Are you looking to go snowmobiling in Rovaniemi? In this guide, I detail everything you need to know about the best Rovaniemi snowmobile tour, including how to book, what to expect, and answers to frequently asked questions.
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If you have any questions about booking a Rovaniemi snowmobile tour, let me know in the comments
Why I Booked a Snowmobiling Tour From Rovaniemi
Finding a decent snowmobiling tour is a challenge. Firstly, there are different levels of tours, ranging from those suitable for beginners to those that require experience and expertise.
I have spent hours reading tour descriptions to find the best one in Rovaniemi that is suitable for beginners, but still offers a fun route.
I am not the most experienced snowmobiler, having only been once before this tour while visiting Kiruna. The excursion I took in Kiruna was the perfect introduction for a complete beginner.
That being said, I knew I wouldn’t be satisfied with a tour that did a small loop around a lake or drove for 30 minutes before stopping for a fire.
After much research, I decided to book the Safartica snowmobiling experience. I chose this tour because the ride length was fairly decent, and the tour was entry-level but offered varying scenery.
Key Tour Information
Below you will find the key tour information for the snowmobile tour I took
Provider: Safartica
Tour Length: 3 Hours
Pick-up: Yes, from selected hotels
Booking Period: November – April (exact booking period may change depending on snow levels)
How to Book a Rovaniemi Snowmobiling Tour
I generally book all of my tours through GetYourGuide.com as their platform is easy to use and I can easily build out a full itinerary without the hassle of having to book through multiple websites.
The booking process is easy; simply choose the date and the number of participants. You will then be provided several time slots to choose from. Once you have selected your desired time, you can add it to your basket and continue shopping or go and check out.
At checkout, you will need to provide pick-up information. Unfortunately, their pick-up locations are not extensive, but there is generally a pick-up point for hotels in each of the main areas of Rovaniemi.
Alternatively, you can choose to meet at the office in the city center.
Once you have completed your pick-up information, you can proceed to pay for the tour. Payment can be done via any major card provider, PayPal, and other online payment providers.
Once you have paid, you will receive a booking confirmation, and further communication will be done directly with the tour provider.
Where to Meet For Your Rovaniemi Snowmobile Tour
Where to meet will depend on whether you have requested to be picked up or not. If you have requested a pick-up, you will be emailed by Safartica in the days prior to your tour, confirming the time you need to be waiting.
It is important to be on time, as they will not wait for you, and if you miss your pick-up, you will miss the tour.
If you have chosen to meet at the Safartica office, then you will need to make your way to Koskikatu 9. You should be at the office 25 minutes before the tour starts.
My Experience of Snowmobiling in Rovaniemi
The tour starts in the office, where you will be kitted out in a snowsuit, boots, gloves, a balaclava, and a helmet. The helmets they provide have a full-face visor, so no need for goggles. This was great for me as a glasses wearer, as I was able to comfortably wear them under the visor.
You can leave all the belongings you don’t want to bring with you in the changing room. At the office, you will need to sign in and confirm you have a driving license, and you can opt to purchase additional insurance for your trip (see the FAQ section for more information about the insurance).
Once everyone is changed, you will head out to the snowmobiles, which are located next to the river.
The guide will provide you with all the instructions on how to drive the snowmobile, the hand signals you need to look out for, and give instructions for your trip. Once the tutorial session is done, you will be on your way!
Every tour is different and depends on group size and the ability of those in the group. When I took the tour, it was just my partner and me and two guys from South Dakota. We had all snowmobiled before and had no issue keeping a steady pace.
From the starting point, we drove down to the frozen river and headed north out of the city. After a short time on the river, our guide decided that we were all able to drive our snowmobiles with fewer speed restrictions.
We sped along the river following our guide, taking in the scenery as we drove between islands.
The river itself is generally an easy place to snowmobile, with set highways marked out along the way. However, after a warm winter, the river itself was incredibly bumpy due to periods where the ice had melted a bit and refrozen.
After cruising along the river, we turned off and went up into a forest. The forest route is specifically for snowmobiles and makes for a great change-up from the river. The trails through the forest are a little more technical but wide enough that still easy for beginners.
The forest route culminated at a frozen swamp on the top of the hill, which was perfect for speeding around and having some fun, as we were such a small group.
After we had our fill of driving on the swamp, we took a short break. Our guide had some cookies and hot glögi for every to enjoy.
This was also the first opportunity to do a little photoshoot on the snowmobiles. After the break, we continued with the route.
Continuing through the forest, we drove to a stunning viewpoint, where we had another opportunity to take some photographs.
This was probably the most picturesque stop as we were able to look out over the frozen river below and across the boreal forests that cover northern Finland.
We then continued back down the hill and onto the frozen river once again. Given our group’s experience level at this point, we seemed to be very far ahead of schedule.
To compensate for this, our guide seemed to take us to some more unique spots along the river, checking out small inlets and driving over the islands dotted throughout the river.
We stopped for one more photoshoot along the river, where our guide took photos of us using my partner’s phone.
I loved this route as the scenery really varied, which made it both fun and a little bit of a challenge. The river provided a great spot to gain confidence in controlling a snowmobile.
Eventually, we made our way back to the starting point, and the experience was over. After getting changed, you can head into Rovaniemi city center for your next tour. If you were picked up, you can be taken back to your pick-up location.
FAQ
Who Can’t Take This Snowmobiling Tour From Rovaniemi
This tour is not recommended for pregnant women or people with musculoskeletal issues. You will also need to have the ability to get on and off the snowmobile. Children under three are also not allowed to take the tour.
Do I Need a Driving License?
To drive a snowmobile, you are required to have a full driving license and be over 18 years of age. If you are travelling in a pair and neither of you has a driving license, you will either have to be matched up with someone else, or you will not be allowed to join the tour.
What Insurance Do I Need for Snowmobiling in Rovaniemi?
Your travel insurance may cover snowmobiling, but in some cases, it doesn’t! Thankfully, in the event of an accident, Safartica’s general insurance fully covers any medical bills that may occur. If you crash the snowmobile, you are, however, liable for up to €990 in damages. You can reduce the liability down to €150 by purchasing supplemental coverage before the starts for €20.
Each driver in a group would need to purchase the extra insurance to be fully covered. We opted for the additional coverage just for peace of mind, as while I was confident in my abilities, there is always a chance someone crashes into you.
Can Children Take This Snowmobile Tour?
Babies three and under can not take the tour. For children aged between 4-14, they need to sit in a sleigh pulled behind the guide. It is usually recommended for one of the parents to join the younger children on this sleigh. Those between 14 and 18 years old can ride as a passenger on the snowmobile.
Can I Have a Snowmobile on My Own?
Normally, snowmobiles are shared between two people. If there are two people eligible to drive, they can switch halfway round. However, if you want to have your own snowmobile, you can pay an extra €55 to be by yourself.
To book this, you will need to contact Safartica after you have made your booking.
Is This Tour Good for Those With Snowmobiling Experience?
This tour is marketed towards beginners, but if you have been snowmobiling before, it is still enjoyable. I will say I was lucky that we had a small group of just 2 pairs. The earlier group had 25 snowmobiles on it, and I can imagine that it would be a bit slow and dull for those used to going fast. If you are looking for a more advanced tour, Safartica offers a few more challenging tours:
- A full-day tour into the wilderness – On this 6-hour tour, you will drive out of Rovaniemi into the surrounding forests. Carving your way through fresh snow and eating a hot meal cooked over a campfire.
- Snowmobile to the Ice Hotel – This tour includes 3 hours of snowmobiling, a guided tour of the hotel, and a two-course lunch.
What to Bring on Your Tour
The most important thing is to make sure you are wearing good base and mid layers. Safartica will provide you with a thermal suit, boots, gloves, a balaclava, and a helmet.
We also took a GoPro Hero 11 with us, which I clipped to my snowsuit. Otherwise, we took all photos on our phones as there is nowhere to keep a bigger camera while you are on the trip!
Do you have any questions about booking a snowmobiling tour from Rovaniemi? Let me know in the comments!