The 15 Best Saariselkä Tours & Activities

1.Aurora Hunting Photography Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 325 reviews · 3 hours · from $163Our pick

You’ll ride from Saariselkä with an English-speaking guide such as Mikke, Eugene, Ivan, or Pavel, checking weather and sky conditions as you hunt for clear views. The 3-hour tour includes hotel pickup within 15 km, warm drinks, snacks, and professional camera photos. Expect cold outdoor stops and a flexible route rather than one fixed viewing site.

“Best aurora hunt ever! We were amazed by the light show in the sky. Gabri was an excellent guide who had great instincts on where to find the lights. He was knowledgeable, great photographer and had snacks for everyone. Highly recommend this tour to everyone!”

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2.10KM Husky Safari with kennel visit

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 313 reviews · 4 hours · from $234

From Saariselkä or Ivalo, you’ll ride to a small husky kennel in Veskoniemi, learn from experienced mushers, and drive a two-person sled for 10 km. You’ll switch driver and passenger halfway, meet the dogs and puppies, then warm up with a drink in a kota. Warm overalls, boots, and gloves are provided.

“Excellent communication, service and support. Very well run and friendly facility with all the dogs being extremely well looked after Also got to meet the puppies which was lovely. Would definitely recommend the company and experience”

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3.Snowmobile Ride with Hot Drinks

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 196 reviews · 2 hours · from $152

Safartica’s two-hour Saariselkä safari begins with hotel pickup, winter gear, a safety briefing, and simple driving lessons. You’ll share a snowmobile, follow an English-speaking guide through snowy forests and hills, then stop for hot berry juice and photos. Drivers must be 18 or older with a valid B license.

“Overall it was a great experience. We really enjoyed the experience. The pick up and drop off was good. The activity was also well regulated - we would have preferred if we could have gone a little faster. But overall, we enjoyed the experience”

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4.Northern Lights Hunt Snowmobile Safari

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 195 reviews · 5 hours · from $199

Drive a snowmobile through Inari’s dark winter forests to a forest hut, where your guide lights a fire and serves hot drinks, sausages, and snacks. You’ll learn on special tracks before heading into the wilderness. Guides such as David, Sam, Marco, and Markus are praised for safety and warmth, but auroras remain weather-dependent.

“all ok. big group so little unorganised at start. but guide was good stopped fir 3 northen light spots”

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5.Auroras Northern Lights in Saariselka

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 176 reviews · 5 hours · from $175

Spend five hours hunting the aurora around Saariselkä and Ivalo with an English-speaking guide such as Christina, Linda, or Franzi. You’ll ride to dark, partly private viewing sites, warm up in a tepee or hut, cook barbecue snacks over a fire, hear local stories, and get help with night photography. Pickup from major hotels is included.

“The Aurora was spectacular on the day we did the tour. I will never forget in my life. Our guide Franzi was very knowledgeable in observing northern lights and stars as well as in making fire with woods. We did great barbecue sausages panckakes etc. It was a great experience.”

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6.Snowmobile Safari on Tundra with BBQ

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 151 reviews · 3 hours · from $175

You’ll learn to handle a Lynx snowmobile on marked tracks, then ride through snowy woods and open fields with an English-speaking guide such as Marko, Fabian, or Tommi. A forest hut stop brings sausages, snacks, hot berry juice, chocolate, and time to warm up. Solo driving costs extra.

“Our guide Marko was such a nice guy as a guide. he was very friendly, always asking if everything was okay. It was totally worth the money compared to what we have experienced. totally recommended!”

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7.Northern Lights & Reindeer Sledding Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 140 reviews · 2.5 hours · from $222

From Saariselkä, you’ll travel to a reindeer farm for a quiet sleigh ride through the forest, a campfire drink, and time feeding the animals. Guides such as Visa, Ansee, Nilla, and Eemeli add local stories and humor. Thermal clothing is provided, but Aurora sightings depend on weather and luck.

“It was a truly magical and unforgettable experience! I was with my kids, aged 10 and 6, and they absolutely loved it. The sledge riding was so much fun, and seeing the northern lights was incredible. Our guide, Visa, was extremely friendly and made the trip even more special. I highly recommend it—an adventure of a lifetime!”

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8.Evening Snowmobile Tour with Fire & picnic

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 127 reviews · 3 hours · from $183

From Saariselkä, ride a heated-handlebar snowmobile through snowy forests, swamps, and hills after dark. You drive for about 1.5 to 2 hours, sharing one machine with another adult, then stop by a fire for grilled sausage, pastry, and hot drinks. Keep watch for the northern lights, though sightings are never guaranteed.

“Activités bien mais par rapport au prix je trouve ça chère, après il y avait un très bon guide, sympa et plein d’anecdote ! Mais au vu du prix la prestation je suis quand même déçu ..”

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9.Aurora Photo Tour by Car with Transfer & Drinks

★★★★★★★★★★3.9 · 116 reviews · 3 hours · from $135

You’ll leave Saariselkä by car with an English-speaking guide, tracking clear skies and aurora activity around northern Lapland. Warm clothing, hot drinks, gingerbread, hotel transfers, photography advice, and an online photo link are included. The lights are never guaranteed, and the quality of the search can vary with weather and the chosen stopping points.

“Unfortunately, the tour was disappointing. We did see the aurora; however, the driver didn’t show much enthusiasm, only driving for a while and stopping in a lay-by next to the road. There was some aurora activity, but the high tension cables above spoiled the occasion (as they would interfere with the view and -of course- with the pictures). The driver commented that “we don’t need to go elsewhere: we’ll see the same lights” (i’m paraphrasing, but that was the message). We knew that, but a search for a picturesque scenario (eg, the frozen lake Ukonjarvi ) would have made for a much better experience than stopping at the side of…”

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10.Arctic Trail Horse Riding Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 105 reviews · 2 hours · from $170

Meet Maria and the calm Finnish horses at Polaris Point Horses, learn the basics, then ride at a slow pace through quiet forest trails. The two-hour outing includes at least 60 minutes in the saddle, a helmet, an English or Finnish guide, and hot drinks afterward. Bring proper winter shoes and arrange your own transport.

“She was so sweet and she really cares about her horses! She knew there pecking order and was able to explain it all to us! It was cold but so worth it!”

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11.Snowshoeing Tour in Urho Kekkonen National Park

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 91 reviews · 2 - 4 hours · from $88Best value

Meet your English or Finnish-speaking guide at Outdoor Expert Saariselkä, near the park border, then snowshoe beyond marked routes through quiet forest. Choose a 2-hour daytime, 4-hour, or 2-hour evening outing. Guides such as Alessa and Rita adjust the route to snow and group pace. Equipment and a warm drink are included.

“We went on a snowshoeing trip in Urho Kekkonen National Park with our guide, and it was a wonderful experience. It was the first time snowshoeing for our kids, and the guide made it enjoyable and comfortable for them. We followed narrow trails through the national park that led us to a beautiful, peaceful area surrounded entirely by nature. Although it was cloudy and lightly snowing, it made the experience even more special. We also had the chance to walk through deep snow with the snowshoes, which was exciting for all of us. Overall, it was an awesome and memorable experience for the whole family.”

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12.Snowmobile Safari, Meet and Feed Reindeers with Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 85 reviews · 3h 15m · from $210

You’ll drive 25 to 30 kilometers across frozen Ivalo River and Lake Inari, sharing a snowmobile and switching drivers halfway. Local guides such as Piia and Bea provide instruction, then take you to Tina and Tapio’s island home for reindeer feeding and a campfire lunch of fish or reindeer in a warm teepee.

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13.Lake Inari Northern Lights Tour w/ Reindeer & Dinner

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 80 reviews · 4 hours · from $194

From Ivalo, Tina and Tapio’s family-run tour takes you by van and snowmobile-pulled sleigh to a quiet island on Lake Inari. Warm clothing, a fireside three-course dinner, reindeer feeding, and a chance to see the Northern Lights are included. The English-speaking group is limited to 12 people.

“Zonder noorderlicht (wat natuurlijk nooit te garanderen is) is deze tocht wat magertjes. Het is vooral een (koude) tocht over het meer in een slee achter een sneeuwscooter gevolgd door een tussenstop in een tipi tent met vuur waarop worstje/soep/brood worden klaargemaakt en waar je de gelegenheid krijgt 2 rendieren te voeren. Daarna nog paar minuten terug met de slee naar de auto die ons terugbracht naar de beginlocatie waar we onze dikke geleende pakken konden inleveren en daarna teruggebracht werden naar ons hotel. Als totaalpakket niet slecht als aanbod, maar in de praktijk zonder noorderlicht heeft het weinig om het lijf.”

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14.Aurora Photography Tour 3 HOURS

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 74 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $167Top rated

Spend about three hours hunting the Northern Lights around Saariselkä and Inari. Your English-speaking guide follows changing cloud and aurora forecasts, drives to at least three dark-sky locations, and serves hot drinks. Guides such as Ivan, Walter, Centti, Karoliina, and Nico are praised for persistence and helpful photography tips.

“First of all, they came to the meeting place on time. Then we got in the car and moved in the direction of Aurora. They found the aurora and moved quickly, and the process was fun. In the end, although it was faint, I was able to see the Aurora! Additionally, the berry juice and ginger cookies were very delicious. Also they were very friendly and enthusiastic.”

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15.Northern lights tour to Lake Inari from Ivalo, Reindeers & Dinner

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 63 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $191

From Ivalo, you’ll receive thermal clothing before riding a snowmobile-pulled sleigh to a quiet Lake Inari island. Local guides, including Maksim, Tina, and her family, serve berry juice, reindeer or salmon soup, sausage, and blueberry dessert in a teepee. You may feed reindeer and watch for the aurora, but sightings depend on clear skies.

“A lovely family company of locals of Inari lake. Very professional organization, I highly recommande this activity..”

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