Northern Light Safari with Snowshoes

As far up from the River Karasjoka as you can hear a dog barking is the Haldecohkka — the Halde top. From this holy mountain you enjoy a 360-degree view of the sky, making it a perfect place to experience the magical Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis).

"Everything and everyone has its own háldi. Every human, every animal, every forest and every lake. Everything has its háldi."

In the old Sámi religion and culture, people believed that the háldis lived under ground, often in certain mountains. If a mountain is called Halde, Háldi, Haldde or Halldo, it means that this is a holy place where háldis live.

How the evening goes

We start our northern light safari at Engholm Lodge, just outside Karasjok. You will be handed a pair of snowshoes, and with these simple aids the 1.5-kilometre hike to the Halde top will be easy. Up here there are no disturbing lights, and you can enjoy the full view either sitting on a reindeer skin by the warming fire or sitting alone in the darkness with a nice hot drink, just listening to Aurora.

During the approximately four hours we spend outdoors, your guide will tell you about the Northern Lights in Sámi and Norwegian culture, and also about the science behind this phenomenon.

… And who knows, maybe you will meet your own háldi out there.

Good to know

Remember: Aurora is a strange woman, and she does not always show up. For her to show herself there needs to be a clear sky, there must be the right kind of activity on the sun's surface, and we need to be there when she shows herself. Therefore we cannot guarantee that we will see her every time.