Our guide will meet you at our Adventure store, where you will receive arctic clothing (thermal suits, gloves, and boots) so you can enjoy the night outside without being cold. Afterward, we drive up to our beautiful Gargia Mountain Lodge, our base for the activity. Here you will be served a traditional hot meal and get a presentation about the history of the mythical Aurora Borealis. Did you know that the old legend says that if you wave something white to her, she will come, and take you? Before we go out in the twilight, you will get a briefing on how to have fun and explore with snowshoes. If you wish to try them, you are also welcome to stay around the lodge and enjoy the beauty of the night from there. You will learn about the surroundings and the magic of Gargia Valley. The snowshoes will take you on a journey through snow-covered pines and birch trees, on both paths and completely untouched snow. Along the walk, we find openings in the forest and viewpoints where we might catch a glimpse of the aurora dancing above us. The polar night at our historical lodge accompanied by stories and fairytales from the local area about the Northern Lights provides a magical experience!   Welcome to an adventure in the polar night.

We would love to invite you to our homestead and join us for gáfestallan in our cozy lavvu (Sámi traditional tent) where we make a bonfire and brew the world’s best coffee, made over the bonfire. Gáfestallan is a traditional social happening, mainly for the Northern Sámi where we share stories about daily life and happenings while drinking coffee. While enjoying your bonfire coffee and having a taste of our self-produced dried reindeer meat, we will let you in on our way of living as Sámi people and reindeer herders and of course you will hear more about our Sámi traditions and customs in the Karasjok area (Arctic North of Norway). Your guide and host Sire Márjá is English-speaking and loves to share her knowledge and stories about her family’s way of living, their traditions, and customs as Sámi reindeer herders. She will also let you in on the meaning of their company name Áldu which is quite special and give you an insight into the women’s role (both modern and traditionally) in reindeer husbandry.

We start the day with a snowmobile trip through a beautiful landscape to our herd, a 10 minutes long ride. If there is little snow, then we will go with the 6 wheeler instead (or walk around 30 minutes). When we arrive, you can sit on a reindeer skin outside, and relax and enjoy the moment fully, and after a while you can join us around the bonfire, where we will tell you everything we know about reindeer calving. We will serve you broth and fresh coffee brewed traditionally on an open fire, and you will even get to taste dried reindeer meat. During this adventure you will also get the opportunity to feed the reindeer. By visiting us, you will get to see the reindeer herd close up, and if you are lucky, you might even see reindeer giving birth. You will learn alot about our traditions and our culture - and this sure is - a once in a lifetime experience. Miessemánnu is known for calving storms. There may be days of sleet and snow showers. This is good weather for the female reindeer to give birth, as they get to be in peace and quiet, when the eagle is not hunting. We have a cozy lavvo, where you can warm up in case of snow showers and enjoy hot buljong. We have warm suits you can borrow, so you don’t freeze when you are out enjoying the fantastic what nature and the reindeer has to offer.

We start the trip from the cruise harbor, with possible pickup at Canyon Hotell in the city center. On our 30 min drive up to our historical Gargia Lodge, you can enjoy wildlife and the arctic nature from the car. Here you will learn about Alta's rich history and when we start to reach the mountain lodge we will be ready to learn more about the lodge's 150 years history. Within this tranquil haven, allow yourself to be transported through the corridors of time. In the Lodge our guide will take you on a journey through time with our Gallery on the second floor, you will learn about our arctic traditions and taste a real Norwegian treat. Outside the lodge, our lavvo will be set up with reindeer skins and a warming fire, breath in and enjoy the arctic silence. After this adventure, you will be transported back to the cruise harbor, and possible to stop in the city center.