WINTER AND SPRING

Cultural landscape tour - easy hike with snowshoes

The Sámi culture is rooted in the northern nature. The wilderness areas have no roads or buildings, so they may seem like untouched nature for most people, but these lands are actively used and important cultural landscapes of the indigenous Sámi. Join our 2-hour, easy, snowshoe walk in nature to get a better connection with the Sámi Homelands, without motorized vehicles!

Cultural landscape tour to the highlands

If you want to see more of the wilderness area and connect deeper with the nature, we have a longer, intermediate snowshoe hike to the fells. On this 3-4 hour snowshoe hike, you need a basic fitness level and ability to walk uphill and downhill.

Snow safari in the wilderness area, 2-hour tour

Paistunturi is a large wilderness area with stunning sceneries of taiga and tundra in Northernmost Finnish Lapland, in Utsjoki. On our snow safari to Paistunturi wilderness area, you get to travel in a sled pulled by a local guide´s snowmobile. With a local guide, you get to see the spectacular nature of the region (birds, wildlife, snow formations), but also learn why the wilderness area is an important cultural landscape and how the local culture is rooted in nature through nature-based livelihoods. This tour is also suitable for families with children.

Snow safari in the wilderness area, half-day tour with lunch

Explore deeper into the wilderness area on a half-day snow safari with a local guide. Travel in a sled pulled by guide´s snowmobile and see the stunning nature and geological formations in this 3 billion years old mountain region that is today known as Paistunturi wilderness area. After millions of years of erosion and ground movements, the sharp mountains have turned into gentle rolling fells, crossed by deep carved river valleys and canyons. From the highest fell tops, you get a great view over the entire wilderness area, as far as to the fells in Norway. 

A day with a reindeer herder on the fells

During March and April, also guests have the possibility to join our reindeer herding work on the fells. That is the time of the year when we provide our reindeer extra food to help them survive through the long winter. We drive to the fells with snowmobiles, with guests traveling in sleds. On this program, you are participating in a real working day of a Sámi reindeer herder. If you wish, you can also help feeding our reindeer from the big hay sleds. 

Snowmobiling

 Paistunturi area does not have any marked snowmobile tracks, but the locals know the routes to use. An experienced local guide is a must-have when exploring this wilderness area. This snowmobiling excursion for small or private groups is about 2 hours. You can request for longer even tours via email!

Northern Lights

In Utsjoki, the northern lights can be seen on almost all clear nights from mid September to early April. In Utsjoki, you might see the Northern Lights even from your hotel window, as there is practically very little or no light pollution around. For guests wanting to increase their odds of seeing the Auroras, it is recommended to book an evening tour with a local guide to take to dark, open spaces outside the village. 

Arctic Ocean tours: Nature and culture of North Varanger

Utsjoki is located right by the Norwegian border and only one hour drive from the coast of the Arctic Sea, Varanger Fjord. We have a full day tour to North Varanger available year-round. We will visit historical landscapes by the shore, enjoy a nice lunch with local or vegan ingredients and visit the Sea Sámi museum or the Ruija Kven museum. We will travel in a minibus, but warm winter clothing is needed for short times outside at sites.

Arctic Ocean tours: birds and whales by boat

From mid March to early July, the sea and shores of Varanger Fjord become lively with tens of thousands of arctic birds nesting on the cliffs, and minke whales, orcas, porpoise and fin whales swimming around. You can easily go on a whale watching tour to the Arctic Sea from Utsjoki with us. This tour is available only from late March to early July!

Ice-fishing on an arctic lake

Join us on a snowmobile-sleigh ride to a fell lake and learn the art of ice fishing. Ice-fishing trips are available from December to May, depending on snow and ice conditions. Our normal ice-fishing program is 2 hours and is suitable for guests with no prior experience of fishing. For fishing enthusiasts, request for longer fishing tours via email!

Visit Sámi Museum Siida and Inari village from Utsjoki

The Sámi Museum Siida is a national museum responsible for its special field, Sámi culture, and a regional museum responsible for tasks concerning cultural environments in the Sámi Area. This awarded museum is located in Inari village, only about 1 hour drive from Utsjoki. In Utsjoki, you experience real life in a Sámi village today, but the museum gives more insight about the culture and its history. 

Husky farm visit (short)

This shorter husky program is available year round. During snow-free time, we visit the husky farm and can walk with the huskies, and during snowy season you can meet the huskies and try dog sledding on flat fields. This program is perfect for families with children or for people that feel very insecure about driving a dog sled.

Husky Sledding

Husky sledding is originally from Siberian and Inuit regions, but has spread as a sport to other regions with cold climate as well. If you want a husky experience in the gorgeous arctic scenery without mass tourism, then this experience is for you. We drive to a small husky farm, where you get to drive a husky sled and learn about the training and life of racing huskies.

Personalized and tailored programs

Whether you are travelling alone, with friends or with family, or you have a group with special requests, send us email and we can see if we can tailor a set of programs and transfers for your needs.

Utsjoki is our home and wilderness is our office.