Karasjok

Karasjok is a town in Finnmark in Northern Norway. It is the capital of the Sami people in Norway, and home to the Sámediggi, the Sami parliament.

Understand

Landscape in Karasjok

Sámediggi, the Sámi parliament

Karasjok sits in the interior of the wide Finnmark county. The observation site there holds most of the record low temperatures in Norway, for instance the coldest ever recorded is -51,4°C. Even in the month of May -23°C has been recorded, and in August -9°C. Annual average is -2.4°C. Summer months are usually pleasantly warm however with a July average 13.4°C. There is very little precipitation, annual average is around 300 mm making it one of the driest areas in Europe.

• Tourist office, Ávjovárgeaidnu 1, ☏ +47 481-50-461, kjohkainfo@gmail.com. M–F 10:00–18:00, Sa–Su 10:00–14:00. (updated Jul 2017)

Get in

Karasjok is on Eseksen and road 92. The former takes you in from Narvik and Lakselv or from Tana, the latter from Enontekiö and Kautokeino or from Inari and Karigasniemi.

By plane

The nearest airport is at Lakselv

By bus

• Lakselv - takes about 1 hour. Connecting bus from Nordkapp, Hammerfest, Alta and Tromsø.
• Tana - takes about 3 hours. Connecting bus from Vadsø, Vardø and Kirkenes.
• Karigasniemi, Finland - takes about 20 minutes. Connecting bus from Inari, Ivalo, Saariselkä, Sodankylä and Rovaniemi. The route is operated by Eskelisen Lapinlinjat.

Get around

The town is small and possible to see by foot. For the surroundings some vehicle is needed unless you are a wilderness backpacker.

See

• The Sami parliament (Sámediggi), Ávjovárgeaidnu 50, ☏ +47 78-47-40-00, samediggi@samediggi.no. (updated Jun 2017)
• Sámi center for contemporary art (Sámi dáiddaguovddáš), Suomageaidnu 14, ☏ +47 90-24-40-62, post@samidaiddaguovddas.no. Tu–F 10:00–16:00, Sa–Su 11:00–16:00. (updated Jun 2017)

Do

View from a tent site while trekking

• Turgleder, ☏ +47 908 55 556, mail@turgleder.com. November–May. Cross-country skiing, from easy or demanding day trips to moderate week-long journeys in spring or extreme two-week adventures in February. Also courses on skiing and outdoor skills. (updated Jun 2017)
• Anarjohka Forest Lodge (Anárjohka utmarksturisme) (by the border river Anárjohka, 46 km from the centre 30 km from Karigasniemi), ☏ +47 957 32 424, +47 948 98 890, ogbalto@start.no. Lodging and programme services. 

Eat

Restaurant in the hotel, meals probably available also at some other lodgings.

Sleep

• Engholm's Husky Design Lodge, 9730 Karasjok, ☏ +47 91586625. This is an amazing place in the forests outside Karasjok. 
• Scandic Hotel Karasjok, Leavnnjageaidnu 49, ☏ +47 784 68 900, fax: +47 78468861. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 12:00. Hotel. Children welcome. Restaurant. Sauna. Breakfast included. Free Wi-Fi. Bicycles to borrow. Standard and family rooms with en suite, economy rooms with shared facilities. Pets welcome in some rooms. Some services unavailable off season. From 890 kr. 

Go next

• Kautokeino in the middle of the Finnmarksvidda plateau.

Routes through Karasjok

Narvik ← Lakselv ←

NW  NE

→ Tana → Kirkenes