Top Lapland Outdoor Activities

Ride a reindeer-pulled sleigh through the snow and meet these gentle animals on a 2-hour tour from Rovaniemi. Travel to a reindeer farm in the wooded fells, and learn from the friendly herders how they care for these beautiful animals. Then, sit back in a cozy sleigh and enjoy the glittering scenery on a ride through the woods. Take the opportunity to try handling a sled and afterward, warm up with hot berry juice. Everyone — even the little ones — leaves with an international reindeer driver license as a souvenir.

Plan a stress-free visit to Ranua Zoo with a pre-booked admission ticket and convenient round-trip transfer from your Rovaniemi accommodations. A pre-booked ticket allows you to skip entrance lines and ensures you have plenty of time to view the artic animals in their protected environments, as well as grab lunch and shop for souvenirs (own expense).

Short on time in Lapland? This 2.5-hour reindeer sleigh and husky sled experience from Rovaniemi is just the ticket. Meet and learn about friendly reindeer at a reindeer farm, and settle on a reindeer sleigh for a wonderful ride through the snowy woods. Receive a souvenir reindeer driving licence, enjoy a hot drink, and visit a husky farm. See the beautiful sled dogs, and take an exciting husky-sled ride through the wintry forests. Finish with a coffee or sweet hot berry juice before returning to Rovaniemi.

Try the local tradition of ice fishing while on vacation in Rovaniemi. With a local guide to assist you, you'll be dropping your line on an arctic lake or river, bordered by a snowy landscape. Before you drop a line, you'll get an introduction to how to move on the ice safely, techniques for drilling, and the history of the ice fishing tradition.

Travel through the snowy Lappish forest like a local—on a snowmobile—on this half-day tour. Keep warm with provided gear, far superior than anything you may have packed in your suitcase, and some blueberry tea and gingerbread.

Finland’s landscape is best explored up close, but it can be difficult to traverse the wild terrain. Get an intimate experience of Korouoma with a hike through the valley, discovering cliffs, frozen waterfalls and wildlife, including moose and reindeer, under the supervision of a guide. Enjoy hot drinks and snacks beside an open fire, and relax after a day’s activity with pickup and drop-off to your Rovaniemi hotel included.

See some of Finland’s beautiful native animals close-up on a 5-hour trip to Ranua Zoo from Rovaniemi. Stroll around the forest trails of the family-friendly wildlife park, and observe Arctic animals such as lynx, bears, reindeer, owls and more, plus Finland's only polar bears. Then, visit the zoo’s restaurants and shops, including a souvenir, candy and wine store. The trip includes zoo admission ticket, round-trip transport and hotel pickup and drop-off.

Hunting the Northern Lights in Finland is best done with a guide who knows the best viewpoints. This small-group experience from Rovaniemi delivers: with return transport into the countryside far from light pollution and a guide to seek out sightings. Set up base at a camp with panoramic views, and watch for the lights over grilled snacks and warm drinks. A DSLR camera is recommended for the best shots.

Experience time in the great outdoors of Lapland on this exciting snowmobile safari. Save time planning transport by having hotel pickup and drop-off included. It’ll be the ultimate stress-free day with snowmobile equipment rental, and a delicious campfire lunch in the Arctic wilderness of Kota included. No need to worry about navigating, as a guide will lead the way.

Be immersed in Lapland’s natural landscape on this small-group snow-hiking tour, with included round-trip transfer from your Rovaniemi hotel. Upon arrival, strap on your snowshoes and follow your professional guide deep into the forest for a glimpse of Arctic flora and fauna, then take a seat around the campfire to learn more about wilderness survival over a traditional sausage supper and blueberry tea.

Learn all about Lappish culture and its wildlife with this visit to a local reindeer farm outside of Rovaniemi. Step into a sleigh and enjoy the snowy scenery as you travel down forest paths, pulled by these indigenous creatures. Meet the local reindeer herders and warm up around a fire with hot beverages as you hear about their way of life.

See the best of Rovaniemi, the official hometown of Santa Claus and the capital of Lapland. Make the most of your limited time, as your professional guide takes you to the best lookouts, Arktikum Arctic Museum, reindeer and husky farms, and Snowmobile Museum. End your day at the Santa Claus Village with a meeting with Santa himself.

Meet Santa Claus, and ride a snowmobile and reindeer sleigh on this fun-filled, 6-hour adventure from Rovaniemi. Journey to the magical Santa Claus Village, and visit Santa's office, the post office, and the twinkling, Christmas-themed shops before savoring a delicious lunch. In the afternoon, ride a snowmobile to a reindeer farm, and enjoy an enchanting sleigh ride with the tinkle of reindeer bells filling the air. An Arctic Circle crossing ceremony and complimentary hot drinks add the final touches to this tour.

Visit the northernmost zoo in the world, Ranua Zoo, on this organized trip from Rovaniemi. With tickets purchased in advance and all transportation arranged, this is the easiest way to visit the zoo. During the tour, learn about the more than 50 Arctic species living in natural enclosures on the property through guided commentary.

Optimize your chances of seeing the Northern Lights on a night-time tour from Rovaniemi, with round-trip transfer from your hotel by minivan. Be immersed in Lappish culture as you explore the wilderness with your small-group guide and avoid the Nordic chill with hot drinks and sausages served round an open campfire.

Set off into the snowy Finnish wilderness on this evening snowmobile safari from Rovaniemi. Zoom through the forest in search of the Northern Lights, then stop at a picnic spot to have a bonfire and set up a tripod for the best possible night sky photos. Use of thermal clothing during the safari, including thermal overall, boots, gloves, woolen socks, a scarf, and helmets, is included.

Watch the aurora borealis in a unique and peaceful way: floating in an Arctic lake. You’ll be provided with a warm, dry survival suit, which will protect you from the freezing temperatures and keep you buoyant. Your guide will talk about the stunning natural phenomenon and the surrounding Finnish landscape.

Tick off three of Lapland’s most popular and kid-friendly experiences in just one day on this small-group combo tour from Rovaniemi–perfect for families celebrating the holidays. Start off with a visit to Santa Claus Village amusement park to cross the Arctic Circle and meet the man himself, then have a go at driving a reindeer-pulled sleigh yourself, before heading a husky ranch to meet working dogs and enjoy a longer ride on a husky-pulled sleigh.

Secure your place to avoid missing out and save time while you’re in Rovaniemi by prebooking this small-group snowshoeing adventure. Ride a minivan into the Arctic wilderness, don snowshoes, and enjoy a forest trek through the deep, virgin snow with a photographer guide. Watch for wildlife and connect with Arctic nature, including learning nature photo tips, in ways you couldn’t do alone. Hot drinks, snacks, equipment, and winter gear included.

Hunt the Northern Lights to capture them on camera on this small-group photography tour from Rovaniemi. Traveling by air-conditioned minivan with a professional photographer, head for the best viewing places, chosen according to the weather forecasts of the day. Then, walk to the exact vantage points for a guided photo session, and with luck, obtain once-in-a-lifetime shots. Headlamps, thermals, refreshments, and Rovaniemi hotel pickup and drop-off included, with participants advised to bring a DSLR camera.

Finding and photographing the Northern Lights independently while in Finland may mean missing the best sightings and shots. This tour maximizes the chances of both—with a pro-photographer to take you to recommended viewpoints and advise on your camera settings and angles. While scanning the skies, enjoy barbecue snacks and hear tales of the lights you’d probably miss alone. Warm outerwear and professional Northern Lights photos from your trip included.

Finding the Northern Lights without a guide may mean wasted searches—something you can’t afford if you’re short on time in Finland. This tour from Rovaniemi ups the chances of sightings with a guide to interpret the conditions and take you to a prime viewpoint. Plus, you’ll hear stories about the lights you might miss if searching alone, and enjoy a Lappish barbecue as an extra local touch.

Experience the thrill of dog-sledding during a half-day tour from Rovaniemi that features a fun ride through the snow-covered wilderness of Finland. Follow your guide across the snowy landscape for about 1.5 hours as you steer your own dog-sled pulled by energetic huskies. After the safari, your guide provides a hot drink and cookies while sharing further commentary about the huskies and sledding.

Make the most of your day with this morning dogsledding adventure with a team of trained huskies. Enjoy pickup in Rovaniemi and meet your dogs before a brief tutorial on the basics of mushing. Then hop on your sled for a scenic 45-minute ride through the snow-covered forest, just enough time to enjoy the adventure without feeling the cold. Afterwards, relax over warm juice and cookies around the fire.