This page provides you with a quick overview of the most frequently asked questions that we receive and what to expect on our Arctic Expeditions.
If you are unable to find the answer to your questions here, please feel free to contact us using the the form at the bottom of the page.
Why is single-riding the only option you offer?
All our expeditions feature single driving due to the long distance and technical driving involved. Single riding is already included in the price of the expedition.
Are the Arctic Expeditions safe?
Safety is the primary point from which we start the planning for our expeditions. Our guides receive extensive training to be able to lead expeditions, including a refreshment course every year. They are all carriers of the highest possible first aid training for guides and carry a selection of additional gear with them in case of emergencies. Depending on the weather, that gear can change, but each expedition has a GPS and satellite phone, through which the guide is communicating with the operational team. We do not believe in additional support cars following the expedition team, as these are real and authentic adventures, so we equip the guides with everything they need to safely lead the expedition.
What language(s) does my guide speak?
Our expeditions are guided in English, but there is a possibility to also request a different language. We advise that you get in contact with our sales representatives and they can determine if any of the guides speak the desired language. If not, we might need to assign a translator guide to accompany the group – additional supplement applies.
Where am I going to store my luggage?
The main luggage and suitcases will remain in our safari centre for the duration of the expedition. Each participant will receive their own LinQ box, which is fitted in the back of the snowmobile. The LinQ box is a cargo box and its size is 40 liters, which might sound small – but considering that every participant will spend most of their time in snowmobiling gear, each person only needs their personal items and a change of clothing. LinQ box is waterproof, but can get some additional snow inside, so we recommend bringing some additional waterproof bags for your valuables. Each participant will be responsible for their own LinQ box.
Do I need previous experience of riding a snowmobile?
In general, no – previous snowmobiling experience is not required, but it does help. Previous snowmobiling experience also ensures that the participant knows in advance that snowmobiling is something they enjoy, and that they want to experience it for multiple days.
We recommend that participants do have at least some previous experience of driving motorized vehicles such as a quad or motorbike, but it is good to note that track conditions and Arctic temperatures can make snowmobile expeditions much more challenging and tiring than road driving.
Some of the expeditions are better than others for beginners, so please pay close attention to our descriptions and the focus of each expedition. Our experience is that physical condition, and above all determination and passion, count more than being on a snowmobile before.
Is my itinerary set in stone?
Yes and no! We deliver what we promise in each expedition type, but there are many possibilities on how to operate the tracks, as we have many hundreds of kilometers of snowmobile tracks and trails around the North (Finland & Sweden). The final decision is taken based on the weather, track situation and accommodation availability. We do sometimes change the plan during the expedition, if the guide notices that the skills of the participants are different than expected or reported. We reserve the right to design and change the itinerary based on the situation and the guide has full discretion to amend the route during the expedition. However, the primary plan is always to run the expedition like promised and 99% of the time, we deliver without any challenges.
What type of accommodation is provided during the safari?
We prefer to use small accommodations instead of large chain hotels, focusing on creating a route that takes participants to places popular with local snowmobilers. The majority of our accommodation is small hotels, bed and breakfast or wilderness cottages as well as speciality farm accommodation or the like, where dinner is a home cooked meal and where our participants swear they had the best sleep. We do however like to maintain a standard to our accommodation because as much as our participants might expect rough terrain, it helps to have a good night sleep.
Can I have a single room for myself?
Our accommodation is always shared with a minimum of two participants sharing a twin room, or more persons sharing larger rooms or cabins. If there is a single participant, he/she might need to share a room with other participants or with the guide, depending on the availability. On some expeditions, booking a single occupancy room is possible with an extra supplement. However, our sales representatives will be able to advise you if single occupancy is possible for the entire duration or just individual nights – as a general rule, overnights in cottages do not have a single occupancy possibility.
Can I finish my safari early?
Finishing your safari midway through the safari is not always an option due to the logistics of where you are. The very nature of these long safaris mean you can quite literally be in the middle of nowhere with distances of up to 100 km to the closest road. Should you absolutely want to stop the safari in the middle of it, then be aware that it will take time to get the vehicle and trailer to you to pick you and the snowmobiles up. It will also cost you extra, meaning that the extra costs incurred by the extra transfer are covered by yourself.
When selecting the long safari, be aware of your limitations. If you are unsure on the most suitable safari for you, ask us for recommendations before booking so we can advise you! Once you have booked, remember to come with an open and adventurous mind; days can be longer than expected, weather conditions can be challenging and terrain will test your driving skills at times, but this is what an adventure in the Arctic is all about. Whilst on safari, trust your professional guide, stay positive and adventurous, let the guide know if you are unsure about anything so they can help you and be prepared for the little surprises a long safari can throw up on occasions.
What happens if I have an accident with the snowmobile during the safari?
Safety is very important on our guided safaris. Even if everything is well considered, accidents are possible, because of human mistakes. While riding a snowmobile, the vehicle itself is always covered with traffic insurance, demanded by the law. This insurance covers all the possible medical costs that come to the rider, passenger or possible third party persons (transportation, medical treatment, hospital, doctor, surgery) or third party vehicle (damages, broken parts, repair costs of the other vehicle involved).
However, this insurance does not cover the costs that occur to your own snowmobile, if you are the guilty party for the accident which occurred. The self liability has a flat rate of 900€ per driver/accident case. The cost of the flat rate will be paid once back at the office after the snowmobile safari.
Photos will be taken of the accident/damage and the guide will fill up an accident report along with you that can be used to claim refund from your own travel insurance.
Should the snowmobile be damaged to the extent that it cannot carry on then a new snowmobile is provided. The cost of transferring the snowmobile (or rental costs of another snowmobile from local service provider) to the location is covered by the customer. If an accident happens, the guide on the long safari will focus his/her attentions to the safety of the customers on the spot and administer first aid to the people involved if needed. After that part is clear, the guide will monitor the vehicles and customers and make the decision, for safety, whether to continue or abort the safari. If the safari needs to be cancelled for safety reasons during the safari there will be no refund made to the customers. Outside of the snowmobiling, we recommend a travel insurance that will cover other activities.
How long are the riding distances each day?
Each expedition is different! Depending on the weather conditions, number of stops, participant skills, what speed all participants are comfortable with and how long it takes for everyone to adjust to the snowmobiles, the duration of the snowmobiling to reach each accommodation is different.
The morning normally starts between 8 and 9am, but the arrival to the next accommodation can be between early afternoon, around dinner time or even late at night.
During deep snow coaching, the day depends on how much energy the participants have as there is a lot of physical activity, shifting weight and digging out the snowmobiles when they get stuck in the snow.
The amount of kilometers that we estimate per expedition is just that, an estimation.
When booking long safaris keep this in mind and if you think distances sound too much for you then let us know in the booking and we can make recommendations for you.
Do we make stops during the day?
During the long safaris we will have plenty of opportunities to stop for photographs on route. The length of these stops will vary from tour to tour, and depend on the driving conditions and customers driving skills. At the end of each day we do have a destination we need to be at and so some driving distances are long before we make a stop. Should you want more or less stops during your safari let the guide know and they will do their best to cater for you.
Are meals included during the safari and where do we eat?
Every day, the participants will have 3 meals – breakfast at the accommodation, lunch at a variety of local places or prepared on the campfire by the guide and dinner again at the accommodation. In the majority of places there is always a vegetarian/vegan option.
However, if the participants have dietary requirements, please inform them at the time of booking. In some cases, the lunch is pre-ordered. The expedition starts with lunch on the starting day and ends with lunch on the last day. Drinks are not included in the meals.
Is the group split up or do we travel together?
During the safari the group is always traveling together. The group size is a maximum of seven people plus the guide, so group sizes are small and personal and ideal for staying together to enjoy the safari. Should you have a bigger group we will still keep your group together but add another guide to the group.
Do I wear my own winter clothes or do you provide them?
You do not need to provide your own outdoor thermal clothing, we provide it all for you. The outdoor thermal clothing we provide is designed with the very cold arctic winters we experience in Lapland and are the same as our guides wear. These are multi-layered windproof and waterproof trousers and jacket designed for personal comfort and protection against the elements in mind. The boots provided are also multi-layered with a thermal inner boot for warmth surrounded by a thick heeled waterproof outer ensuring your feet are well protected from the cold and also the damp. Our gloves we provide are thermal layered gloves with a durable and waterproof outer cordura fabric that extends over the wrist to ensure maximum insulation for the hands.
We have several different helmets, from motocross to modular with electric visor and our guide will be able to help you select the best option for the upcoming expedition. Some participants ask us if they can bring their own helmets and goggles and that’s absolutely okay.
If the participant wears glasses, we warmly recommend looking into using contact lenses for the expedition, as glasses tend to be problematic when wanting to remove the helmet from the head several times and they can often fog, making driving difficult.
The full list of clothing provided is below:
– 2-part (jacket and trousers) thermal driving suit
– Balaclava mask – Woollen socks
– Winter boots (one size larger than your usual size. Loose-fitting boots keep your feet warm)
– Scarf (if needed)
– Mittens
– Helmet
We recommend you bring with you some thermal base layers to wear under the outdoor thermal clothing provided by us.
Below you will find the recommended under clothing:
– Underwear: breathable and warm material, e.g. long merino wool underwear
– Socks: sport or ski socks worn under woolen socks
– Mid-layer trousers: loose-fitting, fleece or similar
– Shirt: loose-fitting, with long sleeves and possibly a high collar, warm and breathable
– Sweater: wool, fleece or similar
– Extra windproof layer if you have one just in case
– Neck warmer instead of scarf if you want
The most important purchase that the participants can purchase in their home country is long thermal underwear. We recommend merino wool blends, but any long underwear will help, as in extreme minus temperatures, dressing in layers is the best!
Remember, in the evenings you will have free time and so a change of dry clothes (hat, gloves, trousers, jumper t-shirt/shirt) is recommended to take with you. This will come with you in your 35-litre dry bag or box. If you are continuing your holiday after the safari you extra belongings/luggage will be stored safely in our office.
Can I drink on the pre-night or dinner night on the expedition?
Our policy for alcohol is 0.0 and we can perform alco tests if there is suspicion that somebody might not be 100% sober. Having a drink during the pre-night evening or during dinner at the expedition is not forbidden, but we have trust that our participants have common sense to be in the best shape to drive the next day, and under the limit. Non-alcoholic drinks, for example non-alcoholic beer, are readily available in Finland in most locations.
What kind of driving license do I need?
It is obligatory for the participants to have their valid B driver’s license with them during the safari.
There is a chance to be stopped by the snowmobile police, as funny as it sounds, and tickets will be issued for not having a driver’s license. If the driver’s license is in a foreign language or alphabet other than Latin, an official translation is needed.
Wild Nordic is a travel company operating in Rovaniemi and Levi, Finnish Lapland. We have been providing unforgettable experiences since 1997.
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