Finland · SKIING
Every trip has one free day too few. These 15 skiing trips justify the slot, priced and timed so you can decide in minutes and get back to the fun part.
Leave Rovaniemi for a four-hour ski trek through Lapland’s taiga forest, frozen lakes, and deep snow. Your English-speaking guide, such as Atanas, Aina, Maca, or Amy, teaches the basics, adjusts the route to your group, and serves hot drinks and a Finnish campfire snack.
“Nice guide, best experience, best place, everything was perfect and brilliant! The most worth activity ever👍🏻”
Join Kyle of Arctic Fox Expeditions for a three-hour daytime ski outing near Lake Norvajärvi. Use easy-to-manage skis with your own winter boots, follow private forest trails, cross snowy swamps and a frozen lake, then warm up at a laavu fire.
“It was an amazing experience with a really caring guide! You really feel special while going around the tailor-made trails, in fact you brake trails yourself. Totally suitable for first-timers, considering your endurance isnt a problem and you are rather fit. You get to know the real Lapland with this. Not gonna lie beyond -20C degrees it gets a little challenging but for sure it is worth it, hand and foot warmers are a must.”
Meet Marko, Essi, or another English-speaking instructor at Kemi’s SnowCastle. You’ll be fitted with skis, boots, and poles, then learn diagonal stride and skating on the Sauvosaari tracks before touring forest paths, Mansikkanokka, and Laitakari.
“This was my first time in cross country skiing and after 2 hours I was already enjoying it a lot, with few help. The indications by Marco were really useful, and the balance of freedom and advices was perfect. I highly recommend!”
Meet your guide outside the Visit Levi office for a two-hour introduction to Finnish cross-country skiing. You’ll learn basic techniques, ski a prepared track, and pause for hot juice and a small snack. Equipment is included, with instruction in English or Finnish.
From Rovaniemi, Joanne and Anni guide you into Lapland’s snowy backcountry on skin skis. Expect quiet forest trails, warm gear, hot drinks, sausages by an open fire, photography advice, and edited photos after the tour.
“It was fun trip. I had a great experience even I was the beginner in skiing. My holiday was so much interesting. Recommended!”
Learn Finnish backcountry skiing with an English-speaking photography guide, then head by minivan into quiet Lapland nature. You’ll use skin-based skis, stop for photos, cook a light snack over a fire, and receive a few edited pictures. The small group is limited to eight people.
“Mooie tocht gemaakt naar Pallas. Het skiën op zich is vrij makkelijk, vergelijkbaar met sneeuwschoen wandelen. Korte pauze met een worstje braden is leuk. Onze gids nam de moeite om naar Pallas te rijden, daar was het open weer en hadden we de prachtigste plaatjes in de natuur. Erg mooi”
Spend about three hours skiing through snowy Rovaniemi with a local guide. Beginners get an introductory lesson, then practice classic skiing, gentle slopes, and optional skate skiing. Guides such as Reetta, Rita, Tuija, Erik, and Lauri have led patient instruction, with photos, snacks, and hot drinks along the way.
“Our guide Tuija gave us beginners a great introduction to Nordic skiing. Highly recommend! The three hour tour is sufficient to get a good idea of the sport.”
Set out from Rovaniemi with Wild About Lapland for a beginner-friendly backcountry ski trip into the Taiga forest. Your guide provides skis, winter clothing, boots, transport, safety instruction, hot drinks, and a Finnish campfire snack. Skiing lasts about 1 to 1.5 hours.
“Very beautiful scenery . Highly recommend it. I would do IT again! Pur instructor was so nice and friendly. She showed us a lot of finnish tradition”
Meet Tiina or another English-speaking instructor at Outdoor Expert Saariselkä, collect your skis and poles, then learn classic or freestyle technique on the local track. This 1.5-hour private or small-group lesson suits first-timers and experienced skiers who want help with braking, balance, or other technical problems.
“The guide (Tiina, i think) i had was a lovely lady, she was patient and understanding of me being hard of hearing, also what I learned? braking is hard 😅”
Join Arctic Timetravels for a two-hour beginner lesson on Saariselkä’s groomed trails. Your English-speaking guide teaches classic skiing, supplies boots, skis, and poles, and collects you from hotels or cottages within 15 kilometers. Guides such as Elena, Centi, and Mikke are praised for patient instruction.
“We loved the experience. Our guide, Centi was knowledgeable, friendly and very patient with my 6 year old. I can fully recommend this experience to families.”
Meet your English-speaking guide at Camp Kitchen & Bar in Pyhätunturi for a 2.5-hour outing on short, wide Altai skis. Tiina may lead with her dog, sharing Arctic nature, Lappish beliefs, cold-weather tips, and an easy route tailored to your group.
“Our guides were the best. They made the great experience even better by being fun, encouraging, and knowledgeable. I could tell they are passionate about nature and about the Lapland specifically. We learned a lot from their storytelling. We also learned some useful tips on how to deal with the cold weather.”
Meet NordicUnique Travels in central Rovaniemi, then ride by minivan to snowy Ounasvaara for 3.5 hours of guided cross-country skiing. You’ll learn the basics, follow groomed tracks, watch for animal prints, and enjoy locally sourced extras such as artisanal cheese. Guides have included Miguel and Federico.
“Best tour with the perfect guide! I can highly recommend!”
Join guide Kyle from Arctic Fox Expeditions for a 2.5-hour nighttime ski outing near Lake Norvajärvi. Learn to use simple skis and headlamps, cross a frozen lake, and warm up by a fire. Pickup from Rovaniemi can be arranged for an extra €10 per person.
“Kyle was a consummate professional from start to finish. He checked the forecast and offered to change me to a daytime tour since Northern Lights were unlikely (though I kept the nighttime tour). He picked me up and dropped me off at my accommodations and ensured I was aware ahead of time of any gear I needed to have (and what gear he would have). He was personable, accommodating and very patient (my first time trying cross-country skiing!). The scenery was incredible, and Kyle went out of his way to include certain touches to make the tour unique and ensure that I enjoyed myself. Definitely recommend!!”
Leave Rovaniemi for a remote Lapland setting and learn simple trekking-ski techniques before crossing snowy forests, frozen lakes, and swamps. Your certified wilderness guide leads a group of no more than five, with transfers, winter gear, a grill snack, and warm drinks included.
“What a brilliant experience, our tour guide was so helpful and friendly. The experience took us skiing through the wild and the views were beautiful. The food our guide provided on the barbecue was brilliant. This was the best activity we did on our holiday and would recommend it to everyone. So much more personal than any other experience provided by the bigger tour companies.”
Set out from Hotel Pyhätunturi with an English or Finnish-speaking guide such as Mikko or Sergi. You will learn to use wide Altai skis, glide through untouched snow in Pyhä-Luosto National Park, hear local nature stories, and warm up with berry drinks.
“We had a fantastic time on our wilderniss skiing trip! The weather conditions were perfect for the activity and we could watch the sunset on our break. We'd highly recommend doing this. It's definitely beginner-friendly. We had the pleasure of being the only ones on the tour. Mikko was very friendly and explained a lot about the nature and culture.”
Pick a town, a machine, or a fire to sit beside.
