Karasjok is located in the heart of Norwegian Lapland, 18 kilometres from the Finnish border, and is a natural and important stopping place on the way to the North Cape. The nearest airport, North Cape Airport, is in Lakselv - 74 kilometres from Karasjok, or about a one-hour drive.
As a continuation of the ancient hunting and fishing societies reindeer herding still has a central role in Sami areas. In Karasjok today, around 18 per cent of the population is involved in reindeer herding. The others are involved in agriculture, the tourist industry, other service industries, state and municipal business, Sami institutions, Sami handicrafts - duodji and some industry.
Many of the most important Sami institutions such as Sametinget (Sami Parliament), De Samiske Samlinger (The Sami Collections) and Sami Kunstnersenter (Sami Artists’ Centre) are located here. Experience the culture and history of the Sami people at Sápmi Culture Park. Karasjok has many exciting adventures and activities in breathtaking scenery.
In the summer you meet lush/fertile fields in the valleys, and can move through tightly packed pine and birch woods until you get to the open and free mountain tundra. In the autumn the landscape is remarkable with a spectacular spectrum of colours not found elsewhere. In many lakes and rivers you find various species of fish - from salmon, trout and char to whitefish, grayling and pike.