WORLDWIDE · ARCTIC AND LAPLAND SNOW TRIPS
Above the Arctic Circle the season is long and the daylight is short. The 15 below cover Rovaniemi, Tromso and the Finnish fells, with a note on which run in polar night and what they hand you to wear.
From Tromsø, ride 50 minutes to Breivikeidet for a beginner-friendly cross-country ski lesson and guided outing. Your guide, often Julie, Dima, Gigi, or Kira, supplies skis and warm gear, then leads you through snowy trails. Finish with cake, hot drinks, and time with about 80 huskies.
“Kira was a great guide, very knowledgeable, patient and funny! Would highly recommend.”
Spend four hours skiing through Lapland's Taiga forest, frozen lakes, and deep snow with a small group of up to eight. Your English-speaking guide, such as Atanas, Aina, Maca, or Amy, teaches beginners the basics, adjusts the route to the group, and serves hot drinks with a Finnish campfire snack.
“MAX is a very considerate, warm-hearted, very good service. The guide is great. I hope to meet him again when I travel here next time. I hope his life will be better in the future. It's a happy Christmas. To meet such a beautiful person.”
Meet your host at Charlottenlund aktivitets- og friluftspark for 105 minutes of easy Arctic fun. You’ll sled gentle slopes, try mini-skis, throw a Sami lasso with reindeer antlers, and warm up beside a fire with hot drinks and snacks. Benedicte is often the host, helping with equipment, photos, safety, and local questions.
“Fantastic guide and well organised. It was so much fun for all ages. The larger slope is steep to walk up but manageable. Kept warm with a fire and even get to toast marshmallows. So affordable and worth it!! You won’t regret it”
Meet your English or Finnish-speaking guide at Kemi’s SnowCastle, collect skis, and learn classic diagonal skiing and free skating on the Sauvosaari tracks. The two-hour outing visits Mansikkanokka and Laitakari, with Marko, Essi, or Samuel guiding the pace. Beginners are welcome, but bring warm outdoor clothing.
“A fantastic morning thanks to Marko, a very pleasant ski tour between the forest and the frozen lake. I highly recommend this activity.”
From Rovaniemi, your guide takes you into the Taiga forest on backcountry skis, away from groomed trails and crowds. Warm clothing, boots, skis, transport, hot drinks, and a Finnish campfire snack are included. Expect about 1 to 1.5 hours on skis, with the full outing lasting roughly 3 to 4 hours.
“This was a fantastic experience, the guide was brilliant, the scenery was breathtaking and I would highly recommend it!”
Join Kyle of Arctic Fox Expeditions for a 2.5-hour nighttime ski outing near Lake Norvajärvi. You’ll receive easy-to-use skis and a headlamp, follow private forest and swamp trails, cross the frozen lake, and finish by a warm fire. Northern Lights may appear, but they are not guaranteed.
“Kyle was a consummate professional from start to finish. He checked the forecast and offered to change me to a daytime tour since Northern Lights were unlikely (though I kept the nighttime tour). He picked me up and dropped me off at my accommodations and ensured I was aware ahead of time of any gear I needed to have (and what gear he would have). He was personable, accommodating and very patient (my first time trying cross-country skiing!). The scenery was incredible, and Kyle went out of his way to include certain touches to make the tour unique and ensure that I enjoyed myself. Definitely recommend!!”
Join Kevin or another certified wilderness guide for a beginner-friendly night ski tour in Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park. Ski gentle forest trails, cross snowy open areas, and pause in a Kota hut for grilled sausages and a hot drink. The small group, capped at eight, keeps the pace calm and personal.
“Merci Kevin pour cette randonnée inoubliable. On en a pris plein les yeux. On recommande vivement ce guide très posé, calme et passionné.”
Spend five hours skiing snowy trails in Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park with guide Kevin or a French-speaking guide. You’ll learn the basics, explore pine forests and frozen lakes, pause for grilled sausage and hot drinks, and ski at a pace suited to your group. No prior Nordic skiing experience is needed.
“Ganze Tour Führung, hat viel über die Natur erzählt und uns furch wunderschöne Natur geführt.”
Join a Finnish and English-speaking guide for a 2.5-hour wilderness ski outing in Pyhä-Luosto National Park. You’ll use wide, short Altai skis that feel easier than classic cross-country skis, even for beginners. Guides such as Mikko and Sergi have brought the forest to life with stories about nature and Sámi culture. Warm clothing is essential.
“We had a fantastic time on our wilderniss skiing trip! The weather conditions were perfect for the activity and we could watch the sunset on our break. We'd highly recommend doing this. It's definitely beginner-friendly. We had the pleasure of being the only ones on the tour. Mikko was very friendly and explained a lot about the nature and culture.”
Marko from e-Coach delivers fitted ski equipment or snowshoes to your accommodation in Kemi, Tornio, or Haparanda. You can follow prepared tracks, ski on the sea, or snowshoe through forest areas such as Mansikkanokka, Takajärvi, Kalli, and Riekkola. Route advice, flexible pickup, and easy return make this a useful self-guided winter option.
“Marko was an excellent guide with great knowledge and taught us very well. He went above and beyond, even picking us up from our accommodation.”
Spend about three and a half hours learning Finnish cross-country skiing near Rovaniemi. An English-speaking instructor, ski equipment, winter overalls, and gloves are included. Roman is one named guide. Meet at Maakuntakatu 29, though pickup details should be confirmed because the booking information gives conflicting transfer instructions.
“Roman was our guide and he made everything so easy and fun. Great experience. Would definitely do it again.”
Leave Rovaniemi with a small group of up to eight for a guided backcountry ski outing in Lapland. Guides such as Linnea, Jo, and Guille have helped first-time skiers learn the basics, find quiet viewpoints, and finish with coffee, hot chocolate, sausages, flatbread, and Finnish mustard by a fire.
Join Taste of Outdoors at 8 pm for a private three-hour trip into Pyhätunturi with your choice of snowshoes or OAC skin skis. Your guide teaches the basics, leads you through the forest to a traditional campfire hut, and serves hot drinks with local snacks. Northern Lights sightings depend on weather and solar activity.
“Our guide Mikko was excellent friendly and knowledgeable. Our family of 4 never tried cross country skiing. Mikko clearly explained how to use the skis and even had kid size skis for our 8 year old. The whole family had a great time. Mikko guided us through a beautiful forest and explained a bit about the nature around us. We saw hints of northern lights with the camera…the auroras are hard to predict. We skied to a hut and enjoyed a nice fire, snack, and warm beverage. On our drive back to the hotel close to midnight we saw the most amazing northern lights. Would recommend this for the unique…”
Join certified guide Kevin from NordX Adventures for a 3.5-hour night-skiing trip in Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park. You’ll glide through snowy birch and pine forest, cross open fells, and possibly see the Northern Lights. Skis, poles, transport, grilled sausages, and a hot drink are included. Warm clothing and boots require advance notice.
Set out from Rovaniemi with a private guide such as Justine for a full day of snowshoeing or ski hiking. Choose an 8 to 15 km route nearby, or drive farther into Lapland for shorter hikes through snowy forests and over local fells. Expect nature guidance, animal tracks, a fire, hot drinks, and a Finnish snack.
By country, by kind of day, by how much snow you have skied before.
