Arctic Snow Hotel Snowmobile: Riding to a Hotel Made of Snow

• Top choice New Sled Arctic Safari from US$137 Duration3 hours^[2]Rating4.71 from 2,278 reviews^[2]GuideLive tour guide in English^[2]CancellationFree cancellation up to 24 hours^[2] Check availability
• Ice Fishing & Snowmobile from US$218 Duration5 - 6 hours^[6]Rating4.79 from 920 reviews^[6]GuideLive tour guide in English^[6]CancellationFree cancellation up to 24 hours^[6] See this tour
• Husky & Reindeer Day from US$228 Duration6 hours^[7]Rating4.61 from 1,288 reviews^[7]GuideLive tour guide in English^[7]CancellationFree cancellation up to 24 hours^[7] See this tour

The Arctic Snow Hotel snowmobile trip

The snowmobile safari to the Arctic Snow Hotel is a 6-hour guided ride that starts from US$296, with pickup included.^[1] You arrive by snowmobile to Arctic Snow Hotel with your guide and the rest of the group, after a run out of Rovaniemi on prepared trails through forest and over frozen ground. No previous experience is needed. The machines are automatic, the route is set by the guide, and most people feel steady on the sled within the first few minutes of riding. In winter the ground beyond the trailhead is often one smooth white sheet, and the headlight throws a low cone of light over the snow in front of you. The guide leads at a pace the whole group can keep, and the cold air, the throb of the engine and the wide quiet of the forest all become part of the rhythm of the ride.

If you would rather spend less and keep the day shorter, the Rovaniemi: Drive New 2025 Snowmobiles on Arctic Safari takes 3 hours and starts from US$137.^[2] That listing is rated 4.71 from 2,278 reviews, with scores of 4.9 for the guide, 4.7 for transportation and 4.6 for value for money.^[2] It is the kind of outing that works well for couples, small groups and families with older children, and the modern machines feel light and easy to steer. Both tours use a live tour guide who speaks English, both let you reserve now and pay later, and both offer free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance.^[1][2]

The ride out through forest and over frozen lakes

A snowmobile safari out of Rovaniemi runs on marked trails that thread through boreal forest, across frozen marsh and over lakes whose ice is thick enough to carry the machine. In Lapland the forest gradually gives way to treeless fells known as tunturi, with mountain birch forming a wind-shaped belt at the tree line and stands of Scots pine and Norway spruce below in sheltered, moist ground.^[11] Even this close to town the trees close in quickly, and the noise of the city is gone within a few minutes of leaving the trailhead. On still days the air smells of snow and pine, and the only sounds are the engine, the crunch of the track and the soft hiss of powder thrown up behind the sled.

Reindeer are part of that landscape. The number of reindeer in Lapland is roughly equal to the number of people there.^[12] Lapland has around 2,935 km of official snowmobile routes, and they are classified as roads.^[13] Your guide knows which trails were groomed that morning and which lake crossings are safe, so you can keep your eyes on the view rather than on the map. Gaps between the trees open onto snowy fields where the wind has shaped the drifts, and at a hairpin you might look back and see the whole line of sleds snaking behind you.

Snowmobiles lined up and ready on a frozen lake near Rovaniemi.

Inside a hotel built from snow and ice

A Rovaniemi snowmobile snow hotel trip is really two experiences in one: the ride through the forest and the walk through a building made of snow. Snow hotels in the north are rebuilt every winter. Snow is blown into large arched moulds, left to settle and harden, and then the moulds are taken away so the rooms, corridors and carvings can be finished by hand. The walls stay white and slightly translucent, and the light inside is soft and blue. Much of the furniture is carved from blocks of ice. Walk slowly and you notice how still and quiet the place feels after the noise of the ride, with snow crystals glittering in the glow from lamps set into the walls.

Keep your hat and gloves on while you walk around. A camera that has been outside in the cold will fog up as soon as it meets warmer air, so leave it in its bag for a few minutes before you take pictures. The ride back to Rovaniemi is often in the dark, headlights picking out the trail while snow flickers past. That quiet run home is a memorable end to the day, and the warmth of the return vehicle is a good moment to talk about the evening ahead.

What the snowmobile tours cost

Prices follow the length of the ride and the stops along the way. The Snowmobile Safari to Arctic Snow Hotel starts from US$296 and runs 6 hours, with pickup included.^[1] The Snowmobile and Ice Fishing Adventure with Lunch starts from US$218 and takes 5 - 6 hours.^[6] A Guided Wilderness Snowmobile Ride starts from US$119, takes 2 hours and is limited to 8 participants.^[3] A full-day safari into the wilderness starts from US$299 and runs 6 hours, with pickup included.^[14]

For wildlife as well as driving, the Husky & Reindeer Experience with Snowmobile Ride starts from US$228 and runs 6 hours.^[7] Fishing is another route into the same landscape: perch are a common catch in Lapland and are known for their aggressive bites.^[15] If you prefer a private group, the ice fishing and snowmobile sleigh ride starts from US$183 and runs 4 hours, with pickup included.^[16] Shorter safaris suit families and first-timers, while longer options stretch out into the backwoods. Whichever you pick, the figure shown is a from price for that listing.

Driving rules, speed limits and age limits

In Finland, off-road snowmobiles may be driven by persons aged 15 or over.^[10] That is younger than many visitors expect. Younger children travel as passengers, either behind an adult or in a sled towed by the guide. Helmets are worn by everyone, and the briefing covers hand signals, spacing and what to do if you fall behind the group. Listen carefully when the guide explains the brakes and the throttle, because snowmobiles respond quickly on hard-packed trails and take a little more effort on deep powder.

Speed is limited. The highest speed limit for snowmobiles in terrain and on routes is 60 km/h, and on ice-covered water areas the limit is 80 km/h, except on routes on ice-covered water areas where it is 60 km/h.^[9] Ice carries the machines only when it is thick enough: for a sled or snowmobile the ice must be at least 25 centimetres, or 10 inches.^[8] Stay in the guide's tracks across any lake and leave a generous gap to the sled in front. The guide will check the group at each stop, and there is usually time to stand on the ice, look at the sky and stretch your legs before the next stage.

What to wear for a Rovaniemi winter ride

December in Rovaniemi averages between -4°C and -11°C, and temperatures have been known to reach -30°C.^[5] Snow lies on the ground in Rovaniemi for seven months, more than half of the year.^[4] Dress for standing still as well as riding: a thermal base layer, a fleece or down mid layer, windproof trousers and jacket, a hat that covers your ears, and gloves with enough grip to hold the handlebars. Cold air finds every gap, so tuck in your top layers and choose trousers that close tightly over your boots.

A helmet keeps your head warm but leaves your neck open, so a buff or balaclava helps. Ski goggles beat sunglasses when snow is falling, and a spare pair of thin liner gloves is worth packing for photo stops. Phones and camera batteries lose power quickly in the cold, so keep them in an inside pocket close to your body. If you wear glasses, goggles that fit over them make the day much easier. It is also wise to pack a dry pair of socks in your day bag, because snowy boots stay damp even on the best-prepared trails.

When to go and how to book

Rovaniemi sits on the Arctic Circle, which runs through Santa Claus Village, eight kilometres north of the city centre.^[17] Snowmobiling and aurora hunting overlap for much of the winter: over 200 aurora displays are documented in Rovaniemi each year.^[18] The polar night here lasts 2 days.^[19] That means daylight returns quickly, and a daytime safari gives you long, low winter light that turns the snow pink and gold in the late afternoon.

This is a busy winter destination. Over half a million tourists visit Rovaniemi each year, and 65% of them are foreign tourists.^[20] Book early if your dates are fixed, and read the meeting point on your voucher the night before. Free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance on these listings means you can hold a place while you watch the forecast.^[1] Bring a small day bag with a water bottle and leave the rest at your hotel. A short walk around the trailhead before you start is a good way to get used to the cold, and it gives you time to ask the guide about the route, the weather and the best spots for photos along the way.

Plan your snowmobile day

1. Pick your safari

   Choose by time and budget: 3 hours from US$137 for the new sleds, or 6 hours from US$296 to the Arctic Snow Hotel.^[1][2]

2. Book a slot

   Reserve now and pay later, and cancel free up to 24 hours in advance if your plans change.^[2]

3. Check the meeting point

   Pickup is included on the Arctic Snow Hotel safari, so check availability for the details of your pickup.^[1]

4. Dress in layers

   Thermal base layer, fleece, windproof shell, hat and gloves. Snow lies on the ground in Rovaniemi for seven months.^[4]

5. Ride and follow the guide

   Keep to the trail and leave space. The top speed limit in terrain and on routes is 60 km/h.^[9]

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