Lakselv Voyage Tips and guide

Lakselv is a small town in Finnmark, at the southern end of Porsangerfjorden by the Barents Sea. As could be guessed from its name ("Salmon River"), the area is popular for fishing and there are great hiking opportunities in the surrounding arctic wilderness, including in Stabbursdalen National Park. The town is the administrative centre of Porsanger, with half of its population.

As all of coastal Finnmark, the climate is mild for the latitude, thanks to the Gulf Stream. It is still in the Arctic, at 70° north, with record lows below 30 °C (86 °F) and mean daily maximums of about 15 °C (59 °F) in summer.

Lakselv is on E6, between Alta and Karasjok.

• 70.06666724.9738891 Lakselv Airport, Banak (LKL  ^IATA). has daily connections to Tromsø, Kirkenes and Alta, operated by Widerøe. During the summer Norwegian Air Shuttle operates a flight to Oslo. It's actually the northernmost airport on the European mainland capable of handling large jet aircraft.  

Veolia operates a few buses out of, or stopping in, Lakselv. 105 runs daily between Alta and Kirkenes. 305 connects daily to Honningsvåg near the Nordkapp (European north cape), and 416 connects to Karasjok in conjugation with the flights from the airport.

Connection from Rovaniemi and Helsinki, Finland is operated by Eskelisen Lapinlinjat.

Three rental agencies offer reasonably priced rental cars or minibuses. Contact the tourist information for updated information.

70°2′52″N 24°57′4″E

Map of Lakselv

To get around in the municipality Porsanger you will need a car or bus. In Lakselv you can rent both. Hertz, Avis and Lakselv Bilutleie are present in the centre of the town.

• Trollholmsund. The dolomite trolls are true wonders of nature. An old Sami myth tells the story of how the trolls were turned into stone. 
• Silfar Canyon. Experience the beauty, see the crystal clear water run over the whitegreysish dolomite. Silfar Canyon is one of the largest ones in Northern Europe. 
• Roddines Nature Reserve. At Roddines you can see a typical and beautiful example of raised beach ridges made by the sea in receding altitudes as the land gradually rose after the last ice age. 
• Kistrand Church (E6 at Kistrand 55 km North of Lakselv). One of the few churches in Finnmark to survive World War II. The church was inaugurated in 1856. 
• Lasarettmoen (Skoganvarre, 27 km south of Lakselv in direction Karasjok), ☏ +47 97 41 23 57. The marked trail leads you to the remains of one of the largest World War II field hospitals in Finnmark. Be sure to buy an infofolder from the touristinformation to make the most of your trip to Lasarettmoen. 
• Porsanger Museum (by Lasarettmoen). The exhibition in Skoganvarre include World War II history, local culture and history along with a special exhibition on the Sámi shaman Johan Kaaven. Combine your trip to the museum with a walk along the path through the World War II field hospital in the area. 

• 70.179124.90961 Stabbursnes Naturhus og Museum, Vestre Porsangerveien 1335 (some 1.5 km to the north along E6, near the river mouth), ☏ +47 78 46 47 65, [email protected]. Visitor centre of the national park and the reserve. It has an exhibition and film about Finnmarks natural and cultural history. The museum shop has souvenirs, books, postcards and a small café. The peat goahti and lávvu in the yard can be rented for meals or overnighting. They have a campfire and barbecue site which you may be allowed to use regardless. 100/80/0 kr, children 0–16 years.  

69.98333324.4833331 Stabbursdalen National Park (Rávttošvuomi álbmotmeahcci). Free.   The national park, of 747 km² (288 sq mi), was founded in 1970, protecting Stabburelva (Rávttošjohka) and its surroundings, from the upper reaches above the treeline, through narrow valleys and to the world's northernmost pine forest around the lower section, with some of the pines more than 500 year old. In the south-east, there are Gáissene, a fell area with several peaks in excess of 1,100 m (3,600 ft), among the highest in Finnmarks mostly quite flat landscape. Gáissene were created from ancient sea floor, some 400–600 million years ago. Wildlife in the park includes lynx and wolverine, golden eagle, gyrfalcon and rough-legged buzzard.

The area is in more or less natural state, although it has been used by the Sea Sámi and remains important for the reindeer husbandry (summer pastures). Traces of the Sea Sämi agriculture, hunting and fishing can be found.

There are trails and simple open wilderness huts. There is salmon from Njáhkagorži to the sea, and trout and other salmonoids in the waters upstream. Check the rules, which are unusually strict, disinfect your equipment (e.g. at the visitor centre) and pay the fees.

For the lower reaches, the visitor centre can be used as trailhead.

70.164224.94992 Stabbursnes Nature Reserve. River delta and wetland. A RAMSAR site. Free.   The nature reserve was established in order to protect a wetland area of great botanical and ornithological interest. Stabbursnes is a large delta of fluvial deposits. On the delta surface there are several fossil river tracks and ancient shore lines, which document the gradual upheaval of the land after the last glacial period. The reserve has international importance as a resting and feeding area for many species of migrating wetland birds.

In the migrating period some species are very numerous, especially knot (Calidris canutus), dunlin (Calidris alpina) and bar-tailed godwit (Limosa lapponica). A great part of the Norwegian population of the rare lesser white-fronted goose (Anser erythropus) rests in the area during migrating periods. The reserve is also an important moulting area for many species of ducks, and a winter habitat for eider (Somateria mollissima). Within the protected area you find some of the largest salt and brackish marshes in Northern Norway with many arctic plant communities.

Part of the reserve, the Valdak Marshes (Valdak myra), is off limits from 10 August to 20 September. Elsewhere you may move around freely and pick berries and edible mushrooms. Camping is forbidden in all the reserve, as are camouflage arrangements.

By the visitor centre, there is a 1-km nature trail for children (in Norwegian, Sámi and Kven, but you might get what to look for from the pictures) and a longer (6.3 km) nature and culture trail.

Dogs must be on leash in the reserve.

• Midnattsrocken (Brennelvneset). 2026: 10–11 July. A big music festival (audience of 14,000 in 2025), with rock and other genres. Own camping site (Th–Su; electricity only for medical needs). From 1500/2000 kr for day/weekend; camping 600 kr F–Sa, 300 kr other nights, per tent/caravan. 

• Gobiten, ☏ +47 78 46 43 01. A wide range of fastfood, pizzas and local food. 
• Senterkafeen. A cafeteria inside the shopping mall (Varesenter) Banaksenteret. Coffee, cakes, baguettes and some hot dishes. 
• Åstedet, ☏ +47 78 46 13 77. Serve pizza, pasta, beef, lamb, pork and dishes with chicken. They also have seafood, traditional Norwegian food and local specialities. You will also find the traditional reindeermeat. 

A hotel or two, perhaps a hostel, a number of guesthouses and cottages, and probably a campsite. Of course, wild camping is an option, if you don't mind a walk a bit away from services and people.

The national park has simple gamma, where you can overnight for free. If there are other people by the gamme or there are many of you, put up your tent(s) and share the facilities.

• Lakselv Hotell, Portveien 1 (1.5 km towards Karasjok), ☏ +47 78 46 54 00, [email protected]. On a hill with a view of Porsangerfjord. 
• Porsanger Vertshus (in the centre), ☏ +47 78 46 13 77. A guesthouse. 
• Stabbursdalen Resort, ☏ +47 78 46 47 60.  
• Bungalåven, ☏ +47 95 77 82 11. Bungalåven is an old farm house. Until 1968 the people shared it with the farm animals. It was renovated and opened as commercial lodging in 1995. Restaurant. 
• Lakselv Hostel (7 km from Lakselv), ☏ +47 90 74 53 42.  
• Lazzzy Place (in the centre), ☏ +47 97 70 50 35. Lazzzy Place is a small cosy guesthouse. 

Narvik ← Alta ← to Nordkapp ←

N  S

→ Karasjok → Kirkenes