Northern lights in Sápmi overnight stay in traditional lavvo

Stay the night next to open fire with reindeer close by, listening to stories about our ancestors dancing in the northern lights.

We welcome you at our homestead here in Karasjok to spend a night under the stars and, with a bit of luck, under the magical Northern lights. Once you are settled and comfortable in your lavvo, the traditional Sami tent you’ll spend the night in, we will visit you in there to share stories about our life as reindeer herders, and the type of activities we do during our eight seasons. You will have the opportunity to meet our reindeer, to feed them and take photos.

You can enjoy a cup of coffee or tea and our speciality of dried reindeer meat while we tell you about Guovssahasat, the Sami word for Northern lights, which literally means ‘the light you can hear’. We will share stories and myths about the natural phenomenon in Sápmi, how the lights have affected us in the past and how we regard them today.

After a warming cup of coffee you can join us outside while we wait for the lights to appear. If they are not visible we will try to call on them with a «luohti», wich is a Sami way of singing.

If the sky is cloudy and snowy we won’t be able to see the aurora, but if we are lucky and the skies are clear, we might get to witness the dancing, colored lights.

After our visit you will have the lavvo for yourself

You can take the reindeer hides outside, lie down, watch the skies and enjoy the moment. You’ll have access to your own toilet in the main house. In the morning we will wake you with breakfast and we’ll show you how to make fresh coffee in the lavvo if you want to.

A night in the lavvo is truly special and a unique opportunity to be as close to nature as you can get. You’ll fall asleep to the softness of the reindeer skin you lay on and the warmth and light of the fire. Perhaps you even get to see the Northern lights from inside the lavvo. In the morning you’ll wake up to a cracking fire – that is, if you manage to keep the fire going throughout the night.. If not we can come and help you warm up the lavvo again.

What to bring:

Bring warm clothes. We recommend two layers of wool for underneath the winter suit. They may smell a bit of smoke afterwards. We also recommend you to bring a tripod in case the weather conditions are good.

Included: Reindeer meat snack, coffee/tea, winter clothes and sleeping bag for loan, breakfast.

Price 2023/24:

NOK 3590,- per person

Time: 6pm – 11am

Duration: 17 hours

Degree of difficulty: 2/4

Number of guests: 1-6 pers

Season: 01.11 - 01.04

Age limit: 18 years