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Ice fishing in Ylläs: which guided trip to book

A lone figure crouched over a fishing hole far out on a wide frozen lake, with frosted forest along the far shore

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

Lapland Handbook Staff How we research this

The short answer

If the fishing is the point, take one of the two short trips. Staying in Ylläsjärvi, the walk out onto the lake is the cheapest and shortest; staying in Äkäslompolo, the trip by car to a campfire includes the transfer and takes every age. If you also want to drive a snowmobile, the family trip combines a 20 km ride and fishing in three hours, and the five-hour trip adds about three hours of driving and lunch.

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.

Northwind Lapland: on footLapland Safaris: by carNorthwind Lapland: family snowmobileSafartica: snowmobile day
Price €73 – the lowest price per person €74 €182 €209
Duration 1.5 h 2 h 30 min 3 h 5 h
To the ice On foot from the safari house By car About 20 km by snowmobile About 3 h of snowmobiling
Transfer Ylläsjärvi only; Äkäslompolo extra Included Ylläsjärvi Included
On the ice Hot drink and biscuit Coffee and a snack by the fire Hot drink and sausages Hot drink and lunch
Children Not for babies under 1 All ages From 4 From 4
Cancelling Free up to 24 h before €25 from 72 h, full price within 71 h Free up to 24 h before Free up to 24 h before

Highlighted figures are the best in that row: the lowest price per person. All four price per person and include fishing equipment, winter clothing and a guide. Only the price is marked: a longer trip is not a better one in hard frost.

Where these figures come from
  • Northwind Lapland: on foot: The cheapest and shortest: a walk from the safari house onto Lake Ylläsjärvi, gear and a hot drink included. Transfers are included in Ylläsjärvi only.
  • Lapland Safaris: by car: A short drive to a lake, coffee and a snack by a campfire, and the transfer in the price. Every age is welcome, but it runs only on Monday and Friday afternoons.
  • Northwind Lapland: family snowmobile: Parents drive about 20 km while children ride in the guide's sled, then fishing and sausages. The shorter way to have both.
  • Safartica: snowmobile day: Five hours with about three of them driving, fishing on a lake and lunch there. For adults who want the snowmobile as much as the fishing.

Ice fishing at Ylläs comes in two price bands. Northwind Lapland and Lapland Safaris sell short trips on foot or by car for about 75 euros. Northwind Lapland and Safartica also sell trips that add a snowmobile ride, for 182 and 209 euros. The fishing is much the same; the snowmobile is the difference.

If the fishing is the point

Northwind Lapland’s trip is a walk from its safari house onto Lake Ylläsjärvi, an hour and a half with equipment, winter clothing and a hot drink. It suits anyone staying in Ylläsjärvi, where the transfer is included; from Äkäslompolo it is extra, or you make your own way there.

Lapland Safaris’ trip drives you to a lake and has coffee and a snack by a campfire. It includes the transfer and takes every age, and runs on Monday and Friday afternoons.

If you want the snowmobile too

Northwind Lapland’s family trip has parents drive about 20 km with the children in the guide’s sled, then fishing and grilled sausages, in three hours. Safartica’s is the long version: five hours, about three of them driving, with lunch by the lake. Both put two people to a machine and take children from four.

How an afternoon on the ice goes, and what the kit lists mean, is in ice fishing in Lapland for the whole region. The rest of the resort is on the Ylläs destination page.

Tours you can book

Questions people ask

We are staying in Äkäslompolo. Can we do the walk on Lake Ylläsjärvi?

Yes, but the transfer is not in the price. Northwind Lapland includes transfers in Ylläsjärvi and offers them from Äkäslompolo on request at extra cost, or you can come by ski bus, your own car or taxi to its safari house. Lapland Safaris' trip by car includes the transfer.

Do we need our own winter clothing?

No. All four lend it: Northwind Lapland lists a winter jacket, trousers, boots and mittens, and the others list winter clothing or a thermal outfit. Sitting still on the ice is colder than walking, so wear wool underneath whatever you borrow.

Is there a Lapland Safaris trip by snowmobile?

Yes, four and a half hours with ice fishing and a snack, at 194 euros, on Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings. It had no January price when checked and is listed below the table. Children ride in the guide's sled, and solo riding costs 50 euros extra.

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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