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Best snowmobile tour in Ruka: matching the safari to the rider

Two riders in winter suits on a touring snowmobile crossing snow in fog

Illustration photo: a snowmobile in fog, not on the Ruka safaris.

Lapland Handbook Staff How we research this

The short answer

For a first ride, book the two-hour loop from the safari house in the resort: short, close and the easiest to fit into a ski day. Without a car, take the scenic safari that collects you from Ruka centre. For a long day on the machine, the winter village's four-hour safari. Only experienced drivers should book the full day to the eastern border.

How the operators compare

Prices are the operators' own published starting prices as of the date this guide was updated, and they change through the season.

Kuusamo Safaris: around RukaRuka Adventures: sceneryLammintupa: 4 hoursRuka Adventures: eastern border
Length 2 h 2.5 h 4 h 6 h
On the machine About 30 km Not stated About 3 h 120 km
Two sharing, each €85 €120 €159 Not sold
Food None listed Warm drink and bun Snack in a hut Lunch by the border
Getting there Safari house in Ruka Pick-up in Ruka centre Lammintupa village Not stated
Youngest 5 4, in a sled Not stated 18

Nothing is ranked: the four safaris are built for different riders, and a longer one is not a better one. The prices are compared on the price page.

Where these figures come from
  • Kuusamo Safaris: around Ruka: A two-hour loop of about 30 km from the company's safari house, with views to two fells.
  • Ruka Adventures: scenery: A scenic safari with a warm drink midway, collecting guests from Ruka centre six days a week.
  • Lammintupa: 4 hours: The winter village's longest safari, with about three hours on the machine and a snack in a hut.
  • Ruka Adventures: eastern border: A demanding day of 120 km to the eastern border with lunch there, one driver on each machine.

The snowmobile safaris around Ruka differ most in how long you spend on the machine and how demanding the route is, so the choice starts with the rider.

A first ride

Kuusamo Safaris’ loop around Ruka is two hours and about 30 km, with stops to look across to the Konttainen and Valtavaara fells. It leaves from the company’s safari house in the resort twice a day from Monday to Saturday, and the company pitches it at first-time riders.1

Without a car

Ruka Adventures’ scenery safari collects you from Ruka centre, stops midway for a warm drink and a bun, and runs at eleven and three on six days of the week.2

A longer day

The winter village at Lammintupa sells a four-hour safari with about three hours on the machine and a snack in a hut.3 Ruka Adventures’ Arctic safari covers about 60 km with a picnic lunch by the fire, for riders of twelve and over.

For experienced drivers

Ruka Adventures’ Friday safari to the eastern border is 120 km over six hours, with lunch at a restaurant near the border, one rider on each machine, and a note that it suits drivers with some experience.4 Kuusamo Safaris’ Kuntivaara safari, for adults only, and Stella Polaris’ Border of Europe safari, which it says is not for first-time riders, cover the same country.53

For a safari after dark, see snowmobile and northern lights in Ruka. What each ride costs alone, shared or with a child is on snowmobile safari prices in Ruka, and the safaris for children on snowmobile safaris with children in Ruka.

Tours you can book

Questions people ask

Can I book a snowmobile safari travelling alone?

Yes. Kuusamo Safaris welcomes solo bookings and runs a departure once four people in total have booked, so you need not bring three others. Ruka Adventures' day to the eastern border puts one person on each machine anyway. Lammintupa prints a minimum of four adults per safari, so a solo rider there depends on others booking the same departure.

Which driving licence do I need?

A car licence. Ruka Adventures asks for a category B licence and accepts only the physical card, and it breath-tests drivers before the start. Kuusamo Safaris asks for a valid licence accepted in Finland, and Lammintupa for a driver of at least eighteen with a valid licence. Without one you can still ride as a passenger while someone else drives.

Do we need our own winter clothing?

Not with the safari companies: Kuusamo Safaris includes thermal overalls, boots, gloves, a balaclava and a helmet, and Ruka Adventures includes a safari outfit. Lammintupa's two- and four-hour listings in the resort shop print no clothing line, so ask when you book, and bring your own warm layers, gloves and a hat as a precaution.

Written by

Lapland Handbook Staff

Lapland Handbook is written by its editorial staff in Rovaniemi. Every price, age limit and group size in a comparison is read from the operator's own page and marked "Not stated" when the operator does not publish it. Each guide names who should not book, and names the operator that suits each kind of group, whichever it is.

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