Revving through the cold: Snowmobile Tour
One of the highlights of our week was definitely the snowmobile tour with Tokka Safari. The route took us through snow-covered forests and open landscapes—simply stunning! And a snowmobile tour is definitely a must when visiting Lapland.
Halfway through the tour, we took a break at the Wilderness Café Hanhipirtti, which is located in a hut right in the middle of the forest. Inside, it was warm and cozy—perfect for warming up after the cold wind during the ride. We enjoyed delicious, traditional Finnish fish soup, followed by sweet treats like donuts and cake.
We always rode two people per snowmobile: one person drove on the way out, the other on the way back. That way, everyone got to experience both—driving themselves and simply enjoying the ride. From time to time, we deliberately slowed down to create some distance from the person in front, only to speed up again afterward—for a little adrenaline kick, of course.
We started the tour in daylight and returned in darkness. Being out there as it slowly got dark made the experience even more special.
There are different tour formats available. I personally loved the tour with the short lunch break. The hut was so cozy and the food was really delicious. But you can also book a tour where you get to see reindeer at the end.
Ride through snow-covered forests: Husky Sledding Tour
This was the activity I was most excited about beforehand—and it turned out to be just as amazing as I had imagined!
But first, something important to say right away: husky sledding tours have nothing to do with animal cruelty. Huskies are true working and sporting dogs that need a lot of exercise. That means they have to run regularly and be trained—for example for mushing competitions or longer tours. Whether the dogs are kept in an appropriate and caring way ultimately depends on the provider. With Maglelin Experience, that was absolutely the case: the guides took very loving care of the dogs and genuinely did their best to make sure they were well looked after.
The tour took us through snow-covered forests. It was veeeery cold, but the landscape was incredibly beautiful. We always rode two people per sled: one person steered the sled, while the other sat in the front and could simply enjoy the huskies and the scenery. About halfway through, we switched so everyone could experience both roles. The huskies have so much power that we often had to stand on the strongest brake to avoid going too fast!
After the tour, we headed to a cozy kota, where we warmed up with hot drinks and small treats like cinnamon rolls—a perfect ending to a truly special experience.
Step by step through the snow: Snowshoe Hike
During our time in Lapland, we went on several snowshoe hikes. We rented the snowshoes from a local rental shop: you simply step in wearing normal, warm winter boots, and the snowshoes give you more surface area and grip in deep snow. Super easy—and after a short time, walking in them feels completely natural.
Our very first snowshoe hike took place on the first full day—and it ended up being one of the highlights of the trip. Together with a guide, we walked across Lake Immeljärvi near Levi and then continued up the surrounding hill. We were all still incredibly excited: so much snow, our first time snowshoeing, and a group that had only just gotten to know each other. We laughed a lot, fooled around, and even slid down parts of the trail on our butts—just like you would on a sled. It felt carefree and like pure winter fun.
Another snowshoe hike later took us to Ylläs National Park. The landscape there is beautiful and completely different once again. Because of the polar night, it stays fairly dark during the day, but on this particular day we were lucky: it wasn’t completely overcast, some light came through, and suddenly a soft pink glow spread across the snowy landscape. A moment I won’t forget anytime soon.
Along the way, we warmed up in a small kota, grilled sausages, and made ourselves hot dogs—super cozy and exactly what you want for a break during a winter hike.
There were also plenty of cross-country skiers in the national park, which added to the special atmosphere. By the way, you can also go alpine skiing there.
Skiing at Levi Ski Resort
Skiing might sound like an activity you could just as easily do in Austria or Switzerland. But skiing in Lapland was perhaps my favorite activity of the entire trip.
That was partly because of the ski resort itself: everything was deeply snow-covered, the trees completely blanketed in snow, and the landscape felt almost untouched. At the same time, the slopes were pleasantly empty and the conditions were simply perfect. The snow was amazing to ski on, and overall everything felt very relaxed.
The light was especially beautiful, too. Because of the polar night, the sun doesn’t really rise—instead, we had this unique twilight for several hours, almost like a constant sunrise or sunset. We were out on the slopes in exactly this light, practically skiing straight into the sunset. It was an incredibly beautiful moment.
Once the sun had completely disappeared, it became exciting in a different way to ski in the dark. The slopes at Levi Ski Resort (the largest and most well-known ski resort in Finland) are fully lit, which means you can still ski comfortably in the evening. That’s something I don’t really know from the Alps, where the ski day usually ends once the sun goes down.
I love skiing in general, but this was a completely different kind of experience. Peaceful, visually stunning, somehow special—and something I can truly recommend to everyone.
Between heat and ice: Sauna & Ice Bathing
One evening, we went together to a (private) sauna with an ice bath and a hot tub at Immelkartano. Fun fact: Cristiano Ronaldo has been a guest here several times.
For me, this visit was especially memorable because it was my very first ice bath ever. And honestly, I was a little proud of myself—I managed to stay in the freezing water for quite a while. Right after that, we headed straight into the sauna, followed by some time in the hot tub. In total, I went into the ice bath twice, which was an incredibly intense experience. You immediately realize how important it is to fully focus on your breathing the moment you step into the icy water.
The sauna itself was a classic Finnish sauna—nice, but not the highlight of the evening for me. I enjoyed relaxing in the hot tub even more. The water was pleasantly warm, we sat together, laughed, and everything around us was completely snow-covered. That setting is what made the evening so special.
It’s an evening that will definitely stay with me. I especially won’t forget my first ice bath anytime soon. I can absolutely recommend this experience—especially as a group (up to 15 people). The price was around €350 for two hours, so the more people you go with, the lower the cost per person.
Hiking up 766 steps to the Secret Café
Another hike took us up the mountain via 766 steps. We actually did this hike without snowshoes, as they weren’t really necessary for this route. Depending on how you plan your descent, however, it can be a good idea to bring snowshoes—especially if you want to hike back down through deep snow.
We walked up the “Panorama Stairs”, taking countless photos along the way because the scenery was simply perfect for it. Once we reached the top, we came out near the ski lift at Levi Ski Resort. From there, a small path leads through the forest to a very special place: the Secret Café.
The café is small and cozy, with a large panoramic window. Inside, you sit on stools right by the fire and can enjoy the view outside. The owner prepares fresh crêpes over the fire, and you can also grill sausages. There’s hot chocolate, coffee, or hot juice as well—simple, comforting treats that are perfect after the hike.
The hike itself was once again really beautiful. Along the way, we had a small snowball fight, laughed a lot, and of course used the time to create content—after all, that was the reason we were in Lapland.
I can truly recommend this hike, and especially the café, to everyone. Whether you only hike up the 766 steps and—like we did—take the lift back down (it was extremely cold and a small snowstorm started moving in, so we just wanted to get home quickly), or whether you choose to hike back down through deep snow, is entirely up to you.
Chasing the Northern Lights
Seeing the Northern Lights had been on my list of things to experience before turning 30—and I made it happen. To be prepared, I did quite a bit of research before our trip to Lapland: When can you see the Northern Lights? How do you photograph them best? And what should you pay attention to?
One important indicator is the KP index. Simply put, it shows how intense the Northern Lights might be. The higher the KP value, the better your chances of seeing them. In various apps, you can also see which zone you’re in: green means low visibility, yellow means better chances, and red indicates very good conditions. We used the app „My Aurora Forecasts & Alerts“.
However, these values only show how strong the Northern Lights are—not whether you’ll actually see them. The weather is just as important. If there are too many clouds in the sky, even strong auroras can be completely hidden. That’s why we always kept an eye on both the KP value and the weather forecast.
As soon as it looked like the sky might be at least partly clear—or there could be breaks in the clouds—we headed outside when the app sent an alert, simply to take every possible chance. The first time, we could only see the Northern Lights through our phones; they were too faint to see with the naked eye. The second time, they were just barely visible. And the third time, we could clearly see them with our own eyes. That was a very special moment.
Still, I have to be honest: in my imagination, they were more spectacular. The intense colors you see in photos usually aren’t as vivid to the naked eye. Often, the Northern Lights appear more like streaks or veils in the sky, with a subtle green glow.
We often went out quite late at night to look for the Northern Lights. That definitely cost us a few hours of sleep—but for this experience, it was absolutely worth it. After all, you’re not in Lapland all that often.
On another note: We were there in December. The chances of seeing especially strong Northern Lights are considered even better in February and March. But with a bit of luck, you can still experience unforgettable moments in December as well.
Gliding through the forest: Ice Skating
Ice skating in Lapland was one of those activities I hadn’t really had on my radar beforehand. What made it so special: instead of skating on a prepared ice rink, we suddenly found ourselves right in the middle of a snow-covered forest, skating along a lit natural ice trail. That atmosphere alone was already incredibly beautiful.
There are two different routes—a shorter one and a longer one—both winding through the forest. In total, the trail is about one kilometer long. That feeling of not skating on a classic rink, but instead moving through the forest on skates, is what made the experience so special. That said, it was also more challenging than a prepared ice rink, as there were more uneven spots. Still, we had a lot of fun and really enjoyed our time there.
The whole experience is organized by Lovimainas. We were picked up by a minibus at the tourist information center and taken to the forest. On site, we were given ice skates, and we had about two hours in total to skate.
That said, I have to be honest: in my opinion, the price is quite high. Around €59 (!) per person for two hours of ice skating is a lot. We did this activity as part of a collaboration and created content in return—otherwise, I probably wouldn’t have booked it. There are simply other experiences in Lapland that are personally more worth it to me.
Still, it was definitely beautiful. There was also a small tent with a fire along the trail where you could warm up in between. We didn’t use it for very long, but I still found it really charming. Bottom line: a very beautiful and unique experience in a great atmosphere—but one where you should decide beforehand whether it’s worth the price for you.
Other things to experience in Lapland
Of course, there are many more activities in Lapland that we didn’t get around to doing this time. One thing I would definitely come back for is a reindeer sleigh ride. I also would have loved to try ice karting—basically go-karting on ice. But I’m pretty sure this wasn’t my last time in Lapland.
Other activities I consciously skipped. A fatbike tour, for example—probably great for many people, but not really a personal highlight for me. That’s obviously a matter of taste. I felt the same way about Icelandic horse riding. I’m just not a “horse girl,” so that was an easy pass for me.
Something that isn’t located directly in Levi but is closely associated with Lapland for many people is Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi. Especially right before Christmas, I imagine it to be really magical. From Levi, though, it would have been quite a drive.
One thing I absolutely have to mention is something very everyday—and yet so special: grocery shopping with a sled. Shopping in other countries is always an experience in itself for me, but in Lapland, during winter, you simply bring your sled along. Once you’re done shopping, you load all your bags onto the sled and pull your groceries home. I laughed so much the first time I did this. A small thing, but for me, one of those experiences I won’t forget anytime soon.