Snowmobiling in Rovaniemi: What to Expect, Tips, & Best Beginner Tours

Are you looking to go snowmobiling in Rovaniemi? It is one of the most popular things to do here and something I highly advise everyone to do if you’re traveling here and have never done it before!

This guide covers what to expect before taking a snowmobile tour in Rovaniemi, some tips for your journey, and how to book my favorite tour option.

Snowmobiling is one of the most sought-after activities in Lapland, so tours do book up pretty quickly (and snowmobiles are limited). I will give a few alternatives in case the tour I recommend (and love) is unavailable during your travel dates.

If you have any questions about going on a Rovaniemi snowmobiling tour, let me know in the comments. Thanks!

Snowmobiling in Rovaniemi (A Quick Overview)

We have a few months where snowmobiling is an option for visitors. While November and December can be a bit ‘iffy’ with snow, January through the end of March almost guarantees the stuff and snowmobiling is one of the best winter activities in Rovaniemi.

But, while November and December may not have heavy snow accumulation, if we have enough, snowmobile tours WILL run since December is the busiest month here.

You’ll find a variety of snowmobile tours in Rovaniemi – some that go along the river, some that go along lakes, and some that go through the forest. Many tours combine a bit of two of these.

One thing I love about the snowmobiling excursions here is that they are affordably priced compared to other destinations.

While I know €110 for a tour is pretty pricey, compared to a place like Svalbard or Tromsø, this is a pretty affordable price. Please keep in mind that the cheaper prices are for the shorter, dedicated snowmobile tours and not the combo tours.

Here are the 4 tours I recommend on this guide. They are all by the company Safartica, who I took my tour with (and many tours in the past).

Beginner-Friendly

• 2-hour snowmobile tour with photo stops and snacks (cheapest option and the one I discuss in more detail below)
• Snowmobile tour with ice fishing (a top-rated combo tour activity; lunch included)

Intermediate & Advanced

• All day snowmobile tour through rivers, lakes, and forests (includes a campfire lunch)
• Arctic Snowhotel snowmobile tour (takes you from the city to one of my favorite attractions!)

Beginner-Friendly Snowmobile Tours in Rovaniemi

Half-Day Snowmobile Tour through the Wilderness (My Top Pick!)

Level: Easy
Dates/Times available: Mid-November until mid-April (season may shift with snow accumulation); there are multiple timeslots daily
Duration: 2-3 hours
Meeting Point: Hotel pick-up offered at select hotels
➡️ CHECK PRICE HERE

You’ll find many snowmobile tours offered around Lapland but this is my favorite affordable, beginner-friendly one. It is operated by Safartica, a company that has been around for a while and is Finnish-owned.

This tour is around 2-3 hours, includes hotel pickup at select hotels in Rovaniemi, and offers an unforgettable experience with a solid 1.5 hours of snowmobiling on the river and in the forest (routes can vary depending on group size).

First, you’ll be picked up or met at the Safartica office at Koskikatu 9 in Rovaniemi city center. From there, you’ll be given clothing for the tour (more about what to wear later in this article!), briefed on your day and itinerary,

Once changed and signed in, you will be given the option to purchase extra insurance for the day (I discuss this in more detail below). Then you head out to the river to get a quick briefing with the snow machines and you’re off!

We snowmobiled on the river for a while, passing other snowmobilers, people ice fishing, and some cross-country skiers. Since our group moved pretty quickly (there were only four of us in mid-March), we also got to go into the forest and toward a lake.

You will have a break for cookies and a hot juice, as well as photos, at the halfway point before making your way back to Rovaniemi city center. It was a really fun day!

Snowmobiling and Ice Fishing Combo Tour

Level: Easy
Dates/Times available: Mid-November to mid-April (dates may shift depending on snow)
Duration: 5 hours
Meeting Point: Hotel pick-up offered at select hotels
➡️ CHECK PRICE HERE

This combo tour is one of the most booked snowmobile options in Rovaniemi and for good reason – you get to fish, drive a snowmobile (3 hours of drive time), and enjoy lunch in nature!

If you are lucky enough to catch some fish, you may have the chance to cook that up over a fire (vegetarian options are available just let them know at the time of booking). You can ask questions about life in Finland and the Arctic while you take a break from the seat of the snowmobile.

The tour includes winter gear and hotel pickup from select places around Rovaniemi.

Intermediate & Advanced Snowmobile Tours in Rovaniemi

Snowmobile Tour to the Arctic Snowhotel

Level: Challenging
Dates/Times available: Early January until the end of March (dates may shift depending on snow)
Duration: 5 hours
Meeting Point: Hotel pick-up offered at select hotels
➡️ CHECK PRICE HERE

This tour takes you from Rovaniemi city center all the way to Sinettä and the famous Arctic Snowhotel! The Arctic Snowhotel is from the same team that is behind Snowman World at SCV and a worthwhile attraction in the area.

It will offer 3 hours of driving time and a full guided tour of the snow hotel, including a 2-course lunch.

This tour is offered from early January until the end of March (the snow hotel doesn’t even open until mid-December) and combines two activities in one. Winter clothing and hotel pickup from select hotels are included in the price.

All-Day Snowmobile Tour through the Wilderness

Level: Demanding
Dates/Times available: Mid-January to mid-April (dates may shift depending on snow)
Duration: 6 hours
Meeting Point: Hotel pick-up offered at select hotels
➡️ CHECK PRICE HERE

Not your first snowmobiling rodeo? You probably want something a bit more demanding and less beginner-friendly! This Safartica option is a 6 hour tour that will take you out into the wilderness (rivers, lakes, forests) for an all day adventure.

You’ll enjoy a lunch by a campfire, and even get to drive on untouched snow that the beginner tours don’t reach.

Driving time is around 4-5 hours in total and it includes hotel transfers to select ones, a soup lunch by the fire, hot drinks, and winter clothing.

Tips for Snowmobiling in Rovaniemi

Here are a few tips to get you prepared for your adventure:

✅ Do not take your gloves off during the ride. As soon as the cold slips into the gloves, you will struggle to warm back up!

✅ There will be two people per snowmobile. If you want a machine to yourself, you will need to book it for two or the upgrade option. This means that you may end up with a stranger on your snowmobile if you’re a solo traveler.

✅ Are you a glasses wearer? Don’t worry, you can still bring them along because the helmets used have facemasks and not goggles. Just be careful that if the balaclava is brought over your mouth and nose, it may steam your glasses up.

✅ Make sure your boots are a little big. This pertains to the ones you get from Safartica. You don’t want them super tight or you feet as you’ll be able to take advantage of your natural body heat floating around, causing your feet to get cold during the trip.

✅ It is colder as a passenger than a driver (in my opinion). I think this is a good opportunity to cheat a little – and by ‘cheat’, I mean to use rechargeable hand warmers! Just make sure to pack these in your carry-on as they will get taken out of checked luggage.

FAQ

When is snowmobile season?

Snowmobile season is typically from December until March or April, but it can vary from year to year! This past December we had very little snow in the city center. But, December is the high season, so they try to make it work by shifting routes, etc.

I did this tour in mid-March and the ice on the river wasn’t safe a couple of weeks after I went. They will always test and follow safety protocols, but with that said, the season can shift depending on the weather.

What should I wear on a snowmobile tour?

You will be given a suit, boots, mittens, a helmet, and a balaclava when you get dressed at the Safartica office.

I would recommend wearing wool socks (with a thinner pair underneath a thicker woolen pair), wool base layers (both top and bottom), and a heavier sweater. The suits keep you warm, but if the temperatures are -10C (14F) or below, it can be cold!

Who can’t take this tour?

Most everyone can take this tour! It is not permitted to kids ages 0-3 and kids that are 4-14 will be seated in a sled behind the guide’s snowmobile (and they encourage one parent to join them for the comfort of the kid). This trip is also not recommended for pregnant women.

Do you need a driver’s license to operate a snowmobile?

All drivers must have a valid driver’s license. If you do not have one, you can be a passenger but are not allowed to operate the machine.

Will I need insurance for this snowmobile tour?

If something happens to one of the snowmobiles and it is deemed your fault, you will be charged up to €900 for the damages (but not more than that). Safartica gives you the option to purchase ‘peace-of-mind’ insurance that will charge €20 per person which will bring that amount down to €150.

I was on this tour with my partner who hasn’t driven a snowmobile as often as I have so I was keen to let him do most of the driving and I would take photos. Because of this, we just got that extra insurance for him since I would not be operating the machine. Had I decided to share driving duties, it would have made the price €40 instead of €20.

The other people on my tour were from Minnesota and North Dakota and were familiar with snowmobiles so they opted not to purchase any even though we did.

Should you go on a snowmobile tour in Rovaniemi?

I think that snowmobiling is one of the most adventurous activities in Rovaniemi in winter and one that you should consider doing here if you’re looking for an adrenaline rush!

Tours will be at max capacity in December, so just be aware that your group may be full and the tour may move a little slowly. But, at other times of the year, you will likely have a smaller group and a faster pace.

Let me know if you have any questions about taking a snowmobile tour in Rovaniemi. Thanks!