7 Fun Activities To Try In Lapland In Winter

Husky sleigh ride

This had to go on top of the list. I absolutely loved it! The huskies are magnificent animals, very intelligent and extremely friendly and playful. They can run up to 70 kilometers (43.5 miles) per day and undergo extensive training in autumn with their handlers. You get to ride and command your own sleigh and group of huskies, although to be fair, they know the way themselves and the most you’ll really need to do is slow them down a bit in case they become way too eager. Learning the controls is straightforward and you’ll receive a safety briefing prior to your ride.

There are a lot of different providers across Lapland. If you’re staying closer to Rovaniemi, you can find one husky farm in Santa’s village. You can normally choose the length of your trip, with many companies offering short 500 m – 2 km rides and longer ones 10 km -20 km. I’d definitely recommend going for either 10 km or 20 km – that means between one and two hour safaris, but you will enjoy every second of those two hours, I promise you. If you want to visit a reindeer farm, too, some farms also offer a combo day ticket – reindeer and husky sleigh rides, which tend to be better value for money compared to buying the experiences separately. One such farm is Raitola, close to Rovaniemi and Santa’s village, it’s a half day experience and lunch is included in the price.

Husky rides tend to be on the more expensive end of activities you can do, with prices starting at about 140 EUR per person for the 1-hour ride. That price can vary quite a bit depending on different factors, like booking a small group tour or getting farther away from the big tourist hot spots. However, the experience is really worth the money, so even if you’re trying to be money-conscious, this is one thing you should consider splashing on.

Feed the reindeer on a Reindeer farm

There are more reindeer in Lapland than people, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise to you that you can find reindeer farms everywhere. The reindeer are semi-wild. This basically means that they spend the winters on the farm, so that the farmers can make sure they’ll receive enough food, but are free to roam the forest in the summer and fend for themselves. Visits to a reindeer farm will typically include a guided tour, where you’ll get to know more about them, like for example how farmers recognise their own reindeer. You’ll also get to feed them, and of course take a ton of pictures while doing so, as well as a sleigh ride. Depending on the package you book, that can range from 500 m to 5 km. We did a 500 m ride which was part of our combo day package from Raitola, and I found that to be sufficient. It’s not as exciting as the husky ride, but if you do it, you’ll receive a reindeer driving license valid all over the world.

The prices, again, start at about 120-130 EUR per person and will go up if you decide to embark on a longer ride.

Snowmobiling on a frozen lake

This is something I had always wanted to try, so being in a country where there is an official snowmobile road network connecting different towns and landmarks, was a great place to do it. You should be aware that, because you’ll be driving on official roads, you’ll need a valid driver’s license which the tour operator will check before giving you the keys. Furthermore, you should not drink alcohol prior to your adventure, as this will be considered a DUI if police stop and breathalyse you. And yes, this does happen quite regularly there.

Driving a snowmobile was surprisingly harder than I’d expected, but you’ll get the hang of it after a while. It will help you if you’ve driven an ATV before, as the ‘dashboard’ and controls are very similar. You will, of course, receive a lengthy safety briefing beforehand. The tours then will take you through the Lappish wilderness, driving through forests, old train tracks and even on frozen lakes. Some operators also offer experiences such as ice fishing or farm visits by driving your snowmobile to the event locations. Again, like with the husky and reindeer tours, you’ll be able to choose between 1, 2 or 3 hour rides and will ride in a group. We did the 2-hour ride and, I have to say, I found it a bit tiring in the end, so consider this in your planning. Prices start at 140 EUR for a 2-hour drive.

Should you book an Aurora hunting experience?

One other popular tour is the Aurora hunting on a snowmobile. You should think twice before booking such a tour, since there is no guarantee that you’ll be able to see the Northern lights (obviously). Moreover, it will be dark, so you won’t be able to enjoy driving the snowmobile so much, either. If you’re staying in Rovaniemi, the Arktikum park is a great place to see the Auroras for free if they appear. Whatever you decide, don’t book your tour before you’re in Lapland. The Northern lights can only be predicted a few days in advance, so you if you book your tour a month before you visit, it’s an absolute shot in the dark and there’s a big chance you’ll waste your money. There is usually no problem booking a tour with a snowmobile company on the same day, so you shouldn’t worry about that.

Go hiking or snowshoe hiking

You should really go hiking when in Lapland if your schedule and fitness allow it. To walk in a snowy forest, not hearing anything other than the creaking sound as you step on the snow, is mesmerizing.

Lapland has a lot to offer when it comes to nature and hiking trails. Not very far away from Rovaniemi you’ll find the Arctic Circle Hiking Area, with a number of different trails, varying in length and difficulty. Another option will be to visit the Korouoma Frozen Waterfalls, that one is a bit farther away from Rovaniemi, but makes for a great day trip.

Something else you could try while in Lapland is snowshoe hiking. For this, you’ll need to find a guide or tour operator that offers it, as it would require some equipment (snowshoes and poles). You can book with a big tour company, but in order to keep the experience as authentic and serene as possible, I’d recommend finding a guide either on AirBnB or Get your Guide. This will ensure you’re in a small group with a local and can learn more about the customs and life of the Finns. Additionally, guides will usually have a snack and hot berry juice with them, that you could potentially enjoy around an open fire. Snowshoeing is really intuitive and you don’t need any previous experience. There will need to be quite a lot of snow already, so if you’re visiting earlier in the season it might not be possible to do it, but you can also enquire and see what your guide thinks. It’s an incredible experience and one you should definitely try while in Lapland.

Cross country skiing

This was one more thing that I had always wanted to do, and again what better place than Lapland, a region with hundreds of kilometers of cross-country tracks. One place you can try this, is on the hills of Ounasvaara, very close to Rovaniemi. Getting there might be a bit tricky, if you’re not renting a car, with the public transport operating scarcely to that location. Your best bet is a taxi, but this will cost you about 20 EUR one way from the city.

When there, you’ll be able to rent ski equipment and if you know what you’re doing, you can be on your way. There are 100 km of well-maintained tracks in the area, with 50 km with lighting. Otherwise, you could book a private 90-minute cross-country ski lesson for 79 EUR to learn the ropes. Cross-country is quite different from downhill skiing, as the skis are longer and narrower and I found it difficult to keep my balance, even though I’m a decent downhill skier.

If cross-country is not really your things, and prefer more the vertical kind of skiing, fear not. The area also has 10 slopes and an adventure snow park, so there’s something for everyone.

Ice Skating in the Forest

This is something of a hidden gem, as we found out about it from one of our hiking guides and was something we kind of missed in our preparation prior to the trip. I’m so glad we did it! They have about 500 m long forest ice skating track that is unique in all of Scandinavia. Moreover, the price, includes a snack and hot berry juice, as well as access to a traditional ice-skating rink, grand sled hill, snow track bowling and a few other activities, which at 49 EUR for the whole day, is quite the bargain compared to some of the other activities on offer.

You can also book a day ticket with the use of a private sauna and hot tub. It includes everything from the normal day ticket + the private use of the sauna and hot tub for 2 hours. It costs 99 EUR per person and the minimum number of people is 2, but if you’re travelling in a group, that is a great experience to consider. Beware though, they are only accepting one sauna booking per day, so you might need to reserve this quite some time in advance.

Another experience that they offer is the Aurora skating. You get a headlamp and will skate along the forest ice trail. The price is 129 EUR per person and includes transfer from Rovaniemi and a dinner in a hut. I should again point out that there’s no guarantee that you’ll be able to see the Northern lights, so don’t book this experience just because of them. If you can’t see them, you’ll still be able to enjoy the serene forest atmosphere and a traditional meal.

As with Ounasvaara, getting to the location is a bit tricky if you don’t have a car, unless you book the Aurora skating where the transfer is included. Taxis will again be your best bet, but expect to pay about 20-25 EUR from Rovaniemi.

Meet the Big Man

Last, but not least – meet Santa. Rovaniemi is the official hometown of Santa Claus, after all. This is a little bit a tourist trap, I have to say, but if you’re in Lapland you might as well. Santa, being the magician that he is, can be found at two locations at the same time. His official office is in Santa’s village, just outside Rovaniemi, however, he also has a city office – right in the middle of town. You can visit, meet and speak with him for free. Nevertheless, be prepared to be greeted by the elves upon leaving the room. You will be offered different packages to take this precious moment home. You can get hard or digital copies and prices start from 30 EUR. It is not something you have to do, especially if you don’t have kids, but that being said, I quite enjoyed exchanging a few pleasantries with good old Saint Nick.