Sami reindeer herder visit
An authentic Sámi reindeer herding experience in Finnish Lapland, with a local family and their herd, sharing generations of Arctic traditions.
- 3 hours
- Easy, for everyone
From €180 / person
Muotkatunturi and Inari
A wilderness with no marked trails, the homeland of the Sami and a village at the edge of both, run as a family home since 1967.
Where is Muotkatunturi?
Muotkan Ruoktu stands by the Peltojoki river, at the edge of the Muotkatunturi wilderness area, on the road between Kaamanen and Karigasniemi in Inari, Finnish Lapland. Inari village, with its Sami museum, is 55 km away (about 40 minutes by car), and the Norwegian border at Karigasniemi is 44 km.
Muotkatunturi is one of the quietest corners of Finnish Lapland. There are no lifts, no marked trails and no crowds, only fells, reindeer and rivers, and the people who have lived and worked here for generations.
Muotkatunturi wilderness area
The Muotkatunturi wilderness area covers about 1,570 km² and has been protected as a wilderness area since 1991. It is managed by Metsähallitus, the state agency that runs Finland's national parks, and it is one of the large, roadless areas of the far north.
No marked trails
There are no marked trails here. A few open wilderness huts are scattered across the area, free to use for anyone who walks in, and the landscape is open fell, birch forest, bogs and clear streams. Navigation, weather and distances are your own responsibility, and it is easy to underestimate how far a day's walk takes you without a path.
Reindeer-herding land
It is also reindeer-herding land. Herders work with their herds across these fells through the year, and you will meet reindeer on the ground and sometimes on the road. Please keep your distance and keep dogs on a leash.
Who is it for?
Who is it for? Experienced hikers who can read a map and compass and are happy to be self-reliant will find a rare kind of silence. Everyone else is better off going with someone who knows the area. From our door, we run guided hikes in summer and autumn, and packrafting on the Peltojoki river when the water allows. In winter the same landscape opens up on snowshoes, skis and sledges. If you want to go further on your own, talk to us before you set out: we will tell you what is realistic for your experience and the season.
Metsähallitus's own page on the area, with the current rules and hut information, is on luontoon.fi. Check it before any independent trip.
The wilderness starts at the door.
Most visitors to Finnish Lapland meet the fells from a car window or a lift station. Here you can walk out of the village and be in them within minutes.
Sami homeland, visited with respect
Inari is part of the homeland of the Sami, the Indigenous people of northern Finland, Norway, Sweden and Russia. In the municipality of Inari three Sami languages are spoken: Inari Sami, North Sami and Skolt Sami. Each has its own traditions and its own history, and the area around Inari is the cultural centre of Finnish Sami life. Inari is where the Sami Parliament of Finland sits.
A visit here is a visit to someone's home, not to an attraction. A few habits make it better for everyone. Ask before photographing people and their animals. Do not walk into herding enclosures or private yards. Prefer experiences run by or together with local Sami people, and be wary of anything that dresses up traditions as a show. The Sami Parliament of Finland has published ethical guidelines, and we recommend reading the ethical guidelines for Sami tourism before you travel.
Muotkan Ruoktu was run from 1967 by Hans Niittyvuopio, a Sami reindeer herder who welcomed guests for almost fifty years. Kinga and Kevin took over in autumn 2023, and we try to keep what Hans built: a place where guests feel at home, and where the local people tell their own story. Our reindeer herder visit is led by a herder, and our guided day in Inari takes you to the museum and the Sami Parliament with a local guide.
Reindeer on the road and on the fell
You will see reindeer here whether you plan to or not. In summer they roam free across the fells and often walk along the road, so drive slowly, especially at dusk. In winter the herds are looked after more closely by their herders.
Reindeer are semi-domesticated and belong to herders, even when they look wild. If you would like to see them up close and learn how herding works, the best way is to meet a herder. On our reindeer herder visit you spend three hours with a Sami reindeer herder and the herd, in a small group.
The same wilderness, green, then gold and red, then white for half the year.
Winter here is long, cold and dry, with snow from about November to April and northern lights on clear nights from September to March. The polar night, when the sun does not rise above the horizon, lasts from about 28 November to 13 January, but it is not dark all day: there are three to five hours of blue twilight around noon. In summer the midnight sun shines from about 20 May to 23 July, and the fells turn green, then gold and red in the first half of September, when the ruska colours come.
Each season changes what you can do, from snowshoeing and ice fishing to hiking and packrafting. Our month-by-month guide shows what runs when.
Inari village and day trips
Inari village, 55 km away
Inari village is the cultural heart of the area, on the shore of Lake Inari, one of Finland's largest lakes. Plan half a day. Siida, the Sami museum and nature centre, tells the story of the Sami and of the nature of the north, indoors and in its open-air museum. Sajos is the Sami cultural centre and the seat of the Sami Parliament. Pielpajärvi's old wilderness church is a short drive away.
In winter the lake freezes, and the white expanse of Lake Inari is the setting for ice fishing by sledge, which we run from the village. If you would rather have someone show you the village, our guided half day in Inari covers the museum and the Sami Parliament.
Lemmenjoki, Utsjoki and the far north
Lemmenjoki is Finland's largest national park, with deep river valleys and old gold-digging traditions. It is a long day from us, best with a car and an early start.
Utsjoki, Finland's northernmost municipality, sits on the Teno river, which is the border with Norway for much of its length.
Norway and Saariselkä
Karigasniemi is the nearest village and the border crossing to Norway. Crossing the border into Norway is easy, but check what you need to carry with you.
Kirkenes, in Norway, is a long day trip but a memorable one if you want to see the Barents Sea.
Saariselkä is the best-known resort in the area, with restaurants, shops and the gateway to the UKK National Park. It is a different kind of place from Muotkatunturi, busier and more developed. Many visitors enjoy both: the one for services, the other for silence.
How far is everything?
Road distances by the fastest route in normal summer conditions. In winter, allow more time.
| Destination | Distance | By car | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Karigasniemi | 44 km | 32 min | The Norwegian border, shops and fuel |
| Inari village | 55 km | 40 min | Siida, Sajos and Lake Inari |
| Ivalo village | 94 km | 1 h 12 min | Services, restaurants, the airport nearby |
| Lemmenjoki National Park (Njurgulahti) | 101 km | 1 h 20 min | A long day in a big national park |
| Ivalo airport (IVL) | 103 km | About 1 h 15 min | Arrival by plane |
| Utsjoki | 115 km | 1 h 20 min | The Teno river and the far north |
| Saariselkä | 124 km | 1 h 36 min | Ski resort, UKK National Park |
| Kirkenes (Norway) | 204 km | 2 h 46 min | The Barents Sea and the border region |
Source of distances and times, Google Maps. Passport or ID is needed for Norway.
A village with a story, not a base camp
Muotkan Ruoktu has been welcoming travellers since 1967, and it is still run like a family home. We keep our groups small, we are on the fell and in the kitchen ourselves, and we guide many of the experiences ourselves.
We do not sell the whole of Lapland. We sell what we know: this river, these fells, this road, and the people who live along it. If you would like to see Muotkatunturi from the inside, the hiking and packrafting days start at our door.
Questions ? Your Little Guide to Lapland
Free, with local tips from those who call Lapland home.
When to visit Finnish Lapland, what to wear, how to get here and what is myth or reality: the questions we hear most, answered from our own local experience to help you prepare, travel better and enjoy the real Lapland.
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Questions about Muotkatunturi and Inari
Is Muotkatunturi suitable for beginners?
Not for going alone. The area has no marked trails and few services, and the weather can change quickly. Beginners are welcome on a guided hike, which we plan around your group's fitness, from half a day.
Can I hike in Muotkatunturi on my own?
Yes, if you are experienced and prepared: you need a map and compass or GPS, the right equipment and a plan that someone knows about. Check the current rules and hut information with Metsähallitus first, and talk to us if you would like advice for the season.
How can I meet Sami culture respectfully?
Treat it as someone's home, not a show. Ask before taking photos of people or animals, stay out of herding areas, and choose experiences that are run by, or together with, local Sami people. The Sami Parliament's ethical guidelines for Sami tourism are a good place to start.
Should I stay in Inari or Saariselkä?
They are different places. Saariselkä is a busier resort with many services, about 1 h 40 by car from us. Inari village is smaller and is the cultural centre of the Sami. Muotkan Ruoktu is further out, in the wilderness, for those who want quiet.
Can I visit Lemmenjoki National Park as a day trip from Muotkan?
It is possible, but long: about 101 km and 1 h 20 min each way by car in summer, so plan a full day and start early. Many guests combine it with a night elsewhere.
Can I see reindeer without visiting a farm?
Often, yes. Reindeer roam freely in summer and are common on the roads around the village. For a closer and more respectful encounter, and to learn how herding works, we recommend meeting a herder on our reindeer herder visit.
News from the fell
A short letter when there is something worth telling, never more than once a month.
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Responsible travel
Small groups, local guides and respect for the wilderness and Sami culture, recognised by three sustainability labels.
How we protect the place
