Visit to Arctic Land Adventure at Vasara Reindeer Ranch
In Kilpisjärvi, the Northerwesternmost village of Finland, you can find Arctic Land Adventure at Vasara Reindeer Ranch. It gives you an opportunity to enjoy your stay in a high quality Glass Igloo and experience what it feels like to live like a local. You get to know the Reindeer Ranch and learn about what a local reindeer herder’s life includes.
Visit Lapland team were warmly welcomed by Mia, who originally is from the South, but came to Kilpisjärvi over 15 years ago where she had a 6 months contract with a local hotel, but that got extended a little as you can tell. Her husband is Nils Matti Vasara – Niti , a 12th generation local Sámi Reindeer herder, which means that his family has been in the area for at least 500 or 600 years. Together they own the accommodation company with reindeer ranch and offer their guests to experience the true Sámi culture and heritage.
It was March 2021 when we visited this lovely place. Before we arrived in late afternoon, Mia, the lady of the house, warned us on the phone that once we took the turn off the main road to their place, to please be careful for their reindeers. As soon we turned and got closer, we were amazed by how many reindeers were in front of us and on both sides of the car. It was almost dinner time for them and even though they are free to go wherever they want to, around the late afternoon, they find themselves back to the yard of their Reindeer Ranch.
‘Enjoy your stay in a high quality Glass Igloo and experience what it feels like to live like a local’
Glass Igloos in Arctic Land Adventure
Mia guided us to their new accommodation: glass igloos. We enjoyed our stay at their 2 years old glass igloos in the middle of the reindeer ranch. In total they have now 4 private Igloos with a splendid view on Peerajärvi, the reindeer ranch and the surrounding fells. The snow on the glass roof can be melted with just one push on the button. The first thing I noticed when I walked in were the unique lights in the ceiling, covered by reindeer antlers. This is Mia’s own unique design, like everything else in the accommodation, that is what makes the difference between her and other igloo accommodations. And they work with Finnish materials or materials that were recycled. They have 2 km of pipe lines in the lake which provides their sustainable heating system. A lot of thoughts were put into the interior, for example: girl hygiene products. You can also make your own morning tea or coffee. Another nice item were the transportable and chargeable lights. Since they shut off all the lights after dinner to avoid light pollution, so you can take these out with you. It is also a perfect place to watch the magical Northern lights from the king size bed. But even if you are not lucky to see them, you can always enjoy the beautiful Arctic Sky!
Besides the Glass Igloos, they also have Kilpisjärven Tunturimajat Chalets, located 20 km from the Reindeer Ranch. It gives you a splendid view on the Saana fell, and you don’t even need a car since everything is so close and accessible. It includes a private sauna with bathroom, an open kitchen which is perfect for self-catering, a half-open loft with a high-ceiling living area combined with a wooden fireplace.
Breakfast and dinner is served in their traditional Kota, and is included in the total price. We had the luxury to enjoy both meals, and it was amazingly tasteful. They use ingredients from nearby, for example: fish, reindeer meat, berries, .. they focus on serving Finnish things. For dinner, we were treated with a typical reindeer stew, ending with a dessert. The breakfast was extensive to everyone’s wishes: self-made bread, numerous toppings, smoothie, hot beverages, Finnish porridge and many more.. The kota was beautiful with a fireplace in the middle. It was decorated with traditional Sámi interior, such as the reindeer antlers in the ceiling, but also with traditional clothing, and earmarks of the reindeers.
Besides accommodation, you can also enjoy their wooden sauna and a hot tub. And another fact is that they also offer equipment and gears off all sizes and for all ages! (included in the price), for example: ice fishing gear, canoes, bikes, snowshoes, SUP boards, kick-sledges. The company also offers snowmobile tours up to the mountains where the reindeers are located at that time.
Vasara Reindeer Ranch
After enjoying a delicious breakfast ourselves, it was time for the reindeer’s breakfast. And if you have a thousand reindeers, you can already imagine how much work this includes. But reindeer herder Nils- Matti is experienced. Behind his snowmobile, he hangs a 700 kg bag full of pellets which are like treats for the local animals. When the reindeers are more up in the mountains, Nils-Matti has to drive up there. We saw the whole pack together but this is not usual. But they were still close because they organised a reindeer round-up last week, a traditional event where large numbers of reindeers are gathered in fences and being separated to smaller groups, to their destination or owner.
This is the moment to recognise, count and document the reindeers. And the new ones get their earmarks. At the moment, they were still hanging around close but they don’t want to stay for long so they will go soon. Mia explained us that usually the boys are separated from the girls after mating season, because they are very tired since they don’t eat or sleep, they only make babies and fight with each other. They boys drop the antlers (can weight up to 10 kilos or more), the girls still have them because they are pregnant. But the girls can hurt the boys with the antlers so they separate. Around 10 of their reindeers have a name, but most of them don’t. The ones that are named were usually in a bad condition and they took care of the animal closely.
From November until February, they also sell the young boys, but the number of selling depends on how many they lost that year. Unfortunately, they lose reindeers, especially the young or weak ones to predators (wolverines, lynx). And also, because they are located close to the main road, trucks also hit and kill them.
It was an amazing experience to stay at this quiet place and to learn more about reindeers and the local reindeer Sápmi Reindeer herder lifestyle. Cause it is truly not just work, it is a lifestyle 24/7.
Thank to both of you for your enormous hospitality and to take us behind the scenes of your wonderful home.
In 2019, Arctic Land Adventure got rewarded of The Newcomer of the Year by Finnish Travel Gala.
And I am honestly not surprised with this. For me, the site is a perfect combination where nature, silence and luxury meet each other.
Or like Mia said: this is a soul place where you can just enjoy silence.
⇐ By Claudia Martens / Visit Lapland ⇒
