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Sami Reindeer Herding Experience in Autumn
Join the Sami family for six days unique opportunity to observe and participate in Sami reindeer herders' work in autumn. During this period, the Sami live in tents which are set up temporarily for this period. You can live the life of the Sami herders as authentic as it can be. Be prepaid to work together and sleep outside in a tent.
After the long summer when reindeer graze freely, autumn begins with many reindeer herding tasks. One of the essential herding tasks is to round up the reindeer into separation enclosures.
On this journey, you will experience adventure and bond with your Sami reindeer herder's host family in ways that will leave lasting, lifelong memories.
About the experience
The indigenous Sami people of Northern Europe consider themselves to belong to one land known as Sapmi. Now traditional reindeer herding as the main livelihood has fallen considerably, but many Sami families still follow the annual herding cycle. They migrate from the inner parts of their territory to the Arctic Ocean in spring and back from the sea to the inland areas for winter. 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 autumn Sami reindeer herders' work. During this period, the Sami live, sleep, and cook in traditional "lavvu" tents, which are set up temporarily for this period.
In this most immersive and authentic experience, you can live the real life of the Sami herders in autumn in October and November.
We don't have a detailed everyday itinerary as everything happens at 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
The days can be jam-packed with many herding tasks that you are most welcome to participate in or observe.
REQUIREMENTS:
It would help if you were physically fit, open-minded, and able to sleep outdoors (in a heated tent). It is a plus if you can drive an ATV or a snowmobile (depending on weather conditions).