OUR TEAM AND PHILOSOPHY
We love the Arctic. We admire the nature. We want to share this passion with you.
Johanna Mikkola
OWNer, operator
Certified Arctic Nature Guide, first aid skills (levels 1 and 2) in the Arctic (certified by the Norwegian Red Cross).
Johanna, now running White Adventure, was born in Southern Finland but was always fascinated by the far North. After a few trips on horseback in the wilderness of Alaska she realized taking people into the nature is what she wants to do. Thus she studied on Spitsbergen (Svalbard) and graduated as an Arctic Nature Guide in 2014. Missing forests and her native culture she decided to move to Lapland. Nowadays Johanna can not come up with a good reason to move South of the Polar Circle. She also has two Arctic dogs – loyal companions who often join the tours that she guides for White Adventure.
Emmi Tuokko
Wilderness guide
Certified Arctic Wilderness Guide, first aid skills levels 1&2 (Certified by Emergency First Response)
Emmi is a winter-lover who can’t get enough of snow and outdoors. Her biologist background makes her see all the small details in nature and appreciate the fragile and unique arctic ecosystems even more. She grew up in Western Finland and studied in Helsinki but her mind was always wondering on the northern fells. After an exchange year in Tromsø, Norway, she couldn’t resist the call of the north anymore but packed her bags right after the studies and moved to Lapland. Nowadays her days are filled with hiking, skiing, snowboarding and all other outdoor activities both in work and spare time.
Anna Revitzer
wilderness guide
Certified Arctic Wilderness Guide, first aid skills levels 1 & 2 (certified by EFR).
Anna is a trained wilderness guide and she has also worked as an editor in a book publishing house. She was born and has lived most of her life in the capital region of Finland, but is now settled in Muonio. Hiking is her passion, and getting into that hobby led to a big life change: moving from the city to Lapland and completing the wilderness guide course. Anna is fascinated about new trails and the constant change of northern nature. For her the best thing about living in Lapland is always being surrounded by beauty.
Sasu Ellonen
wilderness guide
Professional wilderness guide, first aid skills levels 1 & 2 (Certified by the Finnish Red Cross).
Sasu is originally from North East Finland (Kuusamo) where he grew up surrounded by forests and nature. After a few years in the Southern cities he was drawn back north by all the 8 seasons and the peace of mind they have to offer. In 2015 Sasu started studying to become a wilderness guide and he has worked as a guide in Lapland ever since. Alongside of guiding Sasu is now studying forestry and natural resources. His free time he likes to spend outdoors doing various activities. You may find him on the fells on skis or by the river with a fishing rod. In addition to nature, Sasu is also passionate about music.
Tuomas Rautanen
freelancer
Certified Arctic wilderness guide, Certified wilderness cook, first aid skills levels 1&2 (Certified by the Finnish Red Cross).
Tuomas is a passionate winter trekker who has explored Finnish and Swedish Lapland for years on ski expeditions, multi-day husky tours and flying on glider planes. Originally from Eastern Finland, Tuomas studied economics in Helsinki after which he worked for eight years at the European Central Bank in Frankfurt, the EU Parliament in Brussels and an environmental finance consultancy in Zürich. He then decided to move back home and follow a passion for Arctic nature and adventures and completed the Wilderness Guide Course in Muonio, Lapland in 2013. Since then he has been welcoming White Adventure groups in Finnish Lapland.
Philosophy
We are White Adventure, a small family-owned wilderness tour operator in Lapland.
In order to offer a unique disconnect from city-life and to keep the atmosphere personal and friendly, we keep our activity very small-scale. We take at most six guests per week on our authentic nature exploration tours.
White Adventure is a registered cooperation partner of the Pallas-Ylläs National Park. Our Silence and Nature tour was selected as a “Star product” by Visit Finland, the Finnish national travel board, in 2016.
Guiding groups through Arctic wilderness is a lifestyle for us, far from ”just another job”. We find peace of mind in these forests, swamps and hills – and we love to share this experience.
On our tours we follow these principles
Our tours are non-motorised. We spend six days with snow-shoes, skis, huskies and reindeer. As we trek in the national park, very often on our tours we don’t see other people for days.
We take at most six people in our groups. This ensures that you can concentrate on the nature with no distraction. And on the most precious gem of Lapland: total silence.
The ”Silence and Nature” tours take place mainly in January and February. We call this period Sydäntalvi or the ”heart of winter”. In these months the Arctic winter gives its very best! Skies are painted with slowly changing pastel colors, trees are packed with snow and the probability for seeing the Northern Lights is high.
There will be something awesome and new for each of you. That’s a promise.
The adventures in the wilderness are balanced by the comfort of bathing in the saunas, by nights in traditional-style but fully equipped log cottages and by cozy moments by warm fire places.
We will serve you some of the finest local specialties – prepared using traditional methods. Ingredients are the key – we use local and organic products whenever possible. The fish comes from our chrystal-clear Arctic lakes and the reindeer have been grazing in these very same forests.
There is a safety plan for each tour. Our team members have passed the level 1 and 2 of the first aid course of the Red Cross, an examination on hygienic handling of food and an examination on tour safety. We will provide you with high-quality warm clothing from top to toe to ensure you a comfotable experience.
The nature in the Arctic is pristine and extremely fragile. We take care not to leave trash behind us in the wilderness. Ingredients in our meals are local for as much as possible. We use only non-motorised means while in the wilderness and also act in a culturally sustainable way.