Exotic Lapland and its native Sámi people

Reindeer husbandry

Prices from £1115 per person
Period: November – April, Thursday-Sunday
4 day guided tour

The village of Inari is Finland’s centre for Sámi culture, as the surroundings and nearby villages have kept the Sámi folklore alive. During our four-day (three nights) trip to this fascinating North Eastern corner of Europe, you will discover many things about the Sámi way of life and northern nature.

This relaxing break gives an opportunity to enjoy unspoilt nature and learn about the traditions of Sami people. On one day the only way to reach our destination, the “Old Man Island” is to ride on snowmobile through the frozen landscape.

Hotel Kultahovi

Hotel Kultahovi is a small, privately owned hotel located by the river Juutua in Inari. The rooms you will be staying in, are recently built and have riverside views. They are en-suite and equipped with a television, radio and private sauna.

Rooms at Hotel Kultahovi

A comfortable lounge with an open fireplace, a library with Internet connection and the lobby bar are pleasant places to relax. The hotel dining room has a fine view to the lowest rapids of River Juutua. The restaurant serves food made from pure local ingredients. The fish comes directly from the local fishermen, sea fish and crustaceans from the fishing village in nearby Norway and reindeer from local herders. Mushrooms and berries are locally harvested.

Example itinerary

Thursday – Arrival day
Upon arrival at Ivalo airport, you will be met by the local guide and transferred to your hotel. The journey will take about half an hour. After settling into the hotel, dinner will be served at the hotel restaurant. Our chosen hotel, Hotel Kultahovi, is renowned for its good food made from fine and pure local ingredients.

Friday – Introduction to the Sámi culture
After breakfast, you will walk with the local guide to the nearby Sámi museum and Northern Lapland Nature Centre “Siida”, where a guided tour takes place. The exhibitions show how nature and people have adapted to the extreme conditions of the Northern environment. Wonderful photographs, videos, sounds and original artefacts guide you between the seasons and the past times.

Traditional dress

The tour continues to Lemmenjoki, where you will visit a Sámi family in an original Sámi setting. You will see how the felt maker creates pictures of surrounding nature from wool fibres. You will also learn how the local people combine the past with the modern way of life. After the presentation, you will be provided with a tasty soup for lunch.

After the lunch, you will visit a local reindeer farm, where you can feed the reindeer and try your hand at “Lappish lassoing”, a traditional reindeer herders’ skill. You will also learn about the way of life of reindeer herders and about the reindeer herding generally. Coffee or tea will be served in a cosy Lappish hut around an open fire. Before departure, the host will “joik” you welcome to Sámi land!

In the evening dinner is served at the hotel.

Saturday – Getting to know your arctic surroundings
After breakfast, it is time for your trip to the vast Lake Inari, the 6th largest lake in Europe. You will be provided with warm thermal clothing and instructions as to how to drive a snowmobile, the modern means of transport of the local people. Your destination is the legendary island Äijih (Ukko – “An old man”), an ancient sacrificial site of the Inari Sámis. On the way you will visit the wilderness church of Pielpajärv (build in 1760) and try your hand at ice fishing. Camp lunch will be served during the safari.

After the winter safari, you will visit some local handicraft studios and shops in Inari. This is an ideal opportunity to learn about Sámi handicrafts using reindeer bone, wood, wool and silver.

Dinner will be served at the hotel.

Sunday – Good bye Sámi land
After breakfast, it is time to say good-bye to Hotel Kultahovi. You will be transferred to Ivalo airport to take a scheduled Finnair flight from Ivalo to Helsinki, and further to the United Kingdom.

Please note that we can arrange a visit to a husky dog farm and a 10km (6 miles) husky safari before your flight to Helsinki, and onwards to the United Kingdom.

Extra nights in Inari or Helsinki are also available.

Package prices

Travel period 2009-2010 winter

From London Heathrow, starting from: £1,119 /person/two sharing,
£1,214 /person/in single room
From Manchester, starting from: £1,154 /person/two sharing,
£1,249 /person/in single room

What is included in the price?

• Scheduled Finnair flights from London Heathrow or Manchester to Ivalo (via Helsinki)
• Three nights accommodation at the Hotel Kultahovi, Inari
• Buffet breakfast and a dinner on a daily basis
• Transfers between Ivalo Airport and the hotel
• Programme as described in the program

Please note that this package is arranged for a minimum of two passengers.
Child and group (min. 4 people) discounts are available on request.

Please note also that extra nights either in Inari or Helsinki are available on request. As the flights to Ivalo are via Helsinki, you may wish to extend your visit to Finland by staying in Helsinki. If you wish to spend some time in the Finnish capital, call our office for further details and price.s.

Optional extras

Please ask for quotation.

Visit to a wild animal park and husky safari
After checking out on Sunday, you can visit a wild animal park and husky farm on the way to the airport. You will also join a one-hour husky safari. Two persons drive one sledge as a team. Coffee will be provided by an open fire. Thermal clothing will be provided.
Duration: 2 hours + transfers

Snowshoe search for the Northern Lights
Our guide will take you for a snowshoe trek to places in the village where the Northern Lights are most likely to be seen. You will experience the arctic nature, snow and frost while the guide tells you about the Northern Lights.
Duration: 2 hours

Cross-country skiing school for beginners
Learn how to ski using a cross-country technique in the skiing stadium in Inari.
Duration: 2 hours