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. Living from nature means also having to have a balance with the surrounding ecosystem. Nature is not something distant from us, but a very important source of life and surviving.
For guests to be able to connect deeper with the Sámi Homelands, we have planned walking tours into the Sámi cultural landscapes (in western terms referred to as “wilderness trails”). Without motorized vehicles, we really feel the nature as it is. When we walk in nature, we see, hear and experience things inside and outside our-selves that we miss if we move with speed or with noisy machines.
During the snow-covered season, meaning time from November to May, we need snowshoes to walk on snowy trails. Walking with snowshoes is very similar to normal walking, so using them is easier than skiing. Our tours always have a local guide to tell about the nature, culture and history of that landscape. All cultural landscape tours include pick-up max 5 km from Utsjoki village, hot drinks and small snacks and snowshoes. This is the longer 3-4 hour cultural landscape tour with snowshoes to the fells. We will be walking uphill and downhill for several kilometers. A basic fitness level is required, but you don´t need prior experience with snowshoes to take part.
We also have an easier, 2 hour snowshoeing tour, which is suitable for anyone capable of normal walking and for children as well. The easier tour can be reserved via email or our webstore. If you are looking for a real day adventuring outdoors on the highlands, you can request for a full-day or multiday snowshoeing hike via email at arctic@travelutsjoki.com.
