open water at the lake outlet, navigating between ice and land looking for our way.

Tent accommodation, Lovozero.

DAY 4. LOVOZERO – TAIGA
Breakfast, lunch, dinner.

Waking up on the immense white expanse with the green of the taiga, we pack up the camp and head north. During the journey we can observe, being in the land of the Sami, herds of reindeer and/or their tracks. Following the course of the great river we move on the ice pulling the pulka. The landscape of the tundra accompanies us, rich in biodiversity we look for traces of its inhabitants such as the wolverine, the lynx, the wolf, the fox and the ptarmigan among others. The brown bear will be hibernating.

Tent accommodation, Taiga

DAY 5. LOVOZERO RIVER
Breakfast, lunch, dinner.

With the chance of having seen the magical dance of the Northern Lights, we leave our sleeping bags and load ourselves with the energy necessary to start this new stage in our expedition through the Kola Peninsula. Always heading north, we search our path along the river looking for islands and small peninsulas that we find on our way. It is possible to find some lines of fishermen looking to catch fish under the ice. The path is flat and generally the progression is not technical.

Accommodation in tents, Rio Lovozero.

DAY 6. LOVOZERO RIVER – HUNTING HOUSE
Breakfast, lunch, dinner.

The body is already adapted to the environment and we are more or less in a third of the distance on this authentic adventure in the Russian Arctic. We are in a wild landscape where there is practically no human presence, except for some samis, hunters or fishermen. We will try to make contact with a hunter who lives in a cabin here, far from civilization.

Accommodation in tents, Hunter House.

DAY 7. LOVOZERO RIVER
Breakfast, lunch, dinner.

We wake up early to take advantage of the day and keep our pace in order to complete the entire journey. With the sun on our back we follow the river and we can already see that little by little the environment is changing. The taiga increasingly gives way to smaller birch forests. The river is getting wider and our passage through the ice forces us to continue paying attention to the weather conditions and the state of the ice, since it will influence the distance we can travel each day.

Accommodation in tents, Lovozero River.

DAY 8. LOVOZERO DAM
Breakfast, lunch, dinner.

Starting our route in the morning we can already see the tundra in front of us. Skiing with the pulka, we guide ourselves and make our way towards this new landscape. The objective is to reach the end of the lake where the dam that generates electricity for some of the towns in the area is located. It is a key point since we cross the only road that bisects this area.

Accommodation in tents, Lovozero Dam.

DAY 9. TUNDRA AND LAKE
Breakfast, lunch, dinner.

We leave the flat area and enter more technical terrain where we have to find our way between small mountains and vegetation. Finally we will arrive at a large lake where we will make about 15 kilometers across its ice before turning west at the end. We are looking for a good place to camp in an area of ice suitable for spending the night and avoiding possible winds.

Accommodation in tents, Lake.

DAY 10. TUNDRA AND MOUNTAIN
Breakfast, lunch, dinner.

A day of navigating between mountains, lakes, rivers and possible stretches of running water awaits us. The natural spectacle of the tundra and the dark blue clouds caused by the reflection of the Barents Sea that calls us on our journey in a northwesterly direction. The mountains increasingly peeled of snow due to the whipping of the wind that expose the rocks and make lichens of different colors visible. Some downhill sections may test our skills as skiers.

Accommodation in tents, Mountain.

DAY 11. TERIBERKA
Breakfast, lunch, dinner.

With the first views of the sea and the Teriberka fjord a few kilometers out in a straight line, we have one day left to find the best path between the walls and mountains of this coastline which is laden with frozen waterfalls. After finding the path to the river we eventually reach open water. The river winds between mounds with birches and at the end we pass the first traces of civilization in the form of fishermen’s huts. Arriving at the mouth of the river, we must look for the safest way to cross the ice since, due to the current, we may find areas of cracks and open water. Taking advantage of the tracks of the fishermen’s snowmobiles, we leave the river and follow the trail to the road that will take us to the end of our expedition: Teriberka.

Lodge accommodation, Teriberka.

DAY 12. RESERVATION DAY
Breakfast, lunch, dinner.

Lodge accommodation, Teriberka.

DAY 13. TERIBERKA
Breakfast, lunch, dinner.

Excursion day to visit Teriberka and optional ski trip to one of the nearby mountains that will offer us views of the vastness of the Kola Peninsula and the Barents Sea.

Lodge accommodation, Teriberka.

DAY 14. MURMANSK
Breakfast, lunch, dinner.

Transfer in the morning to Murmansk, where, during the journey, we can again appreciate the different arctic landscapes of Russian Lapland. During the day we will visit the city of Murmansk.

Hotel accommodation, Murmansk.

DAY 15. DEPARTURE AT NIGHT AT 00.30. TRANSFER TO THE AIRPORT TO TAKE THE NIGHT FLIGHT TO MOSCOW.

NOTE: The Kola Peninsula trek is physically demanding and we recommend having previous experience in winter activities. The stages last 8-9 hours where the distance traveled can be between 20-25 kilometers. The journey takes place on ice, taiga, tundra and mountains, having some uneven steps of medium difficulty. Temperatures can range from 0C to -20C, having lower thermal sensations when there are winds. During the journey we will be in a wild and isolated area that requires a significant level of self-sufficiency. Participants share stores and collaborate in the entire process of this expedition. If you question whether this expedition is right for you, please contact us.