Vägvisaren - Pathfinder Lapland
The company "Vägvisaren - Pathfinder Lapland" is owned by Lennart Pittja. He started the business as a small family company in 1995. "We work close with nature and are proud of our origin and our history. We wish to spread knowledge about Sami culture, but also how to enjoy being close to animals and nature. For reasons of sustainability and "Natures Best" we always find new trails, a way of not leaving marks behind us".
Vägvisaren - Pathfinder Lapland’s products are certified as "Natures Best" by the Swedish Eco-tourism Society, one of the first systems in the world for Eco-tourism certification.
Preserving old knowledge and traditions are important to us, as well as making your visit a genuine experience. Joy of discovery, close to nature and safety are our guidelines to ensure you an experience you always will remember.
"We walk in my forefathers footprints, without leaving traces behind us"Lennart Pittja, Pathfinder
Every spring the reindeer herds migrate from the woodlands, where they have been during the winter, up to the mountains. A migration, more then 200 km ; they have been doing for thousands of years in an area that today is Laponia World Heritage. We invite you to an unique experience, to follow the herd for almost a week and to help the herders in their work.
For thousands of years the nomadic Sami people have been walking here, moving between campsites and using reindeers to carry the packing. This way of migration stopped around mid 20th century, when Sami people became more settled.
Since 1999, Vägvisaren -Pathfinder Lapland has reintroduced a tour that continues that tradition, and you can take part in a unique trek together with us !
Trekking with us means that you only carry your personal things as clothes, sleeping bag and sleeping pad. The reindeers will carry all food and camp equipment.
The Laponia area is still remarkably unspoiled, even though people have lived here from time immemorial. Only light feet have trodden here, side by side with the animals. The flora is surprisingly rich considering the geographical location far above the Arctic Circle. Many different wildlife species lives here, such as bear, wolverine, lynx and elk, not to mention a diverse array of birds.
Food is a important part of your experience. We put a lot of effort into serving tasty and nutritious meals. As long as it’s possible we use fresh provisions, mostly locally and ecologically produced. We try to reflect Sami traditional dishes, using reindeer meat and fish for most meals.
Our guests are supposed to be active and participate in daily activities such as setting up camp, prepare food and look after the reindeers. Not that you need to, but we know that participating in everyday activities makes the trip more valuable and to lead a reindeer is something you won’t experience every day.
Contact
Pathfinderlapland
Box 148, Repisvare
SE-982 21 Gällivare, Sweden
Tel +46 (0)70 688 15 77
Skype : lennart.pittja
Email : info@pathfinderlapland.se
Internet : www.pathfinderlapland.se
Recommended tour
This is a selection of our products. For questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us ››
Spring time migration with the reindeers
We will meet you in Gällivare, where we start with a lesson about reindeer herding in past time and today. We will also give you a detailed briefing about what is going to happen during your week. As we know that the best way of experience is to participate, you are supposed to help us with herding and camp-life.
The work will be to safe and calm bring the reindeers gathered to the mountains in the west. We will use snowmobiles and skies, so be prepared for both. A days distances will be between 5 - 15 kilometres. The daily work will, except from moving the herd, consist of building camps and corrals, feeding and guarding the herd and some transportation with food and material. Are there any predators around ? In the area there are both Wolverine and Lynx.
You will learn what reindeers eat and where they can find food. And being this close to the animals will give you an unique knowledge about the relation between us, the reindeers and nature.
There will be a lot of storytelling around the campfire - an excellent way to learn more about the saami way of life. We want to welcome you to a truly unique and once in a lifetime experience together with your saami Pathfinder and the herdsmen from Unna Cerus Saami Community. Not to mention all the reindeer your will get to know and learn to care for...