Plan your trip to Varanger
Most people visiting Varanger start their journey by flying to Kirkenes airport Høybuktmoen (via Norways main airport Gardermoen in Oslo). In Kirkenes you have a couple of different opportunities to continue your travels. Since Høybuktmoen is not the only airport in Varanger, you can fly further from Kirkenes to smaller airports like Vardø or Båtsfjord. For the flights to smaller airports, you are best advised to take the Wideroe airline, since it is cheaper than booking the same trip via SAS (collaborating companies). Flight company Norwegain also fly to Kirkenes but not further. When in Kirkenes, besides flying, there is also the opportunity for car rental across Varanger. Another possibility for travel around Varanger is to take the bus from Kirkenes airport. One of them takes you all the way to Vardø, stopping at several villages along the way. The other bus takes you from the airport down to Kirkenes city to the coastal express (Hurtigruten) harbour, where you can take the ferry across the Varangerfjord to Vardø (3.5hours). Most people rent a car in Kirkenes and drive to the Varangerfjord (1,5 hours to Varangerbotn). Many also choose to visit Pasvik in South Varanger for some taiga forest birding.
Vardø Hotel
Vardø Hotel offers the best accommodation for birders, nature photographers and cultural heritage and nature enthusiasts. It is located in the centre of the city a short distance from the harbour and the most accessible bird cliff in the Arctic.
What to do
Have a look at the different possibilities provided across Varanger and find out what you can do there. Various museums presenting the history of Varanger but also activities offered by different organisations or people are listed in the following. This too is by no means a complete list of what is on offer in Varanger, but rather a start and a short intro to some of the possibilities. More to come soon...
How to get there
Car Hire
Rent-A-Wreck Kirkenes
+47 78 99 32 80
Rent-A-Wreck Varangerbotn
+47 90 01 22 21
Circle K Gasstation Vadsø
+47 789 53 777
Várjjat Sámi Museum
Varangerbotn
At the base of the Varangerfjord in Varangerbotn you can find the Várjjat Sámi Museum. It's presenting the coastal Sámi history and culture but also the prehistory of Finnmark and Sámi handcraft. A very nice and informative exhibition is guiding you through the different eras of scandinavian history. Visit the homepage for further information.
Mortensnes Cultural Heritage Site
Mortensnes
Mortensnes is a central place for Sámi history, since a lot of visible cultural remains like traces of settlements and religous practices can be found in the surrounding landscape there. The museum in Mortensnes is providing an exhibition about Sámi faith and mythology, including a small Café offering tea, coffee and waffles. Continue reading on their homepage to find out more.