Rovaniemi Ice Fishing Tours

Every winter the lakes and rivers around Rovaniemi freeze thick enough to walk and drive on, and local guides take visitors out to fish through holes in the ice. We compared three guided trips from town. Two reach the lake by snowmobile and one walks in through old forest with no engines at all. Each one comes with its price and its catch.

  • Ice season: usually around December into AprilThe exact start and end depend on how cold the winter turns, and the guides decide when the ice is ready
  • Half a day, not a whole oneAll three trips take between three and six hours, with winter clothing included, so the evening stays free

In a hurry? Our top pick is Safartica's snowmobile and ice fishing day at ~$211 a person for five to six hours. You get two to three hours at the handlebars, a hole you drill yourself and a soup lunch cooked over the campfire. Book it here.

Book on GetYourGuide Book on Viator

Compare all 3 tours

If you only have a minute

Which Rovaniemi ice fishing tour should you book?

Picture a friend stepping off the night train in Rovaniemi and texting us for one ice fishing tip. This is roughly the reply they would get back.

For most visitors the trip to book is Safartica's Snowmobile and Ice Fishing Adventure with Lunch, from ~$211. You drive your own sled along frozen rivers and through forest, learn to drill a hole and rig the rod, then eat a hot soup lunch at the fire. It fills five to six hours and has by far the most reviews.

Rather leave the engines behind? Wild About Lapland's walk-in trip costs ~$99, keeps the group to eight and starts with a short walk through old forest. Want a snowmobile ride with a pickup from your hotel and a stop near Santa Claus Village? Arctic Circle Snowmobile Park's combo is ~$181 for about 20 km (12 miles) on the sled.

Nobody can promise a fish. Look at what each trip costs once the small print is added and which weeks suit the ice best, see how each day is spent, then read the details we dug out of the listings before you pay.

Our pick

The ice fishing day we would book: Safartica

It gives you the most time on the snowmobile and the only proper lunch of the three. Over 900 reviewers on GetYourGuide back it up, though you share both the sled and the lake with a large group.

A long column of snowmobiles crossing a wide, snow-covered frozen lake on a Safartica safari near Rovaniemi Our pick

Snowmobile and Ice Fishing Adventure with Lunch, Safartica

★★★★★ 4.8 from 900+ reviews on GetYourGuide · free cancellation up to 24 hours before

You meet at Safartica's office on Koskikatu in central Rovaniemi, 25 minutes before the start, and change into the winter clothing that comes with the trip. Transfers are in the price, and you can ask for a pickup when you book.

After a safety briefing you ride out along frozen rivers and through snowy forest to a quiet fishing spot. Two people share each snowmobile and swap at the handlebars. The listing puts the driving at about two to three hours in total. Weather and the drivers' pace decide the exact figure.

On the lake the guide shows you how to drill a hole and get the rod and bait ready. While you wait for a bite, a Lappish soup goes on over the campfire. Hot drinks and biscuits are served alongside, and if you are lucky, the catch of the day joins it.

Duration
5–6 hours
At the handlebars
About 2–3 hours in all
Group
Up to 50 people
Snowmobile
Two people per sled, taking turns
Meeting point
Safartica office, Koskikatu 9, 25 minutes early
Lunch
Lappish soup at the campfire, hot drinks
Limits
Drivers 18+ with a valid licence; not for ages 0–3
Cancellation
Free up to 24 hours; reserve now, pay later
Price per person from ~$211 Snowmobile · ice fishing · lunch
GetYourGuide Viator

Live availability and prices on GetYourGuide

Powered by GetYourGuide

How the day runs, step by step

This follows the order in the listing. Bad weather or a slow group can stretch any part of it.

Out of Rovaniemi

  • Meet at the Safartica office on Koskikatu and pull on the winter overalls
  • Snowmobile briefing, then two to a sled
  • Snowmobile ride over frozen rivers and forest tracks to the spot

On the ice

  • Drill your hole and set up the short rod and bait with the guide
  • Fish while the soup heats on the campfire, then lunch with hot drinks and biscuits
  • Snowmobile back to the office in town

What the price covers

The fare pays for the machine and the gear, lunch included. The insurance that lowers your damage liability is a separate, optional purchase.

Included
  • Winter clothing for the day
  • Snowmobile briefing and safari, with transfers
  • Ice fishing with an English-speaking guide
  • Lappish soup lunch with hot drinks and biscuits
Not included
  • Damage insurance (20 euros, bought on the spot)
  • A snowmobile to yourself
  • Tips
  • A promise that anything bites

Between us, before you go

One cold-cheeked traveler to another. The driver carries a liability of 990 euros per accident, and paying 20 euros on the spot cuts that to 150 euros. Most people who drive take it.

The listing advises against the trip in pregnancy or with a fragile back or joints, since the sled bumps over the snow. Special diets go in at checkout. Wear wool under the overalls, and our layering guide for −25 °C covers the rest.

Why it beats the snowmobile combo

Safartica gives you a cooked soup lunch where the Arctic Circle Snowmobile Park serves sausages by the fire, and more time on the sled. Its listing also carries 900+ reviews on GetYourGuide against 200+ for the combo. Snowmobile or on foot weighs all three styles.

What you give up is money and intimacy. It is the most expensive of the three, and the group can reach 50.

Who we would not send on it

Families with a child under four, whom the listing turns away. Anyone who came for silence and pine forest, who will be happier on Wild About Lapland's walk-in trip. And travelers on a tight budget, who pay about half as much there for the same kind of lake and fire.

Book it if

You want the snowmobile and the ice fishing in one well-run outing, with a hot meal in the middle. It suits couples and friends who will happily share a sled, and families whose children are old enough for the towed sled.

Skip it if

Ready to ride out to the lake?

The trip is on GetYourGuide (4.8 from 900+ reviews) and on Viator (4.9 from 66). Both let you cancel for free up to 24 hours before, so you can check the forecast before you commit.

GetYourGuide Viator

The day itself

How a Rovaniemi ice fishing trip works

On all three trips the fishing itself is much the same. You drill a hole, then wait with a short rod. What changes is how you reach the lake and how long you stay out.

Style · by snowmobile

Ride out on a sled

Safartica, Arctic Circle Snowmobile Park

4.5–6 htwo to a sled, then one to two hours on the ice

Half the fun is the ride itself over frozen lakes and down forest tracks. The driver needs a valid licence, and the wind on your face at speed is the coldest part of the day. You follow the guide's pace, which some reviewers found slower or faster than they expected.

Style · on foot, no engines

Walk in through the forest

Wild About Lapland, max 8

3–4 ha 5–10 minute walk, then most of the time at the hole

A short walk through old forest brings you to a wide frozen lake, and the only sound is the auger. It costs about half as much and needs no licence. The catch is that you see less of the country, and there is a snack by the fire rather than a lunch.

Two women in winter overalls laughing as they hold short ice fishing rods on a frozen Lapland lake

Rovaniemi weather and the ice season through the year

  • How settled the lake ice usually is (our rough guide)
  1. Jan−8°C high18 °F

    Thick ice, short days, often the deepest cold

  2. Feb−7°C high19 °F

    Solid ice and daylight growing fast

  3. Mar−2°C high28 °F

    Sun on the snow, often the mildest fishing days

  4. Apr4°C high39 °F

    Bright days; the ice starts to soften later on

  5. May10°C high50 °F

    Ice breaks up on lakes and rivers

  6. Jun16°C high61 °F

    Midnight sun, open water

  7. Jul20°C high68 °F

    The warmest month, no ice at all

  8. Aug17°C high63 °F

    Late summer, nights darken again

  9. Sep11°C high52 °F

    Autumn colors, first frosts at night

  10. Oct3°C high37 °F

    First snow is possible, lakes still open

  11. Nov−2°C high28 °F

    Thin new ice, too early for trips

  12. Dec−6°C high21 °F

    Trips usually begin once the ice holds

Temperatures are rough daytime highs in Rovaniemi; sitting still on an open lake feels colder, and cold snaps can drop to −30 °C (−22 °F) or lower. The bars are our rough sense of how settled the ice tends to be, and every winter differs. Highlighted months are the ones we would pick. The best weeks in detail.

How each day is spent

  • Getting ready and travelling
  • On the ice
  • May run longer

Hours count from the meeting time and come from the listings. The split between travel and time on the ice is our rough estimate, since none of the three gives a timetable.

  1. Engines or silenceA snowmobile covers more ground and adds a thrill; the walk-in trip keeps the lake quiet and the price lower. The two styles compared.
  2. Pick your weeksThe ice usually holds from around December. February and March bring longer, brighter days. When to go.
  3. Layer up underneathThe overalls and boots come with the trip; the wool base layer and a hat are yours to bring. What to wear.
  4. Trust the guide on the iceThe guides choose the lake and the spot, and you follow their tracks rather than wander. How safe the ice is.

Short on days? Arctic Circle Snowmobile Park starts from its office near Santa Claus Village, so the two fit into one outing. Our three-day plan shows how the trips slot around other things to do.

How to choose

How to pick the right ice fishing trip

The lakes are similar and the rods are the same. What differs is the ride out, the food by the fire and how many people stand on the ice with you.

Time

Three to four hours on foot. The combo takes about four and a half, Safartica five to six. Fitting a trip into three days.

The ride

Two of the trips put you on a snowmobile, which needs a driving licence for whoever steers. The third walks in through forest. Snowmobile or on foot.

Children

On both snowmobile days, children up to 14 ride in a sled towed by the guide. Safartica takes no children under four. Ice fishing with kids.

Budget

From ~$99 for the walk-in trip to ~$211 for the snowmobile day with lunch, before any damage insurance. Every price in one table.

Group size

Wild About Lapland stops at eight people, or runs privately for your own group. The combo takes up to 20 and Safartica up to 50. Three hours on the ice.

The fish

Perch are the usual bite in Finnish lakes. Pike and burbot are possible too. No listing promises anything, and some days nothing bites. What you might catch.

Everything else to do in Rovaniemi

The 3 tours

Three ice fishing trips from Rovaniemi, compared

We went through the ice fishing listings for Rovaniemi on both booking sites and kept the three that sell on each with a solid record. Every card shows the price and length next to the tour company. It also spells out the catch, with a button for each site.

A woman in a teal knit hat eating hot soup beside a campfire on a Safartica ice fishing trip Our pick

Snowmobile and Ice Fishing Adventure with Lunch, Safartica

The one we would book for a first day on the ice.

Five to six hours from Safartica's office in the center. You drive a shared snowmobile along frozen rivers and through forest to the fishing spot, drill your own hole with the guide's help, then eat a soup lunch at the campfire. Winter clothing and transfers are in the price.

  • Rating4.8 from 900+ reviews on GetYourGuide, 4.9 from 66 on Viator
  • Duration5–6 hours, about 2–3 of them driving
  • Tour companySafartica
  • Free cancellationUp to 24 hours before, pay later
  • StrengthsThe longest ride; a hot lunch; the most reviews
  • Ideal forCouples and friends who want the sled and the lake in one day

Good to know: Groups of up to 50 people ride two to a sled. Drivers must be 18+ with a valid licence. Not for children under four. The 990-euro damage liability drops to 150 euros with a 20-euro insurance. The day on the ice.

~$211per person
GetYourGuide Viator
Guests on folding stools fishing through holes on a frozen lake in front of a pine forest No engines

Ice Fishing Experience, Wild About Lapland

The quiet one, at about half the price.

From Rovakatu in town you walk five to ten minutes through old forest to a wide frozen lake. A local guide teaches you to fish, you try the auger on your own hole, and any big fish goes over the fire while small ones go back. The guide also explains how locals set nets under ice up to a metre thick.

  • Rating4.5 from 400+ reviews on GetYourGuide, 4.7 from 34 on Viator
  • Duration3–4 hours
  • Tour companyWild About Lapland
  • Free cancellationUp to 24 hours before, pay later
  • StrengthsSmall group of eight or private; no licence needed; the lowest price
  • Ideal forTravelers who want peace, and families who would rather skip the snowmobile

Good to know: A shorter outing with a campfire snack and hot drinks instead of a lunch. Its value score on GetYourGuide (4.3) is the lowest of the three. It runs in all weather, and the operator lends winter clothing and boots. What might bite.

~$99per person
GetYourGuide Viator
Snowmobiles parked on a vast frozen lake near the Arctic Circle with ice anglers in the distance Hotel pickup

Ice Fishing & Snowmobile Safari Combo, Arctic Circle Snowmobile Park

A snowmobile ride and the lake, with a lift from your hotel.

A transfer from central Rovaniemi takes you to the park's office in the Arctic Circle area, near Santa Claus Village. From there you ride about 20 km (12 miles) through forest and across a frozen lake to fish for a while. The day ends with sausages and drinks by a bonfire as the guide tells fish stories.

  • Rating4.6 from 200+ reviews on GetYourGuide, 4.6 from 9 on Viator
  • DurationAbout 4.5 hours, hotel pickup included
  • Tour companyArctic Circle Snowmobile Park
  • Free cancellationUp to 24 hours before, pay later
  • StrengthsPickup and drop-off; fuel and clothing included; up to 20 people
  • Ideal forVisitors who want a snowmobile ride in a shorter day

Good to know: Two adults share each sled, and riding alone costs extra. Drivers need the physical licence (no provisional one, no photo) plus a passport or ID. The 950-euro liability falls to 150 euros with a 15-euro insurance bought before the start. Children on the sled.

~$181per person
GetYourGuide Viator

Our booking buttons are GetYourGuide and Viator affiliate links. Book through one and we earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you and with no say in our ranking.

Before you go

Eight things about ice fishing tours the listings leave in small print

You will not find these at the top of a booking page. Each one can turn a cold, confusing morning into a relaxed one by the fire.

What you should know

  1. Nobody promises a fish. Every listing hedges the catch, and on a slow day the bites simply stop in deep cold. Go for the lake and the fire, and treat a perch as a bonus. What might bite.
  2. The snowmobile carries a liability. Safartica's driver is liable for up to 990 euros per accident and the Arctic Circle Snowmobile Park for 950 euros. A small insurance (20 or 15 euros) cuts that to 150 euros. The full costs.
  3. Bring the licence itself. Whoever drives needs a valid driving licence. The Arctic Circle Snowmobile Park refuses provisional licences and photos of one, and asks for a passport or ID as well.
  4. You share the sled. Two adults ride one snowmobile on both snowmobile trips. At the combo, an odd number means sharing with another guest unless you pay the single-driver supplement.
  5. Sitting still is the cold part. The overalls and boots are included, but an hour by the hole chills you far faster than walking. Wool underneath matters more than anything you carry. Layers for −25 °C.
  6. Phones die in the frost. Batteries drain fast at these temperatures. Keep the phone in an inside pocket and bring it out only for the photo.
  7. Children travel behind the guide. On both snowmobile days, kids up to 14 ride in a towed sled. At the combo, a child over 140 cm who wants to sit on the snowmobile pays an adult fare. Ice fishing with kids.
  8. Lunch and snack are not the same. Safartica serves a soup lunch, while the other two offer sausages or a campfire snack with hot drinks. Eat a proper breakfast before the shorter trips.

Everything in one table

Three tours in one table, drawbacks included

All three trips side by side. Each row puts what a tour does well next to what it asks you to accept.

Swipe the table sideways to see all columns →

Tour Ideal for Price Length Starts from Tour company and rating Strength and catch Book
Safartica, snowmobile and ice fishing with lunch (our pick) A full first day on the ice ~$211per person 5–6 h Koskikatu 9, central Rovaniemi Safartica
4.8 on GetYourGuide		 Longest ride, soup lunch at the fire. Highest price, groups up to 50.
GetYourGuideViator
Wild About Lapland, walk-in ice fishing Quiet, small groups, no licence ~$99per person 3–4 h Rovakatu 24, Rovaniemi Wild About Lapland
4.5 on GetYourGuide		 Lowest price, eight people at most. Snack instead of lunch, no snowmobile.
GetYourGuideViator
Arctic Circle Snowmobile Park, snowmobile combo A sled ride in a shorter day ~$181per person About 4.5 h Hotel pickup in the center Arctic Circle Snowmobile Park
4.6 on GetYourGuide		 About 20 km by sled, pickup included. Sausages, not a meal; strict licence rules.
GetYourGuideViator

Prices are regular "from" rates per person in US dollars and can change. The booking page always has the final word.

Who went

Reviews from travelers who sat by the hole

Travelers who pulled up a perch and travelers who caught nothing but a cold nose, on the parts they enjoyed and what they would change next time.

★★★★★Snowmobile + soup lunch

We pulled on the overalls at the Safartica office and were out on a frozen river within the hour. My partner drove first and I took over after a break, which made the cold on my face a lot easier to bear. At the fishing spot the guide showed us how to drill the hole and bait the tiny hook, then got a pot of soup going on the fire while we stared at our lines. Neither of us caught a thing. The soup, the hot drinks and the silence of that lake were the best hour of our week in Lapland.

HBHannah B. · Manchester, UKClear and frosty
★★★★★Snowmobile + soup lunch

Two hours on the snowmobile, a perch on my line and soup by the fire. Exactly the Lapland day I wanted.

MKMarco K. · Munich, GermanyClear and frosty
★★★★☆Snowmobile + soup lunch

Great guides and a warm lunch, but the group was big and the pace on the snowmobiles felt slow at first, then fast in the forest. Ask how speeds work before you set off. The ice fishing part was calm and lovely.

ALAisha L. · Toronto, CanadaGrey with snow
★★★★★Snowmobile + soup lunch

Snow fell the whole day and the forest looked like a painting. The guide cooked the fish my friend caught right on the fire, next to the soup pot. Warm overalls, no complaints.

TNTakumi N. · Osaka, JapanGrey with snow
★★★★★Snowmobile + soup lunch

I was nervous about driving, since I had never been on a snowmobile, but the instructions before we left were clear and the guide came back to see how we were doing at every stop. Sharing the machine meant I could ride behind for a while and just look around. On the lake we sat by our holes for a long time with nothing, then two of the group caught small fish within minutes of each other and everyone cheered. Lunch by the fire was simple and very good.

ERElena R. · Valencia, SpainClear and frosty
★★★★★On foot, max 8

We wanted something quiet after two days of husky and snowmobile noise, and this was it. A short walk through old forest, then a wide white lake with only our small group on it. Our guide talked about how locals fish under the ice with nets while we jigged our lines. Hot juice and a snack at the fire to finish.

JPJonas P. · Aarhus, DenmarkClear and frosty
★★★★★On foot, max 8

First time I had ever seen a frozen lake, let alone sat on one. Drilled my own hole and loved it.

SCSarah C. · Brisbane, AustraliaClear and frosty
★★★★☆On foot, max 8

A relaxed few hours, good gear and a friendly guide who knew the lake well. Nobody caught anything big enough to keep, so the fire only warmed our hands. For the price I hoped for a little more time on the ice.

DMDavid M. · Chicago, USAGrey with snow
★★★★★On foot, max 8

We booked the private option for the four of us, two teenagers included, and it felt like a day out with a local friend. The guide let the kids take turns on the hand auger, which turned out to be harder work than it looks, and they argued about whose hole was luckiest for the whole afternoon. My son caught a perch and it went straight onto the fire. The boots and overalls they gave us kept everyone warm at minus twenty.

LVLotte V. · Utrecht, NetherlandsClear and frosty
★★★★★On foot, max 8

Small group, warm boots, a crackling fire and total silence on the lake. My favorite morning in Rovaniemi.

PSPriya S. · Bengaluru, IndiaGrey with snow
★★★★★Snowmobile combo, 20 km

Picked up at our hotel, out to the park near the Arctic Circle and onto the snowmobiles. The ride through the forest and across the lake was the highlight for my husband. Then we fished for an hour and grilled sausages at the bonfire.

GFGiulia F. · Turin, ItalyClear and frosty
★★★★★Snowmobile combo, 20 km

Twenty kilometres of snowmobiling plus ice fishing in one morning. Good fun and well run.

OWOliver W. · Dublin, IrelandGrey with snow
★★★★☆Snowmobile combo, 20 km

The safari part was excellent and the guide had great stories about the fish in the area. Read the small print about the damage liability before you go, because the extra insurance has to be bought before the start and we nearly missed it. My daughter rode in the sled behind the guide and loved every minute, even when it started to snow. We caught nothing, but the bonfire and the hot drinks made up for it.

NHNadia H. · Lyon, FranceGrey with snow
★★★★★Snowmobile combo, 20 km

Clear sky, deep cold and a lake that went on forever. The guide drilled the first holes, then let us try.

RTRyan T. · Denver, USAClear and frosty

Been already?

Tell the next traveler how it went

Share your day on the ice near Rovaniemi, fish or no fish. We read every review before it goes up, and we publish the critical ones too.

Your rating
The weather on the day

At least 40 characters, 40 to go

Mittens on

Book Safartica for your day on the ice

If you are in Rovaniemi while the lakes are frozen and want one outing that has the lot, we would book Safartica's snowmobile and ice fishing day. You drive out through the forest and drill your own hole, then sit down to soup by the fire. You are back in town by mid-afternoon or so, depending on the start.

You can hold a seat now and pay closer to the date. Cancelling is free until 24 hours before, which leaves time to check the forecast. Pack wool socks.

~$211

per person · 5–6 hours · from the city center

GetYourGuide Viator
  • ✓ Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
  • ✓ Reserve now, pay later
  • ✓ Winter clothing and transfers included
  • ✓ Soup lunch and hot drinks at the campfire

Good to know

Pilkkiminen, the Finnish way of fishing through ice

A few minutes of background makes the short rods and the long, patient silences on the lake much easier to enjoy.

Ice fishing is an ordinary winter pastime in Finland, not a show put on for visitors. Finns call the rod-and-lure kind pilkkiminen, and on a sunny weekend in late winter the lakes of Lapland fill with people sitting over their holes. The tours around Rovaniemi teach the same simple method.

01A short rod and a small lure

The rod is barely longer than your forearm, since there is nothing to cast. You lower a small lure or jig through the hole and twitch it gently up and down near the bottom. Most of the skill lies in feeling a light bite through a gloved hand. An afternoon on the ice, step by step.

02Why the lakes freeze so thick

Rovaniemi sits close to the Arctic Circle, and frost usually holds from late autumn into spring. Months of temperatures below zero build lake ice that, in midwinter, often runs far thicker than a walker needs. Wild About Lapland's listing mentions locals netting fish under ice up to a metre thick.

03The hand auger

Holes are drilled with a hand auger, a long crank with a sharp cutting head. It takes some effort at first and then breaks through with a rush of water. On all three trips you get to try it, with the guide standing by.

A small group drilling holes through a frozen lake near Rovaniemi under a deep blue winter sky
The moment most people remember is the auger breaking through, and dark water rising up the hole in the white ice.

04What swims below

In Finnish lakes the most common catch through the ice is often the European perch. Pike and burbot can turn up in some waters. None of the listings names a species or promises a bite. What you might catch.

05Everyman's rights

Finland's everyman's rights broadly allow simple rod fishing through the ice without a permit, though some waters have their own rules. On a tour the guide picks a lake where you may fish and handles the rest.

06Manners on the ice

Stay near the group, step around other people's holes and follow the guide's tracks. Small fish go back quickly, and the fire is for everyone. How the guides judge the ice explains why nobody wanders off alone.

Dec to AprThe rough ice fishing season

−13 °CAbout the January average in Rovaniemi (9 °F)

Up to 1 mIce thickness locals net under, per Wild About Lapland

3–6 hThe length of the three trips

Coming in the darkest weeks? Our guide Short days and hard frost explains what midwinter on the ice feels like.

Questions and answers

Frequently asked questions about ice fishing tours in Rovaniemi

Fourteen questions travelers keep asking, each with a full answer.

How much does an ice fishing tour in Rovaniemi cost?

The three tours on this page start at ~$99 per person for Wild About Lapland's walk-in trip. The snowmobile days cost ~$181 with the Arctic Circle Snowmobile Park and ~$211 with Safartica. Optional damage insurance on the snowmobile adds 15 or 20 euros. Every price and extra is in our cost guide.

Which ice fishing tour should I pick?

Safartica's snowmobile and ice fishing day suits most visitors, because it has the longest ride and a hot lunch. If you want quiet and a smaller group, choose Wild About Lapland's walk-in trip. For a shorter snowmobile outing with hotel pickup, the Arctic Circle combo fits.

When is the ice fishing season in Rovaniemi?

Usually from around December into April, once the lake ice is thick enough. The start and end shift with each winter. February and March often bring the most comfortable mix of solid ice and longer days. The best weeks to go.

How long does an ice fishing tour take?

Wild About Lapland's walk-in trip takes three to four hours and the Arctic Circle combo about four and a half. Safartica runs five to six. On the snowmobile days, a good share of that time goes on the ride.

Will I catch a fish?

Maybe. The guides know where to fish, but no listing promises a catch, and bites can slow right down in deep cold. Perch are the usual catch in Finnish lakes. Wild About Lapland cooks big fish over the fire and puts small ones back. What might bite.

Is the ice safe?

The guides choose the lake and the spot, and in midwinter the ice around Rovaniemi is usually far thicker than a person or a snowmobile needs. Follow the guide's tracks and never head onto an unknown lake alone. How the guides check the ice.

Do I need a driving licence for the snowmobile?

Yes, whoever drives needs a valid driving licence; passengers do not. Safartica's drivers must be 18 or older. At the Arctic Circle Snowmobile Park only a full licence, shown as the physical card, will do. The walk-in trip needs no licence at all.

Can children come along?

On both snowmobile trips, children up to 14 ride in a sled towed behind the guide's snowmobile. Safartica does not take children under four. Wild About Lapland's listing shows no age rule, so check it before booking. Ice fishing with kids.

What should I wear?

All three trips lend you winter overalls and boots. Wear a wool or synthetic base layer underneath with a warm mid layer over it, and pull on wool socks. Add a hat and a neck warmer, plus thin gloves for handling the line. What to wear at −25 °C.

Is food included?

Safartica cooks a Lappish soup lunch at the campfire with hot drinks and biscuits. The Arctic Circle Snowmobile Park serves sausages and drinks by a bonfire, and Wild About Lapland a campfire snack with hot drinks. Any fish you catch may go on the fire as well.

What if it is extremely cold?

The tours run in most weather, and in real extremes the operator decides whether to go out. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before lets you watch the forecast first. Short days and hard frost.

Will I see the northern lights?

Do not count on it. None of these trips is an aurora tour, and the lights need a dark, clear sky with enough activity. Many visitors plan a separate evening outing for them, with no guarantee either.

Is hotel pickup included?

The Arctic Circle Snowmobile Park includes pickup and drop-off in central Rovaniemi. Safartica includes transfers and meets at its office on Koskikatu, and you can ask for a pickup when booking. Wild About Lapland meets at Rovakatu 24, with pickup shown as available on GetYourGuide.

Can I cancel an ice fishing tour for free?

Yes. All three can be cancelled free of charge up to 24 hours before, and on GetYourGuide you can reserve now and pay later. That leaves room to change plans if the weather turns.

Read before you travel

Guides to a day on Lapland's frozen lakes

Ten questions that come up again and again, each with the long answer.