Live the real life of the Sami reindeer herders in Europe's last true wilderness in Norway via Visit Natives!
The Sami are the European Union's only indigenous people who are reindeer herders. The Sami families herd the reindeer in the tundra, in the middle of the most beautiful Arctic wilderness in Northern Norway. There is no electricity, and no roads, just pure nature. The Sami use snowmobiles for transportation and you will sit on wooden a sled that is pulled by a snowmobile. Besides immersing yourself in fascinating and rich Sami culture, you will explore and live in nature that is so pure that you can even drink straight from the stream. You can come alone or with family or friends, but the experience is always intimate and unique with a native Sami family. This stay is extraordinary and a rare opportunity to experience a Sami way of life in the Tundra. We don't have a daily itinerary for this trip because everything happens on nature's speed in a reindeer herder's life, and unpredictable things can happen in reindeer herding.
However, a typical day with a Sami family may look like this:
Every guest is warmly welcomed to participate in the daily tasks. The Sami family is happy to teach you all the reindeer herding tasks, like how to tame reindeer to pull a sled or learn to hunt an Arctic grouse. In the cabin, there are traditional wooden Sami skiis that guests can use freely while exploring the surroundings. This is a slow-down experience where things happen without a clock. We are happy to announce this a totally off-grid experience. In case of emergencies, there is a satellite phone. Here you can focus on being in the moment!
The location is in the middle of Tundra but the nearest town is Kautokeino. A pick-up and return service by the Sami host is available from Alta airport for a fee. The Sami host family picks up the guests from Alta and they drive to Kautokeino where guests receive their winter outwear. After loading the snowmobiles the journey continues into the wilderness. It takes about 1 -1.5 hours on a snowmobile to reach the cabin. Accommodation is in a very basic wilderness cabin. There is no shower, and the toilet is outdoors in a separate building that is not heated. The cabin is heated with firewood. There are 3 bedrooms, all with two separate beds. Travelers can also spend a night outdoors in a traditional Sami tent if they like. There may be other travelers at the same time, but the maximum number of travelers is four.
Your stay for one includes:
Learn more about the Visit Natives philosophy, including supporting tourism that benefits indigenous peoples, preserving indigenous cultures, and mitigating climate change.