Aurora Snowmobile Adventure in Kiruna: Drive or Ride

Steer a snowmobile through the Arctic dark chasing the Aurora Borealis.

An evening snowmobile adventure in Kiruna that runs 3 to 3.5 hours starting at 19:00, letting you either drive your own machine through Lapland's snowy forests or ride in a sled while your guide navigates and shares stories of the region. The tour includes winter clothing, helmets, hot drinks and a safety briefing. You choose whether to handle the throttle yourself or sit back and watch the night sky.

The experience

You meet at 19:00 and head out into the Arctic night on a snowmobile tour built around one thing: the chance to see the Northern Lights dance across the sky while moving through the quiet of Lapland's forests. The landscape here is all frost-covered trees and snowy paths with almost no light pollution, so the conditions for spotting the Aurora are as good as they get. Your guide speaks English and knows the region's stories and the local traditions tied to the lights: the kind of detail that fills the silences between stops.

The core choice is whether you drive or ride. If you book to drive your own snowmobile, you handle the machine yourself through the landscape. If two of you are driving, you share one snowmobile and take turns at the throttle. If you choose the sled option, you sit in a heated cabin towed behind the guide's machine, which means you're not steering but you're also not exposed to the wind and cold the way drivers are. Either way, the tour covers the same ground and hunts the same sky.

Winter clothing, helmets and safety gear are all provided, and you get a briefing before you leave so you know what to expect. Hot drinks warm you during the stops, which happen so you can step out and look up without the engine noise. The whole outing runs between three and three and a half hours, which is long enough to move deep into the forest and give the Aurora time to show itself if it's going to.

What’s included

• Winter clothing, helmets and safety gear.
• hot drinks during the tour.
• safety briefing before departure.
• English-speaking guide.
• pickup included.

Options for this experience

3 options

Cozy Sled RideGuide in English · Available from 3 Dec · 19:00Sled: Settle into a cosy sled and enjoy the ride. Includes pickup.

Operate your own snowmobileGuide in English · Available from 3 Dec · 19:00Drive your own snowmobile, with pickup included

Two people share one snowmobileGuide in English · Available from 3 Dec · 19:00Snowmobile option: Choosing a quantity of "1" covers two people sharing one snowmobile. Pickup is included.

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

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 19:00

Book up to4h before

GroupUp to 4

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 9 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 or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Explore Arctic

Is this one for you?Choose to drive your own snowmobile if you want hands-on control of the machine and the thrill of steering through the Arctic landscape yourself; pick the shared-driving option if two of you want to take turns at the throttle; book the sled if you'd rather stay warm in a heated cabin and focus entirely on watching the sky without managing the machine.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

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.

Do I need a driver's license to go on this snowmobile tour?

A valid car driving license (category B) is required only if you book the option to drive your own snowmobile. If you choose to share a snowmobile with another driver or book the sled ride, no license is needed.

What's the minimum age to join the Aurora snowmobile adventure?

The minimum age is 9 years old. Children that age can participate in any of the three options: driving their own machine, sharing one with another driver, or riding in the sled.

What happens if the Northern Lights don't appear on the night I go?

The tour runs regardless of whether the Aurora shows up, since the activity itself is the snowmobile ride through the Lapland forests at night. The lights are never guaranteed, but the guide will position you in the best spot to watch for them if conditions allow.

Is the sled ride heated, or will I be cold sitting in it?

The sled is heated, so you stay warm inside the cabin while the guide tows you through the landscape. Winter clothing and hot drinks are included with all options, so you're equipped either way.

How long does the whole tour take from start to finish?

The tour runs 3 to 3.5 hours total, starting at 19:00. That includes the safety briefing, the ride through the forests, stops to look for the Northern Lights, and the return to the meeting point.