Amethyst mine excavation Rovaniemi: Dig your own gemstone

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.

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

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.

Times

• Monday to Saturday 09:00

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Before you book

Group Up to 24

Live guide English

Meeting point and pickup No hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Book up to 4h before

Ages Adult (13 and older) · Child (3 to 12 years) · Infant (under 3): free

Cancellation and refunds No refund if you cancel. It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Good to know

Low physical effort Infant seats available

Operated by Nordic Unique Travels

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Traveler reviews

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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.

Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 12 years); Infant (under 3): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. No refund if you cancel.

Can I really keep the amethyst I find at the Lampivaara mine?

Yes, you keep any amethyst you dig up, as long as it fits in your closed fist. The mine is one of the few working gemstone mines in the world that lets visitors excavate and take home their own stones.

What's included in the price for the amethyst mine tour from Rovaniemi?

The tour includes pickaxe and excavation tools, English-speaking guide, snowcat transport up and down the hill, winter overalls and boots, and a campfire lunch of reindeer sandwich and hot blueberry juice. Other languages are available on request.

How long does the amethyst mine visit take?

The full outing is about 6.5 hours from pickup to drop-off, though the exact departure time varies by season. Check the email from the local provider for your specific pickup time.

Will I see the Northern Lights during the amethyst mine tour?

The Northern Lights sometimes appear even during daylight in the darkest part of winter, so there's a chance you'll see them from the hilltop. It's not guaranteed, but the timing and location make it possible.

What happens if there's not enough snow for the snowcat?

Snowcat transport is available according to snow conditions. If coverage is low, the mine will adjust how you reach the excavation site, but the tour will still operate.

Do I need to be fit or experienced to dig for amethyst?

The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels. You'll be digging with a pickaxe and tools, but the pace is your own, and the guide and equipment are set up to make it accessible.