The area encompasses no less than 9,400 square kilometres of wild nature, mostly high mountainland. It is frequently called ”Western Europe´s last wilderness”, though the Sami people have lived here for thousands of years, leaving few obvious traces behind in the magnificent landscape, but many that are readable to the trained eye.

There are a number of tour operators, particularly in the towns of Gällivare, Jokkmokk, Porjus and Saltoluokta, that offer excursions and adventures in the Laponia area, many of these combining experiences of nature and traditional Sami culture.