Sapmi Nature

This is arctic nature at its finest, 60 km north of the Arctic Circle, a place for those who want to immerse themselves in the Sami culture. Despite its remoteness, Lennart Pittja, who founded this unique camp, stresses this is not wilderness but a cultural landscape where people have lived for thousands of years. He goes on to say, “ Nature is our culture, and this place has been our home for generations.”

This is where the reindeer graze in the summer, where generations of Sami have lived for thousands of years yet have looked after their home with love and respect, taking only what they need from the land around them - totally sustainable. This is what Lennart wants to show us and teach us, something which we, as visitors, have perhaps forgotten.

Sapmi is the name for the land traditionally inhabited by the Sami, a land without borders. This beautiful and sparsely inhabited region spans 4 countries. Laponia, where the camp is located, is on the Swedish side above the Arctic Circle and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Here you will experience one of the best-preserved examples of nomadic areas in Northern Scandinavia where glaciers, mountains and plateaus afford some of the best summer hiking to be found.

This is a Sami glamping camp immersed in nature between the towns of Gallivare and Jokkmokk. Only up to 10 guests can be accommodated here at any one time, although the usual occupancy is between 2 and 6 people - exclusive, private and wholly immersive.

Accommodation

• Standard Lavvu or tepee has a wooden floor, double bed, stove, and cosy furnishings. There is a sauna (you'll be taught how to use the sauna to wash and clean - the experience is both relaxing and very therapeutic) and an incineration toilet within the camp. Fuel heaters and wood burning fire places warm your room.
• Deluxe Lavvus are set above a more substantial base with timber walls up to 2 metres high providing extra warmth. Drawing on Scandinavian design and Sami culture these Lavvus offer the comfort of a hotel room yet the charm of staying in a Lavvu. There are en suite incineration toilets and fuel heaters and wood burning fire places to warm your room.

Facilities

• Food is prepared and served in the communal dining room. Food depends on the season but is based on Sami cuisine where fish, reindeer and moose are supplemented by berries and herbs from the area. Most of the meat and fish comes from Lennart’s own family.

Activities

•  Sauna cabin overlooking the lake (Payable locally but included in the deluxe Lavvu price)

Note: Sunvil recommends the Deluxe Lavvu.

Standard Lavvu

Standard Lavvu or tepee has a wooden floor, double bed, stove, and cosy furnishings. There is a sauna (you'll be taught how to use the sauna to wash and clean - the experience is both relaxing and very therapeutic) and an incineration toilet within the camp. Fuel heaters and wood burning fire places warm your room.

Deluxe Lavvu

Deluxe Lavvus are set above a more substantial base with timber walls up to 2 metres high providing extra warmth. Drawing on Scandinavian design and Sami culture these Lavvus offer the comfort of a hotel room yet the charm of staying in a Lavvu. There are en suite incineration toilets and fuel heaters and wood burning fire places to warm your room.