Kautokeino (Northern Sámi: Guovdageaidnu) is a town and municipality in Finnmark, northern Norway. It is situated on Finnmarksvidda, the inland plateau. The municipality has a 90 % Sámi majority.

Understand

The Kautokeino river flowing through the centre of Kautokeino

The municipality is a centre for Sámi culture and Sámi education, hosting the Sámi University College, the Nordic Sámi Institute and a Sámi theatre. The town has some 1,500 inhabitants, half of those of the 9,700 km² (3,700 sq mi) municipality. The name means "midways"; the distance is about equal to Alta, Karasjok, Karesuando and Nordreisa, all (close to) ancient important markets (as the reindeer run, not by road – there were no roads here).

Villages in the municipality include Mázi, Stornes (Hemmogieddi), Šuoššjávri, Økseidet (Ákšomuotki), Láhpoluoppall, Siebe, Áidejávri and Soahtefielbma.

Kautokeino is the coldest inhabited area in Norway in winter, due to the northern inland location, with −15 °C (5 °F) mean temperature in January and records of slightly below −50 °C (−58 °F). Dry air makes the temperatures in winter more bearable, but midwinter is still extreme. Weather in summer is cool to warm, with a mean of 12.4 °C (54.3 °F) in July and frost possible even in midsummer. Day temperatures in summer are mostly 10–25°C (up to 80°F).

There is midnight sun from late May to late July and polar night from the beginning of December to middle January. This is the driest part of Norway, with yearly precipitation 360–400 mm, which makes it a good place to watch Northern lights.

Easter is a time of much activity, with Sámi gathering before it is time for the reindeer to move towards calving grounds: church going, film and music festivals, reindeer races, snowmobile cross and many tourists.

The Finnmarksvidda is largely flat or rolling plains, with only modest fells but many lakes. The highest fell of the municipality is Mollejus at 974 m, the 10,000 lakes in the municipality have a total area of some 737 km². Three important rivers have their sources here: the Kautokeino river (which changes names to Altaelva downstream), Kárášjohka and Anárjohka, the latter two joining downstream to form Deatnu (Tana, Teno), the most important salmon river in Europe.

Although the majority speaks Northern Sámi, also Norwegian and English should be spoken by nearly everybody.

• Tourist information, ☏ +47 78-48-65-00, fax: +47 78-48-71-99, e-post@kautokeino.kommune.no. M–F 08:00–15:30. (updated Jun 2017)

Get in

Kautokeino is on E45, here coinciding with road 93 between Alta (130 km) on the coast and Hetta (80 km) in Enontekiö, Finland. Road 92 from Neiden near Kirkenes via Sevettijärvi and Kaamanen in Inari, Finland, and Karasjok, leads to road 93 some 40 km north of Kautokeino. Alta, Karasjok and Neiden are on E6, Hetta near E8, Kaamanen on E75. Driving from Alta or Karasjok takes about two hours.

There should be buses from Alta and Karasjok, in summer also from Rovaniemi via Hetta (possibly with transfer at Palojoensuu) and at least in summer from Inari with transfer in Karasjok or Alta.

The most relevant airports are in Alta, in Hetta and Ivalo, Finland, and in Kiruna, Sweden.

The nearest railhead is Kiruna, Sweden, some 250 km away. Coming via Luleå and Tornio may be more handy in some cases. The nearest railheads in Finland are Kolari and Rovaniemi.

Get around

Bus transport is sparse, so a car is useful. Taxi is the main option for many destinations outside of the town. There is also a network of snowmobile routes (look for "skuterláhtut"). The town itself is built along a few kilometres of the Kautokeino river.

Then of course, hiking and cross-country skiing may be what you are here for. There are few marked trails or ready-made skiing tracks, but lots of space to explore.

See

Costume exhibition at the Sámi theatre

The open-air museum

The church in Mázi

• 1 The former Sámi village (Kautokeino bygdetun), Boaronjárga 23, ☏ +47 78-46-99-50, rdm-kauto@rdm.no. 12.6–1.10 daily, 2.10–4.5 W–Th or by agreement. Sámi museum indoors and outdoor museum showing the old Kautokeino village. kr 50/€6.50, children 0–14 free. (updated Jun 2017)
• 2 Kautokeino church, ☏ +47 78-48-61-29 (the parish). Church from 1958 built in old style. The old church was burnt by the German in 1944. (updated Jun 2017)
• 3 Juhls Silvergallery, ☏ +47 78-48-43-30, post@juhls.no. Daily 09:00–18:00, July 09:00–20:00; closed 24.12–3.1. Astonishing large exhibition, mirroring the interests of the owners: Lapish and Nordic design and handicraft is mixed with oriental goods and interior design. The silver jewellery made here, nice as it is, occupies just a modest section. Nice view over Kautokeino. Café. Entry and guiding free. (updated Aug 2017)
• 4 Sámi National Theatre (Beaivváš Sámi Našunálateáhter), Bredbuktnesvn./Govdavuohppenjárga 50 A (The Culture House), ☏ +47 78-48-44-60, beaivvas@beaivvas.no. Professional theatre with Sami as stage language. Tours in all of Sápmi, and also tours for promoting Sámi culture internationally, are an important part of the mission. (updated Dec 2017)

Do

• Fishing. Fish in some of the thousand lakes. You need a fishing permit. Equipment, also boots etc., must be disinfected or thoroughly dried before use in new waters, because of the salmon plague. Check also other rules. (updated Jun 2017)
• Cross-country skiing. Few tracks but wonderful landscape. Have a guide unless you know what you are doing. (updated Jun 2017)
• Snowmobile safaris. The snowmobile was the invention that allowed Sámi to live in one place and still look after the reindeer. It is extensively used by locals. A snowmobile tour can be combined with learning about Sámi life, trying the Sámi lasso, visiting a lávvu and eating traditional Sámi food. (updated Jun 2017)
• Hiking and outdoor life
  • The European long distance trail E1 comes down from Nordkapp and continues along Nordkalottleden (800 km) towards Sicily. The first cabin, Čunovuohppi, is some 20 km by the trail from Kautokeino, going there by car and returning by the trail (or the other way round) is possible. If you want food or lodging at the cabin, you need to reserve it in advance. Also the Ráisjávri (Reisavann) cabin, one or two more days ahead, is sort of reachable by car. Demanding, not marked for winter use, and map and navigation skills are needed all year.
• Struve Geodetic Arc. Two points of the UNESCO World Heritage Site – among the more challenging points of the arc to visit – are in Kautokeino. Free. (updated Jun 2017)
  • 1 Luvdiidčohkka – On the summit of Luvdiidčohkka (also known as Lohdizhjokki or Lodiken) 638 m ASL. From the E45, there's a gravel road going north, which may be too rough for normal cars. From the closest point on that gravel road (there's a red cabin on the right-hand side of the road) there's a hike of about 3 km along a path to the summit.
  • 2 Muvravárri – From the town of Kautokeino, a smaller road goes east to the village of Ávži. From there, a path or rather gravel road marked as a snowmobile trail forks off the main road. Baelljasvárri is 585 m ASL, and there are again a few kilometers of hiking to get to the point.

Events

• Easter festival. Easter, programme all week. Festival with exhibitions, races, ice fishing, film and music festivals, concerts etc. The Easter has been an important time, the last chance to gather with friends before it is time to move the reindeer to the calving grounds. kr 0–400. (updated Jun 2017)
  • Sámi Grand Prix (Sámi Musihkkafestivála). Song and joik (traditional Sámi singing) competition, usually with artists from Norway, Sweden and Finland. The winner is sent to Liet-Lávlut, a music competition for European minority languages. (updated Jun 2017)

Buy

Although the town is quite small, you should be able to find most things you need. Local people will do most of their shopping here, as bigger towns are far away. Mind the shopping hours, though.

This is the place to buy Sámi handicraft. With a concentration of Sámi, many shops foremost serve locals or Sámi from the surroundings, so you will more easily avoid the kitsch sold in more touristy places (there are tourists here also, of course). Some shops are quite well hidden though, or scattered about.

• 1 Maritex Gávpi, Boaronjárga 13, ☏ +47 78-48-60-07, maritex@gavpi.com. M–F 10:00–16:30, Sa 10:00–14:00. Started as shop for Sámi handicraft material. Now also all kinds of finished products, such as toys, boots, knives, guksi, shawls, jewellery and gift items. (updated Jun 2017)

Silver is the traditional material for Sámi jewellery.

• 2 Kautokeino Sølvsmie, Boaronjarga 15, ☏ +47 78-48-63-11, Alex@kautokeinosolvsmie.no. M–F 9:00–16:00, Sa 10:00–14:00. Silver jewellery (updated Jun 2017)

Sleep

Čunovuohppi on the Nordkalottleden trail

• 1 Thon Hotel Kautokeino, Biedjovaggeluodda 2, ☏ +47 78-48-70-00, kautokeino@thonhotels.no. Proper hotel. from kr 900. (updated Jun 2017)
• 2 Arctic Motell Kautokeino Camping, Suomaluodda 16 (900 south from the bridge along road 93), ☏ +47 78-48-54-00, samicamp@me.com. Camping area; also rooms and cottages. cottages kr 500–950+;. (updated Jun 2017)
• 1 Buletjávri Camping Ground (some 2.5 km south-south-west from Kautokeino centre). Camping ground by Unna Buletjávrráš. Trailhead for Nordkalottleden. 
• 2 Madam Bongo's/Čunovuohppi fell hut, ☏ +47 48-10-60-03 (to be checked). Reachable by road from Kautokeino. 17 km from Buletjávri by the Nordkalottleden trail. Lodging and meals on advance request. (updated Jul 2017)
• 3 Reisavann cabin (Ráisjávri). Check-in: 17:00, check-out: 17:00. Statskog cabin, half of which for rent, the other half for Fjelltjenesten staff. Electricity, refrigerator, beds for 6 persons. Outhouse privy, water from the lake. Distance from road 3 km (not maintained in winter; 40 km from Kautokeino by car). Advance booking necessary. Check key arrangement. 550 kr/night. 
• Wild camping. Wild camping possible out of town for those so inclined, according to the right to access. (updated Jun 2017)

Connect

Postal code 9520 Kautokeino

Go next

• Karasjok. Neighbouring municipality, seat of the Sámi parliament, larger and on E6, and thus having more services. 
• Hetta. The Finnish neighbour, main village of Enontekiö. 
• Nordkalottleden (Nordkalottruta). Summer–autumn. An 800 km hiking trail along the fell landscape of Norway, Finland and Sweden, from Kautokeino or nearby trailheads to Sulitjelma in Norway or Kvikkjokk in Sweden, via Laponia. Free. (updated Jun 2017)
• European long distance path E1. The E1 leads from Nordkapp to Sicily via Kautokeino as part of the Long distance walking in Europe hiking trail network. Southward it coincides with Nordkalottleden on the first leg, to Kilpisjärvi. (updated Jul 2017)

Routes through Kautokeino

END ← Alta ←

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→ Pöyrisjärvi Wilderness Area → Gällivare