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Ice fishing in Sodankylä: which trip to book

Two small figures standing far out on a vast white frozen lake under a pale sky, with a low line of forest on the horizon

Illustration photo: two people on a frozen lake, not from one of the trips compared here.

Lapland Handbook Staff How we research this

The short answer

If you have no winter clothing, book Arctic Wonders' snowmobile trip: overalls, boots, gloves and a helmet are lent, and the ride out is part of the fun. If you would rather be collected and driven, book Arctic SISU's three hours on a remote lake, in your own warm layers. Book the five-hour snowshoe and barbecue day only if you want a full outing, as it costs twice as much.

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.

Arctic SISU: remote lakeArctic Wonders: by snowmobileArctic SISU: snowshoes and barbecue
Price €170 – the lowest price per person €180 €350
Getting to the ice Pickup and transfer Snowmobile, two to a machine Pickup; snowshoe walk
Duration 3 h 3 h 5 h
Food Hot drinks Warm drink Salmon barbecue lunch
Winter clothing Not included Included, with helmet Not included
Group Up to 8 Not stated Up to 8

Highlighted figures are the best in that row: the lowest price per person. All three price per person and can be cancelled free up to 24 hours before. Only the price is marked.

Where these figures come from
  • Arctic SISU: remote lake: Collected from your address and driven to a remote lake for three hours of guided fishing with hot drinks, at most eight guests. Bring warm clothing.
  • Arctic Wonders: by snowmobile: Out onto the ice by snowmobile, two to a machine, with overalls, boots, gloves, helmet and fishing gear lent and a warm drink.
  • Arctic SISU: snowshoes and barbecue: Five hours with a snowshoe walk, ice fishing and a salmon barbecue lunch, at most eight guests. The full day out, at twice the price.

Ice fishing in Sodankylä is sold by the village’s two activity companies, and the trips differ mostly in how you reach the ice and what you wear.

Collected and driven

Arctic SISU Experience picks you up and drives you to a remote lake for three hours of guided fishing, with hot drinks and stories about Lapland. Its five-hour version adds a snowshoe walk and a salmon barbecue lunch. Neither lends thermal clothing, and both exclude guests with limited mobility.

By snowmobile

Arctic Wonders starts from its office in the village and takes you out onto the ice by snowmobile, two to a machine, with overalls, boots, gloves and a helmet lent. The fishing gear and a warm drink are included.

How an afternoon on the ice goes, and what the kit lists mean, is in ice fishing in Lapland. The rest of the village is on the Sodankylä destination page.

What each trip costs by the hour and for a family, and what the price leaves out, is worked out in ice fishing prices in Sodankylä.

Tours you can book

Questions people ask

Do I need a driving licence for the snowmobile trip?

The listing does not say, although Arctic Wonders' other snowmobile trips require one for every driver. Two guests share each machine on this trip. Confirm with the company before booking, especially if only one of you holds a licence, rather than finding out at the office on the day.

What should we wear on the Arctic SISU trips?

Your own full winter kit: both listings mark thermal layers as not included and ask for warm clothing. Most of an ice fishing trip is spent sitting or standing still by a hole in the ice, so wear more than you would for a walk, with warm boots, a hat and mittens.

Are the fish ours to keep?

None of the three listings says what happens to the catch. The snowshoe day includes a salmon barbecue lunch, which is not the same thing as cooking your own fish. If eating what you catch matters to you, ask the company before booking which trip allows it.

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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