Many of Finnish Lapland’s legends and myths are based around its gold fields. Lapland is famous for its gold fields, and a trip to this wilderness area is a must for anyone who loves the Great Outdoors…
Some of the world’s purest gold (at 95% purity) is to be found in the region surrounding the Lemmenjoki and Ivalojoki Rivers. The first Lappish gold rush occurred here between 1869 and 1900, and gold is panned for here to this day. The largest Finnish nugget of gold ever found weighed 393 grams, and was discovered in 1935; by 1945, panning was a common recreational pastime.
What could be a more fun and unique Lappish experience than to go gold panning in Lapland?
The Tankavaara Gold Village is a unique holiday resort located in Lapland, some twenty kilometres southwest of Kakslauttanen, and two and a half hours’ drive northeast of Rovaniemi. Situated by the Tankavaara Gold Museum, the resort offers an array of accommodation options, as well as lessons in gold panning, gold prospecting excursions, and fine Lappish cuisine.
All guest rooms and apartments in the Tankavaara Gold Village have their own private entrance and fireplace. Traditional cottages have a fireplace and kitchenette, with bathrooms shared. The services building on the resort has a sauna which can be booked, and a communal kitchen. There is also the Old Gold Prospector Restaurant, which serves delicious Lappish cuisine created from fresh local produce. There is an onsite snack bar, and the resort is pet-friendly.
There is much more to this resort than just gold panning; visitors can also hike, bike, fish, and ski cross country, embracing the wilderness location and the freshest air in the world. In the dark winter months, there is no better place to see the Aurora Borealis. This is truly an invigorating yet relaxing place to unwind and reconnect with nature…
Contact Scandi Travel for this and all other Lapland trips and tours. We can help you arrange your vacation at every step – there is no finer Baltic tour operator, and we are delighted to welcome you to Lapland!