About kirkenes tours
Kirkenes Tours is an independent tour operator based in Kirkenes. We offer authentic Arctic experiences year-round, in small groups of up to 7 guests. Our tours combine active outdoor experiences with the region’s Arctic nature, history, and borderland culture — from Russian border hikes and snowshoe tours to e-fatbike cycling, ski touring, and authentic sauna experiences. We also offer private and fully custom experiences tailored to individual guests or groups. Guiding is available in English and German, with other languages on request for private groups.
Many of our tours have morning departures timed around the Hurtigruten and Havila schedules, giving guests with limited time in Kirkenes the chance to see beyond the town.
Our goal is to share the wild, remote, and often overlooked beauty of the Kirkenes region — responsibly, and at a slower pace than most tourism allows.
Why we do what we do
Our goal is simple: to help you experience the Arctic the way we fell in love with it — at a slower pace, in small groups, with room to breathe and enjoy nature properly:
- We believe in authentic experiences, not mass tourism.
- We focus on small groups, where everyone feels safe, seen and included.
- We value local life and real stories — the kind you don’t find in guidebooks.
- We love the Arctic for its quiet beauty, and we guide in a way that respects nature and local communities.
Putting it into practice
Our tours focus on low-impact activities — hiking, skiing, snowshoeing, cycling — while we share what we know about Arctic nature, culture, and the climate that shapes both. Our minivan is fully electric and our fatbikes are e-assisted, so guests explore with minimal emissions. We also support local suppliers, sourcing food from nearby producers wherever possible.
Certified & trusted
Guiding in the Arctic means taking safety seriously. We completed an Arctic Wilderness First Aid course and hold DNT certification — Norway’s national trekking association, respected for setting the standard for safe, responsible outdoor guiding. We’re also a proud member of Visit Kirkenes Region, the area’s official tourism organisation.
Our story: From travellers to Arctic guides
That camper van eventually brought us to Norway. Travelling from south to north, we arrived in Kirkenes almost by chance, and decided to spend the winter — to learn what Arctic life was really like, and gain experience as guides. East Finnmark took us by surprise: wide, untouched landscapes and a sense of calm that felt both wild and comforting. What began as a few weeks slowly turned into months. We explored forest trails, frozen lakes, the borderlands with Russia and Finland — always with growing curiosity and a deeper appreciation for this remote region. With time, Kirkenes became more than a place we visited. It became home.
Working in tourism here, we noticed something missing: active tours. The kind of hands-on experiences that had made us fall in love with this place ourselves — hiking, skiing, snowshoeing, sleeping outside in a tent, sauna — weren’t really on offer. So we decided to build them ourselves. That’s how kirkenes tours started: with the desire to share the magic of Arctic life with guests in a personal, honest, and meaningful way. Those years of travel shaped how we guide now — open, curious, and making guests feel at home in remote, unfamiliar places.
Laura & Henrik
Meet our local partners
Some of what makes our experiences special comes from the people we work with, not just our own guides. Rather than large-scale
operators, we partner with small, local businesses and families — including our self-driving husky tours with Hannah and Eirik, and our Reindeer Experience with Maiken and Kimmo.
Hannah
Musher & kennel owner
Eirik
Musher & kennel owner
Maiken
Reindeer herder & host
Kimmo
Reindeer herder & host
