Eleven seasons in, Arctic Wild (Eränkävijät) is closing one chapter and opening a new one. Season 11 marks the end of its YLE era, while Arctic Wild is launched with Off the Fence to global audience.

132 episodes. More than 30 countries. Four Golden Venla Awards (The Finnish Emmys) and numerous nominations. Created and produced by NTRNZ Creative, Arctic Wild has spent more than a decade bringing life in the Nordic wilderness to audiences in Finland and around the world.

Season 11 takes the series into more raw and unfiltered territory.

The main characters bring a new dimension to the narrative through their personal video diaries, giving the audience access to moments that would otherwise stay hidden.

New characters also open up different sides of Nordic wilderness culture.
Arctic expedition leader and survivalist Sakari “Sakke” Raappana heads in a very different direction. He puts his skills and endurance to the test on an extreme survival expedition in Vätsäri, Northern Finland.

TV personality and traditional craftsman Jani Grönlund takes viewers from his workshop into the wild. He makes some of his own hunting and fishing equipment by hand, including forging a traditional fishing spear.

And from Ivalo in Finnish Lapland, Anna Virolainen-Hynnä and Aino Hynnä bring the world of competitive fly fishing to the series. Anna is a member of Finland’s national fly fishing team.

Also joining the season are Katja Aaltonen, a colourful personality pursuing her dreams, and Niilo Janhunen and Tero Huuskonen, known in fishing circles from their Project Trout YouTube channel.

Together with returning favourites, their stories take audiences across hunting, fishing, survival and traditional wilderness skills across the European Arctic.

“Eleven seasons in, Arctic Wild keeps evolving. This season, the main cast members have boldly given us closer access to their inner thoughts and ways of life through their video diaries. We get stories as they happen: personal, raw, and beautifully imperfect. It’s a seamless addition to the show’s signature storytelling, capturing the nature experiences so vividly that you feel like you’re right there on the adventure yourself,” says NTRNZ producer Sina Riikonen, who has worked on all eleven seasons.

Season 11 continues that story with a new level of access to the people, landscapes and outdoor culture across the European Arctic.

Season 11 of Arctic Wild premieres on October 6 on Yle and Yle Areena.

International distribution: Off The Fence.