Finland Become a Champion School Trips

Arctic Direct

More that just a ski trip - use Olympic quality facilities and training to maximise benefit.

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Tailor your trip

Example Itineraries for our 2026 trips

Finland: Downhill Ski Adventures
6 Nights, 7 Days

Tour Summary:

Return flights to Helsinki (shorter 2 hour transfer to resort)
Full board accommodation at Vuokatti Sport Resort
Opening ceremony – Welcome to Finland's premier ski resort
Welcome team building games
Cross Country Skiing lesson – Learn Finland's national sport
Ice Fishing and snowshoe wilderness adventure
Wilderness skills and fire lighting by snowshoe
Laser Biathlon – Olympic sport experience
Ski Pass and equipment hire included
Downhill skiing lessons, 6 × 2½ hours over 3 full days
Try a traditional Finnish sauna and ice plunge
Professional ski instruction in small groups
ATOL & ABTA Protection

Day 1 / KEY THEMES: Arrival & Welcome

Flight London to Helsinki, transfer to Vuokatti (2 hours)
Check-in at Vuokatti Sport Resort Hotel
Welcome games and resort orientation – stretch out whilst bonding with school mates
Dinner
Evening exploration of resort facilities
Night in ensuite rooms 2-3 sharing, supervised access to gym, sauna and sports hall

Day 2 / KEY THEMES: Cross Country Skills & First Slopes

Breakfast
Cross country skiing lesson 2½ hours – Learn Finland's beloved national sport, experience cross country skiing in a country that loves it!
Lunch
First downhill ski lesson 2½ hours – Groups divided by level, learners and improvers, qualified instructor per group
Dinner
Evening activities and games

Day 3 / KEY THEMES: Ice Fishing & Mountain Skills

Breakfast
Ice fishing by snowshoe 2 hours – Take a snowshoe trek in nature then try ice fishing, one of Finland's most popular winter activities
Lunch
Downhill ski lesson 2½ hours – Building confidence on the slopes, groups divided by ability level
Dinner
Racket games in sports hall

Day 4 / KEY THEMES: Wilderness Skills & Advanced Skiing

Breakfast
Wilderness skills & Fire lighting by snowshoe 2½ hours – Important but fun survival skills for the Arctic wilderness
Lunch
Downhill ski lesson 2½ hours – Intermediate techniques and mountain safety, instructor per group
Dinner
Free time and optional sauna experience

Day 5 / KEY THEMES: Full Ski Focus Day

Breakfast
Morning downhill ski lesson 2½ hours – Advanced techniques and confidence building
Lunch
Afternoon downhill ski lesson 2½ hours – Putting skills into practice on varied terrain
Dinner
Traditional Finnish sauna and ice plunge experience

Day 6 / KEY THEMES: Mastery & Laser Biathlon

Breakfast
Final downhill ski session 2½ hours – Skill assessment and free skiing challenges
Lunch
Advanced downhill ski session 2½ hours – Independent skiing and group mountain activities
Dinner
Laser Biathlon experience – Mental and physical Olympic sport challenge, always popular! 1 hour

Day 7 / Return to UK

Breakfast
Pack and check-out
Transfer to Helsinki Airport (2 hours)
Return UK flight

If you would like a longer or tailored trip - just ask! We can offer mental resilience training as well as other mindset programmes and advanced ski instruction for more experienced groups.

Why Choose Our Finland Downhill Ski Adventure?
This trip focuses on downhill skiing mastery with 6 full ski sessions over 3 intensive days, combined with authentic Finnish winter experiences. Perfect for schools seeking serious ski instruction with cultural immersion at Europe's premier winter sports resort.

Which Curriculum Subjects do we cater for?

Sports Tours

As a global training centre for winter Olympic athletes there is opportunity to live and train like an athlete. Both using the facilities that they use and also utilising some of the coaching and other resources available to them. From a ski tour to a multi faceted trip with mindset conditioning and cross sport training, it is the ideal centre for a sport break.

Activities

Students take part in hands-on Arctic adventures including skiing, snowshoeing, dog sledding, and ice fishing. These activities develop physical skills, resilience, and teamwork while encouraging pupils to embrace challenges in an exciting outdoor setting.

Cultural

The trip immerses students in Finnish culture through traditional saunas, Sami heritage, local cuisine, and community interaction. Pupils learn about northern traditions, language, and ways of life, encouraging cultural appreciation and global citizenship.

Geography

Students witness glacial landscapes, frozen lakes, and Arctic ecosystems firsthand. They explore how geography shapes communities, weather patterns, and survival in extreme climates, turning textbook learning into an unforgettable field study of the far north

Expedition

The journey challenges students to live and learn in extreme conditions, mirroring true expeditions. From navigating snowy terrain to problem-solving as a team, pupils gain independence, leadership, and resilience while building memories of a once-in-a-lifetime adventure.

Travel Tourism

Students discover how Finland thrives on sustainable tourism, from eco-lodges to cultural experiences. They learn about careers in hospitality, guiding, and event planning, while reflecting on tourism’s impact on local communities and fragile environments.

Environmental Science

Exploring Arctic landscapes, students study climate, ecosystems, and sustainability. Visits include observing wildlife, learning about conservation, and understanding the impact of climate change—bringing classroom science to life in a real-world environment.

What size groups do we cater for?

10-50

Access for visitors with disabilities?

This trip is ideal for disabled students as it at the site of one of the main Paralympic training centres and so is fully accessible. Please discuss any disablity or mobility requirements of students ahead of booking..

Visitors with Special Educational Needs (SEN)?

Our tours are designed to be inclusive. Many of our trips are based at Paralympic training centres, making them fully accessible for students with mobility or additional needs. Please discuss specific requirements with us in advance so we can ensure every student thrives.

Anything else?

All tours can be tailored on request - we excel at tailored tours across the Arctic!

Who are Arctic Direct?

Arctic Education is the dedicated school travel brand of Travelbee Ltd, the UK’s leading Arctic travel specialist since 2004. We are:

Multi-award-winning and trusted by schools nationwide.

The world’s biggest supplier of Glass Igloo holidays for the Northern Lights.

Experts in crafting unforgettable, curriculum-linked Arctic expeditions.
From KS3 to KS4, our school tours blend education, adventure, and inspiration. Whether it’s a Geography field trip to Iceland, a survival challenge in Finland, or an Art & Design project in Sweden, every trip leaves a lasting impact on students, parents, and teachers alike.