This day trip is a true bucket list experience. After all, you’ve traveled this far to reach us at Aurora Holidays in Northern Finland, why not experience the wonders of Northern Norway too!
Together with Visit Bugøynes we’ve put together an excursion to let you enjoy and explore the most memorable activities in Northern Norway and the Arctic Ocean.
- Sightseeing in Northern Norway
- King crab boat safari in the Arctic Ocean (spring to fall)
- Feast on King Crabs
- Explore the small fishing village of Bugøynes aka “Little Finland”
- Swim in the Arctic Ocean
All of the activities, transportation (departing from Aurora Holidays), King crab feast and a snack are included in this trip.
Read more on the specifics below.
BOOKINGS and inquiries via e-mail contact@auroraholidays.net or just give us a call +358 40 7625 005
Arctic Ocean and Norway bucket list experience with Aurora Holidays - Departing from Utsjoki
We leave Utsjoki (Aurora Holidays) in a minibus in the morning around 8:30am.
Our destination is the picturesque village of Bugøynes (Pykeija), also known as “Little Finland”, on the coast of the Arctic Ocean in Norway.
The stunning nature of the arctic coast will take one’s breath away, as we drive through some unique landscapes and on coastal routes. We also stop to take in and photograph the scenery on the way and to enjoy a snack break.
Some of the activities included live with the season and weather.
A feast of King Crab is included year round :
- You have the opportunity to go on a King crab boat safari out in the Arctic Ocean and catch your own meal. On the safari we learn about the local history and way of life, as well as King crab fishing. We collect and humanely kill our catch and on the return journey we stop by a known seal colony to share the less yummy parts (to us humans). Your freshly caught crab will then be prepared and served to you at the Bistro.
- In the case of unsafe weather preventing us from going out on the boat we’ll learn about the local history and way of life, on a sightseeing tour on land. And enjoy a King Crab feast at the Bistro afterwards.
Swimming in the Arctic Ocean is the ultimate bucket list item. This trip includes an opportunity to use a sauna besides a beautiful sandy beach and take a dip in the clear cool waters of the Arctic Ocean.
When your heart is full of Norwegian adventures, belly satisfied with a feast of king crabs and the cold plunge in the Arctic Ocean followed by a sauna has brought calm to your very core: We’ll drive you safely back to Utsjoki. Looking for northern lights along the way of course.
NOTE:
- This trip can also be a vegan, vegetarian or gluten-free friendly.
- We can also work around possible disabilities.
- This trip doesn’t require a certain fitness level but we do spend some time outdoors in the arctic conditions.
BRING:
- Warm weather proof clothing and extra layers.
- Hats and gloves.
- Weather resistant shoes or a dry pair to change into in case.
- A swim suit for the dip in the ocean. ( Towels and swimming footwear are provided)
- A warm suit and life jackets are provided for the boat safari.
Disclaimer: All activities are dependent on weather condition and availability. Aurora Holidays reserves the right to make modifications to this trip for health and safety reasons.
BOOKINGS and inquiries via e-mail contact@auroraholidays.net or just give us a call +358 40 7625 005
Info about Pykeija and why it is environmentally friendly to feast on King Crabs
Pykeija is a small fishing village on the shores of the Varangerfjorden. Many of its approximately 200 inhabitants have Finnish ancestry. They are descendants of Finnish farmers who fled the famine in Finland in the 19th century and settled then on the Arctic coast. In addition to Norwegian the villagers speak Kven language, which is an old dialect of the Finnish language.
Pykeija is also a hub for the red king crab fisheries. The red king crab is an invasive species. Its origins are in the Pacific Ocean. The Soviet Union planted the king crab in the Kola Bay for fishing in 1960. From there it has invaded the Arctic coast to the east and west. The king crab is a valuable catch and a true delicacy to eat, but it doesn’t belong in the Arctic nature, wreaking havoc on the seabed by eating everything on its way.
While freshly caught King crabs are probably the best crab you’ll ever eat, it’s also an environmentally friendly meal as it helps to remove this invasive species from these waters.
We also wanted to make sure the harvesting and butchering of the crabs was done as ethically and with minimal suffering caused for the animal. Though an invasive species in these waters, it is still a living being and doesn’t deserve to be treated with cruelty.
BOOKINGS and inquiries via e-mail contact@auroraholidays.net or just give us a call +358 40 7625 005
