Finland · LAKE INARI TOURS
Inari is the Sámi heartland and the lake freezes hard enough to drive across. The 15 below cover the snowmobile crossings, the aurora runs and the reindeer dinners, priced, with transfer times from Ivalo.
You’ll learn to drive a snowmobile on practice tracks, then follow your English-speaking guide into the dark Lapland forest. At a tepee or hut, warm up beside a fire with sausages, snacks, and hot drinks before watching for the Aurora. Guides such as David, Marco, and Markus are known for careful support.
“all ok. big group so little unorganised at start. but guide was good stopped fir 3 northen light spots”
Tina and Tapio host this small-group evening from Ivalo to their island home near Lake Inari. You will ride a reindeer-hide-covered sleigh, feed friendly reindeer, and eat local fish or reindeer in a traditional teepee while watching for the Northern Lights.
“Zonder noorderlicht (wat natuurlijk nooit te garanderen is) is deze tocht wat magertjes. Het is vooral een (koude) tocht over het meer in een slee achter een sneeuwscooter gevolgd door een tussenstop in een tipi tent met vuur waarop worstje/soep/brood worden klaargemaakt en waar je de gelegenheid krijgt 2 rendieren te voeren. Daarna nog paar minuten terug met de slee naar de auto die ons terugbracht naar de beginlocatie waar we onze dikke geleende pakken konden inleveren en daarna teruggebracht werden naar ons hotel. Als totaalpakket niet slecht als aanbod, maar in de praktijk zonder noorderlicht heeft het weinig om het lijf.”
From Ivalo, your local guide outfits you in thermal gear before a snowmobile-pulled sleigh ride to a family island on Lake Inari. Meet reindeer, warm up with berry juice, and eat reindeer or salmon soup in a traditional teepee while watching for the aurora.
“We are very disappointed because we couldn't find any Northern Light on the trip.”
Travel by snowmobile-pulled sleigh from Ivalo to a private fishing spot on Lake Inari, then visit Tina and Tapio’s island home. Guides such as Laura, Vilki, and Laurie explain local life, while you fish, feed reindeer, and eat reindeer soup or fish lunch in a warm kota.
“Bellissima esperienza. viene fornito tutto l'occorrente per vivere al meglio questa esperienza. anche se la pesca non è la tua passione vale comunque la pena vivere questa esperienza. molto gentile e disponibile la guida che oltre a dare informazioni riguardo la pesca ti racconta molto cose riguardo la Finlandia e le abitudini locali. bellissima la visita alle renne e al cane Perro. buona anche la grigliata a fine esperienza”
Travel from Saariselkä to Koppelo, then ride a covered snowmobile sleigh across frozen Lake Inari to a family-run island. Your guide prepares reindeer or salmon soup, sausages, dessert, and hot drinks in a Lappish teepee. Thermal clothing, reindeer feeding, and aurora watching are included.
“Great trip - including a wonderful sighting of the aurora. Really well organised - picked up and dropped back at our cabin in Saariselka, which was very helpful. Friendly, helpful guide for the trip, looked after us really well and gave us lots of interesting information while we drank our hot drinks and ate delicious reindeer stew. Warm suits provided but make sure you bring as many warm layers as you can as it gets really cold on the lake even so!”
Travel from Ivalo to frozen Lake Inari by shared snowmobile, with thermal gear, safety instruction, a reindeer visit, and lunch by an open fire in a Lappish teepee. Hotel pickup covers central Ivalo, and a guide leads the small group of up to eight people.
“Zum Essen gab es nicht nur Rentiersuppe sondern auch noch über dem Feuer gebratene Wurst, Brot und Käse sowie einen Kuchen zur Nachspeise.”
Meet your English-speaking guide near Inari village, ride up to 4 km by snowmobile-pulled sledge, then fish through the ice using modern gear and sonar. Atte Ikkala’s custom equipment and flies add a local touch, while a tent and hot drink help on cold days.
“Guide super sympa, activite curieuse mais difficile de comprendre ce qui justifie un tel tarif!”
Travel from Saariselkä to Lake Inari with an English-speaking guide, warm clothing, and a snowmobile-pulled sleigh. Fish through the ice, visit Tina and Tapio’s island reindeer, and eat a homemade three-course lunch in a Lappish teepee by the fire. Tapio may even show you how it is done.
“Génial! Belle expérience unique au milieu du Lac Inari !!! Repas local excellent dans une ambiance chaleureuse !! Une équipe professionnelle au petit soin !!”
Travel from central Ivalo to frozen Lake Inari with Ivalo Safaris, guided by local professionals including Tina, Tappio, and Maksim. You’ll borrow thermal clothing, ride a snowmobile-drawn sleigh, fish through the ice, meet reindeer on an island, and eat lunch with hot drinks by a fire.
“We had a great experience with Tina, Tappio and Maksim who all took good care of us throughout the tour. Warm clothing was provided at their offices, picks ups and drop offs were seamless, and the ice fishing on the frozen lake and lunch experience in a traditional Finnish tent with reindeer feeding was also fantastic. We will never forget the time on the Arctic Circle, totally calm and unique.”
Visit Siida in Inari for a self-guided look at Sámi culture, northern Lapland, and Arctic nature. Your ticket covers the main exhibition, two changing exhibitions, and the open-air museum. Finnish and English host support is available, and wheelchair access is provided.
“It is really nice how the Sámi culture and the surrounding nature is presented and explained there.”
Travel from Saariselkä to frozen Lake Inari for a five-hour guided ice-fishing outing. Ivalo Safaris supplies thermal clothing, fishing gear, snowmobile sled transport, lunch, hot drinks, and a reindeer stop. Guides such as Max and Miko lead the activity in English.
“Although we didn't catch any fish as expected, the whole trip was very fulfilling and fun. The tour guide and driver was very professional and responsible, and the food was delicious. It is recommended that you wear warm insoles when changing into the snowshoes provided by the tour guide. The temperature on the ice lake was extremely low. Even after wearing three layers of socks, my feet were still freezing.”
Drive from Saariselkä to Inari in a small group of 10 or fewer, with winter gear, snacks, lunch, scenic stops, and a guide explaining Sámi culture. Visit the Siida Museum and a traditional Sámi village before returning to Saariselkä.
“Our guide, David, was excellent. Very friendly and informative. He suggested photo stops on the road to Inari which we wouldn't have known about. He also stopped of in Ivalo for souvenir shopping, and took an unscheduled diversion to the top of thecski slopes in Saariselka. The museum is interesting, but compact. The Sami village is a collection of huts and dwellings, but there are no Sami people there to interact with or meet. In my opinion, the description on the Viator website is a little misleading in this respect. You could easily get a bus to Inari and visit the museum for much much less.”
Spend 7 to 8 hours exploring Inari with Xwander Nordic. Visit Siida with a local guide, eat a fireside lunch near a river rapid, then feed and pet reindeer at the Airamo farm. Guide Sonja may lead the day, sharing practical insight into Sami life and Arctic nature.
“Perfect mix of sami museum with great amount of interesting information and Reindeers farm run by family for years.”
Travel 2.4 km from Inari to a local reindeer ranch, usually by snowmobile sleigh and sometimes by car. Feed lichen by hand, take photos at the animals’ pace, and hear about reindeer and Sámi life from an English or Finnish-speaking guide.
“allevamento piccolo ma moltoncarino. l'esperienza inizia con un trasferimento su una slitta trainata su un bel tratto di Lago Inari e poi si arriva nella location. gruppo piccolissimo e ben gestito. siamo stati nell'allevamento per tutto il tempo che volevamo. bellossimo”
Set out from Kakslauttanen or Kiilopää with a professional fisherman, collect thermal clothing in Ivalo, then ride by snowmobile-pulled sleigh to a quiet fishing spot on Lake Inari. Fish with your own rod, warm up beside an open fire, and enjoy lunch and hot drinks in a group of no more than 10.
“Great guide with lots of local history and expertise, really nice equipment, easy pickup and travel, also tasty lunch.”
Pick a town, a machine, or a fire to sit beside.
