Winner of the Norwegian "Country tourism price 1997"

Boat trips and visits to the Alta dam

From Maze and back

The Cavzo Safari has regular departures by traditional riverboat to Cavzo, the Alta dam throughout July.

Visitors are received at Maze Church by a local guide, who will relate Maze's dramatic story. We walk down to the Alta/Kautokeino river, where you will be given life jackets before boarding certified riverboats. The boats head down the beautiful river system 30 kilometres towards the dam. The trip takes about 1½ hours through an area of outstanding natural beauty rich in fauna. We are in the area with the most highly concentrated population of birds of prey in Northern Europe. We'd have to try very hard to avoid seeing any of these. Coffee and dried reindeer meat will be served in a l·vvu before we return to Maze. This is extremely traditional fireside Sami food. Your guide to explain about Sami culture and joiking.

At the Alta dam you will have the opportunity to see a multimedia presentation inside the mountain. You can continue by bus to Alta together with the daily round trip if you so wish. This involves extra expenditure of NOK 100/50.

Departure: 16.00 hours from Maze Church
Duration: 4 ½-5 hours
Period: daily in July
Price: NOK 350 per person

No advance booking necessary/no minimum number
Recommendation Warm clothing

Meet Maze in the past and present

- Includes lunch in a gamme or lavvu and a short riverboat trip

Visitors are received at Maze Church by a local guide, who relates Maze's dramatic story. We walk down to the Alta/Kautokeino river, where you will be given life jackets before boarding certified riverboats. The boats head up the river and we go ashore at the remains of the mountain church "Maze Zion". This Church was built in 1721 at the request of Tomas von Westen, who is often referred to as the Samis' apostle. The school was run in the church itself, which at the same time was an important marker of Dano-Norwegian control - during a period when the two nations in the northern area were fighting over Sami territory.

All that is left of the church is the ruins in the churchyard which has been in use right up until our day. In this ancient churchyard you will be introduced to the Sami alphabet. It is still used for the branding of reindeer - and the letters are also frequently found at outdoor cooking fires. Here, wayfaring hunters and trappers, probably longing for the sun to set, used the alphabet to engrave their own names and that of their women on trees in the vicinity. Training in the use of this alphabet is part and parcel of a visit to this area, before the riverboat takes its passengers back to the l·vvu by the river bank. Here, a hot bidos, Sami wedding food, a reindeer meat stew, is served with home-baked bread and coffee.

During lunch the guide will tell you something about Sami culture, traditions and joiking. Visitors will also get the opportunity to join in the joik.


Duration: 2½ hours
Period: mid-May - mid-June
Minimum participation: 10 people
Maximum: 95 people
Price: NOK 380 per person
Children half-price
Book in advance

Boat trip and visit to Alta dam

- round trip

Visitors are received at Maze Church by local guide, who relates Maze's dramatic story. We walk down to the Alta/Kautokeino river, where you will be given life jackets before boarding certified riverboats. The boats head down the beautiful river system 30 kilometres towards the dam. The trip takes about 1½ hours through an area of outstanding natural beauty rich in fauna. We are in the area with the most highly concentrated population of birds of prey in Northern Europe. We'd have to try very hard to avoid seeing any of these. We stop for lunch on the way, while the guide talks about Sami culture and the traditions of the local area, as well as joiking.

At the Alta dam you will have the opportunity to see a multimedia presentation inside the mountain before the bus picks us up to run us down to Alta. This tour can also start from Alta by bus and we take visitors by boat from the dam to Maze.

Duration: 3 hours
Period: 1 July 30 September
Minimum participation: 10 people
Maximum: 95 people

Price: NOK 495 per person
Children half-price
Guide from Alta on the bus NOK 1120
Book in advance
Recommendation: Warm clothes

Summer "Sami-games"

- includes lunch in a gamme

Vistors arrive at Maze Church, where they are received by our guides. After a short walk to the camp the visitors will be divided into groups to take part in the following traditional Sami activities:

- Lasso throwing
- Fetching water from the river to boil coffee over a fire
- Dress in genuine traditional Sami winter and summer clothes
- Erect a traditional lavvu

These "games" have not simply been selected at random. All these activities are significant aspects of Sami culture and competence in them our prerequisites to survival on the mountain plateau.

When everyone has proven their competence, lunch will be served; traditional food for guests bidos with home-baked bread, coffee and cake served in a gamme or l·vvu.

During lunch the guide will talk about Sami traditions and joik.


Duration: 2 hours
Period: June-September
Minimum number: 10 people

Price: NOK 990 per person
Children half-price

Book in advance

Winter "Sami-games"

- including reindeer racing and lunch in a gamme

Vistors arrive at Maze Church, where they are received by our guides. After a short walk to the camp the visitors will be divided into groups to take part in the following traditional Sami activities:

- Reindeer racing
- Lasso throwing
- Fetch firewood wearing "skaller" and old-fashioned skis with toe bindings
- Fetching water from the frozen river to boil coffee over a fire
- Dress in genuine traditional Sami winter and summer clothes
- Erect a traditional lavvu

These "games" have not simply been selected at random. All these activities are significant aspects of Sami culture and competence in them our prerequisites to survival in this part of the world. Particularly in winter.

When everyone has proven their competence, lunch will be served; traditional food for guests bidos with home-baked bread, coffee and cake served in a gamme or l·vvu.

During lunch the guide will talk about Sami traditions and joik.


Duration: 3 hours
Period: December-April
Minimum number: 10 people

Price: NOK 1350 per person
Children half-price

Book in advance
Recommendation: Warm clothing

CAVZO SAFARI AS
Hirsaluohkka
N-9525 MAZE
NORWAY
Phone +47 78 48 75 88
Fax. +47 78 48 76 39
Email: toreturi@online.no