The 5 best Rovaniemi snowmobile tours for families

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I’ve found the best snowmobile tours in Rovaniemi for families – there are some absolutely fabulous options for your Lapland visit with the kids so let me guide you through what’s on offer and who it’s best for. Snowmobiling is one of the most exhilarating ways to experience Lapland’s winter landscape, and Rovaniemi offers a range of tours that are genuinely family-friendly. Unlike some high-speed adult safaris, the best options for families are designed so that children can feel safe and included, either as passengers on a guide’s sled or on their own mini snowmobiles in controlled areas. I’ve also found a tour that’s perfect for teens who want to ride on the back of the snowmobile and included my review of our own experience. For those with limited time, there are some great combination tours (which might also save you some money) if you fancy husky or reindeer rides as well. Let’s get stuck in – here are five of the best snowmobile tours in Rovaniemi for families:

1. Family snowmobile & sled safari with BBQ

Best for: Families with younger children who want a gentle snowmobile experience and a memorable group activity.

One of the most popular snowmobile tours in Rovaniemi for families lets adults drive the snowmobile while children ride safely in a heated sled pulled by the guide’s snowmobile. Kids stay warm and secure as you explore snowy forest trails together, and most tours include a hot drink around a campfire. I’ve picked out a well-rated tour below which includes an hour exploring on your snowmobiles, as well as hot drinks and a BBQ of grilled sausages for the ultimate family experience. The Arctic GM Experiences OY – Snowmobile Arctic Safari & BBQ tour is suitable for children aged 6 upwards and it’s perfect for a well-rounded experience with younger kids – here’s what it includes:

About 1 hour snowmobile driving on forest & tundra trails
Transfers in modern coach bus from Arctic GM office to snowmobile location
Helmets and full safety equipment
Thermal overalls
Hot drinks & barbecue (grilled sausages)
Small groups (max 5 snowmobiles per guide)
For safety, children under 6 cannot join. Children under 15 ride in a sled pulled by the guide, while those 15+ and at least 140 cm tall can sit as passengers.

Click here to check out the Arctic GM Snowmobile Safari & BBQ tour on Get Your Guide.

2. Snowmobile safari for families with teens

Best for: Families with children over the age of 12 who want to ride on a snowmobile.

When I was hunting through the various Snowmobile tours in Rovaniemi my main focus for our trip was finding the best option for families with teenagers. Many of the tours only allow children to be pulled along in a sled which is perfect for little ones but likely a bit tame for families with older kids. Luckily, I found a particular tour that allows children over 150cm tall to ride on the back of their parent’s mobile without any age restriction. A lot of kids reach this height around age 12 so this makes the Snowmobile Safari Adventure from NordicUnique Travels absolutely perfect for a fun experience with teens. Make sure you check out my review of our experience as well – we had such a fabulous time – and here’s what’s included:

Enjoy a snowmobile experience through snow-covered forests
Transport to and from their office in the city centre
English-speaking guide
Winter clothes (overalls, boots, gloves, balaclava, and helmet)
Approximately 1 hour snowmobile ride
Hot blueberry juice
If the child is 150cm or taller, they can be seated on the snowmobile paying the adult’s price

Click here to check out the Snowmobile Safari Adventure from NordicUnique Travels on Get Your Guide.

3. Snowmobile Northern Lights tours

Best for: Families who want to take their tour in the evening to catch a glimpse of the Northern Lights.

For families who are keen to see the Northern Lights, you might want to look for tours which combine snowmobile safaris with an aurora hunt for the ultimate Rovaniemi adventure! I’ve found a fabulous tour from the Arctic Circle Snowmobile Park – the Aurora Borealis Snowmobile Safari with Campfire is perfect for families looking for the ultimate Northern Lights experience alongside a campfire and fun on the snowmobiles. The trip is suitable for children aged 4 and above but bear in mind that the temperatures in Lapland obviously drop even lower once the sun disappears (something to consider if you’re travelling with little ones). However, children can join the safari sitting on a sledge under warm blankets. Here’s what this tour includes:

Take an exhilarating late-night snowmobile ride
Look for the Northern Lights in the Arctic Circle
Enjoy a break with juice and biscuits by a campfire
Transportation from the City Centre of Rovaniemi
Approximately 2 hours of snowmobiling
Winter clothes (overalls, boots, and gloves)
Snowmobile equipment (balaclava and helmet)

Click here to check out the Arctic Circle Snowmobile Park Aurora Borealis Snowmobile Safari on Get Your Guide.

4. Snowmobile tours with husky & reindeer rides

Best for: Families who want to experience snowmobiling as well as husky and reindeer rides, or those with limited time.

Many families stay in Rovaniemi for a very short time so, if you’re trying to pack in as much as possible, you might want to look for tours which combine snowmobile safaris, husky rides and reindeer sleigh rides. For those with a long Lapland bucket list, a tour which allows you to enjoy all three magical experiences might be just the thing – and combining them all into one booking is likely to save you both time and money too. Certainly, for families visiting only for a day or two, the Snowmobile Safari, Reindeer & Husky Sleigh Ride from NordicUnique Travels is a fantastic way to fit it all in! This experience is suitable for children aged 3 and up – here’s what the combined 4.5 hour adventure includes:

Uncover the wild beauty of the Arctic forests on snowmobile and sleigh rides
Hot drinks and snacks
Pickup and drop-off at the Santa Claus Holiday Village or Nordic Unique Travels office
English-speaking guide
Winter clothes: overalls, boots, gloves and balaclava
1 hour snowmobile ride
Short reindeer sleigh ride
Short husky sleigh ride
If the child is 150 cm or taller, they can be seated on the snowmobile paying the adult’s price
If the child is shorter than 150 cm, they must be seated in the sled

Click here to check out the Snowmobile Safari, Reindeer & Husky Sleigh Ride from NordicUnique Travels on Get Your Guide.

5. Family experience with mini snowmobiles

Best for: Families with younger children who would love to test their driving skills.

The last option I’m including here looks like great fun for families with younger kids who want to have a go themselves – it offers the best of both worlds. (If that sounds like you then I’ve found the perfect tour!) With the Apukka Resort Oy Family Snowmobiling Trip the Rovaniemi tours include two parts – initially the adults will drive the snowmobiles while the children enjoy the ride on a sled but later the kids can have a blast on a mini snowmobile making this option really popular with families. The mini snowmobiles are suitable for children aged 5 to 10, with a weight limit of 50 kg, so this one is a fabulous pick for families with younger kids. (I know my two would have loved this experience at that age!) Here’s what it includes:

A laid-back 10-20km snowmobile ride through the Lapland wilderness
Children can enjoy the mini snowmobiles in a secure area
Snowmobile driving and safety instructions
Hot drink
Winter clothing (thermal overall, thermal boots, woolen socks, mittens)
Transfers to and from Rovaniemi city centre or Santa Claus Village to Apukka Resort

Click here to check out the Family Snowmobiling Trip from Apukka Resort Oy on Get Your Guide.

What else is there to do in Rovaniemi with kids?

Rovaniemi is an excellent base for your Lapland adventure as there’s loads to do and it’s all within easy reach on foot or via public transport. You could take the kids to Santa Claus Village to see Santa, play in the snow, toast marshmallows and for other experiences like reindeer rides and husky rides. It’s also home to Snowman World with snow slides, ice-skating, a snow maze and snow art – great fun for a visit with younger kids. Alternatively, you could visit SantaPark – an indoor attraction inside a cavern where you can cross the Arctic Circle, take part in festive activities, watch shows and enjoy a magical train ride. And, your visit won’t be complete without a day spent at Lapland Winter Park – we had such an amazing time there and it offers a really authentic experience. For the ultimate thrill-seekers, ice-karting looks like brilliant fun for adults and teens! For lots of ideas, make sure you check out my article: The 15 best things to do in Rovaniemi with kids.

Is a Rovaniemi snowmobile safari worth it?

I hope that this article has helped you to find the best snowmobile adventure for your Rovaniemi trip – there are some incredible tours on offer for families looking for an unforgettable experience. We really enjoyed our snowmobiling experience with NordicUnique Travels and, although snowmobiling with the kids is a pricey excursion, it’s definitely worth budgeting for some of the once in a lifetime activities on offer if you’re heading to Lapland. To keep costs under control, look at blending a few of the costly adventures with free or cheap activities like sledging, ice-skating and DIY aurora hunts.

Have a magical time! I’ve got lots of guides for things to do in Rovaniemi, where to stay, general tips for a budget-friendly experience and what to wear etc so make sure you check out my other articles to make your getaway run smoothly: