Amethyst mine excavation Rovaniemi: Dig your own gemstone

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1/8

Duration6h 30m

GroupUp to 24

LanguagesEN

Mobile ticketAccepted

Pickaxe, snowcat, and 2,000-million-year-old amethyst waiting under the snow

A small-group amethyst mine visit near Rovaniemi puts a pickaxe in your hands at Lampivaara, a working gemstone mine on a hilltop in Lapland. You dig for your own amethyst, keep what you find, and finish with a campfire lunch of reindeer sandwich and hot blueberry juice. The guide speaks English, snowcat transport is included, and winter gear is provided. Departures vary by season; check your booking email for the exact pickup time.

6h 30m

Step-by-step itinerary

Amethyst mine visit and digging

Travel to Lampivaara Amethyst mine
Listen to mine story and process
Take snow-cat lift to hilltop
Dig for your own amethyst
Enjoy lunch at open fire

The Experience

What do you actually dig for when you head to an amethyst mine in the middle of winter? At Lampivaara, the owner walks you through the geology and the mining process before you head uphill—by snowcat, since the terrain is steep and snow-covered—to the excavation site itself. You get pickaxe and tools, and then you're looking for amethyst crystals that have been locked in this ancient mountain for 2,000 million years. What you find, you keep, as long as it fits in your closed fist. The mine sits on top of a hill, so the view across Lappish nature frames the whole experience, and during the darkest part of winter, the Northern Lights sometimes appear even in daylight.

After a few hours of digging, you gather at an open fire for lunch: a reindeer sandwich and hot blueberry juice, with vegetarian and vegan options available if you request them at booking. Winter overalls and boots are provided, so you're dressed for the cold before you start. The snowcat brings you back down when you're done. The whole outing runs about 6.5 hours from pickup to drop-off, though the exact departure time shifts with the season—the local provider will email you the details.

Snowcat transport depends on snow conditions, so if there's not enough coverage, the mine may adjust how you reach the site. Groups need at least two people on weekdays and Saturdays, and at least four on Sundays and public holidays. Children under 12 must be accompanied by a paying adult. The tour operates year-round, but winter is when the landscape and the light make the most difference.

What’s included

Pickaxe and excavation tools.
English-speaking guide (German, French, Italian, Spanish, and Chinese available on request).
snowcat transport to and from the mine on the hilltop.
winter overalls and boots.
campfire lunch with reindeer sandwich and hot blueberry juice (vegetarian and vegan alternatives upon request).
the amethyst you find that fits in your closed fist.

Good to know

Easy physical levelInfant seats available

Operated by Nordic Unique Travels

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want a hands-on activity where you're actually digging and taking home what you find, rather than watching a demonstration. The small-group format and the hilltop location mean you're working in Lapland's winter landscape with a real chance of seeing the Northern Lights, and the campfire lunch breaks up the digging with warmth and food.