The Arctic Ocean is a large water area, surrounding the North Pole. The Northernmost fjords of Norway are on the European coastline of this cold sea. Utsjoki is the Northernmost municipality of the EU, located right by the Norwegian border, so we are only about one hour drive from the fjords by the Arctic Ocean! On your holiday in Utsjoki, you can also easily visit the coast of the Arctic Ocean - the Varanger Fjord and Tana Fjord. In winter, the best option is to visit the north side of Varanger Fjord, as it has the safest road connections in snowy conditions. North Varanger has lively fishing villages by the coast, and the main livelihood throughout history has been either fishing or doing trade by sea. North Varanger has very similar Sámi reindeer herding culture as Utsjoki region, but nowadays the reindeer grazing lands are separated by the country borders of Finland and Norway. North Varanger has a longer history of human habitation, as it was the first area to be freed from the thick layer of ice during the last ice age. Thus Varanger Fjord is loaded with intriguing archeological history since the last ice age, from a much longer period than Utsjoki and Teno river valley. Varanger Fjord has a rich cultural history of the Sámi, Vikings, Norwegians and Kvens, a rich wildlife of arctic seabirds and fauna of the Arctic Ocean. The extremely interesting original history and amazing nature of this area are unfortunately much less known than the famous King Crab fishing, but with us, you can really dive deep into the history and life of the people on the coast of the Arctic Ocean, and on a clear day, enjoy the breathtaking scenery by the fjord!
We have two kinds of tours to the Arctic Ocean: a shorter half-day tour to the Varanger Fjord and longer, exclusive full-day tour to North Varanger.
The shorter, half-day tour to Varanger Fjord is for guests looking for a nice half-day trip to the fjord to see where the fjord starts, experience a visit in Norway and to learn about the Sea Sámi culture in Várjját museum. This program is the nicest option for families with children.
Duration: 4-6 hours
Price: 130 euros/person (children under 12 yrs 80 €)
What is included: Guided half-day trip to Varanger Fjord in a small group, pick-up max 10 km from Utsjoki or Nuorgam villages. Sites to visit: Northernmost point of EU, Nesseby church, Várjját Sea Sámi museum in Varangerbotn. On the way we can visit grocery store in Nuorgam or Varangerbotn. Visit at a reindeer sanctuary to meet and feed reindeer can be included in this shorter Arctic Ocean tour for 60 euros extra cost.
What to bring: Warm outdoor clothing (wind is very cold by the ocean!), water bottle, personal medication if needed, phone with full battery, passport (we cross the border to Norway).
Availability: Year-round
Reservations: arctic@travelutsjoki.com
North Varanger, Exclusive full-day tour
The longer, exclusive Varanger Fjord tour is for guests that are ready for a full day excursion and want to see and learn more about the culture and history of the fjord. We visit the villages of Varangerbotn, Nesseby, Vestre Jakobselv and Vadso. If snow conditions permit, we will stop at Mortensnes, a historical site by the fjord. We visit the interactive Ruija Kven Museum in Vadso to learn about the Kven culture in the region. We will enjoy lunch at a Kven-family owned place, learning more about the local life and culture by open fire in a view hut or lávvu by the fjord. We visit a reindeer rescue farm and help feed the reindeer, and learn about the reindeer herding culture on the Norwegian side of Sámi homelands.
For additional cost, you can also reserve a boat ride and a floating experience in the Arctic Ocean as part of this exclusive tour to Varanger Fjord. In spring and summer, a whale watching or bird-watching tour at the Varanger Fjord is possible for extra cost. The exclusive tour can be tailored according to guests´preferences.
Duration: 8-10 hours
Price: 275 euros/person (children under 12 yrs 150 euros)
What is included: Full day guided trip to Arctic Ocean with agreed sites and activities, lunch, hot drinks and small snacks, entrance to museum.
What to bring: Warm outdoor clothing (wind is very cold by the ocean!), water bottle and small snacks, personal medication if needed, phone with full battery, passport (we cross the border to Norway).
Availability: Year-round
Reservations: arctic@travelutsjoki.com