Tourism in Finnish Lapland has become the main income source of employment and income replacing traditional industries such as forestry.

Development from a period of extractive industry to an industrial society has come about quickly. In 1950 the largest part of Lapland's inhabitants lived in rural areas and more than half the workforce worked in forestry and agriculture. Today 65 % of the workforce are in the service industry, 22 % in processing and 10 % in primary production.

This huge growth in tourism and service provision has been developed in conjunction with a long-term sustainable tourism plan with one of the primary objectives being to maintain nature in its natural state while guaranteeing the traditional way of life.

Much of this has been achieved along with membership of EU development programmes, aimed at diversifying sources of livelihood, effective usage of resources and to increase export.

Approximately a quarter of Lapland's 100 000 strong workforce was unemployed in 1997. Promoting entrepreneurship, ongoing re-education of the workforce and development of the educational system to suit the needs of enterprises is continuing. The target is to diversify the sources of livelihood, increase the value of refinement production and develop new enterprises particularly in the area of tourism. National measures as well as EU-programme measures support this objective.

We embrace this philosophy, employing local activity providers and using only locally owned hotels. In this manner we help to maintain jobs in an area where unemployment was, until recently, very high. Additionally, the use of local suppliers ensures that the tourism spend filters through to local economies via the tourism multiplier effect.

Day 1: Flights, arrivals and transfers
You will be met at Kittila Airport and transferred to the Hotel Kittila, which is just a short 15 minute drive away.  You will check in to your rooms and have dinner, before meeting with your guide who will explain the week’s activities and answer any questions you may have before you begin your adventures.

Day 2: Start your engines!
After breakfast you will collect your cold weather clothing and have a short safety briefing and introduction to the snowmobiles, before you start your first safari.  Today you will cover approximately 80 – 90 kilometres through the heart of Finnish Lapland. You will quickly find out why snowmobiles are the only way to travel in Scandinavia.  The group will stop for a picnic lunch and to warm up in the middle of the day, before continuing on your safari in the afternoon.  Your first day on a snowmobile is one you will always remember.  You will spend the night at Hotel Harriniva for a delicious evening meal and a warm sauna before bed.

Day 3
After breakfast you will set out on the trail again.  Your group will aim to cover between 100-120kms today depending on the weather conditions and after yesterday’s practise run, you will start to relax and enjoy the whole experience even more.  The complete contrast of the adrenaline that comes with speeding along the tracks, whilst following your instructor and the absolute peacefulness of your stunning surroundings is truly fascinating.  You will head north today, stopping again for a picnic lunch and will arrive at Palojärvi, where you will spend the evening in some wonderfully cosy log cabins, each with their own private sauna.

Day 4
This morning you will wake to inspect your unique “moon like” surroundings, as the snowy forest landscapes you have been cruising through during the week have disappeared and you are in the centre of a snow desert.  It is a very eerie setting.  You will soon be off again on your snowmobiles for another 100 – 120km of pure adrenaline.  You will arrive in Jeris after an exciting but exhausting day with your guide.  One of our favourite things about Jeris is the wonderful spa facilities and swimming pool.  For the brave there is even an ice hole! You will have an evening meal in the hotel’s restaurant, before getting some well earned sleep.

Day 5
After breakfast, you will begin the last leg of your adventure, which will bring you back to Kittila Hotel.  After a refreshing sauna, you will have a farewell meal made up of Lapland specialities, recall your adventures of the past few days, share photographs and prepare for your return to day to day life.  Your evening frivolities can continue into the early hours in the wonderful hotel pub a fantastic place with bags of character! 

Day 6: Departure, transfers and flights
After breakfast you will transfer to Kittila airport for your return flights home.

Short on time but in need of a quickfire adrenaline kick? You need look no further. The very best way to see as much as possible of Fell Lapland in a limited amount of time is by snowmobile.

Snowmobiles are the preferred form of transport during the winter and it's not hard to understand why. Fast, efficient and simply fabulous fun there is no better way to witness the stunning scenery of Finnish Lapland at speed!

This itinerary offers the perfect mix of adrenaline, adventure and comfort. You will spend your days cruising through the perfect Lappish landscapes of forests, thick with snow covered trees and across vast frozen lakes. During your evenings you will be returning to several different hotels which are all built in traditional Scandinavian style, all complete with saunas to ease any aching muscles, very comfortable beds and fantastic restaurants serving many delicious local delicacies.

Anybody aged 17 years or over and in possesion of a full UK driving licence.