"I have never driven a snowmobile. Is that a problem?" It is probably the question we hear most often from first-time visitors, usually asked quietly, as if it were embarrassing. It is not. Almost everybody who rides a snowmobile in Lapland is doing it for the first time, and the tours are designed around that fact.

We live in Rovaniemi, and Joona has worked in Lapland tourism, so we have watched nervous beginners turn into grinning drivers within ten minutes. This guide is for you if you are new to snowmobiles and want to know which tour to start with, what to expect and what to avoid.

Is it really fine to be a complete beginner?

Yes. A snowmobile is easier to drive than most people expect. There is a throttle on the right handlebar, a brake on the left, and a guide who explains both before you move an inch. You ride in a line behind the guide, at a pace set by the group, on trails prepared for the purpose. Nobody expects you to know anything in advance.

The one thing we always tell beginners is to relax your shoulders. Nervous drivers grip the handlebars too tightly and tire quickly. Hold lightly, look where you want to go rather than at the track in front of you and let the machine do the work.

Check live dates for the one-hour ride here, and enter HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 at checkout for 5% off.

Check one-hour snowmobile dates and prices →

There is also a mental side to being a beginner. Most people imagine a snowmobile as a loud, fast, slightly dangerous machine, and the first minute on the trail proves otherwise. The group moves at a steady pace, usually well below what the machine can do, and the guide leads the line so you only have to follow. By the end of the first ten minutes, most beginners are looking at the scenery rather than at their hands. If you are travelling with a partner or friend, agree on a signal for "I need a break", and tell the guide at the start. It is perfectly normal to stop, shake out your hands and carry on.

The one-hour ride, in plain terms

The Frozen Trails one-hour ride5% off · HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 is listed as a one-hour snowmobile ride with a briefing and warm gear, and it is described as beginner friendly. The price starts from €99. The listing shows age bands of 13 and over and 3 to 12, so read the booking window carefully to see who can drive and who rides as a passenger.

Because it is only an hour, it is a low-commitment way to try the machine. If you hate it, you have lost very little. If you love it, you will know what you want to book next. We have written about the child side of this ride in snowmobiling with children aged 3 to 12.

What the briefing covers

Every reputable snowmobile tour starts with a safety briefing. You can expect to learn how to start and stop the machine, how to use the throttle and brake, how to sit and steer and what the guide's hand signals mean. Ask questions. Guides would much rather answer five questions than watch someone guess.

The briefing also covers distance. You keep a safe gap from the machine ahead, you do not overtake the guide and you do not stop suddenly in the middle of the trail. These are simple rules, and they are the difference between a fun hour and a stressful one.

For driver rules such as age and licence requirements, read the booking window for your chosen tour. We do not want to guess at rules that can differ between products.

One hour, half day or full safari: choosing your first tour

This is the question behind most beginner emails. Our general advice is simple. If you are nervous, if you are travelling with children or if you have limited time, take the one-hour ride. If you are confident, travelling with teenagers or adults who like speed, or just want more, step up to the Wilderness Snowmobile Safari5% off · HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 (from €199, 5 hours, with about 2 to 2.5 hours of driving).

The safari is still listed as easy, but it asks more of your hands and neck, and the day is longer. We compare the two for families in our teenagers guide, and the same reasoning works for adult beginners.

Whichever you choose, book a morning slot if you can. Beginners often feel more comfortable in daylight, and the guide can show you the landscape properly.

Booking tips for beginners

Book as early as you can in December and January, when snowmobile tours are among the most popular activities. Weekends and school holidays fill first, and if you have a particular date in mind, check the calendar before you plan the rest of your trip.

Check the cancellation policy in the booking window before you pay. Policies differ between tours, and a tour that takes place on a Monday may be easier to rearrange than one on a weekend.

When you are ready, choose your date and type HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 at checkout for 5% off. Always check that the total changes before you pay.

Here is a short checklist to run through the evening before. Charge your phone and any camera. Decide who is driving and who is riding, if the tour allows passengers. Put a hat, a neck warmer and thin gloves by the door. Eat something light but filling an hour or two beforehand. Tell the operator about any health condition, such as a bad back or neck, because snowmobiles do jolt over bumps. And make a note of the meeting time and place from your confirmation, because tours start promptly and a late arrival can cost you the ride.

What to wear and what to expect physically

Warm clothing is provided on these tours, including overalls and boots, and a helmet is part of the equipment. You should still wear warm layers underneath, a thin pair of gloves for your phone and a neck warmer if you have one.

Physically, a snowmobile ride is more tiring than it looks. You are sitting, but your arms and shoulders work, and your legs brace over bumps. After an hour most people feel pleasantly worn, and after a full safari they feel it properly. Plan an easy evening.

If you are prone to motion sickness, the ride is normally smooth, but speed and bumps can bother some people. Ask the guide to set the pace and sit near the front of the group.

When people tell us a snowmobile ride was too tiring, the cause is nearly always the same: they were tense. Tense hands, tense shoulders, tense jaw. The cure is to breathe out, loosen your grip and let your elbows bend a little. Lean slightly into corners, as the guide shows you, and keep your knees relaxed against the seat. After a few minutes your body finds the rhythm, and the hour passes quickly. If your hands get cold, tell the guide at the next stop, and they will often suggest a quick stretch or a warmer glove.

Also think about your group's mix. If one person is confident and another is nervous, the nervous one should ride directly behind the guide, where the pace is steadiest, and the confident one can follow at the back. Guides usually arrange this anyway, but there is no harm in asking. And if you are travelling with a child who rides as a passenger, keep the child between two adults in the line and tell them to hold on whenever the machine is moving.

Next steps: aurora by snowmobile and longer days

Once you have the hang of it, the Northern Lights Snowmobile Adventure at Lapland Winter Park5% off · HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 (from €149, 2.5 hours, about 1 hour 15 minutes of driving, BBQ by the fire) is a wonderful second step. It puts you on a snowmobile under the winter sky, which for many guests is the best thing they do in Lapland. We compare the evening options in our aurora snowmobile guide.

For a quieter family option, the Arctic Snowmobile Tour on Private Trails5% off · HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 (from €99) takes place on private family-owned trails by a frozen lake, with roughly one hour of driving.

In mid-December the daylight is short, so read our short daylight plan before you book a long safari.

See the Wilderness Snowmobile Safari (from €199) →

Frequently asked questions

Do I need experience to ride a snowmobile?
No. The tours start with a briefing, and the one-hour ride is described as beginner friendly.

How much is the one-hour ride?
Listed from €99. With our 5% reader discount at checkout it costs a little less.

Can children ride?
The listing shows age bands of 13+ and 3 to 12. Check the booking window for who may drive and who rides as a passenger.

Is the longer safari too much for a beginner?
It is listed as easy, with about 2 to 2.5 hours of driving, but it is tiring. Many beginners start with the one-hour ride.

What should I wear?
Winter clothing is provided. Wear warm layers underneath, with a hat and gloves.

Can I try aurora by snowmobile?
Yes, the Northern Lights Snowmobile Adventure at Lapland Winter Park is listed from €149.

Our pick for a first-timer

Start with the one-hour ride, enjoy it and decide afterwards whether to book something longer. It costs less than most evenings out in London or Paris, and the feeling of running across a frozen lake in the Arctic is one you will keep.

Choose your date, and enter HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 at checkout for 5% off.

Book the one-hour snowmobile ride →

For more ideas, see our hub of activities in Rovaniemi.

A last thought for the nervous: the guides have seen it all. They have taught grandparents, small children and people who have never driven anything with a throttle. They will not laugh at your first wobble, and they will not let you get into trouble. Tell them if you are anxious, and they will pitch the pace accordingly. Some of the happiest faces we see after a tour belong to people who nearly stayed in the hotel.