Electric Snowmobiling in Lapland (responsible)

Snowmobiles reached Lapland in the 1960s and gradually took over from the reindeer as the usual way to cross the forests and frozen lakes in winter. Reindeer herders still use them more than any other transport during the cold months. Snowmobiling in Rovaniemi now has a quieter side too. Electric snowmobiles, often called eSleds, run on electricity alone and glide almost silently through the frozen forest, while you still get the thrill of driving your own machine.

We offer six electric snowmobile tours in Rovaniemi. The shortest is a two-hour first ride on the lake routes around Lehtojärvi, while the longest cover 20–30 km of forest and frozen lakes, one of them at night up to a hilltop far from the city lights. Two of the tours add a visit to a reindeer enclosure. Four of the six are run by trusted partners who share our policies and values, and their tour pages say so.

Snowmobiling Experience

Whichever tour you pick, the start looks much the same. You change into the warm outer layers that come with the tour, listen to the driving instructions and set off in a line behind your guide. Two people share each sled, so one of you drives while the other rides behind. On the reindeer tours you can change drivers halfway if you both meet the driver requirements.

Along the way the group stops for photographs and a hot drink. On the longer routes the break lasts 45–60 minutes in a wooden kota with a campfire. You grill sausages with your guide’s help and warm up with flatbread, pastries and hot drinks before the ride back.

For a first ride, the Taste tour is the gentle choice. The routes stay in the frozen Lehtojärvi lake area, and the guide tells you about the Lappish nature and the lake as you go. If you came for the forest, the two wilderness tours give you the longest daylight rides, 20–30 km with a lake crossing and long stretches through the trees, which makes a full snowmobile safari in Rovaniemi. The reindeer tours keep the group to eight people and include pickup from Rovaniemi city centre. They suit families or mixed groups who prefer a shorter drive and time with the animals afterwards.

How an evening ride runs

On the Electric Snowmobile Northern Lights Tour and Meet the Reindeer, the whole evening takes three hours, transfers included.

1. Meet 15 minutes before the 19:00 start for your pickup in Rovaniemi city centre and travel to a private snowmobiling area.
2. Put on the overalls, helmet, boots, socks, mittens, balaclava and scarf over your own thermal layers.
3. Listen to the driving instructions, then ride for about 50 minutes on well-maintained private trails through frost-covered pine forest. Reindeer live in this area, so you may see some along the way.
4. Visit the reindeer enclosure for a closer look at the animals.
5. Stop in the middle of the woods to take photographs and enjoy the silence.
6. Gather by the campfire for hot drinks and snacks while your guide tells stories and myths about the Northern Lights and the group watches the sky, before the transfer back to the city.

Why We Ride Electric

An eSled runs on electricity alone, so the ride is emission-free along the whole trail. The machines are nearly silent, which lets you take in the forest as you drive, and the driving feels the same as on a petrol snowmobile. Electric snowmobile tours have run near Rovaniemi since 2018, when they started as an alternative to the usual petrol-powered sleds.

The quiet matters for the animals too. Reindeer live in the forests where the Rovaniemi routes run, and a quiet sled leaves them undisturbed. That also gives the group a better chance of meeting reindeer and other Arctic animals in their natural habitat.

For us, the sleds are part of a wider commitment. The first of our three steps to sustainable travelling is protecting Arctic nature, which means using only electric snowmobiles on tours and adventures and removing and recycling all litter from our trips, and all the wood we use is produced locally. We also choose partners who share our policies, and for snowmobiling we work with a company that uses electric snowmobiles.

In June 2021 we received the Green Activities Environmental Certificate. The same year we were granted the Sustainable Travel Finland label, and through our cooperation with Protect Our Winters we support the work to keep winters snowy across the Arctic. The details are on our sustainability page and in our environmental policy.

Even an electric snowmobile in Lapland depends on the winter itself. Snowmobiling is best with at least 15–20 cm of snow on the ground. In Rovaniemi the permanent snow cover usually forms in late November or early December. The eSled tours are on sale from 1 or 2 December, and since snowmobiling usually gets going from mid-December, the first rides of the season depend on the snow.

Routes & Guides

Two of the Rovaniemi eSled routes run in the Lehtojärvi lake area, the Taste tour and the afternoon wilderness tour, which starts in daylight by crossing the frozen Lake Lehtojärvi. It then follows trails through frost-covered pine forest and along the shores of several frozen lakes, with a stop at a scenic viewpoint for photographs.

The morning tour leaves at 09:00 to use the few hours of daylight in the Arctic winter. As you drive across the frozen lake and into the snowy forest, you can watch the rising sun turn the wilderness glistening white. The night tour heads through the forest and over frozen lakes to a hilltop far from the city lights, an ideal place to watch the sky.

Every tour comes with a professional guide who gives the driving instructions, leads the group and takes care of the stops. A professional photographer comes along on the tours we run ourselves, such as The Best and Original Northern Lights Experience, and on the eSled tours your guide leads the way. If you would like a photographer with your group, our photoshoot service lets you book one for an activity you have booked yourself.

Snowmobiling in Lapland looks different again in Levi. There the snowmobile tours on our list are run by trusted partners and pick up from the Levi area. The Northern Lights Snowmobile Adventure in Levi crosses frozen bogs, forests and rugged hills, stopping several times to watch the sky, with eight snowmobiles at most. The Snowmobile Adventure to the Fells in Levi spends 3–3.5 hours on the sled through snowy forests and over open swamps, with a coffee break and Finnish buns. For a gentle start, the 1-Hour Easy Snowmobile Tour in Levi has about 40–50 minutes of driving. Anyone who would rather ride along can sit in a sleigh pulled by the guide’s snowmobile.

The Rovaniemi eSled season runs from early December to the end of March. The afternoon wilderness tour continues until 15 April and the reindeer tours until 30 April. In January and February the snow is at its deepest, and daylight increases quickly after mid-January. By March the snowmobiling routes across frozen lakes and forest trails are typically in prime condition, and the longer days leave more time out in the wilderness. Our post on when snow comes to Rovaniemi goes through the winter month by month.

What to Wear

On the Rovaniemi eSled tours the outer layer is taken care of. Overalls, a helmet, boots, socks, mittens, a balaclava and a scarf are all included. You bring what goes underneath, which means warm thermal underlayers and a middle layer.

Winter temperatures here can fall below -30 °C, and they can drop during a tour, especially at night. On a sled you also feel the wind of your own speed, so dress for the minutes you stand still at a stop as well as for the ride.

• Thermal underwear, wool if you have it
• Woollen socks and a fleece as the middle layer
• A thermal neck warmer
• Light woolly gloves for handling your camera or phone at the stops
• An extra battery in an inside pocket, because batteries drain fast in the cold

Most Levi snowmobile tours include winter clothing too, and each tour page lists what is provided. Our equipment guide has the full list.

Before you ride

1. Bring your driving licence. On our snowmobile tours every driver must be over 18 and carry a valid driving licence accepted in Finland, and the one-hour Levi tour asks for a category B licence.
2. Plan your pairs. Two people share each sled, and on the partner-run tours a group with an odd number can book a single-driver supplement.
3. Save the drinks for later. Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs is prohibited, and the driver is liable for damage to the vehicle, as each tour page explains.
4. Choose a tour near where you stay. The reindeer tours pick up from Rovaniemi city centre and the Levi tours from the Levi area.
5. Give the sky a few evenings. If the aurora is the reason for your trip, plan more than one night out and follow the forecast from the Finnish Meteorological Institute.

You can book these tours online, or write to contact@beyondarctic.com or call +358 50 323 1090 if you would like help choosing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a driving licence for snowmobiling in Rovaniemi?

Yes, if you want to drive. On our tours every driver must be over 18 and bring a valid driving licence accepted in Finland. Passengers need no licence, so a non-driver can ride behind a friend for the whole trip.

Are your snowmobiles really electric?

Yes, all six of our Rovaniemi snowmobile tours use eSleds that run on electricity alone. Using only electric snowmobiles on tours and adventures is part of our three steps to sustainable travelling.

Will I see the northern lights on a night ride?

The northern lights are a natural phenomenon, so a sighting is never guaranteed. Both night tours in Rovaniemi stop to watch the sky, one from a hilltop away from the city lights and one by the campfire. If the lights are the main reason for your trip, plan several evenings out.

Is electric snowmobiling suitable for children?

Yes, with a few rules. Children under 140 cm travel in a sleigh pulled by the guide, and taller children can ride on the sled as passengers at the adult price. On the two reindeer tours, children under 12 ride in the sleigh behind the guide.

How cold is it on the trail?

Winter temperatures in Rovaniemi and Levi can fall below -30 °C, and the wind from the ride makes it feel colder. The outer clothing is included on the Rovaniemi eSled tours. Wear thermal underwear, woollen socks and a fleece underneath, and bring a neck warmer for the stops.

Can I take my own photos while riding?

Each tour has stops for photographs, such as the scenic viewpoint on the wilderness routes or the pause in the woods on the reindeer tours. For professional photos of your group, you can book a photographer through our photoshoot service.

Do you run snowmobiling in Levi as well?

Yes. Four of the five tours on our Levi snowmobile page are snowmobile rides run by trusted partners, from a one-hour beginner ride to a four-hour trip towards the fells and a night ride to watch for the northern lights. The fifth is a 3-in-1 combo, where a heated snowmobile-towed sleigh takes you between a reindeer ride and a husky ride.