Book Early the Activities for Winter 2026–2027 – Save 10% with code EARLY27 01.11.2026–31.03.2027 (Excludes husky & reindeer tours)

Oct 22, 2026

Northern Lights snowmobile tour in Rovaniemi: how our night works

Driving a snowmobile through a dark, snowy forest while watching the sky for the aurora is one of the most requested evenings we run in Rovaniemi. It is also the tour that raises the most practical questions: do I need a licence, can the children come, how long do I actually drive, and what happens if the sky stays cloudy?

This article is our own answer. It follows the Northern Lights Tour Snowmobile Driving step by step, exactly as it is described on the product page, so you know what you are booking before you book it.

In short: our Northern Lights Tour Snowmobile Driving costs from 149 € per person and lasts 4 hours. We pick you up within 10 km of Rovaniemi city centre, drive you to our own land at Kuoksa Wilderness Park, and you drive a snowmobile for about 1 hour in total before warming up with local food and drinks by the campfire in a teepee. Winter clothing is included. To drive you need a driving licence and must be 18 or older; passengers do not need a licence.

At a glance

• From: 149 €
• Experience type: Northern Lights / Snowmobiling Tour
• Duration: 4 hours
• Difficulty: Easy
• Book in Advance: Cut off: 4 hours before start time
• Included: About 1 hour total driving time with the Snowmobile; Snowmobiling Equipments (Snowmobile, a Helmet, and a pair of Balaclavas); Detailed instructions on how to safely operate a snowmobile; Information about the Northern Lights; A Tour Guide in English (other languages available on request: (Spanish, Portuguese, French, Italian, German & Finnish. PLEASE NOTE LIMITED AVAILABILITY FOR OTHER LANGUAGES) If another language is required. Please send us an email or WhatsApp after booking.); Winter clothing (Adult & Child size), overalls, boots, gloves; Local Food & Drinks by the campfire in Teepee; Pick-ups and drop-offs are included in the price in 10 km radius from Rovaniemi city center; Photos taken with your own device; Air conditioned car
• Cancellation: Free cancellation 24 hours before the activity. We will charge a cancellation fee of 100% if booking is cancelled less than 24 hours before the activity.
• Accessibility: Not wheelchair accessible; Not stroller accessible

How the evening starts: pick-up and the drive to Kuoksa

The tour starts at 19:00. We collect you from your accommodation or a nearby pick-up point within a 10 km radius of Rovaniemi city centre, including Postmaster Hotel and Aurora Hill Resort. The official meeting point is Postikatu 1, 96100 Rovaniemi. Please be ready in your hotel lobby 10 minutes before your pick-up time.

From town it takes about 30 minutes to reach Kuoksa Wilderness Park, the private land our family has looked after for four generations. It lies away from the city lights, which is the whole point: the darker the surroundings, the better your eyes adapt to a faint aurora.

The pick-up and drop-off transfer is outside the 4-hour activity time, so we suggest keeping 15–30 minutes free before and after. You are back in Rovaniemi city centre at around 23:00.

Dressing up and learning to drive

At Kuoksa our guide hands out the winter gear: overalls, boots and gloves in adult and child sizes, plus a helmet and a pair of balaclavas for the ride. You do not need your own thermal outerwear, although your usual warm base layers will make the evening more comfortable.

No previous snowmobile experience is needed. Before anyone sets off, the guide gives detailed instructions on how to operate a snowmobile safely: throttle, brake, keeping your distance and following the guide’s line. Questions are welcome at this stage, and it is the right moment to mention if you are nervous about driving.

On the trail: about an hour of driving under the sky

The driving time on this tour is about 1 hour in total. The route takes you several kilometres into the forest around Kuoksa, away from the lights of town, and along the way the guide shares information about the Northern Lights. If you want the science first, our article on how auroras are formed is a good read before the trip.

The standard way to ride is twin drive: two people per snowmobile. Book one ticket per person, so four people means four tickets and two snowmobiles.

The aurora is a natural phenomenon. It depends on solar activity and on the clouds, and we cannot guarantee a sighting. What we can promise is that we take you somewhere dark, give you time outside, and do our best to make the evening worthwhile either way.

The campfire in the teepee

After the drive, everyone gathers in a teepee around a campfire for local food and drinks. The product page describes it as time to roast local snacks and warm up, and the teepee is a good base for stepping outside to check the sky. Photos are taken with your own device, so bring a charged phone or camera; cold drains batteries quickly, and an inside pocket helps.

Licence, age and children: the rules we follow

These rules come straight from the product page, and we apply them on every departure:

• To drive a snowmobile you need a driving licence and must be 18 years or older. Twin-drive passengers and passengers in the sled do not need a licence.
• Children 140 cm or taller can sit on the snowmobile as a passenger and pay the adult price.
• Children shorter than 140 cm travel in the sled pulled by the snowmobile driven by our guide.
• Children under 13 must be accompanied by adults paying the full price.
• The tour is not recommended for children under 3.
• The tour is not wheelchair or stroller accessible.

What is included, and what is not

Included in the price:

• About 1 hour of total driving time with the snowmobile
• Snowmobile, helmet and a pair of balaclavas
• Detailed instructions on driving safely
• Information about the Northern Lights
• A tour guide in English (Spanish, Portuguese, French, Italian, German and Finnish on request, with limited availability; send us an email or WhatsApp after booking)
• Winter clothing: overalls, boots and gloves in adult and child sizes
• Local food and drinks by the campfire in a teepee
• Pick-up and drop-off within 10 km of Rovaniemi city centre, in an air-conditioned car

Not included: the snowmobile damage waiver. The maximum self-liability for the snowmobile is 900 €. You can buy a waiver for 25 € online or on the spot, which lowers the self-liability to 250 €.

Group size, weather limits and cancellation

The tour runs with at least 2 people on weekdays and Saturdays, and at least 4 people on Sundays and public holidays. If the group is smaller, the departure may be cancelled or rescheduled.

In extreme weather we may also cancel or reschedule. Our temperature limit is -35°C, and -25°C for small children, for safety reasons.

Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the activity. Cancelling less than 24 hours before means a 100% fee. Bookings close 4 hours before the start time. If a departure is sold out or closed, or you are a larger group, contact us and we will try to arrange a departure for you.

From 1 November 2026 to 31 March 2027 this tour is also covered by our book-early code; our EARLY27 article explains how it works.

Book this tour if… or choose another of ours

Book the snowmobile driving tour if you hold a driving licence, want to be in control of the machine yourself, and like the idea of a proper evening out with a campfire at the end.

Choose the Northern Lights Tour Sleigh Ride (from 109 €, 4 hours, very easy) if nobody in your group wants to drive, or you would rather sit back in a sleigh pulled by a snowmobile and focus on the sky.

Choose the Northern Lights Snowmobile Adventure at Lapland Winter Park (from 149 €, 2 hours 30 minutes) if you want a shorter evening with about 1 hour 15 minutes of driving and a BBQ by the fire, and you can get yourselves there. That tour starts at Lapland Winter Park, Ollerovaarantie 160, and has no pick-up or drop-off. You can see all our options on the snowmobile activities and Northern Lights activities pages.

Staying with us at Postmaster Hotel or Aurora Hill Resort? Both are on the pick-up list, so the evening starts at your door. For the wider picture of the coming winter, read our Northern Lights season 2026–2027 overview.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a driving licence for the Northern Lights snowmobile tour?

Yes, to drive the snowmobile you need a valid driving licence and must be 18 or older. Passengers, including twin-drive passengers and children in the sled, do not need a licence.

Do I need snowmobile experience?

No. Our guide gives detailed instructions on driving safely before the tour starts.

What time does the tour start and end?

The activity starts at 19:00 and lasts 4 hours, and you are back in Rovaniemi city centre at around 23:00. The transfer to and from your pick-up point is outside the activity time, so keep 15–30 minutes free before and after.

Where does the tour go?

We drive you about 30 minutes to Kuoksa Wilderness Park, our private land away from the city lights.

Can children join?

Yes, as passengers. Children 140 cm or taller can ride on the snowmobile at the adult price; shorter children ride in the sled pulled by the guide’s snowmobile. The tour is not recommended for children under 3, and children under 13 must be accompanied by adults paying the full price.

Are the Northern Lights guaranteed?

No. The aurora depends on solar activity and the weather, so we cannot guarantee a sighting, but we take you somewhere dark and do our best to make it a good evening.

What is the cancellation policy?

Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the activity. After that we charge 100% of the price.

Ready to book?

You may also like

• Northern Lights Tour Sleigh Ride — from 109 €, 4 hours
• Northern Lights Snowmobile Adventure at Lapland Winter Park — from 149 €, 2 hours 30 minutes