Programs

Gold Prospector’s starter pack

An introduction to the secrets of gold panning: a guided tour, gold panning, and museum ticket all in one package! Every weekday at 1pm.

Gold Prospector’s Starter Pack introduces you to Lapland’s gold prospecting history and gold’s journey from stars to gold pan. On the tour, our guide will introduce you to the gold rush on the Ivalojoki River, the lives of gold prospectors, and lifechanging gold discoveries. In the Mineral exhibition, you will learn about the cosmic origins of gold, and at the end, you will get to pan for gold yourself at Gold Museum’s indoor pool. Found gold and gemstones are yours to keep!

The program takes place entirely indoors at Gold Museum, so you don’t need warm clothing or other equipment. The program includes a museum ticket, and you can explore the exhibitions independently before or after the program. The Gold Museum’s international exhibition Golden World is a round-the-world journey through the gold traditions of different eras and countries, and in annually changing exhibition you can learn about history of gold from different perspectives.

A warm welcome to Gold Museum! 

The programme includes: Museum ticket to all exhibitions at Gold Museum, short guided tour, gold panning and equipment rental, gold and gemstones you find.

Gold Prospector’s Starter Pack at Gold Museum’s weekly program 1.6.-30.9.2026

Time: Mon-Fri at 1 pm.

Duration: 1 h 

Languages: English and Finnish

Group size: 1-20 persons

Reservations: You can purchase tickets using the form on the right or upon arrival at Gold Museum’s info. You can also reserve your place by email at info@kultamuseo.fi. When making your reservation, please indicate your name, date, number of people, and ticket types. Tickets reserved in advance must be redeemed at least 15 minutes before the event.

Golden Tour

A guided tour through the history of gold, its phases and stories in Finland and around the world.

The Golden Tour brings legends to life. You will hear stories about the history of gold in Ivalojoki, Lemmenjoki and Tankavaara areas and the people associated with them. Finland’s first gold rush began in 1869 in River Ivalojoki and today gold prospecting in Lapland continues as Europe’s most vibrant gold washing tradition. 

In the Golden World exhibition, under the world’s largest gold pan, our guide will introduce you the peculiarities of gold panning in different parts of the world and the gold discoveries that have changed the course of world history. 

Note! Please book the programme at least 7 days in advance using the form below. We cannot guarantee this programme without prior reservation. 

Group price weekdays	12€ / person +85€ group
Group price weekends and public holidays	12€ / person +145€ group

Programmes and guided tours outside museum opening hours – ask for an offer!

The programme includes: entrance to the museum and a cultural-historical guidance 

Duration of the programme: approximately 1 hour 

Languages: Finnish and English year round
Finnish, English and French during the summer season 

Note! The guide fee is charged per guide. Please note that for groups of more than 30 people, two guides are required and the guide fee is therefore charged twice.

The Golden Tour must be booked at least seven (7) days before your visit. The programme includes an entrance ticket to the museum and a guided culture historical tour.

Send us a message to book your tour! Please verify that your email address is correct so we can get back to you.

Friends of Gold

Discover the richness of our soil!

Lapland’s history includes much more than just gold. Gold prospectors also know the semi-precious stones of the gold-bearing soil and the other companions of gold. On the Friends of Gold tour, you get to discover the fascinating world of Lapland’s stones and minerals. You will learn where gold comes from and how to find the signs of it in nature.

During the tour, you will have the chance to find gold, different stones and minerals. How many of them will you manage to find?

The programme is organized only in summer. Please note, the tour takes place both indoors and outdoors, so dress accordingly. The program is especially suitable for families with children.

Note! Please book the programme at least 7 days in advance using the form below. We cannot guarantee this programme without prior reservation.

Group price when group size is between 5 and 10 persons	32€ / person
Group price when the group size is 1-4 persons	160€ / group

Programmes and guided tours outside museum opening hours – ask for an offer!

The programme includes: entrance ticket to the museum, geological guiding, certificate for the minerals found and a storage box or bag for the treasures you find.  

Duration of the programme: 2-2,5 hours 

Languages: Finnish, English, German and French