On a winter trip you’ll soon come across three classics: huskies, reindeer and snowmobiles. They’re often sold with similar pictures of a snowy forest, but as experiences they’re very different.
If you’re only going to book one, choose by how you want the day to feel, not by what appears most often in the adverts.
At a glance
| Trip | Feel | Physical effort | Speed | Cold |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Husky | active, energetic | moderate | fast | fairly cold |
| Reindeer | calm, slow | light | slow | cold when sitting still |
| Snowmobile | fast, covers a lot of ground | moderate | fastest | wind adds to the cold |
Huskies: when you want to take part
Driving a dog team isn’t just sitting in a sled.
On many trips one adult stands on the runners, braking and steering, while the other sits in the sled, and you swap places along the way. Trips range from a few kilometres to try it out to long routes through the forest.
Ask for the distance or the actual driving time, not just the length of the whole programme. A three-hour programme can include transfers, gear, instructions, coffee and a farm visit, so the ride itself is only part of it.
Reindeer: when you want to slow down
A reindeer sleigh is a completely different experience.
The pace is calm, you sit under warm hides or blankets, and the forest drifts slowly by. A short sleigh ride also suits people who don’t want anything physical.
At its best, a farm visit is about much more than the ride: the herder tells you about the reindeer’s year, feeding, grazing and their own work.
Reindeer aren’t props for tourism. They’re semi-domesticated animals, each one owned by a herder, and part of a northern livelihood. In the wild, don’t approach or disturb them for a photo.
Snowmobiles: when you want to see a lot
The advantage of a snowmobile is range.
In a couple of hours you can reach forests, fells and frozen lakes that would take a whole day on foot. It’s also the most mechanical of the three and the most exposed to the wind.
Under Finnish rules, snowmobile drivers must be at least 15 years old, and on official snowmobile routes and at road crossings the driver needs a licence covering snowmobiles (category T). Road traffic rules and right-hand traffic apply on the routes. Helmets are compulsory for drivers and passengers, and the drink-driving limit is 0.5 per mille, the same as for cars.
Safari companies also set their own licence, age and height requirements, so check them before you book.
With children
Reindeer are usually the easiest and calmest option.
On husky trips, small children typically ride in the sled with an adult, or as the operator specifies.
On snowmobile trips, children often travel in a sled towed by the guide’s snowmobile, and there are limits on riding as a passenger or driving. These vary between programmes.
Don’t judge suitability by a “family friendly” label alone. Look at how long the child will sit still outdoors. Read also Lapland with kids.
Five questions before you book
- How long is the actual driving or riding time?
- How big is the group?
- Which warm clothes and gear are included in the price?
- What happens in a hard frost or when there’s little snow?
- On an animal trip: who looks after the animals, and what is their life like outside the tourist season?
A good operator will answer these easily. For typical prices, read how much a trip to Lapland costs.