A Word That Perfectly Describes the Feeling
Soma is a beautiful adjective from the Lapland dialect. It means cozy, lovely, sweet, charming, delightful — everything warm and heart-touching. A place can be soma. A person can be soma. An atmosphere can be soma. In southern Finland the word isn’t used as much, but here in the North, it describes all the good things in life.
Between 2013 and 2021, I (Heli) owned two cafés: one in Kittilä and later one in Levi. When I was creating the first one, I made a visual inspiration board and after staring at it for a while, I smiled and said: “It’s so soma.”
And that’s how Cafe Soma was born. Those who visited know — they were truly cozy, charming little cafés. Truly soma.
After Covid, I closed Levi’s Soma (and had already sold the one in Kittilä). I paused, studied to become a business coach and a professional chef, and worked as a freelancer for several safari companies. But deep down I knew — it was time to create something of my own again. Something… soma.
I considered all the typical northern names — Arctic this, Wild that. But those words are everywhere in Lapland. Our experiences are different. They’re personal, heartfelt, cozy — they’re soma.
Then came the second part of the name. Safaris? Tours? Neither felt right. Because every single day out there feels like a real adventure. And so Soma Adventures was born.
It stands out. It feels like us. And it doesn’t disappear into the Arctic Wild crowd.
Over time, I’ve also learned that Soma carries beautiful meanings in other cultures too. In Japanese it connects to forests and nature. In India, it represents vitality and inspiration. In science, it refers to the body — the physical core of a cell. Across languages, it seems to link to nature, life force, and the connection between body and soul.
And that makes me even happier I chose it.
Because Soma Adventures isn’t just a name.
It’s a feeling.
