A Young Village with Centuries of Northern History
Kilpisjärvi may have fewer than 150 permanent residents, but its location has connected people, cultures, and countries for centuries.
On this private tour, you discover how a small settlement grew in this remote corner of Finland and what it is like to live here today.
Explore Kilpisjärvi with a Local Guide
We explore different parts of the village using kicksleds and a snowmobile passenger sledge driven by your guide. Along the way, we stop several times to look at the surrounding landscapes, take photographs, and talk about the places you see.
Mount Saana, Lake Kilpisjärvi, the road to Norway, and the nearby borders of three countries have all shaped the village and the lives of its residents.
A Young Village on an Ancient Northern Route
The permanent village of Kilpisjärvi was established in 1916, but people had traveled through the area long before that.
A centuries-old trade route connected the inland regions of Finland with Skibotn on the coast of Northern Norway. The same route was also used by people migrating from Finland to the Norwegian coast.
The First and Second World Wars left their mark on this border region and influenced the development of the settlement. Your guide explains how trade, migration, war, roads, and changing livelihoods gradually shaped Kilpisjärvi into the village we know today.
Everyday Life in a Remote Finnish Village
How do people manage when the nearest health center and many other services are far away? Where do the children go to school, what kinds of homes do people live in, and how do local residents earn their living?
We talk about education, healthcare, housing, work, transportation, and the long distances that are part of everyday life here. You will also hear about Finnish customs and how the daily choices of people living in a remote northern village can differ from those of people living in Finnish towns and cities.
The tour is informal, with plenty of time for questions and conversation.
A Finnish-Style Outdoor Picnic
During the tour, we stop for a Finnish-style picnic and hot beverages around an open fire. Over the meal, we can focus more closely on the subjects that interest you, whether they are local history, Finnish food and society, everyday life, or the challenges and rewards of living in the Arctic.
Tour Details
Starting time: 11:30 AM (11h30)
Total duration: 3 ½ hours / 10 km (6 miles)
Group size: 1–6 guests
Tour type: Private tour for your own party
The 3½-hour total duration includes dressing, safety briefing, transportation by snowmobile sledge and the outdoor experience.
The price includes:
Private guide
Transportation in a passenger sledge pulled by the guide's snowmobile
A 15–30-minute kicksledding session, depending on guests’ preferences
Protective clothing: snowsuits and warm overcoats, winter boots and socks, mittens, balaclavas, and safety helmets
A traditional Finnish-style outdoor picnic around an open fire: grilled sausage, sandwich, homemade pastry, and hot non-alcoholic beverages
Value-added tax (VAT)
