Lapland Safaris Rovaniemi — Local services in Rovaniemi sub-region

Overall we enjoyed the experience, but we felt there were a couple of points that could be improved. We didn't use the pick up/drop off as our plans meant we were already close by so didnt need it. (Great that its offered though) We arrived ahead of the rest of the group on our time slot, the staff were welcoming and friendly, we perhaps could have been started on the waiver/paperwork ahead of the rest of the group arriving, as we were surprised at how big the booking on our time slot was- it took a while to go through the motions of signing things and getting kit sorted purely because of the large size of the booking. Though the staff seem to have this process down like a fine art, all chipping in to get things done.

Once everyone was kitted up, we went outside and split into two groups to huddle around one of two snowmobiles for a quick instruction. (This demonstrates how big the group was) Our guide Ada was informative, clear and approachable to all questions.

Once all questions asked we then all paired up to our snowmobiles. Our guide Ada had said we would do a stop not long after starting to make sure everyone was comfortable with the snowmobiles - this is a great idea, but I also think this would be a great opportunity to split the group by ability/confidence, especially due to the large size of the groups. Understandably people will have different levels of confidence/ability but by having us all mixed it became quite frustrating to be constantly stopping every few hundred feet, for those that were struggling. This impacted on the flow and consistency of the experience.

About halfway into the 2 hour experience the group stopped and we had hot blueberry juice and some time to 'play' in the deep snow and see some local reindeer. This was also a driver swap point if sharing a snowmobile. Our journey back also had frequent stops but not for views, more so, for those now, newly swapped drivers that were now also adjusting to riding a snowmobile. We never did above 35km and I would say we averaged a speed of about 15/20km for the trip, with very frequent stops to allow for stragglers etc.

Overall, the route along the frozen river was lovely and the staff great. We personally would have preffered a smaller group and a better flow/consistency...

Overall a great experience, we (family, 4 adults, 5 children) had lots of fun and a great time. We did 3 different safaris: a Husky safari, a northern lights snowmobile safari and the Santa Claus Safari including visiting a reindeer farm and Santa‘s village. Every Safari was organised perfectly, but nevertheless there are some aspects I would like to mention:

The Husky safari was great. An absolutely unique experience. We arrived at the location and were directly instructed on what to do and when and how to behave in the sleigh and how to control it. The instructor explicitely told us to go to the sleighs directly, no patting the dogs, no photos. There would be enough time afterwards. After the ride we got a warm drink, cookies and information on the Husky farm. And then we had to leave the hut, because the bus had arrived to bring us back. No time to go to the dogs, take pictures, pat them and so on. A little sad.

The snowmobile tour was great. The guides acted very responsibly. We didn‘t see any northern lights, but who cares… Driving a snowmobile is fun, but also challenging. The track is not always smooth, most of the time it actually is bumby.

The Santa Claus Safari left me with mixed feelings. The reindeer farm was actually a place with 5-10 reindeers. Probably only established for tourists. The reindeer ride was a five minute ride in one big circle. The snowmobile experience for kids was sitting on and driving a Mini-snowmobile on a leash in a circle (like a pony). The lunch was great and perfect for families. The guide Alessandro was great too. Also the time in Santa‘s Village was nice, although it was very crowded. Complicated is the order of activities concerning the clothing. We started the Safari fully dressed up in overalls and gloves, got on the bus, arrived, were escorted to a nice and cosy cottage with a fire (sweating guaranteed) where the Lappish culture is presented. Then outside activities, so warm clothing needed. After that lunch. Inside. Undressing? So exhausting. And at the end Santa‘s Village: Walking around in thermal clothing and shopping? Not the greatest combo.

But all that is complaining on a high level. Everything went smoothly and we made some great experiences thanks to...

I booked the 4hr northern lights experience and it was amazing. The guides were amazingly friendly and knowledgeable, service included pickup and drop off at my hotel as well as a good set of thermal clothing to keep you from freezing. After a short introduction we took off with the tour bus and drove out to the reindeer farm where a bonfire was already waiting for us. We did get quite a bit of auroral activity in the sky, unfortunately a few guests brought tripods that they placed right in the way and got ornery when others would try to get a good view as well. On top of that, a few children were screeching and shouting, ruining the serene and beautiful atmosphere. As it's an overnight tour (9pm to 1am), maybe it's not ideal for young children. We were treated to hot beverages, and sausages to roast by the fire. After that we got to warm up inside the old farm house, built in 1894, where we were also treated to a bit of a history lesson, which was unfortunately interrupted by noisy children once more. The staff as well as the family of the reindeer farm were charming and super friendly, I really can't fault any of them, just some of the fellow travellers were making it uncomfortable, but I guess that's down to luck. I do recommend this tour to anyone hoping to see the northern lights, though there is of course no guarantee you'll get...