Snowmobile Safari to Reindeer Farm: Saariselkä

Snowmobiles, taiga forests, a reindeer farm, and a sleigh ride through the Arctic

A 3-hour snowmobile tour in Saariselkä combines a gentle ride through snow-covered Northern Lapland wilderness with a visit to a working reindeer farm, where you meet the animals and their Sámi herders, hear stories about centuries-old herding traditions, and take a short traditional sleigh ride. The tour includes snowmobile driving for roughly 1 to 1.5 hours, winter gear, a guide in English, and hot coffee or tea. You can ride solo or share a snowmobile with a partner.

Step-by-step itinerary

Snowmobile safari and reindeer farm visit

• Ride snowmobiles through Arctic wilderness
• Visit traditional reindeer farm
• Meet reindeer and local herders
• Learn about Sámi reindeer herding culture
• Enjoy short reindeer sleigh ride

The experience

Modern snowmobiles carry you along peaceful winter trails through taiga forests and Arctic landscapes: no high-speed racing, just the sound of the engine and the snow beneath you. The route leads inland from Saariselkä toward a traditional reindeer farm where Sámi herders still manage their herds the way their families have for centuries. The contrast between the quiet ride and the working farm is the heart of the day: you move from wilderness into a place where people actually live with reindeer.

At the farm, you meet the reindeer and the herders who tend them. They share stories about daily Arctic life, how reindeer are trained, and what it takes to manage a herd through the long winter. Then you climb into a traditional sleigh pulled by reindeer: a short ride that feels like stepping into an older way of traveling. Winter gear is provided, and the tour wraps with hot coffee or tea before the ride back to Saariselkä.

You choose between riding a snowmobile solo or sharing one with a partner at checkout. Either way, a live guide in English leads the group and handles the route. The whole experience runs about 3 hours from start to finish, including the farm visit and the sleigh ride. Transportation to and from your accommodation is included, and the operator's liability insurance covers the ride.

What’s included

• Approximately 1 to 1.5 hours of snowmobile driving through Arctic taiga forests.
• visit to a traditional reindeer farm with time to meet the animals and Sámi herders.
• a short traditional reindeer sleigh ride.
• winter adventure gear.
• hot coffee and tea.
• a live guide in English.
• transportation to and from your accommodation.
• and the operator's liability insurance.

Options for this experience

2 options

Twin DrivingGuide in English · Available from 1 Dec · 09:00Two people share one snowmobile; pickup is included

Solo DrivingGuide in English · Available from 1 Dec · 09:00Driving solo, one person per snowmobile

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesTuesday and FridayDeparts at 09:00Last departure this season: 31 Oct

Book up to16h before

AgesAdult (15 and older) · Child (4 to 14 years) · Under 4: can't be booked

GroupUp to 15

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 11 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 3 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancy

Operated by Lapland Welcome Oy

Is this one for you?Choose solo driving if you want to control the snowmobile yourself, or twin driving if you'd rather share the machine with a partner and split the cost. Both options follow the same route and include the same farm visit and sleigh ride, so the choice is about how you want to experience the ride.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 14 years). Children under 4 can't be included in the booking.

What's the difference between solo driving and twin driving?

Solo driving means you operate your own snowmobile for the entire route. Twin driving lets you share one snowmobile with a partner, taking turns or riding together. Both options include the same farm visit and sleigh ride.

How much time do you actually spend on the snowmobile?

You'll ride for roughly 1 to 1.5 hours across the winter trails. The rest of the 3-hour tour is spent at the reindeer farm meeting the animals and herders, taking the sleigh ride, and having coffee or tea.

What do the Sámi herders actually do at the farm?

The herders manage the reindeer year-round, training them, caring for them through the Arctic winter, and using traditional methods passed down through their families. They share stories about their daily work and the culture of reindeer herding when you visit.

Is this tour suitable if I'm not very fit?

The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels. The snowmobile does the work (you just sit and steer), and the pace is relaxed, not demanding. The farm visit and sleigh ride are gentle activities.