Snowmobile mini expedition
- 3 hours
- Easy, for everyone
Our best-selling ride: three hours further into Muotkatunturi, across vast frozen lakes and up to panoramic fells.
From €175 / person
Restaurant at Muotkan Ruoktu
Authentic Lappish recipes, passionately crafted with local ingredients, including our legendary Reindeer Stew since 1967.
Lapland Food & Local Arctic Flavours
Traditional Lappish cuisine, crafted with passion using local ingredients and a touch of international inspiration.
We love good food, but what we love even more is sharing it with wonderful people! At our restaurant, traditional Lappish recipes meet the flavours of our roots in Poland and France, bringing a personal touch to every dish. We believe that great food begins with passion and quality ingredients, from the treasures of Lapland’s forests and rivers to the finest products from local producers. Above all, it’s about the joy of sharing delicious food and memorable moments around the table.
Muotkan Ruoktu was founded by Hans in 1967, but the restaurant’s story goes back over 100 years. Before him, three Sami women ran this special place. Built from 400-year-old wood, it has long been a welcoming shelter in the heart of the mountains.
For almost fifty years, Hans Niittyvuopio welcomed travellers to his table. His legendary reindeer stew, Poronkäristys, celebrated as one of the best in Finland, remains our signature dish. Honouring our promise, we proudly keep his recipe and tradition alive.
Our menu is inspired by passionate local chefs who have generously shared their favourite recipes with us. From simple, comforting dishes to more creative plates, we love working with seasonal ingredients such as whitefish, elk, wild mushrooms, and berries. Our menu changes with the seasons, what nature and local producers have to offer, and, of course, a little bit of our mood!
The menu
Homemade dishes crafted with care, inspired by the natural treasures of Lapland’s forests.
House speciality
Poronkäristys
Home speciality. Finnish speciality with reindeer meat, mashed potatoes, pickles, red onion, cucumber and lingonberry.
€28
See the full menu
We love authentic flavours and local know-how. All our recipes are rooted in the fruits of Lapland's forests and the offerings of local producers, with some tastes from our countries, the French Alps and the Polish countryside.
Bon appétit, smacznego & hyvää ruokahalua!
Kinga & Kevin
Beyond the Table
Beyond our authentic cottages, we invite you to experience the warmth of traditional Lappish hospitality. Gather around the fire in our outdoor kota and laavu, enjoy local food, share stories, and create meaningful connections in a truly Arctic atmosphere. Ready to light the fire and share a moment together?
Traditional Kota & Kota-Laavu
Enjoy a Lappish BBQ in our cosy kota or outdoor laavu. Relax on reindeer skins with a warm drink beneath thousands of stars and dancing Northern Lights!
Winter
Culinary Experience
Smoked salmon, sauna & Northern Lights - Arctic Culinary Experience
Hot-smoke Arctic salmon over an open fire in a riverside kota, then unwind in a traditional Finnish sauna and watch for the Northern Lights.
See the experience
From Our Food to Your Heart
Before you come
Hours, how to find us and the little things worth knowing.
Opening hours
Book a table here, by WhatsApp or by phone
- Lunch 12:00–15:00
- Dinner 18:00–21:00
- Open from 1 December to 31 October, closed in November. Opening hours may vary outside the summer and winter seasons: please call us to confirm.
How to get here
Muotkan Ruoktu is located in the beautiful Muotkatunturi wilderness of Finnish Lapland, along the Kaamanen–Karigasniemi road, on the way to the North Cape (Nordkapp), north of Inari.
Breakfast and bar
Breakfast is served 08:00–10:00 and needs a reservation in advance at reception. The bar and reception are open 08:00–22:00.
Open to everyone
Hotel guests, hikers and travellers on the road north are all welcome, with or without a stay.
Parking
Free parking by the restaurant for our guests; other visitors pay €5 a day.
Special diets
Vegetarian dishes are on the menu. Tell us about gluten-free or lactose-free needs when you book and we will do our best.
Dog-friendly
We love animals! Your dog is welcome to join you for a comfortable, dog-friendly stay, as long as they are well-behaved and respect the property.
One of the best places in the world to see the Northern Lights.
No midnight transfers, no city lights. At 69° north, on the edge of the Muotkatunturi wilderness and far from any town, the dark Arctic sky begins right at your cabin door. When the Northern Lights appear, simply step outside and look up. Here, your chances of seeing them are excellent!
A wilderness of dark sky
Every other clear night
We watch the sky for you
Traditional Sauna and Hot Nordic bath
After a day in the cold, warm up and unwind in a private sauna or riverside Hot Tub, reserved just for you beneath the starry sky.
Sauna and hot tubA unique hot tub under the Northern Lights.
Hot tub by the river
Our wood-heated hot tub, the palju, sits on the bank of the Peltojoki. We are the only ones to offer a hot tub by the river: on a clear night, you watch the Northern Lights from the warm water.
More than a bed
Adventures, breakfast and delicious dinners await in our village. Book ahead with your stay—spaces are limited!
Our Tasty Breakfast
Start your day with local flavours and a French touch: eggs, sausages, fresh vegetables, Karelian pastries, croissants, homemade jams, and unlimited tea and coffee.
- All activities
Adventures from the door
Small groups and local guides, right from your cabin. Reserve in advance: places are limited.
Northern Lights by wooden sledge
- 2 hours
- Easy, for everyone
Travel by traditional wooden sledge to the foot of the Arctic fells, far from light pollution, for a peaceful Northern Lights experience.
From €160 / personSnowmobile experience
- 2 hours
- Easy, for everyone
Your first taste of snowmobiling in Lapland! Explore frozen lakes and Arctic fells on a heated snowmobile with a local guide. Perfect for beginners.
From €135 / personArctic ski experience
- 2 hours
- Easy, for everyone
Glide across frozen lakes and through snowy forests on easy-to-use Altai skis. No skiing experience needed – a fun alternative to snowshoeing!
From €110 / personArctic ski mini expedition
- 3 hours
- Moderate fitness
A longer Altai skiing adventure deep into Lapland’s wilderness, ideal for guests with moderate fitness level.
From €165 / personArctic ski escape
- 5 hours
- Moderate fitness
Explore remote frozen lakes and snowy forests on Altai skis, enjoy lunch in the wilderness and experience a full Arctic adventure tailored to your group.
From €230 / personSnowshoe walk
- 2 hours
- Easy, for everyone
An easy, guided snowshoe walk through peaceful Arctic forests and across frozen lakes, in a small, often private group.
From €130 / personSnowshoe mini expedition
- 3 hours
- Moderate fitness
Venture beyond tourist trails on snowshoes, exploring silent forests, frozen lakes and untouched Arctic tundra.
From €165 / personSami reindeer herder visit
- 3 hours
- Easy, for everyone
Meet a Sami reindeer herder and spend time with the herd in Lapland's wilderness.
From €180 / personHusky Sledding
- 2 hours
- Easy, for everyone
Drive your own husky sled with a local musher and help care for the dogs afterwards.
From €250 / personIce Fishing by Sledge
- 2 hours
- Easy, for everyone
Travel by wooden sledge to a remote frozen lake and discover traditional ice fishing, just like the locals.
From €90 / personSmoked salmon, sauna & Northern Lights - Arctic Culinary Experience
- 2 hours
- Easy, for everyone
Hot-smoke Arctic salmon over an open fire in a riverside kota, then unwind in a traditional Finnish sauna and watch for the Northern Lights.
From €80 / personHot Tub by the River
- 2 hours
- Easy, for everyone
- On request
Our wood-heated hot tub, the palju, sits on the bank of the Peltojoki. We are the only ones to offer a hot tub by the river.
From €120 / 2 hours for 2Packrafting under the Midnight Sun
- 2 hours
- Easy, for everyone
Paddle peaceful lakes in a light, stable packraft under the Midnight Sun. No experience needed.
From €60 / personLapland Packrafting Adventure
- 5 hours
- Moderate fitness
- On request
Five hours down clear rivers and across quiet lakes, with a break by the fire. No experience needed.
From €220 / personMidnight Sun Stand-Up in Lapland
- 2 hours
- Easy, for everyone
An easy, relaxing way to explore the Arctic waterways by SUP, for beginners and experienced paddlers.
From €60 / personMidnight Sun fishing with a local guide
- 2 hours
- Easy, for everyone
Fish the Peltojoki river and the wilderness lakes with a local guide, under the Midnight Sun.
From €60 / personWilderness Hiking in Muotkatunturi
- 3 hours
- Moderate fitness
- On request
Open tundra, quiet lakes and old paths: the Muotkatunturi wilderness starts at the door.
From €90Inari: Siida museum & river walk
- 4 hours
- Easy, for everyone
The award-winning Siida museum, the Sami Parliament and the Juutua river: Inari with a local guide.
From €90 / personTraditional Finnish Sauna
- 1 hour
- Easy, for everyone
- On request
Feel the gentle heat of our traditional Finnish sauna, then dare to jump into the fresh Arctic snow!
From €25 / hour for 2
Reindeer sausages & kota wood
Enjoy an authentic Lappish experience: grill local reindeer sausages over the fire.
A group or a special menu?
We are happy to set the table for groups and special menus: call or write to us on WhatsApp. We answer 9:00–22:00 (Finnish time)
- Feel at homeStay in authentic Lapland accommodation where every guest is welcomed like a friend. Genuine hospitality, homemade local food and a warm family atmosphere.
- Legendary Sami heritageDiscover the rich Sami heritage and reindeer herding traditions through the history and people of Muotkan Ruoktu.
- Northern Lights & wildernessIn the heart of the Muotkatunturi Wilderness, one of the best places to see the Northern Lights and experience untouched Arctic nature.
- Authentic adventures, no crowdsSmall-group Arctic adventures with passionate local guides, from snowmobiling and snowshoeing to fishing and Northern Lights experiences, far from mass tourism.