In the fall of 2025, my friend Samuel and I founded a tour service company in the travel industry. Our idea was to offer authentic trips and experiences in northern nature to visitors during Lapland’s growing winter season. A few weeks ago, I found myself in a situation where I was invited to join a king crab safari in Pykeija and explore the village’s activities and services in more detail. I had visited Pykeija earlier in the summer with my family, so I already knew it to be a beautiful, idyllic fjord village with a fascinating history involving both Finns and Norwegians. So, I decided to accept Trond’s offer, and on the morning of Saturday, October 5th, I set off driving towards Norway and Pykeija.
Lapland had just received its first snowfall, and the autumn colors were still beautifully vibrant. The journey passed by pleasantly through stunning landscapes, and I made my first stop in Näätämö to refuel and pick up some travel snacks from Nordmarket. The total drive from Ivalo to Pykeija took 3.5 hours. When I arrived, we determined that the wind was still too strong to safely head out to sea, so I decided to use the extra time to explore Pykeija. I managed to get a good impression of the beautiful, small fishing village. I also had the pleasure of enjoying the hospitality of Trond, the founder of Visit Pykeija, and listening to his fascinating stories about the village’s history.
Finally, the wind calmed down enough for us to head out to sea. Along with me, a family from Oslo joined the trip. We were given warm overalls and life jackets. The boat ride to the crab traps was smooth, though the waves were occasionally strong. The sight of the sea crashing against the shores is truly impressive! The trip to the sheltered bay on the other side of the fjord went well and took about 20 minutes. There, we got to see how the crab traps are pulled from the deep sea, and we were taught how to safely handle the crabs. Trond also demonstrated how to prepare the king crab for cooking, and we even got to try it ourselves. On the way back, we were told that seals can often be spotted in the area, and we searched for them on the rocky shores. It’s also possible to see porpoises, sea eagles, and even whales in the area. The entire trip lasted two hours. It was an incredible experience, and the story of catching a king crab became very real for me. Now I’ve caught one myself!
Afterwards, I was offered the chance to enjoy a sauna and swim in the Barents Sea (duration 2 hours), but I decided to skip it this time, even though the sauna and facilities were very nice and cozy. I knew I had a long drive back to Ivalo ahead of me, and it was already approaching 6:00 PM. My freshly caught king crab was prepared for me, and I enjoyed it while listening to more of Trond’s stories and enjoying the hospitality of the Bistro staff. I finally left for home around 8:00 PM, arriving in Ivalo just before midnight. On the way back, the sky lit up with stunning northern lights, and I stopped to take pictures of them at Sevettijärvi.
At the end of the trip, we agreed on a partnership with Trond, so now it’s possible to enjoy this entire experience through our company from Ivalo and the Inari area at a reasonable price of 550€/person. The price includes transportation to and from Pykeija, the king crab safari with expert guides, a sauna and swim in the Barents Sea, and the chance to eat freshly caught king crab at an authentic Bistro restaurant.
So, you are warmly welcome to join us on an unforgettable trip to Pykeija to catch king crabs, enjoy the stunning nature, and savor delicious food.
