The culture in Lapland and interaction with people is slightly different than it is in the southern parts of Scandinavian countries. The far north is a scarcely populated region where earning a living has always been very different than it is in cities. Welfare state’s services can be far away in towns. Many roads in Lapland have been built during the last 50 years which has only recently brought an increasing number of travelers to the region.
Most Laplanders don’t make small talk or even greet others, especially strangers. Interaction with unfamiliar faces can be meager, to say the least. Yet, people mean well, that’s just the way they are used to behaving.
Customer service experiences in the far north can be very different than you may be used to in other parts of the world. Don't be offended if customer service personnel at a restaurant, shop, or hotel completely ignore you. It may appear like you don’t exist for him or her. If it looks like the representative is doing something, she will finish her task first - even if it takes a few minutes, and after that she will be more than happy to help you.
Many travelers who have traveled to Lapland from southern Scandinavia have noticed that the further north they reach, the higher prices have risen. Finns have a term for the phenomenon: Lapin lisä (Lapland extra). The prices really are higher in the north, and you may have to pay for things you don’t have to pay in other parts of the country at all, like water at a petrol station. The common explanation for high prices is long distances and small markets.
English and German are widely spoken in Lapland. Swedish is understood in all Scandinavian countries. Each country in the Lapland region has its own language: Swedish, Norwegian or Finnish. In addition, Sami people have their own languages that are spoken approximately by 60 000 people. Sami language can be spotted on road signs and in towns that are bilingual. For instance, Finnish and three Sami languages are official in Inari.
On the road, you can get a feel for Sami language and culture by listening to NRK Sami (in Norway), SR Sapmi (in Sweden) or Yle Sami (in Finland) radio channels. The radio channels often play traditional and modern Sami music as well. In your hotel room or motorhome, tune to a TV channel (a NRK channel in Norway, SVT channel in Sweden, or Yle channel in Finland) that broadcasts a show titled Oddasat for Sami news.
There is plenty of wildlife in Lapland, but you won’t find any ice bears – they live further north. Bears and wolves do live in Lapland, but they avoid people and are next to impossible to spot in the wild. In practice, the best way to see big predators is to set out on a dedicated photography safari for a night. Reindeer, however, are easy to find, because they come and meet you on the roads. If you see a reindeer anywhere near the road, slow down, because there are more somewhere near. Elk like to stay in forested areas, but they may cross a road every now and then.
Every reindeer belongs to a Sami family. Even though the animals roam in the wilderness as they wish, each one is marked and owned by a husbandry. All reindeer accidents must be reported to the police who informs the owner. Dogs must be leashed at all times in regions where reindeer are roaming.
In summer, the constant buzz of mosquitos may drive reindeer to seek relief from open roads, but mosquitos are after human blood as well. Mosquitos in Lapland vary from small to very tiny in size. They are not poisonous but cause irritation and sometimes swelling. There are places where mosquitos don't exist at all, and places that are absolutely swarming with them. It is difficult to know in advance what is ahead, but wet areas and marshlands are likely to have mosquitos. Wearing a hat, long-sleeved shirt and trousers, and applying mosquito repellent provides protection for hikers in the summer.
Nordkapp (North Cape) maybe the ultimate destination in many road travelers’ minds, but there are many more spectacular sceneries in Lapland (you will find them in this book). For outdoors activities, Nordkapp doesn’t have much to offer apart from viewing the mighty Arctic Ocean and the magnificent cliffs where Europe ends. The actual journey to Nordkapp can be much more exciting and spectacular than the end of the road itself.
Those who are touring Lapland by car or motorbike should pay attention to their food, water and petrol supplies every time they drive through a settlement - distances can be long, and the next opportunity to get food or petrol can be far away.
Everyman’s Rights in Scandinavia shouldn’t be confused with freedom to do anything at all. The core principle in Everyman’s Rights is to allow public access to all land, be it state-owned, municipal, or private land. With so much space and few people, public access lets anyone to use land owned by others, for instance, hiking, kayaking and picking wild berries. Even camping (with certain restrictions) is allowed. Fishing, hunting or driving a motor vehicle on lands owned by someone else requires one or more permits.
Scandinavian mobile networks are one of the most modern in the world with good coverage and data bandwidth, but in the far north the coverage can be spotty. Main roads, resorts and villages are well covered, but don’t expect a signal on a fell far away from the road. You can get a local prepaid SIM card with Internet access for 3G or 4G phone from a shop or kiosk.
Wi-Fi, wireless Internet access, is usually available at campsites, hotels, and restaurants.
Tourists who want good service, fine restaurants and top notch accommodation should head to a resort, like Saariselkä, Ylläs, Björkliden or Riksgränsen. The largest towns in Lapland - Bodö, Luleå, Rovaniemi, Tromsö – also have plenty of accommodation options, restaurants and outdoor activity services for all tastes.
In summer, there is enough light to easily hike or drive through the night if that’s what you want to do. Visitors may admire the midnight sun at instead of the Northern Lights (that are only visible in autumn, winter and spring when the nights are dark). In the winter, days are very short. Be aware of the time and the short daylight hours if you are skiing or moving in the wilderness.
Norwegian letters ‘æ’ and ‘ø’ are the same as in Sweden and Finland the letters ‘ä’ and ‘ö’, respectively. Letter ‘ä’ is pronounced in similar way as the vocal in the word ‘man’ or ‘sand’. Letter ‘ö’ is roughly the same as the vocal in ‘bird’. The letter ‘å’ is the same as double ‘o’.