INARI VILLAGE

Inari village is the centre for Finnish Sámi culture. Nestled amongst wild fells and lakes, there are plenty places of interest in its surroundings which are rich in local culture as well as natural beauty. Amongst these, the most well known are Siida, museum of Sámi Culture and Nature Centre, and the architecturally striking Sámi cultural centre and parliament house, Sajos. The Sámi church and artisan shops are also intriguing places to visit. In Inari, Sámi culture is respected and kept alive through education and in the media. It is possible to study all three Sámi languages spoken in Finland and learn traditional handcrafts at the Sámi Education Institute. In the village, the Finnish national broadcasting company (YLE) has a local station which produces news and programs in all three Sámi languages. Productions are broadcast via the radio, television and internet.

Inari village is the second largest within the municipality of Inari, with a population of approximately 500. The village itself is small, which is part of its charm. All services are within walking distance, including two grocery stores, a petrol station and the northernmost ATM in Finland. Nature trails and good fishing spots are just around the corner. The Forestry Commission’s Nature Heritage Services (Metsähallitus Luontopalvelut) sells fishing licenses and offers tourist information within Siida, the Sámi museum. Prescription-free medicines can be bought in the K-Market grocery store and the nearest health care centre is located 40 kilometers south in Ivalo.

SIIDA – SÁMI MUSEUM AND NATURE CENTRE

Siida offers up to date information as well as a multi-sensory learning experience for its visitors. During summer the indoor exhibitions are complemented by the outdoor museum. Culture, art and nature related exhibitions change with the seasons throughout the year. Siida is also a venue for culture and nature events, for example Camera Borealis,a nature photography event, and Skábmagovat – The Indigenous Peoples’ Film Festival, which takes place in an outdoor cinema carved out of ice and snow.

SAJOS – THE SÁMI CULTURAL CENTRE

Situated right by Juutua, the river of all rivers, is Sajos. Sajos is the Sámi cultural centre and is also where the Finnish Sámi parliament is based. It is an interesting meeting point for different cultures and also functions as a congress centre. Events held in Sajos vary from classical music to modern films.

LAKE INARI

The great Lake Inari stretches out in front of Inari village. Also known as the ‘Sámi sea’, it is possible to travel on the lake for days without seeing anyone else, making it a true haven for peace and tranquility seekers. The majority of the 3318 islands have no buildings or any other visible traces of mankind. However, with careful observation, you can discover nature’s own works of art and ‘seita’s, sacred places of unique natural beauty, where the Sámi people used to make offerings to the gods and spirits.

The Forestry Commission’s Nature Heritage Services has built open huts for overnight stays and maintains outdoor fireplaces on some islands. You can also find cottages to rent for longer periods. It is easy to get lost in the labyrinth of open water and islands so always be well prepared when moving around the lake. Keep in mind that weather changes quickly.

The lake is number one in Finland for trout fishing, with the catch weighing in at around 45 tons per year in recent times. It is also possible to catch salmon, arctic char, white fish, vendace and grayling, all of which form an important part of the local diet.

Lake Inari is third largest lake in Finland at 1 084m². The official deepest point is 92 meters which is located in the Vasikkaselkä open water area.

We offer boat trips and fishing tours by request. 

UKKO ISLAND

In the western parts of Lake Inari lies the ancient Sámi sacrificial site, Ukko Island. The island is one of the most notable and treasured ancient sites in Finland. It was dedicated to Ukko, the God of Thunder. In the olden days people made offerings to Ukko on the island, asking for favourable winds. Even nowadays people might flip a coin into the water wishing for the same. You can admire the island from a short distance during the summer onboard our cruise ship which departs daily or drive a snowmobile across the ice on one of our safaris during the winter.

THE WILDERNESS CHURCH OF LAKE PIELPA

The Wilderness Church of Lake Pielpa is located at the original site of Inari Village. Before Inari Village was founded in its current place at the mouth of River Juutua, it was a ‘siida’, the Sámi word for a winter settlement. The church, initially built along with the ‘siida’ in 1760, is one of the oldest buildings still standing in Northern Lapland. The graves in the churchyard were moved onto an island to prevent large predators from digging them up.

JUUTUA RIVER

River Juutua flows through Inari Village. The river is a paradise for fly-fishers, with trout spawning from the lake and graylings offering a challenge to even the most experienced of fishermen. Good fishing spots are easy to reach from the marked nature trail following the river. There are a couple of shelters and fireplaces along the river that are stocked with firewood and free for everyone to use. The river can be crossed via a new suspension bridge at Jäniskoski.

OTSAMO FELL

From the north side of the river rises Otsamo Fell. At 418m above sea level, it is located roughly eight kilometers from the village. There are marked trails leading to the top, where you can find shelter and take a rest in the day hut, which has it’s own stove and firewood. The fell top offers magnificent views over the surrounding wilderness.

TUULISPÄÄ FELL

Another great viewpoint is Tuulispää Fell. The fell is located about nine kilometers south from the village and is accessible by car. This fell is known for heavy winds blowing through its hillsides and was believed to be the residence of the god of wind. This mean that is was also an ancient sacrificial place where people came to appeal to the god. There is a 1.5km hiking trail from the car park to Tuuli lake, where there is a wooden shelter with a fireplace, firewood and dry toilets.

LEMMENJOKI NATIONAL PARK

Lemmenjoki village is located in the outskirts of Lemmenjoki National Park, 50 kilometers south-west of Inari Village. The National Park is the largest wilderness area in Finland and one of the largest in Europe.

During the summer, boat trips can be taken down the river valley and are the best way to visit Ravadasköngäs, a ten meter waterfall, rare in Finland, as well as take in the beauty of the surroundings. The Lemmenjoki area is also known for its gold rush history. The last rush was in the 1950s but hopeful gold prospectors can still be found sifting through sediment.

NORTHERN LIGHTS

There are several factors affecting our chances of seeing the northern lights. To begin with there needs to be auroral activity happening above us, which is caused by storms on the surface of the sun. Even if this activity is strong, we might not be able to see any northern lights if the skies are cloudy or there is thick fog. Auroras also happen during the daytime but we don’t see them against a lit sky. Therefore in order to have the best chance of seeing this mesmerizing natural phenomenon, the sky needs to be as clear and dark as possible, which can often mean temperatures considerably below freezing. It also helps to be away from the light pollution of cities and towns.

According to the Finnish Meteorological Institute, the northern lights blaze in the skies of Northern Lapland three nights out of four. The most likely times for seeing the auroras are the hours either side of midnight. Early Spring and early Autumn are statistically the best times of year to view the lights, partly due to lesser cloud coverage. March, statistically the least cloudy month, is highly recommended for aurora chasing.

Inari and the rest of Northern Lapland, being close to the magnetic north pole, sit within the auroral zone. Sparsely populated and hundreds of kilometers away from the bright lights of large cities, Inari and its surrounding areas have minimal light pollution. However, in spite of its remote location, the village is easy to get to with plenty of modern services and comfortable accommodation, making it a popular aurora hunting destination.

You can find out how the northern lights are formed in the following video: http://youtu.be/1MI3YDGgtN4

BOOK AURORA TOURS HERE!

MIDNIGHT SUN

In the summer time, people in Inari  get to experience the world famous Midnight sun. The Midnight sun is a natural phenomenon that occurs in the summer months in places north of the Arctic Circle or south of the Antarctic Circle.

During this period, the sun remains visible at the local midnight and even 24 hours for some time, giving plenty of time for late night sun-bathing, or just enjoying the experience of the magical midnight sun. The number of days per year with potential midnight sun increases the closer towards either pole one goes. 

A quarter of Finland’s territory lies north of the Arctic Circle, and at the country’s northernmost point Utsjoki, the sun does not set at all for 60 days during summer.

EIGHT SEASONS

POLAR NIGHT – NOV- JAN

For one and a half months during the polar night the sun does not rise above the horizon. The lightest time of day starts between 10 and 11am and lasts for three to four hours, resembling a cloudy day with a hint of blue. The colour of the sky deepens from blue to violet, and then dark night draws in. The auroras and the stars light up the cold frost, cracking ice and fresh snow. Polar night is a time for calm reflection but is also a surprising feast of subtle and enchanting colours.

THE DEEP FREEZE – JAN-FEB

Following the onset of polar night, snowfall stays on the ground, temperatures drop and everything is frozen: the temperature can stay at -30 degrees for several weeks at a time. However, the light part of day starts to lengthen at an accelerating speed.

EARLY SPRING – MAR-APR

The warmth of the sun and subzero night temperatures harden the snow, making its surface able to support more weight. The sun stirs people to life up after a long period of darkness. These are the best conditions for ice-fishing and skiing, with the sun’s warming rays gladly welcomed by all.

SPRING MELT – MAY

In May snow and icecover melts and reveals the wet ground. Migrating birds return to their northern nesting sites from the south and nature starts to gradually show signs of life. Reindeer calves are born and fly fishers take to the riverbanks. Days are almost eternal. The sun remains above the horizon from the end of May and so begins the nightless night.

MIDSUMMER – JUNE-JUL

Although the sun by now has already been staying up around the clock for almost a month, Lapland’s summer officially starts on midsummer’s day, which is 21st June. With the summer being short, we spend as much time outdoors as possible, absorbing and making the most of the 24hr sunshine, which needs to meet our needs for the whole year.

WILD AUTUMN HARVEST – AUG

Berries ripen and people head to the cloud berry swamps and bilberry forests. It is also time for picking wild mushrooms and going fishing. Whatever is harvested is preserved and stored for winter. The long light days of summer shorten and the evenings start to get dimmer.

THE FLAMING COLOURS OF AUTUMN – SEP

Nature puts on a spectacular technicolour show across the tundra before the onset of winter. The changing colours of the leaves set the landscape on fire. The hunting season begins and autumn hikers arrive, marvelling at the rich and varied tones of the arctic trees and shrubs. It is already possible to see the first auroras in the dark autumnal skies.

FIRST SNOWFALL – OCT

The first snowfall already takes place in October, but often melts away. Actual winter arrives in Inari at the end of November. Subzero temperatures freeze the water as well as the land and the days shorten significantly. We wait for the arrival of snow in anticipation, for the snow brings light to the darkness of the northern winter.