When you travel to Karasjok, you get to experience Sami culture up close. Take part in a dog sled run or help herd reindeer, along with other traditional activities. You can also enjoy a wide range of activities, all of which have outdoor life and unspoilt nature at their heart.
Karasjok is the Sami capital with around 3,000 inhabitants, and you will find many important Sami institutions in media, politics and culture here. Here, the Sami language and Norwegian have equal status. The main industries are herding and agriculture as well as fishing and hunting. The place is named after the river Kárášjohka, which runs through the municipality.
Take a trip to Boble Glasshytte to see glass blowing in the shop and the colourful art inspired by Sami culture. Tour company Turgleder can take you on some fantastic trips across unspoilt nature on the Finnmarksvidda. If you want to learn more about Sami history, a trip to the Sami Collections is a must. Visit Sametinget, which is shaped like an igloo, or the Sami culture park: Sapmi Park.
If you are not used to the mountains, it is worthwhile having a guide with you so that you can hike safely. Remember to wrap up warm. This is the place where Norway's coldest ever temperature was recorded: minus 51.4 degrees.
When visiting Karasjok, you can take a domestic flight from Oslo (summer only) to Lakselv Airport, an hour away by car, or to Alta Airport, which is 2 and a half hours away by car and has more regular domestic flights. Not many bus routes take you here, so if you want to take a bus, plan carefully. Otherwise the state of the roads is good, but be aware that starting the car in winter can be hard due to the extreme temperatures.
Visiting Karasjok just for the weekend is difficult as it is located so far north, which means a long journey for most people. But a visit to Karasjok is a must when part of a longer trip to North Norway.
