FAQ Saariselkä

Each person driving a snowmobile must be at least 18 years of age and must hold a valid driving license. A class B license for driving cars is valid for snowmobiling too. National driving licenses, including ones from non-European countries, are also accepted.

Normal cancellation policy applies when illness has been mentioned as a reason for cancellation. We recommend you get a travel insurance when travelling to Finland.

All of our safaris are possible to book directly from our website at minimum 24 hours prior to safari departure. Choose your travel dates, preferred safaris from the selection and your holiday destination – and follow the instructions. Remember to inform the ages of your children and possible allergies/illnesses/special diets/pregnancy, so that we can take care of you the best possible way. You can also send us an email if you need help choosing the adventures!

Kindly note that all reservations must be paid in advance to be confirmed; therefore, booking over the phone is not possible. If you do not manage to book online, please send us an email at:

Rovaniemi: safartica@safartica.com
Levi: levi@safartica.com
Ylläs: yllas@safartica.com
Saariselkä: saariselka@safartica.com

If you are making a booking in less than 24 hours, please contact us by email or visit our offices to book on the spot.

Please send us an email or call us:

Rovaniemi: safartica@safartica.com / +358 16 311 485
Levi: levi@safartica.com / +358 40 660 8571
Ylläs: yllas@safartica.com / +358 40 502 6458
Saariselkä: saariselka@safartica.com / +358 40 838 8285

Kindly note that all reservations must be paid in advance to be confirmed.

Yes, each participant will be provided the necessary clothing and equipment before the start of the safari:

WINTER: thermal overall, winter boots, woollen socks, gloves, scarf. For snowmobile programs balaclava and helmet.
AUTUMN: thermal overall, winter boots, woollen socks, gloves, scarf.
SUMMER: rain coats, rubber boots, woollen socks

Available sizes:
Thermal overalls: children 86-164 cm, adults 44-70 (men’s size)
Winter boots: EU 23-52

Your own clothing, which can be worn under the overall, should be thin but warm and comfortable. We recommend you read our tips on how to dress in Lapland in the section below.

In Rovaniemi, you can also rent thermal clothing for the whole duration of your stay here on our website.

We offer discounts on our website when booking some selected activities together (you can see the offer when booking, before you go to the checkout). If you wish to book 3 or more activities, you can contact our front desk at safartica@safartica.com and get 10% off your reservation (valid for new bookings only, it’s not possible to apply the discount after payment).

We occasionally run special campaigns and offer discounts for a limited time. Follow us on social media and stay up to date with all our offers!

Sure, if you are our customer you can leave your luggage and your personal belongings at our office free of charge. Please, note that Safartica is not responsible for any loss or damage to your belongings. We recommend you take a small backpack or handbag with your valuables with you.

You need to have a proof of your driving license with you. A picture, paper or digital copy of driving license are also accepted. Police will patrol time to time also in snowmobile tracks and may ask to see your driving license. Most often the police will also check the alcohol levels with a breath test.

In snowmobile safaris children 4-12 years old are usually seated in a sledge behind the guide’s snowmobile. We recommend one of the parents to sit with a small child in the sledge for the child’s comfort and safety. Due to safety reasons, infants 0-3 years cannot join on snowmobile safaris.

Everyone seated on the snowmobile must be at least 140 cm tall and capable of sitting safely on the vehicle. If the child of 13 or 14 years old is less than 140 cm , they will be seated in the sledge.

If a child over 140 cm wishes to sit in a snowmobile as a passenger, a full adult price will be charged (according to availability).

We do not recommend long snowmobile safaris for children less than 12 years old.

Safartica reserves the right to change the timetables or contents of the activities due to unfavourable weather conditions. If it is not possible to adapt the programme, the activity will be cancelled and a full refund will be provided to the customer.

Refunds are always done with the same method as the original payment. If you have paid your booking with VISA credit card, the refunded sum is transferred to the same credit card. According to the law, there is no possibility to refund money to different location. Kindly note that refund procedure may take up to 10 working days in total.

In Ylläs and Levi, all our husky tours are self-driven. You will have a quick stop during during which you can swap drivers, if you wish.

In Rovaniemi, our shorter tours are driven by a husky musher. This information is specified in the “includes” section of the activity description. Tours with a 3-km or longer husky rides are always self-driven.

Depending on the size of your group, the guides will decide on the spot how to divide you between the sleds. This cannot be confirmed in advance, as it depends on the size of the sleds, the passengers’ weight, and the snow and weather conditions.

Normally, a reindeer sleigh can accommodate 2 adults or 1 adult and 1 child. On self-driven husky tours, the sleds usually fit 2 adults (one driving) and 1 child, depending on the child’s size. On short husky rides driven by a musher, the sleds are larger and can accommodate up to 2 adults and 2 children.

We don’t have our own accommodation in Saariselkä, but we can arrange accommodation through our trusted partners for larger groups. For individual travellers, we currently don’t offer accommodation services in this destination.

Saariselkä is a great destination if you enjoy outdoor adventures, peaceful Arctic nature and fell landscapes. In winter, you can explore the snowy wilderness on snowmobile or reindeer safaris, go skiing, snowshoeing or head out to hunt for the Northern Lights.

Saariselkä is especially known for its beautiful fell scenery and easy access to Urho Kekkonen National Park, making it an excellent destination for those who want to explore Lapland’s nature. You can hike through the surrounding wilderness, enjoy panoramic views from the fells or discover the area’s trails at your own pace.

There is plenty to enjoy beyond the winter season, too. In summer and autumn, Saariselkä is a wonderful base for hiking, cycling and exploring the colourful Arctic landscape. Whether you’re looking for an active adventure or a peaceful escape into nature, Saariselkä offers plenty of ways to experience Finnish Lapland.

Our office in Saariselkä is located in the city center, in Lutontie 16, 99830 Saariselkä.

If you are staying outside of Saariselkä city center, you can call a taxi to get to our office. Alternatively, you may take the Matkahuolto bus or the Ski Bus to get to the city. Pick-up and drop-off at selected hotels are included in our safaris; for some farther accommodations, the service is provided for an extra fee.

From Ivalo, you can take a taxi or a bus either from the airport directly or from the Ivalo bus station, which usually offers more connections. To get to Saariselkä city center, you should get off to the Holiday Club bus stop, that is only 450 m from our office.

Saariselkä is located in northern Finnish Lapland, about 250 km north of Rovaniemi and only around 25 km from Ivalo Airport. The resort is easy to reach by plane, bus or car, with good connections from Finland and several European cities. Here are our & Lapland North’s tips for your journey.

By plane – Ivalo Airport

Ivalo Airport is the closest airport to Saariselkä and the easiest way to reach the resort. The airport is located about 25 km from Saariselkä, and the journey takes around 25–30 minutes by bus, taxi or pre-booked transfer.

Finnair operates flights between Helsinki and Ivalo all year round.

During the winter season, Ivalo Airport has direct connections from several European cities.

For winter 2026–2027, direct flights to Ivalo are available from Amsterdam, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, London Gatwick, Munich, Paris (Orly), Vienna and Zürich, in addition to Helsinki. There are also direct connections from Kirkenes, Norway.

From Ivalo Airport, you can continue to Saariselkä by airport bus, taxi or pre-booked transfer.

Flight routes and schedules vary depending on the season, so we recommend checking the latest connections directly with the airlines before booking your trip.

By bus – Rovaniemi to Saariselkä

If you are already in Rovaniemi, travelling by bus is one of the easiest ways to reach Saariselkä. There are regular bus connections between Rovaniemi and Saariselkä, with the journey taking approximately 3–4 hours depending on the service.

There are also bus connections from Rovaniemi Airport to Saariselkä, making this a convenient option if you fly to Rovaniemi instead of Ivalo.

Bus tickets and timetables can be checked and purchased through Matkahuolto and other local bus operators.

By train + bus

Saariselkä does not have a train station, but you can easily combine a train journey with a bus.

If you’re travelling from Helsinki or elsewhere in southern Finland, take a train to Rovaniemi and continue north by bus to Saariselkä. Rovaniemi is the closest major railway connection to Saariselkä.

All trains in Finland are operated by state-owned company VR. The easiest option is to buy your train tickets beforehand from VR’s own website.

From Rovaniemi, you can continue your journey to Saariselkä by bus. This is a convenient option if you would like to combine a train journey through Finland with a visit to northern Lapland.

By car

Saariselkä is located along Highway E75, making it easy to reach by car from Rovaniemi and other destinations in Lapland. The drive from Rovaniemi to Saariselkä takes approximately 3 hours.

Travelling by car is also a convenient option if you are planning a multi-destination Lapland holiday and want to combine Saariselkä with destinations such as Rovaniemi, Levi or Ylläs.

You can find information about road conditions on Liikenne Tilanne or Fintraffic website.

– Dress in layers. Use many thin, warm layers rather than a few thick layers. It will insulate better and allow you to strip off some layers if the temperature climbs. Staying dry is the top priority.

– When wearing layers, better to wear clothing that is not too tight. Loose clothing helps to trap a layer of warm air between the fabric and your body, which acts as insulation to keep you warm.

– Add a first layer consisting of a comfortably light fabric that will remove the sweat away from your body. Avoid pure cotton, linen, or other similar materials, however, because these fabrics retain moisture and will chill you down. The best material is synthetic fiber.

– Next layer should be a knit sweater, sweatshirt or fleece. This layer is to keep you warm. Also, a warm tracking suit will do or the latest trend of one piece overalls.

– Wear thick socks, preferably layering one thin pair with one or two thicker ones. Use socks made of 100% wool or wool blends for a better insulation, and avoid cotton socks in cold temperatures.

– Thin under gloves (best material is fleece).

– Also, remember to pack a good moisturizer with you as the cold air can dry your skin and lips.

Children

Children should be dressed the same way as adults: remember the layers and warm, long, underwear. As long as the children keep on moving, they will be warm in same weather as the adults. Smallest children such as babies and toddlers should be protected with more layers, as they do not move as much.

Important: before booking your safari, please consider if 2-5 hours outside in winter conditions is suitable for your child.