Things to do in Kautokeino

Kautokeino, or Guovdageaidnu, as it is called in Northern Sami, is located to the west of the Finnmark plateau, approximately halfway between Alta in the north, Karasjok in the east and the Finnish border in the south. 

Whether you want to explore the northern Norwegian nature, find tranquillity on the plateau or experience Sami culture and tradition, Kautokeino is the place. There are also excellent opportunities to see the Northern Lights, go bird watching or try your luck at fishing – or you can ride in a reindeer sled, test your skills on an ATV or join a snowmobile trip. 

Just remember to dress properly! Kautokeino’s seasons are varied and even though summer can be nice and warm, King Winter tends to offer many cold degrees – in fact, the temperature has crept to below 50 degrees here.

Juhls Silver Gallery 

Finnmark’s first silver smithy – and perhaps Kautokeino’s biggest must-visit! Juhls silver smithy has been on the cutting edge since 1959 and in the workshop/gallery you can get an insight into the Juhls family's unique universe, where everything from traditional dress silver to modern jewellery art inspired by nature and the surrounding environment is produced. Entrance and guided tours are free and in the gallery there’s also a sales outlet if you’d like to buy a northern Norwegian piece of jewellery piece to take home. 

Kautokeino Bygdetun

At the Kautokeino municipal museum, located on the banks of the river Kautokeino in the city centre, you can get an insight into what Kautokeino was like in the old days. The museum, which is part of the RiddoDuottarMuseat foundation, houses exhibitions of local Sami art and traditional tools and an outdoor open-air museum with buildings and models of peat moss covered tents, reindeer husbandry and settlements as locals lived about 100 years ago. 

Sami Easter Festival 

If you love hustle and bustle – and want to learn more about Sami music, art and culture – head to the annual Easter Festival. The event includes the World Cup in lasso-throwing, ice cinema, theatre performances, markets, exhibitions and the world.

Snowmobile tour with lasso throwing 

Are you tempted to zoom across the vast expanses on a snowmobile, where you get close to the raw northern Norwegian nature? Or maybe you’ve always dreamed of honing your lasso-throwing skills? Together with Hætta’s opplevelser you can experience both! The tour starts from the hotel, lasts about four hours and is normally held from January to May. You can borrow warm clothes and during the tour you stop at a lavvo (Sami tent) for some traditional entertainment and a refill of food and drink. And of course there is a prize for the winner of the lasso competition!  

Full speed with reindeer and sleigh 

Want to challenge your extended family, group of friends or colleagues to a competition? In the Sokki Adventure reindeer camp you can enjoy lasso-throwing and riding with reindeer and sleighs or skis. For those who want to, the Sokki family also arranges a competition, where you can challenge each other in different Sami skills. After action-packed activities, your body may need a little refill? Then head into the lavvo (Sami tent), where traditional Sami food is served and entertainment is provided. 

ATV safari across the Finnmarkvidda plateau

Join Hættas opplevelser on an eventful ride on a quad bike from Kautokeino city centre to the lavvo in Naibešjávri. The tour starts with instruction and distribution of safety equipment, before an approximately mile long journey across the plateau awaits. Once in the lavvo, traditional Sami food will be served along with storytelling and joik (traditional form of song) and if you want, you can try your luck at fishing for char or trout. Or maybe you’d like to challenge someone in lasso-throwing? If there are ripe cloudberries, a taste of the plateau's gold also awaits! The tour normally takes place from June to September. Guaranteed a fast-paced and exciting experience for all ages!

Chasing the Northern Lights 

The Finnmark plateau’s clear and dry winter climate provides a good chance to see the mythical Northern Lights dancing across the sky – and place a spectacular veil of light across Kautokeino. Together with Hættas opplevelser, you can join the Northern Lights safari on a snowmobile, where two and two ride together across the plateau with a lookout for the magical lights. You can borrow warm clothes and hot coffee and cake will be served during the trip. The season normally runs from December to May – and it can almost be guaranteed to be a magical experience.  

Try your luck at (ice) fishing

With ice fishing, you try both your luck at fishing and your patience – but it’s a fun experience for sure! In Kautokeino, the chances are great for fish as there are around 10,000 fishing lakes here. Hættas opplevelser arrange fishing trips between December and May to Suohapatjavri, one of the area’s best fishing lakes, where there is a bonfire with cake and coffee and an ice fishing competition with a prize for the winner. 

Go on an excursion with a local guide

Whether you’re looking for Finnmarksvidda plateau’s best fishing lakes or hunting grounds, or want to know where to find the plateau's gold – the cloudberries – take the guesswork out of it by joining a local guide on a tour. Hættas opplevelser tailor experiences to your wishes, from day trips to overnight trips in a peat moss covered tent. The best time for fishing is in the summer, while the hunting season is from September to October. And if you come for the cloudberries, it’s late summer that counts. 

Riverboat safari

If you’re dreaming of catching big fish, you’ve come to the right place! With around 10,000 fishing lakes and rivers, Kautokeino is a fisherman’s wet dream. Together with Hættas opplevelser, you can go fishing for trout, char and pike, or join a riverboat safari, travelling up the Kautokeino river with opportunities for fishing along the way. Hættas opplevelser also have their own fishing camp, with the opportunity of cooking or taking a breather in a traditional peat moss covered tent. The season runs from June to September.

Snowmobile tour with lasso throwing 

Are you tempted to zoom across the vast expanses on a snowmobile, where you get close to the raw northern Norwegian nature? Or maybe you’ve always dreamed of honing your lasso-throwing skills? On this trip with Hættas opplevelser you can experience both! The tour starts from the hotel, lasts about four hours and is normally held from January to May. You can borrow warm clothes and during the tour you stop at a lavvo (Sami tent) for some traditional entertainment and a refill of food and drink. And of course there is a prize for the winner of the lasso competition!  

Full speed with reindeer and sleigh 

Want to challenge your extended family, group of friends or colleagues to a competition? In the Sokki Adventure reindeer camp you can enjoy lasso-throwing and riding with reindeer and sleighs or skis. For those who want to, the Sokki family also arranges a competition, where you can challenge each other in different Sami skills. After action-packed activities, your body may need a little refill? Then head into the lavvo (Sami tent), where traditional Sami food is served and entertainment is provided. 

ATV safari across the Finnmarkvidda plateau

Join Hættas opplevelser on an eventful ride on a quad bike from Kautokeino city centre to the lavvo in Naibešjávri. The tour starts with instruction and distribution of safety equipment, before an approximately mile long journey across the plateau awaits. Once in the lavvo, traditional Sami food will be served along with storytelling and joik (traditional form of song) and if you want, you can try your luck at fishing for char or trout. Or maybe you’d like to challenge someone in lasso-throwing? If there are ripe cloudberries, a taste of the plateau's gold also awaits! The tour normally takes place from June to September. Guaranteed a fast-paced and exciting experience for both young and old! 

Chasing the Northern Lights 

The Finnmarksvidda plateau’s clear and dry winter climate gives you a good chance of seeing the mysterious Northern Lights dancing across the sky – and placing a spectacular veil of light over Kautokeino. Together with Hættas opplevelser you can join the Northern Lights safari on a snowmobile, where two and two ride together across the plateau with a lookout for the magical lights. You can borrow warm clothes and hot coffee and cake will be served during the trip. The season normally runs from December to May – and it can almost be guaranteed to be a magical experience.  

Try your luck at (ice) fishing

With ice fishing, you try both your luck at fishing and your patience – but it’s a fun experience for sure! In Kautokeino, the chances are great for fish as there are around 10,000 fishing lakes here. Hættas opplevelser arrange fishing trips between December and May to Suohapatjavri, one of the area’s best fishing lakes, where there is a bonfire with cake and coffee and an ice fishing competition with a prize for the winner. 

Go on an excursion with a local guide

Whether you’re looking for Finnmarksvidda plateau’s best fishing lakes or hunting grounds, or want to know where to find the plateau's gold – the cloudberries – take the guesswork out of it by joining a local guide on a tour. Hættas opplevelser tailor experiences to your wishes, from day trips to overnight trips in a peat moss covered tent. The best time for fishing is in the summer, while the hunting season is from September to October. And if you come for the cloudberries, it’s late summer that counts. 

Riverboat safari

If you’re dreaming of catching big fish, you’ve come to the right place! With around 10,000 fishing lakes and rivers, Kautokeino is a fisherman’s wet dream. Together with Hættas opplevelser you can go fishing for trout, char and pike, or join a riverboat safari, travelling up the Kautokeino river with opportunities for fishing along the way. Hættas opplevelser also have their own fishing camp, with the opportunity of cooking or taking a breather in a traditional peat moss covered tent. The season runs from June to September.