A Taste of Lapland

DAY 1 - KIRKENES/FINNISH LAPLAND/INARI
This 3-day tour of Norwegian and Finnish Lapland begins in Kirkenes. Here you are picked up by your guide/driver at the harbor, the airport, or at your hotel, depending on your itinerary. Your journey starts along the Neidenfjord to Neiden, where you'll first stop at a salmon river. From mid-June to the end of August, you'll be able to watch the salmon play, and from mid-July to mid-August, you'll have the chance to watch traditional net fishing.You'll continue through vast highland marshes dotted with lakes, then travel along Varangerfjord to Tana Bru, exploring the border river between Norway and Finland, known to be the best salmon river in Europe. Through the Tana Valley, famous for its beautiful scenery, there's a short stop at Ailikas, the holy mountain of the Sami people, with wonderful views of the surrounding landscape. Continue via Utsjoki to Inari, experiencing an ever-changing mountain landscape – and reindeer. This area has 20 times more reindeer than inhabitants. Upon arrival in Inari, check into the Hotel Kultahovi, a cozy, small hotel with personal service, where you'll spend two nights. In the evening, visit the reindeer-herding family Paadar. Feed the reindeer and visit the small family museum, and listen to the interesting history of the Sami and about their culture. Coffee and biscuits in a real Sami tent will be served.

DAY 2 - INARI
The following day you'll visit the SIIDA Sami and Nature Museum, housing extensive information regarding the region. The rest of the day is at your leisure. Your guide/driver can arrange a variety of activities and excursions at an extra charge. If you would like to further exploring the Sami culture, the Inari Open-Air Museum is open during the summer to complement the exhibitions at SIIDA. It presents typical dwellings of Sami fishermen and the nomadic Sami. If you're interested in local churches, you can visit the Sami Church, a beautiful wooden church open daily for visitors, or the Pielpajarvi Wilderness Church. To explore the area by boat, take a two-hour cruise on Lake Inari to the sacrificial island of Ukko. Shopping opportunities are also available - local handicrafts are exhibited and sold at the Sapmelas Doudjarat Craft House. The works of a widely known crafts master, Petteri Laiti, are on display and sold at the Samekki Crafts shop. For traditional and modern silver jewelry you can visit the Inarin Hopea Gallery, and for traditional and modern crafts made from local materials, there is Inarista Kasin. You also have wonderful opportunities for hiking, fishing, canoeing, biking, and gold panning. Reservations are not required. You can make your plans upon arrival.

Lapland lifestyle (photo courtesy: NCV).

DAY 3 - INARI/FINNISH LAPLAND/KIRKENES
Your drive back to Kirkenes starts with an early departure from Inari traveling to the Kaamanen bird-observation tower. Here you can enjoy the wonderful views. Continue along the western banks of Inari Lake and pass more than 50 lakes before arriving in Sevettijarvi, housing a small village museum and Greek Orthodox wooden church. Before arriving in Kirkenes, visit the Russian border.

Price of US$729 per person ($859 single). Private guide-driver between Kirkenes and Inari. Two nights' acccommodation at the Hotel Kultahovi with two breakfasts. This program is available May 20 - September 25. Extra hotel nights are available upon request.

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