Slow Down in Utsjoki, in North Lapland

Northern Lights, Husky Safari in Tana, Reindeer safari, Sami Culture and relaxing in the beautiful Sami Village in northern most Lapland, close to Norway and the Arctic Ocean.

This programme is a natural and genuine choise for traveller, who is looking for untamed nature and original culture

Utsjoki offers a natural environment to slow down – to breathe freely, smell the fragile fragrances of the pristine northern nature, savour the delicacies that the forests and sparkling waters have to offer. The vibrant Sámi culture is full of stories, things to see and experiences for everyone. During your stay you will learn a lot about nature, reindeer & reindeer herding, local people and life in this small northern village. Come and enjoy the slower lifestyle in Utsjoki.

The Sámi culture still lives very strongly in Utsjoki

Utsjoki, the land of the Sámi, is the northernmost municipality in Finland and the only municipality, where the majority of the 1400 inhabitants are Sámi. The Sámi culture still lives very strongly in Utsjoki and there are more than 10.000 reindeer in the area. In winter the Northern lights, the starry heavens and the moon lend a mystical twilight which hangs suspended above the landscape. In summer Utsjoki has the lengthiest period of the Midnight Sun. There are three “Ailigas” – “holy fells” In the municipality, of which one raises its lofty peak in the vicinity of the village. During the safaris and treks you may see the ptarmigan, which is the world´s northernmost arctic fowl. Elks, wolfs, lynxes, wolverines, foxes, eagles and the great grey owl live also here.

Group size

2 – 8 persons

Duration

6 Days / 5 Nights

Season

january – april

(other dates on request for min. 4 persons)

Rate

1445 € / person,

when 4 persons in the cabin

Dates 2016

17.01.-22.01./ 07.02.-12.02. / 14.02.-19.02. / 21.02.-26.02. / 28.02.-04.03. / 06.03.-11.03. / 13.03.-18.03. / 20.03.-25.03. / 27.03.-01.04. / 03.04.-08.04. / 10.04.-15.04. (other dates on request for min. 4 persons)

Price

1520 € / person, when 2 persons in the cabin
1490 € / person, when 3 persons in the cabin
1445 € / person, when 4 persons in the cabin
Children: 1110 € / child 4- 11 years, when with 2 adults in the same cabin

Services included

Transfers from airport Ivalo (or from Kirkenes) to Utsjoki and from Utsjoki back to Ivalo airport, 5 nights in cozy holiday cabins (2-4 persons per cabin), meals as mentioned in the programme, activities as mentioned in the programme, warm outdoor clothing for the whole stay (warm overalls, socks, mittens, boots, hat), necessary equipment for the activities, english speaking wilderness guides and hosts.

Supplement for single cabin: 260 € / person

Single room in the apartment without supplement, price 1520 €; there are 4 rooms in the apartment; shared sauna/shower and two wc´s; meals for whole group will be served in the dining room of the aprtment, and the living room is for all to be used together

Additional day in holiday village Valle

115 € / person incl. half board, when 2 persons in the cabin
110 € / person incl. half board, when 3 persons in the cabin
99 € / person incl. half board, when 4 persons in the cabin
Additional day for children: 85 € / child 4-11 years, when together with 2 adults

OPTIONAL EVENING ACTIVITIES – Hunting the Northern Lights: min. 2 adults

1) Guided walking tour

Guided walking tour in the nature nearby for searching the Northern Lights, incl. warm juice. Duration two hours. Price: 30 € / adult; 15 € child

2) Guided snowshoe tour

2) Guided snowshoe tour in the nature nearby for searching Northern Lights, incl. warm juice. Duration two hours. Price: 60 € / adult; 30 € / child

3) Searching for the Northern Light in reindeer sleigh

What would be a better way to search for the Northern Lights than sit in the reindeer sleigh and listen to the silence of the nature around you. You will travel in the reindeer sleigh to a small cliff from where the beautiful landscape opens in front of you. If you are lucky, you might see the Northern Lights dancing in the sky. A small snack and warm juice are included in the price.
Duration ca. 2 hours. Price: 150 € / adult; 75 € child.

Programme

Day 01: Arrival

Arrival to Ivalo (or Kirkenes) airport – Welcome to Northern Lapland! Transfer to Utsjoki (170 km – ca. 2 hours driving time). Arrival to Utsjoki and meeting with your Sámi host, who will show you the places. Accommodation in cozy cabins for 2-4 persons. Information about the programme and dinner.

Day 02: SnowFun

After breakfast meeting with your guide who will give you the warm winter clothes. Then it is time to start the winter activities. You will learn the right technique for cross-country skiing and get tips how to use the snowhoes. Finally you will do a short tour to the nature nearby with your guide, who will tell you about the nature and animals. You will also learn how to read animal footprints and how to make fire. You will make coffee together by campfire. Depending on the time of your visit you will have opportunity to learn an old fishing method for burbot. After lunch your host will take you to the old “Church houses” close to the village. The Church houses are mainly from 18th century, some of them from 17th century. You will also visit the village house “Giisa” where you can admire the beautiful Sámi handicrafts made by the local artisans. You will also get familiar with the village of Utsjoki. Return to the holiday village. Dinner.

Day 03: Reindeer safari and local culture

Today you will get to know better the reindeer, which are very important to Sámi culture and history. After breakfast a short walk to the reindeer fench at the home farm of your host. You will meet and feet the reindeer before starting a short safari in the reindeer pulled sledge. Coffee will be served by campfire in “lavvu”. During the stop your host will tell you about the reindeer and life of Sámi. After the programme lunch. The afternoon is free. In the evening the dinner will be served in Kota (Lappish wooden teepee) by campfire.

Day 04: Husky safari in Tana

After breakfast transfer to Tana, which is situated on the norwegian side of the Teno river (driving time ca. 50 minutes). Meet and greet your musher, introduction to the huskies and driving instructions how to handle the husky sledge. Start of the 2-hour husky safari in the beautiful winter fell landscape – two persons per husky team. After returning from the safari coffee and picnic snacks by campfire. Before the transfer back to Utsjoki you will have time to say goodbye to the dogs and take photos. Total duration of the programme is ca. 4,5 hours, including transfers. After returning to Utsjoki free time. In the evening dinner.

Day 05: Fells, reindeer, winter fishing

After breakfast you will start a day trip to the amazing beautifull fell area. You will be transfered in the big sledge pulled by the snowmobile to the fell lake for exellent ice fishing. The catch might be arctic trout, grayling or white fish. During the day you will have opportunity to observe and feed the reindeer. Your guide will tell you about the reindeer and reindeer husbandry. The snowshoes will be taken with so that you can do a snowshoe trip in this wonderfull fell area. A picnic lunch will be served during the day. Duration of the programme is ca. 4-5 hours. In the evening dinner.

Day 06: Departure

Breakfast and free time depending on departure time of your flight. Check-out and transfer to Ivalo airport. Bye-Bye amazing Saamiland!

We keep the right to make changes in the order of the daily programmes.