Finland isn’t just the land of one thousand lakes or the residence of Santa Claus and his trusted helpers. It’s also a thrilling base to get a taste for snowmobiling and one of the safest environments to hone in your manouvering skills, regardless of your level. Luckily, it’s also my home.
Whether you’re a snowmobile enthusiast aching for a short escape or a total beginner who’s curious why snowmobiles are all the rage, Finland’s Lapland is one of the most accessible and rewarding places to start.
Its smaller mountains make it the ideal place to get a taste for adventure and learn the ropes of snowmobiling. The generous season lasts from December until April, giving plenty of time to build up your experience. And with the airport so close to the mountains, you can start riding as soon as you get off the plane.
The capital of Lapland, Rovaniemi, looks like something out of a Hallmark movie. Christmas enthusiasts can meet Santa Claus and his reindeers all year-round. Plus, the Arctic Circle runs through Santa Claus Village, just a few kilometers outside the town center.
Here, unspoiled nature is the rule. You’ll be zipping through vast expanses of snow-covered mountains, swamps, and frozen forests. Once the engine of the snowmobile is off, the arctic silence sets in–with nothing but the sound of your breath and the snow crackling under your boots.
Due to its geographic positioning, Svalbard experiences periods of complete darkness during winter and prolonged light in summer. From April to mid-August, the sun stays up, coloring the vast landscape in reddish-yellow tones. The midnight sun bathes everything in a golden glow that makes the landscape even more dramatic and makes it possible to explore at night.
The weather is also mild, compared to other places at similar altitudes in Russia or Canada. Temperatures range from 4 to 10°C in summer, all the way down to −13°C in the peak of winter.
Our state-of-the-art snowmobiles are the ideal way to witness nature in its purest expression. On land, you might spot rare wildlife like polar bears, reindeers, arctic foxes, and a wide range of seabirds. Coming down from the mountains, you might see whales, dolphins, seals, and walruses that roam the ocean, making their sightings worth the journey.
To balance things off, you’ll get to cozy up in luxurious hotels and cabins after our rides. Delicious local food abounds in Svalbard with local delicacies like reindeer jerky, smoked whale, or the local gamebird ptarmigan–impossible to find outside the island. And for a special dining experience, a stop at the famous restaurant Huset puts an extravagant spin on traditional food.
After a day of rip-roaring exploration through the mountains, you get to slow down and experience life as a local. For those looking for relaxation, traditional saunas are a fantastic way to recover after a day in the snow, with birch branches provided to stimulate circulation.
Those with a larger appetite for adrenaline can hop out of the sauna and jump in the ice: ice swimming isn’t just invigorating, but a great way to give the immune system a boost. And if you’re still craving adventure, ice driving will sure get your heart going.
