Lake Inari Ice Fishing Safari: 6-Hour Guided Experience

Fish a frozen lake and warm up by an open fire in the Arctic

A 6-hour ice fishing safari from Kakslauttanen takes you by snowmobile-pulled sleigh across Lake Inari, where you fish with your own rod under a local guide's instruction, then warm up with a three-course lunch and hot drinks in a traditional Lappish teepee. Thermal clothing, shoes, fishing equipment and all transfers from your hotel are included. Children from age 7 are welcome.

The experience

You're picked up at 8:40am from your Kakslauttanen or Kiilopää area hotel and driven about 35 kilometers to the tour office in Ivalo, where you get thermal outfits and insulated shoes. From there, a minibus takes you another 15 kilometers to Koppelo village, where snowmobiles and sledges wait. Your guide, a local experienced fisherman, pulls your sleigh across the frozen landscape to a secret fishing spot on Lake Inari.

At the lake, you get your own ice fishing rod and instructions on technique. You'll use worm or maggot to fish, and the guide stays with you the whole time. After fishing, you ride back across the ice to a small island where two friendly reindeer are waiting to be fed. Then comes the warmth: a three-course lunch and hot drinks served in a traditional Lappish teepee with an open fire. The whole experience runs about 6 hours from pickup to drop-off.

The tour works even if you're not interested in catching fish: plenty of people come for the sleigh ride, the Arctic light, the reindeer, and the meal by the fire. The guide speaks English and handles all the logistics, so you just show up ready to dress warm.

What’s included

• Local experienced guide speaking English.
• thermal clothing and insulated shoes.
• ice fishing rod and bait.
• three-course lunch and hot drinks served in a traditional teepee.
• snowmobile-pulled sleigh transport across the lake.
• meeting and feeding two reindeer.
• hotel pickup and minibus transfers from Kakslauttanen or Kiilopää area.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 09:00 and 09:15Last departure this season: 31 Oct

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (13 to 74 years) · Child (7 to 12 years) · Under 7: can't be booked

GroupUp to 10

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 5 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Good to know

Low physical effortInfant seats availableNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Ivalo Safaris / Lenje Avoin Yhtiö

Is this one for you?The 6-hour day starts early and involves sitting still on ice and riding in an open sleigh in Arctic cold, so dress warmly and come ready for a slow pace. The fishing itself requires no strength or skill, and the guide handles all the technical work. This suits anyone who wants an authentic Arctic experience without strenuous activity.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (7 to 12 years). Children under 7 can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What do I actually do on the ice? Is it hard to fish if I've never done it?

Your guide gives you full instruction on ice fishing technique before you start, and you fish with your own rod using worm or maggot as bait. No experience is needed. The guide walks you through it.

How cold is it, and will the thermal clothing keep me warm enough?

Lake Inari is in the Arctic, so expect well below freezing. The tour provides thermal outfits and insulated shoes designed for this climate, and you spend the warmest part of the day in the teepee by an open fire eating lunch.

Can my 8-year-old come on this safari?

Children from age 7 are welcome. The tour includes meeting and feeding reindeer, riding in a sleigh pulled by snowmobile, and eating lunch by a campfire: all parts kids enjoy.

How long is the snowmobile sleigh ride across the lake?

The full experience is 6 hours from hotel pickup to drop-off. The sleigh ride to the fishing spot, fishing time, the ride to the island with reindeer, and lunch together make up that time. The exact breakdown varies depending on conditions and how the group fishes.