At the edge of Norway, Finnmark Road trip on snow and Sami wisdom

Beyond the Arctic Circle, the county of Finnmark marks the end of Europe and the beginning of an almost unreal world, far removed from everything we know. A world where, in winter, a velvety light touches everything with infinite gentleness: the plains, forests, hills and glaciers. In the polar night, green veils undulate in the sky above the fjords. Northern lights. A paranormal setting. A sublime extraterrestrial manifestation that owes its beauty to its fleeting and elusive nature. On the desert plateaus, the Sami people, with their ancestral culture, are at one with the harsh elements and the raw, unspoilt landscapes that are covered in snow for several months of the year. Everything crunches, cracks and rustles poetically. Time seems to slow down with the snowflakes. Yet there is nothing hostile about Finnmark - except for the winter cold, which can be easily overcome by wrapping up warm. This trip offers the chance to experience it for a few days. Karasjok is the administrative capital of the Sami people and gives us access to the quintessence of life in the Far North. It is a ‘town’ that blends into its surroundings, a winding river, reindeer farms, hills planted with trees dressed in white. This is where the Sami Parliament is located and the starting point for many Nordic adventures on snowshoes, snowmobiles, skis, sleds, etc. Alta, the gateway and capital of Finnmark, is also very close to the wilderness of these isolated lands. Here, you live in direct contact with the forest and enjoy the pleasures of extreme climates: a moment suspended in the delicious warmth and woody scent of a sauna; a meal with Nordic flavours in the cosy setting of a wooden chalet, sheltered from the elements; a dreamy moment in front of the fireplace, gazing into the flames of a crackling fire. We also make a detour to Kautokeino, in the interior of the region, where the Sami traditions of yesterday and today are cultivated in the hollows of the meandering Altaelva river. The soundtrack is a deep silence, broken only by the occasional muffled sound of snow falling from a branch and the joyful barking of a husky puppy with bright eyes.

Your trip

The perfect companion for exploring Norwegian Lapland at leisure in the middle of winter, your 4x4 rental car seems capable of taking you to the ends of the earth - and isn't that, in a way, exactly what it does? Or how else to satisfy the irrepressible desire for freedom inspired by these wild landscapes? Other journeys are made by plane... and on skates. Your itinerary includes delightful walks and encounters: a special moment and lunch with a Sami reindeer herder in Karasjok; a dog sled ride and a snowmobile safari in the Alta area. Not to mention the meditative experience of the sauna, a Nordic remedy for all ailments after a day in the great outdoors. Your accommodation has been selected for its cosy feel, its proximity to nature and its warm atmosphere - and, of course, its saunas. On arrival, you will spend a comfortable night in a contemporary hotel in Alta city centre. In Karasjok, you will have exclusive use of a charming log cabin with rustic interiors that cultivate a charming ‘trapper's cabin’ spirit. Finally, during your second visit to the Alta area, you will stay in an intimate establishment with large windows opening onto the outside and, sometimes, onto the Northern Lights. The extremely refined cuisine serves wild fish, crab, grouse and hare accompanied by berries and birch sap, among other things. The hotel also breeds huskies. The real Lapland life. And if you feel like adding another walk, a dinner or a few days in the Lyngen Alps to this wonderful itinerary, our on-site Concierge is at your disposal throughout your trip.