Northern Lights holiday, Finnish Lapland
How this holiday makes a difference
Environment
The hotel is dedicated to sourcing its menu ingredients locally and promoting this to their clients. Fish comes directly from Lake Inari which has sustained the local Inarisami population for centuries. Mushrooms and berries also feature highly on the menu and are picked locally. The reindeer meat comes from a family which has been herding their reindeer in the nearby mountains for generations. Their farm is located 14km from Inari. The meat is processed on the farm and delivered to the hotel.
The dogs and reindeer are reared in local farms or by local herders and we ensure that they are given the appropriate care and living conditions according to the standards set by government and agencies such as the Reindeer Herders' Association of Finland. All our guests are invited to find out more about the animals and to show respect when they are around them. Reindeer herding in particular is a nature friendly way to rear animals for meat and for tourism due to the fact that they roam on the landscapes and are not such a heavy drain on natural resources as modern agriculture.
Our activity provider in Inari ensures that all activities such as snow shoeing, skiing and husky dog sledding have minimum environmental impact. The use of motorised vehicles is kept to a minimum and when necessary a low fuel consuming snow mobile is used in the winter. Here we believe that snow mobiles offer a more efficient means of transport than sports utility vehicles, and they are very much a part of the local life in Inari.
Guides are trained in order to maintain biodiversity particularly around Lake Inari which has a fragile ecosystem. We also ensure that guests respect the islands of Lake Inari not only for their environmental significance but for their historical and cultural significance too. For example “Ukko” Island is an ancient sacrificial site of the Inari Sámi which means that visitors should respect this and keep to the allotted path.
Community
This holiday is embedded in the local community in the village of Inari. You’ll not only be supporting a family-run hotel but you’ll also learn about the local Sami people through visiting the museum and participating in local activities. We always offer our guests insight into the local culture and language which helps them to get to know the place and people whilst in the destination.
These initiatives help to support and protect the Sami heritage which has created long established traditions in the area. You’ll also find out about local crafts and products and have the opportunity to support local crafts people and find out more about their skills and history. The hotel and the guides are all based in the village and so our holidays support local employment.
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