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Family snowmobile safari in Ylläs: the sled, the seat and the child fare

Snowmobile riders cornering together on a snowy track and throwing up powder

Illustration photo: a snowmobile race, not in Ylläs.

Lapland Handbook Staff How we research this

The short answer

With children under seven, any of these works, and the short ride from Äkäslompolo is by far the cheapest for them because a child in the guide's sleigh pays little. With a child of seven who wants to sit behind a parent, that ride is the only one here that allows it. Check the dates first: the two family rides near Ylläsjärvi run only in the Christmas and February holiday weeks.

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.

Short family rideFirst ride from ÄkäslompoloEasy-going tourRide and ice fishing
Where a child rides Guide's sled, 4 to 12 Sleigh from 4, or behind a parent from 7 Guide's sled, 4 to 14 Guide's sled, 4 to 12
Child fare in the sled €99.75 €30 – lowest child fare €65 €136.50
Length 2 h 2 h 2.5 h 3 h
When it runs 12 Dec to 2 Jan, 6 Feb to 6 Mar Five days a week Not stated 18 Dec to 1 Jan, 12 Feb to 5 Mar

Highlighted figures are the best in that row: lowest child fare. The easy-going tour's child fare rises to 70 euros from 13 December to 3 January and from 31 January to 28 February. A child of seven to fourteen riding behind a parent on the Äkäslompolo ride pays 60 euros.

Where these figures come from
  • Short family ride: Two hours near Ylläsjärvi with children in the guide's sled, in the holiday weeks only.
  • First ride from Äkäslompolo: Two hours and 20 km with a kota stop, children in the sleigh or, from seven, behind a parent.
  • Easy-going tour: About two and a half hours on an easy track, children in a sled pulled by the guide.
  • Ride and ice fishing: Three hours with 20 km of riding, fishing and sausages by a fire, in the holiday weeks only.

For a family, the snowmobile rides sold in Ylläs differ most in where a child sits and in which weeks the ride runs.

In the guide’s sled

North Wind Lapland’s short family ride puts children of four to twelve in a sled pulled by the guide, and runs only in the Christmas and February holiday weeks.1

Behind a parent

Snow Fun Safaris seats a child in the sleigh from four or, once their feet reach the side boards, behind a parent from seven.2

A longer outing

Ylläs Experiences’ easy-going tour lasts about two and a half hours,3 and North Wind Lapland’s ride with ice fishing adds fishing gear and sausages grilled over a fire.4

The adult prices and what a machine of your own costs are on snowmobile safari prices in Ylläs.

Tours you can book

Questions people ask

Why can't a small child sit behind a parent?

The Äkäslompolo operator explains that by law a passenger's feet must reach the side boards of the snowmobile, so anyone shorter travels in the sleigh behind the guide. That is why children ride in the sled on all four, and only an older child can sit on the machine.

Is the clothing lent for children?

On three of them, yes: the Äkäslompolo operator includes thermal clothing, boots and a helmet, and the Ylläsjärvi operator full winter clothing on both its family rides. The easy-going tour's page does not list clothing, so ask. Either way, ask for children's sizes when you book so that the right ones are waiting.

Can a pregnant parent come?

The Äkäslompolo operator says its snowmobile safaris are not suitable for pregnant women because of the vibration on uneven tracks and the exhaust fumes. The others do not say either way, so ask them, and ask too whether a parent who does not ride may come along to the start.

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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