You know Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen … actually, you probably don’t, but the Sami people do, since their livelihood is reindeer herding. The Sami are the Arctic indigenes of Lapland in northern Finland. You can be immersed in the culture of these fascinating people with a tour from Borton Overseas called “Exploring Sami Culture in Northern Finland.”
It’s an 8 day tour of Northern Lapland with a pit stop across the border in Norway, available from June 5 to September 15. You’ll get to see a shining sun at midnight in the nightless night of a Lappish summer but first, how about a quick look at Helsinki? After a full day of sightseeing Finland’s design capital, you’ll fly to Ivalo in Lapland , then drive to Inari.
While in Inari the highlights are exploring the characteristic wilderness where you’ll experience Sami culture in their natural livelihood. You’ll also visit the Sami Museum and the Northern Lapland Nature Centre (SIIDA), where you’ll discover the culture’s long history since prehistoric times.
I wasn’t kidding about the reindeer, either, since the next day consists of visiting a Sami reindeer farm. You’ll get the chance to feed the reindeer and try your luck at “Lappish Lassoing,” an essential herding skill for Sami herders. After your performance, you can unwind in a cozy Lappish hut for coffee and a small Sami snack (smoked reindeer, anyone?) before boarding the M/S Inari cruise that takes you on Lake Inari. There at the holy sacrificial site say a prayer to Ukku, the god of sky, weather and crops in Sami myth, for a break from eating reindeer.
The following day you’ll visit the Sevettijärvi village, home of the Skolts (an Orthodox group of Sami’s particular to the borderland). Here you’ll find the Skolt Sami Center, consisting of a typical Skolt house with an exhibition that retells the history and culture of the Skolts. Then prepare to trek all the way up to Kirkenes, Norway, where you can compare and contrast Sami culture in a whole different country. Wrapping up the tour, enjoy the last day in Lemmenjoki National Park, the biggest national park in Finland.
The package costs $2,980 per person, including airfare from JFK, round trip flights from Helsinki and Ivaro, hotels, and excursion fees.
www.bortonoverseas.com/scandinavia/index.php?strWebAction=package_detail&intPackageID=1091
800-843-0602