Slow Life – Autumn Living with the Indigenous Sámi People
By Samibooking AS
Available from: September - November
Price From
Next available date: 01 Sep 2026
Experience the peaceful rhythm of Sámi life during the Arctic autumn. A slow, immersive stay with a reindeer-herding family, shaped by nature, culture and silence.
Autumn in the Arctic is calm, colorful and deeply grounding. In the Stilla region of Finnmark, open valleys, rivers and glowing tundra create the perfect setting for a slow-life journey with the Sámi.
During your stay, you live alongside an Indigenous Sámi reindeer-herding family whose daily rhythm follows the herd and the season. Days unfold naturally: checking on the reindeer, preparing for winter, gathering firewood, walking the tundra and sharing meals and stories.
There is no rushed program or staged performance. Weather, daylight and reindeer movement shape each day. Evenings are spent by the fire or in the lavvu, with coffee, quiet conversation, storytelling or moments of silence beneath the Arctic sky.
With dark autumn nights and little light pollution, there is a strong chance of seeing the Northern Lights. This experience offers simplicity, presence and a deeper connection to Sámi life and Arctic nature.
- Live with a Sámi reindeer-herding family and experience their daily life and culture
- Enjoy mindful days in untouched tundra landscapes among autumn colors and reindeer
- Experience the peaceful silence and Northern Lights on clear Arctic autumn evenings
This is an off-grid, simple-living experience. Daily activities depend on weather, daylight and reindeer movement. No fixed schedules or staged activities.
- • Pick-up and drop-off from Alta or Hammerfest area
- • Transport to and from the Stilla region
- • 2–4 days with Sámi hosts from an active herding family
- • Traditional mountain cabin accommodation (+ optional lavvu night)
- • All meals and hot drinks
- • Cultural activities and daily-life participation
- • Extra warm clothing if needed
- You are eligible to receive a full refund of the booking amount if you cancel your reservation at least 7 Days before the scheduled start time.
Pick up Point
Mikkel aslak iver sara
About Reindeer Island Hammerfest
Reindeer Island Hammerfest was founded by Mihkkal Aslat Ivvar Sara, a Sámi reindeer herder from Hammerfest in Northern Norway.
Mihkkal grew up on the islands and mountains around Hammerfest, where his family has lived with reindeer for generations. These coastal areas are traditional Sámi summer pastures, shaped by reindeer herding, seasonal movement, and close ties between people, animals, land, and sea.
Reindeer herding has always been a central part of family life. Knowledge was passed down through everyday work on the land, following the reindeer through changing seasons, weather, and landscapes. Today, Reindeer Island Hammerfest continues this tradition by sharing real Sámi life through guided experiences, storytelling, and close encounters with reindeer.
Our activities are based on lived experience and family heritage — not staged performances. Everything guests learn comes from real life, real stories, and genuine Sámi knowledge passed down through generations.
Through tourism, Reindeer Island Hammerfest creates a way to keep reindeer on the land, preserve cultural knowledge, and pass traditions on to the next generation. Our experiences are built on respect for reindeer, nature, and Sámi culture, offering guests an honest and meaningful connection to life in the Arctic.