Off-trail skiing trip for beginners

My wife and I were complete beginners at cross-country skiing. In fact, we had not realized the distinction between cross-country (on a groomed trail) and backcountry (without a trail), and I myself had never put skis on in my life. Andrey, the owner of Polar Creek, met us at his facility in Saariselkä where he set us up with all the gear we needed for backcountry skiing. We found him to be very friendly with a great sense of humor. After gearing up, he drove us out to the ski area (along with his wonderful snow-loving dog named Yukon). There he gave us some instruction, and off we all went straight through the beautiful arctic forest! We went about an hour and a half out and stopped for some warm juice and cookies at a very scenic overlook. Despite our numerous falls, Andrey was patient with us (though he naturally enjoyed several laughs as well!). All in all, this was an unforgettable experience, and we highly recommend it!