Top 5 Saariselka Adventure Tours: An Honest Review

Planning a trip to Saariselka, Finland? That small town, up there, past the Arctic Circle, is basically like something straight from a winter postcard, you know? It’s just full of snowy forests and, it’s almost, unbelievable Northern Lights displays, stuff like that. Deciding how to best experience all that beauty, well, sometimes that can feel a little overwhelming. I mean, so many tours promise unbelievable stuff, but how do you actually tell which ones deliver? That’s kind of the point, in a way, of why I spent, very nearly, two weeks checking out the tour scene in Saariselka. It’s just, like, my goal? To help you pick out the tours that’ll truly give you those memories of a lifetime. I tried to get out there and do some digging. This review covers five top-notch options that, might be, totally worth your consideration for maximum Arctic fun.

1. Husky Sledding: A Dash Through the Snow

First up, you see a group of excitable huskies, eager for some running? Well, that is definitely husky sledding. In Saariselka, it’s more than just a tour, it’s like, truly a blast, that allows you to connect, deeply, with both the natural world and some pretty fantastic dogs, right? There is something magical in feeling those powerful dogs pull you through the crisp, fresh snow-covered forests. You will be amazed to feel them taking off. It might sound like a lot, but they absolutely will get your heart pounding a little bit. It’s an experience that’s almost impossible to explain. What stood out during the tour? I really like how involved you can get. It’s not that, it’s some sort of passive ride; you, as the rider, have to learn the basic commands, you have to help guide the sled. That definitely creates a real sense of partnership with the dogs. I’m sure that this tour gave a glimpse into the traditional methods of Arctic transportation. What did I learn? I learned how people have gotten around for centuries. Anyway, that bit? Super insightful.

The guides are usually great. What else can you say? They give you instructions. They often are really caring about the dogs’ well-being. That really came across, really, and made the experience even better. Here’s the thing, right? Book a tour where the sledding routes are, rather, varied. A straight, flat path the whole time isn’t quite as exhilarating, as say, routes that include gentle slopes and turns between the trees. If it looks interesting, just give it a look-over before deciding on a certain trip. Some tours also offer a chance to visit a husky farm, too it’s almost, a good opportunity to meet the dogs and, maybe, even learn about their training, which, honestly, can add another level to your experience. All in all? Husky sledding is more than just an activity. You see dogs, you see snow, that is Saariselka. It is a memory. A very thrilling memory!

2. Snowmobiling: Speed and Scenery Unite

Looking to see a little scenery, and also a bit of action? Well, anyway, think about going snowmobiling through Lapland. I think it offers such an amazing blend of the scenery I mentioned before and a bit of adrenaline, is that right? That crisp air on your face as you zoom through snow-laden trails? Not too bad, as a matter of fact. From personal experience, I can tell you that feeling does wonders to shake off the everyday blahs. That, truly, is how it should work. Many tours usually begin with a tutorial on handling the snowmobile. That part? Definitely necessary. You also have to cover those, arguably essential, safety guidelines. What I did appreciate was how, slightly, thorough they were in making sure everyone felt comfy and confident. So the instructor will, possibly, give you good insight on stuff that needs looked at, at least for me anyway. It can seem fairly unsafe. But most of the people there, have good safety considerations and, clearly, make you feel, very, alright.

Different tours offer different things, obviously. Some stick to well-groomed tracks, some tackling something. I often went, if I remember right, through dense forests or went across frozen lakes. I usually enjoyed the ones that mixed speed with stopping points. What else? Plenty of tours stop at lookout spots that provide, very, awesome photo ops. Very! I even went to one that included an ice fishing session. You want unique? The thing is, the length of the trip actually affected the overall experience. As a matter of fact, if the tours were too short, the length of the tours sort of failed to satisfy my craving for a little speed. What can I say? A bit too long, it might become a bit exhausting, to be honest. Snowmobiling truly, I find, is just awesome for anybody who has a liking for a rush and anyone looking to cover a fair bit of ground in Lapland.

3. Northern Lights Hunting: Chasing the Aurora

Alright, let’s get on with the Northern Lights! I’m going to assume you’ve definitely heard of them, right? Viewing the Northern Lights, in the dark skies of Finnish Lapland, is basically a bucket-list item for good reason. They usually happen in the deep, darkest depths of winter. The dancing green and pink hues across the night sky? I, naturally, think that bit is spectacular. A range of Northern Lights tours, usually, chase these celestial displays, which means I had to decide. Most often these excursions usually take you away from urban lights to, that, pristine wilderness. As a matter of fact, it helps to get those light colors, as I had said earlier, for picture ops. The professional guides actually are, also, useful, using their understanding to lead you to the best viewing locations. Basically, that alone could make all the difference. These tours, almost always, monitor the forecast to maximize your odds, but honestly, keep in mind the Aurora can be, a bit, shy and quite unpredictable, as a matter of fact. You’ll never know. One thing’s for certain.

I went on a few different kinds of Aurora hunts and had to figure them out. Some use, often, snowshoes to get out deep, to that pristine wilderness for completely unhindered views, while a small number stay put near heated cabins, that are all set up for warm beverages. So think of the type that better fits your personal preferences. Photography lovers can easily find special tours, you see? Anyway, They frequently offer a professional photographer, who can instruct you on how to get the best shot of the Aurora. But a piece of information is good, but good, to go even further than this and know a thing or two about getting pictures of the sky for a chance to capture the spectacle. Seeing the Northern Lights in person? Really hard to compare anything with this. The whole thing, for me, can be truly awesome and beautiful.

4. Reindeer Sleigh Ride: A Peaceful Lapland Tradition

Want a taste of Lapland tradition that’s more quiet than it is loud? Reindeer sleigh rides fit the bill pretty squarely, anyway, especially if you want something slow and calming. It might be different for other people, that being said. These trips often provide, actually, a glimpse into local culture, I believe, letting you experience something important to the Sami people. Settling into a comfortable sleigh, drawn by a reindeer, could be very lovely as it softly trots along the trail through that pristine forest. What did it actually provide? Plenty of calm, serene peace! A number of tours operate on tiny reindeer farms, and so I would also add they offer the option, often, to actually meet the reindeer and hear stories on Sami ways of life. Just know that you’ll get something very interesting out of these tales. The one thing, for sure, about reindeer and Sami people is the story usually seems to last for days.

A traditional Reindeer ride, more or less, lasts somewhere from around two to three hours. It sounds a bit of a long time, and while that sounds kinda weird, most people like the rhythm of a sleigh. Honestly, to give that much time to that one specific movement is hard. Many tours add to the journey and offer, really, warm drinks, or maybe a light meal beside a fire out there. The guides really care to help you get more calm and comfortable and relaxed on any particular tour. That does tend to boost the enjoyment and overall mood, it’s almost, an incentive. All things said, going on the back of a reindeer, on a sleigh, should be put down to “awesome”, with how calm and relaxing and quiet it all actually is. Give it a try if you’re feeling a bit overwhelmed, naturally.

5. Snowshoeing: Hiking Through a Winter Wonderland

Want to get out for hiking in a totally, seriously, big wonderland that isn’t just for people, by the way? Well anyway, I recommend snowshoeing to get started here in Lapland, okay? Snowshoeing happens, it seems to me anyway, on almost any level of physical condition, that is just for getting on board and doing the snow hike you usually have to do. The act of hiking happens to work for lots of people, right? Several locations just end up providing a good variety, which is pretty neat in my estimation. Snowshoe tours do generally operate via tour guide so people can actually travel with them, typically. With those sorts of tours you will tend to visit spots for Northern Lights, too. Just an estimate.

I enjoyed using this snowshoe because this allowed me, by chance, to sort of stop anytime I had planned in particular, if it’s okay with everybody? Those little trips I got into turned out for just good moments, by the way. Anyway, what am I even yapping on about? You’ll have to find one yourself and just try and walk on it sometime! Honestly it all really depends.