Info
Here you can find useful tips, when you are dreaming of a holiday in real Lapland or when you want to know more about us and the natural wonders surrounding us.
Harriniva is a family-owned business, with five destinations located in northwestern Lapland, next to the most beautiful fells and untouched wilderness. Founded in 1973, Harriniva, with its solid experience, produces a memorable holiday that is sure to be told at home. We feel that our mission is to act as responsibly as possible in the field of tourism and to teach the same ways to all our guests.
It’s easy to come here! Come, for example, by flying to the nearest airport in Kittilä. We arrange field transfers on request. You can also reach Kittilä and Kolari by train, from where you can continue by bus to Muonio. With our own car, it is easy for you to come here by driving the roads number 21 or 79. With own car it is easy to visit Sweden and Norway.
All five locations in Harriniva family are located in unique environments that allow you to take apart on unforgettable activities such as river rafting and several-day long husky safaris. Our locations are also well suited for admiring the wonders of nature, such as the Northern Lights and the Midnight Sun. Hotel Harriniva, Hotel Jeris and Torassieppi are located just off the Ylläs-Pallas National Park. Muonio is known as the happiest town in the world and that might be affected by the fact that here you breathe the cleanest air in the world.
Sustainable Tourism
Harriniva Best In Wilderness responsible tourism background and facts.
Harriniva Hotels and Safaris operates in Muonio-Enontekiö area, in West Lapland, directly next to and partly also inside the Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park that has according to WHO studies the cleanest air in the world.
We at Harriniva see us to be privileged of the surrounding nature, of which we must all take really good care. We have been committed on being a pioneer in responsible tourism both in Finland and worldwide.
We are surrounded with clear blue lakes and rivers with endless fishing opportunities and drinking quality water. Lapland is called ‘Europe’s last wilderness’, there are approximately 1,8 persons /km2 and 2,5 reindeers /km2. Finnish Lapland is the world’s largest organic wild food picking area, with a whopping 9 million hectares of organic picking grounds. Here everyman’s rights give the permission to pick the organic mushrooms and berries freely.
The Lappish Culture heritage is important for us, the Pietikäinen family that owns the company in 3 generations descends directly from the Sami indigenous people, from the family of Vasara. Sami are the only indigenous people in Europe.
OUR RESPONSIBILITY ACTION PLAN
1. PRESERVE THE WILDERNESS
As we are fortunate enough to operate in one of the few unspoilt areas of the world, close to the great Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park and in the almost untouched reindeer herding areas, we consider it our obligation to raise awareness of our surroundings and natural resources. We do this in thousands of small ways but the main adaptions and contributions we have made are as below:
– Our three resorts Harriniva, Jeris and Torassieppi have been converted into using exclusively geothermal heating in 2015-16. This reduces the consumption of oil used for heating by 200, 000 litres every single year.
– We have chosen green electricity. This means that the electricity we use is 100% renewable.
– All of the waste from our onsite Arctic Sled-dog Centre is composted and together we are partnering with the Muonio Municipality in vital research towards a bioenergy project which studies the options of recycling this bio-waste into energy.
– We have Electric car charging points at two of our hotels and are researching the potential benefits to introducing them to all of our properties.
– We recycle and reduce waste in all of our hotels and wilderness cabins.
– No paper or plastic disposable dishes are ever used, on the safaris and outdoor dining we use washable cups and plates from Kupilka, which are 50% wood and 50% recycled plastic.
– We minimize towel changes in our accommodation which directly translates to less water consumption and pollution.
– We only use unleaded gasoline in our snowmobile safaris which has completely removed this heavy pollutant that does damage not only to the environment but also to the people who are exposed to it.- 95% of our snowmobiles now operate a 4-stroke engine which are quieter, faster and cleaner which offer smoke free riding to protect the environment.
– We work hard to raise awareness of changes to the environment with our guests and how their actions at home can directly impact on locations such as ours.
– Our activity programme all operate with environmental consideration, for example our safaris only follow marked trails to protect the flora and fauna elsewhere. consider natural awarness as our obligation when operating in one of the few unspoilt areas of the world, close to great Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park and in the reindeer herding areas.
2. SELL GLOBAL, ACT LOCAL
Harriniva Hotels & Safaris is an internationally recognized operator, 95% of our guests come from outside Finland, in 2015 we had guests from 45 different countries. We are a significant employer in this remote region both directly and indirectly and we work hard to invest as much as possible into other local businesses. We do this through the following ways:
– We have a strong cooperation with local partners, smaller entrepreneurs and national park.
– Promote locally and organically produced food (Torassieppi restaurant serves only local and organic food).
– We contribute to a charity directed to support local youth and children.
– We attend and support demonstrations and lobby the government against large scale forest cuttings in Muonio.
3. PROMOTE TRADITIONS AND WELFARE
As a family company who have been fortunate to live in Muonio region for many generations, our aim is to show our guests the real Lappish lifestyle. All services are kept close to our nature, respecting the Lappish traditions, Sami culture and animal welfare. These are the values we keep in mind when designing the best visitor experience possible.
– Preserve the Lappish traditions by respectful planning of programmes and services.
– Raise the environmental and cultural awareness for our guests. These include reindeer herding, Lappish and Sami culture heritage which we present in our programmes in a genuine and authentic way.
– Promote animal welfare in our husky, reindeer and horse safaris and maintain excellent living conditions for our animals to keep them happy and healthy. We are founding members of the Animal welfare in tourism service which is a project which cooperates with the University of Lapland.
– We keep our family values in the heart of all our operations.
Northern Lights
All about Northern Lights – learn more about amazing Auroras!
You might have heard that Northern Lights start from the sun and collide in the atmosphere giving the light phenomena when returning from excited state to zero state and so on with the scientific stuff.
Its nice to know where it comes and what happens. But that doesn’t take you far. If you actually want to see them, read on.
What you need to know is where, when and how you can see them.
WHERE TO SEE
Muonio is situated straight under the aurora oval which circulates the magnetic poles. We are approx 69 deg Northern latitude. This means that we have auroral activity every second night without any special events in the sun.
The more south you go, the more activity you need to see the auroras. So make sure that your holiday is enough up north to maximize your chances of seeing the auroras.
Locally thinking its good to have a clear view to the north skies and minimal light pollution in the surrounding area. Rule of thumb is that if you can see the stars you can see the auroras too. Check beforehand which way is north. It would be good to have a small open area, river or lake pointing towards north. This way you can see low in the horizon.
WHEN TO SEE
Timewise auroras tend to show up between 8-12 pm. During bigger aurora storms the time window can stretch up 4pm-07am. When auroras show up they stay in the sky at least for 10-30mins. They tend to pulsate making small shows with brighter colours and speed. Then they calm down to a single arc in the north sky. In order to spot the most beautiful shows you should be prepared! Once you know that the auroras are starting, dress warmly and stay outside for a bit longer. When the climax arrives, you dont want to miss it whilst getting dressed in your room!
HOW ABOUT THE WEATHER
Weather-wise Lapland is quite stable, the current weather changes slowly. Whereas in the coastal regions weather can change quite fast. This means that here in inlands cloudiness forecasting is easier and more reliable. Lucky for us local weather areas tend to split when going north. If it’s cloudy in Muonio there’s a good chance that clear skies are 1h drive away. Statistically November is the cloudiest month of the year.
Besides that the optimal time is between September and mid April. There is a small increase in activity during equinoxes. So around 21th march & 23th September your chances are 15% better.
TEMPERATURES
Old Finnish belief says that auroras come when it’s really cold. Luckily we can see them always when the sky is clear. In the mid winter we can have freezing temperatures down to -30 degrees. A nasty side effect is that lowlands close to habitat tends to fog up blocking the visibility a bit. This are the temperatures you want to get higher up!
We organize snowmobile tours to nearby mountains or fells as we call them. Trips take you above the treeline and also above foggy areas. Temperatures also tend to rise by approx. 10 degrees when climbing up (inversion phenomena). Treeless mountain tops offer a once in a lifetime view of the night skies.
Thick snow covered trees with clear landscapes stretching 100km on each direction.
Midnight Sun
Welcome to enjoy Lapland’s Midnight Sun, time when you shouldn’t go to bed at all.
The midnight sun, which is also known as the nightless night, begins in Muonio on 26th of May and ends on 18th of July. During this time the sun does not set completely, so you can enjoy the sun all day until July 18th.
At nightless nights, the time on the clock may surprise you and the best thing is that you don’t have to worry about it. Light is enough to enjoy nature, even in the middle of the night. If you want to get the most out of the midnight sun, we recommend taking part in our Midnight Sun horse safari or staying in the Tentsile Tree Tent or in the Aurora Dome luxury tent where you can enjoy the magical nightless night on your own bed.
Clouds are the only obstacle for enjoying this northern wonder and what is finer than go and admire the sun in the middle of the night to the top of the fell, to the river bank or to the lake shore.
You should not sleep during these nights, you can do it later in the autumn!
How to get here
WHETHER YOU WANT TO COME BY PLANE, TRAIN, BUS OR YOUR OWN CAR,
IT IS ALWAYS EASY FOR YOU TO TRAVEL TO HARRINIVA
WHEN YOU WANT TO TRAVEL WITH PLANE
We recommend Kittilä airport. From the airport you can continue your journey in several ways to our destinations. You can book a taxi through us, rent a car directly from the airport, or use daily buses. When searching for suitable flights, we recommend searching those from at least the following airlines:
BY BUS YOU CAN TRAVEL ALL THE WAY
With OnniBussi’s extensive routes you get to Muonio from anywhere in Finland. You can also use Matkahuolto’s buss connections.
WHEN YOU WANT TRAVEL WITH TRAIN
You can take a train to Kolari, which is 75 km from Muonio. The rest of the trip goes quickly with a rental car, or with taxi that you can book from us. You can also take your car on the train and continue you journey with your own car.
ROADTRIP WITH YOUR CAR
Is a great way to see Finland and make it possible to get around to experience and visit our different locations. Remember to check your car’s condition before leaving for the road trip north.
