🏞 Prices for Activities in Lapland: huskies, reindeer, snowmobiles and northern lights hunting

If you type “Lapland vlog” into search, TikTok and YouTube throw endless videos at you: white forests, kids screaming in a sled, green skies, and the caption “best day of my life”.
And right under it — comments like “why is it so expensive?” and “how did you afford this?”.

In reality, Lapland is not only a fairytale, but also very specific numbers.
Husky safaris start at 100–200 € per person, reindeer sleigh rides, snowmobiles at 120–200 €, northern lights tours — another hundred or two.
If you travel spontaneously and “book everything on the spot”, your budget can explode like a shooting range target.

In this article we calmly and realistically break down how much the main winter activities in Finnish Lapland cost right now (winter 2025–2026):
huskies, reindeer, snowmobiles, northern lights tours, combo programs and “hidden” expenses.
And most importantly — how to enjoy Lapland without overpaying so that both your impressions and wallet survive.

All numbers below are averages for the Rovaniemi / Kittilä / Kuusamo regions, based on operators’ offers and fresh traveler reviews.
Actual prices depend on dates, the operator and program length, but the range stays similar.

How pricing works in Lapland in 2025–2026

Before checking “how much huskies/reindeer/aurora cost”, it’s important to understand the general mechanics of pricing. Lapland has:

a very pronounced peak: Christmas, New Year, February holidays;

calmer but still not cheap “shoulder” periods: late November, January (after holidays), March;

weekday vs weekend differences: weekdays are often a bit cheaper than Saturdays.

Price of almost any tour depends on:
— Duration — 1 hour, 2–3 hours or half-day/full-day.
— Included services — clothing, transfers, food, photos, “aurora guarantee”.
— Group size — a big bus vs a minivan with 8–12 people.
— Starting point — from hotel/Rovaniemi center or “get there yourself”.

On average in winter 2025–2026:
— 2–3-hour animal tours (huskies/reindeer) — 100–220 € per adult;
— 2–3-hour snowmobile tours — 120–190 € per adult (usually two people per snowmobile);
— night northern lights tours — 100–180 € per adult, depending on the format.

Children usually get 25–50% off depending on age.

Husky safaris: from 10-minute loops to full-day expeditions

The reason many people even fly to Lapland — and the thing that most often causes price shock.

Right now in Rovaniemi and surroundings, the typical price range looks like this:

*Kids usually −30–50% depending on age and operator.

What’s usually included:
— transfers from Rovaniemi or nearby hotels;
— warm overalls, winter boots, mittens;
— briefing, riding, meeting the dogs;
— hot drink and cookies; sometimes soup or a light snack.

Emotion-wise, the optimal format for most travelers is the classic 5–10 km safari for 2–3 hours.
A short loop in Santa Village is more like a photo-op than a real “northern wilderness” feeling.

If your budget is limited but you want a “real” experience rather than three laps around a parking lot, better cut the number of activities but keep one proper husky safari.

Reindeer & farms: gentle format and different price tiers

Reindeer are a calmer alternative to huskies: slower, warmer, more “fairytale-like” for small kids and for those who fear speed.

Across Lapland there are three basic formats:

Short loop at a village/farm
— 5–10 minutes, up to 1 km loop.
— Price: 20–40 € adult, 15–30 € child.
— A quick “ride & photo” format.

Farm visit + short ride
— 1.5–2 hours: meeting reindeer, stories from the owner, feeding, 10–15 minutes in the sled.
— Price: 60–110 € adult, −30–40% for kids.

Aurora or forest reindeer safari
— 2.5–3 hours, night or forest program, warm dinner, sometimes northern lights hunting.
— Price: 130–190 € adult.

Reindeer are almost always cheaper than a husky tour of similar length, though not dramatically.
For very small kids, reindeer are often more comfortable: less shaking, easy to fall asleep under a blanket.

And an important note: respect locals and Sámi culture. If the format looks like a loud “amusement ride” with queues and no explanation of how animals live — better skip it and find a more authentic farm.

Snowmobiles: speed, license & insurance

Snowmobile tours are the most adrenaline-filled and technically demanding activity.
In Lapland this isn’t a theme-park attraction — it’s real machines on forest trails, lakes and sometimes in the dark.

Typical formats and prices in winter 2025–2026:

Short “introductory” tour 1–1.5 hours
— One stop, simple route.
— 99–130 € per adult with two people per snowmobile; surcharge for “one per snowmobile” +30–40 €.

Classic tour 2–3 hours
— Forest + lake, multiple stops, tea/soup.
— 130–190 € per adult; kids ride in sleds behind the guide.

Half-day / full-day
— 4–6 hours, sometimes with fishing or farm visit.
— Prices go into the 220–350 € range.

Usually included:
— equipment (overall, boots, helmet, mittens);
— fuel & guide;
— hot drinks/light snacks;
— transfer from Rovaniemi or a nearby center.

But there are two important “buts” — deductible and license.

Adults usually must hold a category B driving license.
In case of an accident there is a deductible: the sum you are responsible for (often 900–1000 € or more).

If traveling as a family, it often makes sense to take one snowmobile for two adults plus a sled for the kids — and switch driving roles during the tour.

Northern Lights tours: bus, minivan or “guarantee”

Northern lights hunting in Finland is a universe of its own. It’s easy to get lost in the names: aurora tour, chasing, hunting, guarantee, unlimited mileage, and so on.

The structure is roughly this:

1. Big bus (20–40 people)
   — 3–5 hours, 1–2 locations.
   — Price: 80–120 € adult, kids cheaper.
   — Pros: cheapest option, many available dates.
   — Cons: big group, less flexibility, not always escaping clouds.
2. Small group / minivan (up to 8–12 people)
   — 4–6 hours, multiple stops, guide actively “chasing” clear sky.
   — Price: 120–170 € adult.
   — Pros: mobility, photography support, more attention to guests.
   — Cons: pricier, dates can sell out quickly.
3. “Guaranteed” tours / private
   Sometimes this is a series of departures until you see the aurora (or a repeat without extra charge).

There are private tours for 2–4 people.

Price usually from 180–250 € and up per adult.

In many tours included:
— a thermal suit and boots;
— a hot drink, a light snack by the fire;
— help with camera/phone settings;
— photos from the guide.

But no tour can guarantee the weather. Even with a high Kp index, the sky may be completely clouded.

If you have a car and experience in winter driving, some aurora trips can be done DIY — but that’s a separate topic.

Combo days and “hidden” expenses

Many tour operators offer combo programs: huskies + reindeer + Santa Village visit (or dinner + aurora). At first glance this is “a lot for the money” and looks profitable. In practice:
— one-day combos with 2–3 activities often cost 220–350 € per adult;
— part of the time is spent on transfers and waiting within the group;
— kids may simply run out of steam by midday.

Besides headline prices there’s a set of costs that are easy to miss in planning:

These “small” items are often what creates the feeling that the cost of living in Finland suddenly turned out higher than expected, even though base prices were known.

Budget scenarios: €500, €800 and €1,200 for activities

To make numbers less abstract, let’s take a hypothetical family: two adults + one 7-year-old child, 3–4 days in Rovaniemi. Excluding flights and accommodation, activities only.

“Minimum” budget — about €500–700
One proper husky safari 5–10 km (2–3 hours).
Assume €180 per adult, €120 for the child → ~€480.

The rest — free and cheap activities:
— walks in the forest and along the river, sledging;
— free entry to Santa Claus Village;
— small “tarzan” ride or hill on the city’s Ounasvaara.

Plus a couple of small expenses: sled rental, cocoa/soup — another €50–100. Total: you can fit into €550–650 for three people and still feel like you experienced winter Lapland, not just souvenir shopping.

“Balanced” budget — about €800–1,100
— Husky safari 5–10 km.
— Reindeer farm with a short sleigh ride.
— One aurora tour in a minigroup format.

In money that’s roughly:
— €480–520 for huskies for the family;
— €200–260 for reindeer;
— €280–360 for an aurora tour.

Total: €900–1,100.
You get the “huskies + reindeer + aurora” set covered; after that you can walk, sled and take occasional cafe breaks.

“Maximum emotions” budget — €1,200–1,600 and up
— Husky safari.
— Reindeer.
— Snowmobiles.
— Minigroup aurora or private tour.

Snowmobiles easily add €300–450 for the family, especially if you take two separate snowmobiles and a full 3-hour tour.

Important: these scenarios aren’t about “right/wrong”, they’re about conscious choice. Some people prioritize the aurora, some animals, others the quiet forest and ski resorts with one husky day.

Where to save without ruining the experience

This is where it gets interesting: not cutting everything to zero, but redirecting money to what’s really important for you.

1. Season and dates
   Late November and March are often cheaper than the Christmas week and peak school holidays. In these windows it’s easier to find reasonable prices for accommodation and tours.
2. One big activity per day
   Mix “huskies in the morning, aurora at night” — okay. But three paid activities in a row kill both budget and pleasure. Leave at least one day to enjoy simple snow.
3. Group vs private
   A private aurora tour sounds nice, but a good mini-group of 8–12 gives nearly the same experience for less money.
4. Food and water
   Bring a thermos, cookies, nuts and buy hot food at a supermarket — noticeable savings, especially over multiple days. Same for water: a bottle from a store is much cheaper than a cafe on the hill.
5. Gear
   If you’re moving between places or staying longer, it’s cheaper to assemble your own layering system than renting a kit every time. It will also be useful on other northern trips and in future Lapland budgets.

What not to do to save money

Some savings are dangerous or pointless.

— Ignore insurance and snowmobile deductible. If something goes wrong, you may face hundreds or thousands of euros.
— Choose an operator only by price, without reading reviews or checking how they treat animals.
— Go in jeans and sneakers at −15 “because they gave you an overall on top”. You’ll freeze and hate the trip.
— Overload the program. Three paid activities in a row with kids — nearly guaranteed meltdown.
— Buy “all-inclusive” tours without knowing what you actually want. Sometimes it’s better to arrive, live a day in the city rhythm and then decide which activities truly suit you.

Lapland without the “bill-shock” effect

Lapland can be very different. You can spend a week at €1,000 a day and still want more. Or you can, in 3–4 days, invest in one big activity, a couple of small joys and lots of free snow — and take away feelings that can’t be measured by money.

The key — don’t chase other people’s scenarios from ads and social media; honestly answer: “what do we want to feel?” Speed of the dogs? Silence of the forest? Night sky? Home warmth in a cottage? Build your set from that: huskies or reindeer, minivan aurora or a walk along a dark river.

Finland is honest in this sense: it doesn’t promise “cheap and cheerful”, but lets you craft an itinerary for a real budget. If you pair this guide with other materials on how not to overpay in Lapland and the general cost of living in Finland, you’ll get a working winter map.

If the article helped, share it with those planning their first trip beyond the Arctic Circle. Post in the comments your scenarios and numbers: how much you spent on activities, what was must-have, and what you could’ve done without. Real stories and “mistake-findings” are the best continuation of any guide.