Sámi Village

Authentic visit to a Sámi family homestead in Nellim: stories, songs, local flavours and Lake Inari excursions for small groups.

A person in traditional Sámi clothing, including a red hat and patterned shawl, plays a large, round, hand-painted drum with a mallet against a black background.

A person in winter clothing sits on snow beside two snowshoes propped upright. Pine trees and a snow-covered landscape are in the background under a partly cloudy sky.

A person in winter clothing stands on a snowy hilltop with footprints behind them, surrounded by snow-covered ground and distant forests under a partly cloudy sky. Tree branches frame the image on the right.

A snowmobile parked on a snowy frozen lake at sunset, with several fish laid out on the ice near a fishing hole in the foreground.

A vivid green aurora borealis swirls across a dark night sky above snowy ground, with a person sitting on a snowmobile silhouetted in the lower right corner. Small lights from distant buildings glow on the horizon.

A snow-covered house surrounded by bare trees under a night sky illuminated by bright green northern lights. The scene is peaceful and wintry, with stars visible above.

Two people on snowmobiles ride along a dark, snowy path under a vibrant green aurora borealis lighting up the night sky. The red tail lights of the snowmobiles contrast with the swirling lights above.

A blue kayak glides on calm water at sunset, with the sun low in the sky, casting a golden reflection on the lake. Trees line the distant horizon under a clear sky.

A serene lakeside scene at sunset, with the sun low on the horizon casting an orange glow. Trees frame the view, and a dock stretches over still water. Grassy land and a wooden fence are visible in the foreground.

A cozy, round wooden cabin glows warmly at night in a forest clearing, with string lights on a nearby fence. Bare trees surround the cabin, and green northern lights shimmer in the dark sky above a bright moon.

A cozy cabin glows with warm lights in a snowy landscape at dusk. Bare trees and a snow-covered fence decorated with string lights surround the cabin under a deep blue sky.

Three people stand outside a snowy, warmly lit cabin at night, surrounded by trees, watching the green Northern Lights illuminating the dark sky above.

Sámi Village – An Authentic Visit to a Sámi Family Homestead in Nellim

Sámi Village offers a rare opportunity to visit a living Sámi family homestead in the heart of Nellim, close to the shores of Lake Inari. The farm stands on land settled by Teija Tamminen’s (in Inari Sámi: Kessjäävri Kässeekiäđgáá Teija) ancestor, Nuoran Pekka, in the late 1800s. A visit to Sámi Village is not a tourist attraction but a traditional visit to a Sámi home – a place where culture, stories, and everyday life are still deeply rooted in the landscape.

Guests are welcomed into the peaceful atmosphere and join excursions

Teija shares the history of Nellim village in the traditional kota hut, where the fire burns warmly. She introduces traditional items, and tells stories passed down through generations. Visitors also hear rare Inari Sámi songs and drumming, revived from archival recordings found at the University of Helsinki after the singing tradition was believed to have disappeared. During the visit, guests learn a few words of Inari Sámi, one of the most endangered languages in the world.

The kota café is open in general once a month – and also on request

Local flavours are an essential part of the experience. Around the fire, guests can taste Sámi home-made specialities: reindeer or elk meat, lake fish, Lappish potatoes, fresh bread, cheese, berries, herbs and cakes. Hot drinks such as coffee, tea, and cocoa are served, as well as berry wine. The kota café holds full serving rights.

Sámi Village carries forward Nellim’s long tradition of hospitality

In the past, Nuoran Pekka ran a traveller’s inn on the same homestead, and today his descendants continue this legacy. The farm offers accommodation in two high-quality lakeside cabins, each with a private sandy beach, outdoor hot tub and beautiful views over Lake Inari. Sámi Village also organises guided excursions and rents out canoes and kayaks for exploring the surrounding wilderness.

A visit to Sámi Village is a chance to experience Sámi culture and nature authentically, personally and without hurry – by stepping into a real Sámi home.

Sámi Village

Sámi Village – An Authentic Visit to a Sámi Family Homestead in Nellim

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