About the experience

The Sami people of Northern Europe consider themselves to belong to one land known as Sapmi. These days reindeer herding as the main livelihood has fallen considerably, but there are still many Sami families who follow the annual herding cycle. They migrate from the inner parts of their territory to the Arctic Ocean in spring and migrate back from the sea to the inland areas for the winter period. These migration routes often covered several hundreds of kilometers. The Sami have lived in all four countries in the Arctic Circle: Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Russia.

Reindeer husbandry follows a yearly life cycle. After the long summer, when reindeer graze freely, autumn begins with reindeer herding tasks. The reindeer graze freely in summer, so before the autumn migration begins, they need to gather all the reindeer inside a corral. This period gathers herders together, and it is an exciting time for the reindeer owners. One of the essential herding tasks is to round up the reindeer into separation enclosures, and that is the Sami reindeer autumn migration preparations.

You can join this unique opportunity to observe and participate in Sami reindeer herders' work up in the mountains in the most beautiful island of  Soroya, which is located up in the Arctic Ocean. There are only three tiny villages with a total population of 1,000. During this period, the Sami live, sleep, and cook in traditional "lavvu" tents, which are set up in the mountains temporarily for this period. On this experience, you can live the real life of the Sami herders just before they start to migrate to inland with their reindeer.
 

We don't have a detailed everyday itinerary as everything happens in nature's speed as the reindeer are semi-domesticated animals.

An example of a typical day:

8 am Wake up & breakfast

10 am Observing & participating in reindeer herding tasks

2 pm lunch and rest

4 pm Observing & participating in reindeer herding tasks

7 pm Dinner with yoik singing and storytelling  at the lavvu tent ​ by the campfire