• > How Strenuous are these Trips?
• > Group Participants and Tour Leader
• > Private Tours and Custom Dates
• > Local Transportation
• > Accommodations
• > Meals
• > Climate
• > Travel Documents
• > Flights
• > Airline Tickets
• > Money
• > Health
• > Luggage & Clothing
• > Resources
• > Communication

How Strenuous are these Trips?

Djoser participants enjoy an active style of travel. This trip is very physical.  Temperatures are cold and there is an element of “roughing it” at the wilderness cabin. You must be capable and willing to carry your own luggage from the bus to the hotel, as usually, there is no porter.

Group Participants and Tour Leader

Djoser groups are made up of travelers of all ages: singles, couples, friends, and families. This is an “International” group of 8 to 22 travelers. Most are from the Netherlands, and nearly all will have an excellent command of English. There will be a maximum of 4 American or Canadian travelers on this trip.  On this trip, your tour leader is a local,  Finnish guide who will address the group, only in English. This makes communications quite easy.

Private Tours and Custom Dates

Custom dates can be arranged for your private group of 8 or more. Please inquire about discounts for 8 or more.

Local Transportation

You will be transported by bus or taxi-bus to and from the airport in Ivalo. The dogsled will be the means of transportation during the adventurous three-day trip. You will steer the sled yourself. The local husky guide, the “musher”, will teach you on the first day how to control the sled and how to deal with your husky team of four to six dogs. The luggage will come along on the sled. In Ivalo you can also find motor sleds for rent. If you want to use motor sleds, we recommend that you verify with your travel insurance that your policy will cover this. You can check out photos of our modes of transportation on our website: http://www.djoserusa.com/transportation

Accommodations

In Ivalo we will spend the night in a comfortable hotel with spacious rooms with private bath. You may use the Finnish sauna with swimming pool free of charge. During the sleigh trip we will spend the night in a wilderness cabin where you share accommodations, shower and bathroom with your fellow travelers. The cabins are plain and simple but very neat. Mattresses, sheets, blankets or sleeping bags are provided. You can see photos of some of our accommodations on our website: http://www.djoserusa.com/hotels

If you are traveling alone you will be matched with a roommate of the same sex.  On this trip, single accommodations are not available.

Meals

Breakfast is included at the hotels in Ivalo and consists of an extensive buffet. Meals during the husky trips are prepared on the spot by travel guides. The participants are expected to lend a helping hand with food preparation and clean up. For these meals you will be invoiced an amount of $65.  Weather permitting we will be eating outdoors by an open fire.

Climate

The trips to Finnish Lapland are carried out January through March, because of the certainty of snow in this period of time. Temperatures vary between an average of zero degrees Fahrenheit in January and about 15 degrees Fahrenheit in March, but they may also drop in those months to minus ten degrees Fahrenheit. Cold winds can make it feel even colder. Take that into consideration when you choose your clothing and take advantage of the advice from the local guides.
It is not only cold in the winter months, but also often very nice weather with clear skies. At this altitude above the Arctic Circle the days are very short in January through March. In January the sun can only be seen at noon. Chances are that you will be treated by spectacular northern lights during your trip.

Travel Documents

Passport required. Tourist/business visa not required for stay of up to 90 days. (**90-day period begins when entering Schengen countries.) Contact the Embassy of Finland, 3301 Massachusetts Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20008 (202/298-5800), or nearest Consulate General: Los Angeles (310/203-9903) or New York (212/750-4400). Internet: www.finland.org/index.html

In the event you would like to use a passport expediting service, we recommend “It’s Easy”. This company offers Djoser customers a discount. Just identify Djoser, Inc. on your It’s Easy Forms as you referral source and they will take 10% off of the service portions of the passport and visa fees. (There is no discount over the government portions of the fees). For download forms and requirements please visit: www.itseasypassport.com. You will need to know the entry and departure dates which we provide for you on an itinerary. You will also need to list a contact name in each country, which you will also find in the literature we send you when you book a trip.  For a higher fee they can process your passport in a few days.

It’s Easy  (Passport & Visa Expeditors)
Satellite Airline Terminal
125 Park Avenue
New York, NY 10017
Phone - (212) 286-8500,
Fax (212)-490-3224
Website   www.itseasypassport.com
E-mail     mail@itseasypassport.com

Flights

We book our flights with top airlines. Most airlines will honor earned mileage. You will need to submit your mileage credit yourself upon receipt of your flight information. For airlines that allow advance seating reservations, we typically request aisle and adjoining seats unless otherwise instructed on your registration form. It is vital that you arrive at the airport early, according to the airline (often 3 hours prior to flight time). We do provide airport transfers (airport pick-up and drop off) in our destination country for those who book the Land/Air package. Flight times are subject to change. It is recommended that you book your domestic Add-on (connecting) flights through Djoser in association with the international flight. To avoid penalties for flight changes do not book your own domestic add-on (connecting flight) without first receiving a printed copy of your flight record from Djoser confirming your actual departure and return flight times.  You will find more about flights in the General Information section. Below you will find the usual flight times for the airline indicated.

Sample flight with Northwest

Usual flight times – subject to change

Airline Tickets

You will receive your tickets or E-tickets 10-12 days prior to your departure date.
In case the airline uses E-tickets you will receive two documents:

•    A document that shows the E-ticket number & flight itinerary (sent by email & mail).
•    A receipt of the E-ticket (sent by mail).

The first document listed is needed to check in at the Automated kiosks. If you check in at the
E-ticket desk you don’t need any of the provided documents, you can simply show your passport and you’re good to go. Both the automated kiosk and the e-ticket desk insure a much faster check in than at the regular check in desks. It is important to hold on to your e-ticket receipt, as you might need it to claim your mileage credits (if the airline awards mileage for this particular flight).

Money

Prices are higher in the cities than in the villages. With an international student card entry fees are frequently reduced or eliminated. Tipping is standard in this region.  A typical guideline for an American tip would be $2-$3 per day but the amount is at your discretion and should be based on his/her efforts and your satisfaction level. Dutch tipping habits are different than North American guidelines. You may feel more comfortable tipping your guide privately to avoid the great cultural tipping debate. However, it’s up to you! We take pride in our Djoser guides who do their utmost to make your experience great. We do ask that you bear in mind their extra challenge of a dual language group.  

Currency: Euro. Please refer to www.exchangerate.com for current exchange rates.
ATM: Available in Ivalo.
Credit Cards: Accepted in Ivalo.
As a guideline for expenses that are not included, such as meals, entrance fees, optional excursions and personal expenses, we suggest a minimum of $400 per person for the entire trip.

Health

According to the Center for Disease Control, the following inoculations are recommended, but not required. You can ask your personal doctor which he recommends for you personally. See your doctor at least 4–6 weeks before your trip to allow time for shots to take effect.

•    Hepatitis A or immune globulin (IG). You are not at increased risk in Northern, Western, and Southern Europe, including the Mediterranean regions of Italy and Greece.
•    Hepatitis B, if you might be exposed to blood (for example, health-care workers), have sexual contact with the local population, stay longer than 6 months in Southern Europe, or be exposed through medical treatment.
•    As needed, booster doses for tetanus-diphtheria. Hepatitis B vaccine is now recommended for all infants and for children ages 11–12 years who did not complete the series as infants.

To contact the Center for Disease Control:
http://www.cdc.gov/travel or call CDC Traveler's Health 1-877-394-8747 or 1-800-311-3435.

We recommend that you bring along a good sunscreen and lip protection. You should bring along good quality goggles to protect yourself against sunlight that is reflected off the white snow, and a warm (fur) hat that covers your ears well. The local population often uses a water-free cream on their faces to prevent freezing during trips in this region. If you wish to travel by motor sled, please check your coverage with your travel insurance.

Luggage & Clothing

We ask that you bring no more than 33 pounds in a frameless duffle bag or backpack. You may bring a sturdy bag during the husky trip, but it is absolutely impossible to bring a suitcase on the dogsled. Luggage that you don’t need during the sleigh trip can be left behind in storage at the hotel. You must be capable of carrying your own luggage. Usage of the equipment on the husky trip is included, such as warm fur boots, a winter overall, thermal clothing, mittens, boots and a hat. Thermal underwear may be bought locally. If you are planning to go cross-country skiing or ice-skating you may want to bring your own equipment and warm ski attire. You can rent equipment in Ivalo.
Electricity: 220 Volt.
Outlets: the same as typical European kind. You will need an adapter.

Resources

Communication

Phone: available everywhere.
Internet cafes: in most places.
Cell Phones: depends on your phone instrument and carrier.