Why you should experience a King Crab Safari when in Lapland
The Norway King Crab is native to the cold waters of the Atlantic off the coast of Northern Europe. The red King Crab is large and rare to be found, and its succulent flesh makes for a superb Nordic delicacy. Kirkenes, a picturesque town situated close to the Russo-Norway border, is one of the main hubs for harvesting King Crab in the Barents Sea.
A King Crab safari tour from Saariselkä, Inari, Ivalo or the surrounding areas in Finland to Kirkenes makes for a perfect year-round Arctic adventure. You will get to go hands-on in fishing these giant Arctic crabs in the Barents Sea and indulge in a freshly prepared, authentic Norwegian feast of succulent crab meat. And as a bonus, you also get to tour the world's only year-round snow hotel in Kirkenes.
All about the King Crab
King crab is harvested all year round in Kirkenes. They weren't always found here, and the first king crab was caught there only in 1977. The story goes that Soviet marine biologists introduced them in the region, transporting a batch of these crustaceans from the Northern Pacific Ocean to the Siberian coast. "Stalin's crabs" as the locals nicknamed them are now a precious commodity and many regulations exist to prevent overfishing them.
King crab meat is one of the most expensive items on a Norwegian seafood menu so a tasting them on a safari so tasting them on a safari makes the adventure as rewarding for your palate as it is for your bucket list. This variety of crab’s claws and tail has an exquisite sweet and aromatic taste, and is perfect for stir-frying, baking and grilling, served with garlic butter or flavored with herbs and spices.
How to reach Kirkenes?
Many travellers prefer to reach Kirkenes by road. The drive to get to the town from the resort villages in Finnish Lapland takes around four hours, but is absolutely worth it for the gorgeous Lappish landscapes you get to enjoy on the way. Kirkenes is also reachable by air, and there are two main flights operational - a direct flight from Oslo and another from Helsinki with a stopover in Ivalo. You can also stop by Kirkenes if you are on a Havila cruise voyaging along the Norwegian coast.
What is the safari like?
You will be provided with warm clothes and then taken on a RIB boat, or a snowmobile if the sea is frozen. In the winters, a massive hole is drilled into the fjord ice to allow fishing.
The guide will teach you how to find king crabs, and how to catch them using net cages and mackerel bait.
You can also lend a hand in hauling up the "crab pot" from the depths of the waters if you want. You will also be taught how to hold the crabs safely (avoid those claws!) so you can pose with one of these 6ft monsters!
Then your catch of the day will be handed over to the kitchen where they will be freshly prepared for your lunch.
An Icy Bonus!
While the crabs are being prepared for lunch, you will be taken to explore the one of a kind snow hotel in Kirkenes and explore marvelous artistry of sculptures crafted out of ice. The Snow Resort is one of the most famous ones in the world and is open through all seasons. Another highlight of the Snow Resort in Kirkenes is their Gamme cabins built in the style of traditional Sami fishing huts. You might find yourself tempted to book a stay in one of these where the massive panoramic windows let you watch for the Northern Lights right from your bed.
After your visit, walk into a restaurant afterwards and enjoy lunch in a cozy rustic ambience. The crab is served in authentic Norwegian style with bread, butter, mayonnaise and lemon, and the expert will also teach how to cut open the legs before you start your feast.
Your day will end by heading back to your hotel on a road trip through the Lappish landscapes. A King Crab Safari daytrip from Saariselkä makes for a perfect addition to your Nordic itinerary.
Photo credits: Snow Resort Kirkenes
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