€99 or €199 Snowmobile Tour in Rovaniemi?: Arctic Private Trails vs the Wilderness Snowmobile Safari
One tour is about an hour of driving by a frozen lake, the other is a five-hour safari with two to two and a half hours at the handlebars. Here is how to choose.
The two most common snowmobile questions we get are about price and time. A €99 tour and a €199 tour both promise a snowmobile in the Lapland forest, so what is the difference, and is it worth paying double?
We live in Rovaniemi and have watched visitors choose both ways. This is our guide to deciding, written from local knowledge and the listing details for each tour.
The Wilderness Snowmobile Safari5% off · HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 (from €199, five hours, about 2–2.5 hours of driving) is the proper safari. The Arctic Snowmobile Tour on Private Trails5% off · HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 (from €99, about one hour of driving by a frozen lake) is the shorter, family-friendly taster. Type HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 at checkout for 5% off either.
Our pick · 5% off with code HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5
Wilderness Snowmobile Safari
Live dates and prices open right here on this page — you book directly with StayLapland and stay on hungrytravelfamily.com. From €199 per adult.
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The difference in one minute
The €99 tour is a taster. According to the listing it runs on private family-owned trails by a frozen lake with about one hour of actual driving, and it welcomes ages from babies to teens in the passenger categories. It suits families and anyone who wants the experience without a long day.
The €199 safari is a bigger outing. It lasts about five hours with roughly two to two and a half hours of driving, a guide, equipment, winter clothing and local food and drinks by the open fire. It is rated easy.
In short: pay €99 to try a snowmobile, pay €199 to spend an afternoon on one.
What the Wilderness Snowmobile Safari includes
The listing includes a helmet and balaclava, safety instructions, a guide in English (other languages on request), thermal clothing and boots, local food and drinks by the open fire and photos on your own device. The booking cut-off is four hours before start, which helps with last-minute plans.
Free cancellation applies up to 24 hours before the activity. It is not recommended for children under 3. If you want to operate a snowmobile, a driver's licence is required; passengers do not need one.
The price starts at €199 per adult. Type HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 at checkout for 5% off.
What the Arctic Private Trails tour offers
The listing describes a snowmobile tour on private family-owned trails by a frozen lake, about one hour of actual driving and a family-friendly set-up, from €99. Age categories are broad, so it suits a family where the youngest rides as a passenger.
Because it is shorter, it is easier to fit around other activities. If you are travelling with a child who gets tired, this is the sensible option.
Which should you pick?
Pick the Private Trails tour if it is your first snowmobile, you are on a budget, or you want a short outing. Pick the safari if you want to travel through real forest for a few hours and enjoy a meal at a fire.
Be honest about how much you like driving. Two hours at the handlebars sounds wonderful until your hands are cold. If in doubt, our post on snowmobile safaris for beginners explains how it feels.
For couples and friends, who drives and who rides covers the practicalities of sharing machines.
Driving licence and passengers
If you want to operate a snowmobile, a driver's licence is required on the safari. Read the licence note on the booking page for the other tour. Passengers do not need a licence, and many groups take turns.
Bring your licence on the day. The guide will explain how to start, stop and steer, and the speeds are controlled. Our driver's licence guide answers the common questions.
Preparing for either tour
Both tours provide outer clothing, but bring warm base layers, wool socks, a hat and liner gloves. Eat beforehand. If you wear glasses, bring a strap, because the helmet and balaclava can push them around.
Charge your phone and keep it in an inside pocket. Children should have a spare layer. Our layering guide for snowmobiles goes through what we wear.
What the driving is really like
Snowmobiles in Lapland are simple to drive. A guide leads the group in a line, you follow at a controlled speed, and the machines have automatic transmission. Most first-timers are confident within minutes.
The first twenty minutes are usually the most fun, and the next hour is where you notice your hands and shoulders. On the five-hour safari, you will drive for roughly two to two and a half hours with breaks, which is a good amount for most adults but can feel long for beginners.
If you are travelling as a couple, you can take turns driving. Passengers sit behind the driver and do not need a licence. Alternate at each stop so both of you get time at the handlebars and time to enjoy the view.
Frequently asked questions
How much does each tour cost?
From €99 for Arctic Private Trails and from €199 for the Wilderness Safari. Type HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 at checkout for 5% off.
How long do I drive?
About one hour on the €99 tour and about 2–2.5 hours on the safari.
Do I need a licence?
To drive, a licence is required on the safari; passengers need none.
Can children join?
The listings differ; the private trails tour has broad age categories, the safari is not recommended under 3.
Can I cancel?
The safari offers free cancellation up to 24 hours before the activity.
Can I book at short notice?
The safari cut-off is four hours before the start, subject to availability.
Our pick
If you want one answer: the €199 safari for adults who love driving, the €99 tour for families and first-timers. Either way you get a real taste of Lapland.
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