Accessibility of services
On this site, we have put together some information about accessibility of our services. We keep adding information as we learn more. Please send us feed back and questions with the form below, to help us creating a more inclusive world and possibilities for nature travel for all kinds of people.
Guests with hearing impairments/deafness
For guests that cannot hear, we can communicate with messages and emails, or use the Chabla application for phone calls. During activities, we arrange the narrating either with written information or with Chabla application or with other sign language interpretation via video calls to interpreter. Depending on activity, we can either do the narrating via video call/app prior to activity, if cold weather conditions and bad cell phone connection during tour, or during activity, if we know that it is possible to use the phone throughout the activity.
For people using Finnish sign language, we have one local sign language interpreter that we can reserve for tours.
FIN: Utsjoen kylän läheisyydessä asuu yksi suomen viittomakielen tulkki, jonka voimme varata mukaan opastuksiin kotimaisille viittomakieltä käyttäville asiakkaille.
Please contact us well in advance before reserved activities, so we have time to arrange the necessary services!
Guests with physical disabilities
Wheel chair accessible Taxi
For transfer services and transfers to and from activities, there is a wheel chair accessible taxi in Utsjoki region that we can inquire for our tours (Aurora Transport/ Kari Guttorm, taxi has space for one wheelchair user and 4 other guest seats).
Transfer service to carry along a wheel chair
Our own Toyota Hiace minibus has a big trunk, so if you are able to take a few steps and step into our minibus with assistance and sit in a normal car seat, then you can travel in our regular minibus and your wheelchair can travel in the back of the minivan. If you travel with your own car, we can also design programs so that you can participate with your own vehicle.
Soft snow and moving around
During winter season, there is often lots of snow in Utsjoki region. Main roads and entrances to buildings are ploughed open regularly, but sometimes it might take a full day for snow to be cleaned. It is important that if you have physical disability that affects your capability to move in soft snow, that you travel with someone to assist you and carry a snow shovel in your car. For our activities, we are happy to tailor programs and to put some extra effort to clean trails from snow, to make your experience more comfortable.
Accessibility of husky sleds and snowmobile sleds
Below are images of a husky sled and of the sled that we use in our Snow Safaris. If you can access these sleds with assistance from guides and stay seated for 1-2 hours for tours, you can join husky sledding and snow safaris to the wilderness area, even with mobility impairments. We are happy to provide more detailed information about the sleds via email!
Nature trails suitable for people with physical disabilities
During snow-free season, there are several gravel roads (hiekkatie tai mönkijäura) in Utsjoki nature areas, where you can access an entry point with car and then enjoy the wilderness view on a nature hike, even with wheelchair. We recommend to always travel with someone to assist you, as gravel roads may be damaged and have potholes in the road surface.
Gravel roads are Pulmankijärven tie in Nuorgam (Pulmankijärvi road, starting from Isonkiven vaara towards south towards Pulmankijärvi lake), Skalluvaaran tie in Utsjoki (Skalluvaara road), Kevontie near Utsjoki village, gravel road going up to Áiligas fell in Karigasniemi village and Ailigastie going to the reindeer roundup fence near Karigasniemi village. We have marked the map image with these trails in red color.
We keep adding information about the trails with images during summer 2026, as there are also several other accessible view points and shorter trails in Utsjoki municipality. You can always send us email to inquire more detailed information about the trails!
Guests with neuro-psychiatric or psychiatric disabilities
Utsjoki as a region is a very calm, quiet and with very few sensory stimulus (amount of artificial lights, sounds, people and hassle is minimal!). For almost all of the people visiting here, the silence and peacefulness is a very rewarding experience. Nature doesn´t judge you. In this way, Utsjoki is a therapeutic environment for anyone that enjoys a calm environment.
For guided tours, our groups are always very small or private groups, meaning that you can reserve a completely private experience or then with only a few other people. This already makes tailoring experiences for different needs easier. We also have a guide that is a licensed neuro-psychiatric coach, so we have capability to modify guiding to different kinds of needs. Please inform us in advance about your special needs and what we could do to make your experience more comfortable!
For guests that know that heavy sounds cause them anxiety, we warn that during husky programs, the dogs make very large barking and howling sounds before the sledding starts. It might be a good idea to use ear protectors for the beginning of the husky activities. The dogs calm down with the barking and howling immediately when they get to start the running.
We are happy to receive help and advice in how to communicate better about the accessibility of our services! You can send us feed back and questions, to help us creating a more inclusive world and possibilities for nature travel for all kinds of people!