Things to Do in Lapland for a Stay in Levi

Lapland is one of those places where expectations are high. You have probably seen the photos: the northern lights, the huskies and the snowy forests. But once you arrive, the real question is simple. What should you actually do, and what is just something that looks good online?

We get this question often. Most travellers do not want a packed schedule of every advertised activity. They want two or three experiences that genuinely fit their pace, and time in between to settle into Lapland itself.

This guide covers the things to do in Lapland that consistently feel worth it when you are there, the ones our guests come back to talk about, whatever the season they visited.

Start with the experiences everyone talks about

Certain experiences have become iconic for a reason. They are not just activities, but moments that shape the rest of the trip when done right.

The core experiences most people build their stay around are:

• Husky safaris
• Snowmobile safaris
• Reindeer experiences
• Northern lights tours
• Ice fishing
• Lovimainas Forest Ice Skating
• A traditional Finnish sauna evening

You do not need to do all of them. Choosing two or three that genuinely interest you is usually enough to shape the whole trip, and it leaves time for the quieter moments that often turn out to be the most memorable.

If you want to see what is currently available in one place, you can browse all Lapland activities and pick what fits your stay.

Husky safaris that you drive yourself

Few experiences feel as immediate as standing behind your own husky sled and heading into the forest.

The first minutes are full of energy. Dogs barking, sleds moving, snow kicking up. Then it settles. The sound softens, and the movement becomes steady. You start to follow the trail instead of thinking about it.

That shift is what makes a husky safari memorable. You are not just along for the ride. You are part of it.

Most tours run between one and three hours, including time at the kennel where the dogs live. Shorter rides suit families and first-timers, while longer ones reward travellers who want quiet stretches and a stronger sense of the landscape.

Self-drive or sit back? Choosing your husky experience

Not every husky safari puts you behind the sled. Most tours can be booked in two versions, and the right one depends on what you want from the ride.

• Self-drive, where you steer your own team. You stand on the runners and control the sled yourself, following a guide who leads the way. It is hands-on, a little physical, and the most memorable option for active travellers and confident adults and teens. Two people usually share a sled and take turns driving and riding.
• Sit-in ride, where a guide drives. You sit wrapped in blankets while a musher or guide handles the dogs. It suits young children, anyone who would rather relax and take photos, and travellers who prefer to watch the landscape instead of managing a team.

A common approach for families is for the adults to take turns driving while the children ride along. If you are not sure which version fits, tell us your group and we will point you to the right tour.

When you can do it

• Sled safaris run from roughly December to April, when there is enough snow. Wheeled husky-cart rides are available in autumn and summer.

What’s included / what to bring

• Thermal overalls and boots are usually provided. Bring warm base layers, a hat, gloves and a buff. No previous experience is needed.

Snowmobile safaris across open fells

Snowmobiles take you into parts of Lapland you would not reach otherwise.

Routes often move from forest into open fell landscapes, where the space around you changes completely. During the day, the views stretch far in every direction. In the evening, the light fades and everything feels quieter.

Many travellers end up choosing between two options:

• A daytime safari for the scenery.
• An evening ride with a chance to see the northern lights.

Both work well. The difference is the atmosphere, and the right choice usually depends on what else is on your schedule that day.

A valid driver’s licence is required for the person at the controls. Couples often share a snowmobile and take turns driving, and children typically ride along in heated sleds pulled behind the guide.

When you can do it

• Roughly December to April, depending on snow conditions.

What’s included / what to bring

• A helmet and a thermal suit are usually provided. Bring a valid driver’s licence if you want to drive, plus warm base layers and goggles or sunglasses.

Reindeer experiences that show another side of Lapland

Reindeer experiences slow the pace in a way most other activities do not.

You are not moving fast. You are sitting in a sleigh or standing close to the animals, listening and observing. The focus shifts from doing to understanding.

For many visitors, this is where Lapland starts to feel more grounded. You see how closely daily life is tied to the animals and the environment. Indigenous Sámi herders share short stories from their own work, and most farms include warm drinks around an open fire afterwards.

This is also one of the most family-friendly options. The pace works for all ages, and there is no equipment to learn.

When you can do it

• Sleigh rides run in winter, roughly December to April. Reindeer-farm visits are available year-round.

What’s included / what to bring

• Warm clothing is recommended, and some farms lend thermal gear. Bring a camera and warm layers. Suitable for all ages.

Northern lights evenings that stay with you

Northern lights are one of the main reasons people travel to Lapland. They are also the one thing you cannot control.

Some nights are clear. Some are not. Sometimes the lights appear quickly, sometimes not at all.

What makes the experience worthwhile is the setting. You go out into the dark, away from light pollution, and spend time under the sky. When the aurora appears, even briefly, it feels unexpected and real.

The aurora season runs from late August to early April. Darkness on its own does not guarantee a sighting. Clear skies and a little solar activity matter more than the time of year, and the darkest midwinter weeks can be cloudy as often as they are clear. For a month-by-month look at when conditions tend to be best, see our guide to the best time to see the northern lights.

When you can do it

• Aurora season runs from late August to early April. Clear, dark skies matter more than the exact month.

What’s included / what to bring

• Guided tours usually provide warm outdoor clothing or a thermal suit. Bring extra layers and hand warmers, and a camera with a tripod if you want to photograph the sky.

Ice fishing on a frozen lake

Ice fishing does not sound like a highlight on paper. But it often turns into one.

You head out onto a frozen lake, drill through the ice, and wait. Around you, there is very little movement. Then a fire is made, something warm is prepared, and the whole moment slows down.

It is simple, but that is exactly why it works. Even guests who have never fished before tell us it became the most memorable afternoon of their stay, partly because of the silence and partly because of the shared time around the fire.

When you can do it

• Roughly December to April, once the ice is thick enough. Open-water lake fishing is possible in summer and autumn.

What’s included / what to bring

• Fishing gear, an ice auger and warm drinks are provided. Bring warm, layered clothing and waterproof winter boots.

Lovimainas Forest Ice Skating through the Arctic forest

Lovimainas Forest Ice Skating is a 1 km natural ice trail that winds through snow-covered forest, lit by soft lightbulbs between the trees.

Skates and helmets are provided, and a traditional kota offers shelter from the cold along with hot drinks. The pace is your own. You can glide through the forest and stop when you want to.

It works as both an evening activity for couples and a calm afternoon outing with children. Beginners pick it up quickly because the trail is narrow, level and forgiving.

When you can do it

• Winter, while the natural ice holds, typically around January to March. Conditions vary year to year, so confirm when you book.

What’s included / what to bring

• Skates and helmets are provided, and the kota offers shelter and hot drinks. Bring warm clothing and thick socks.

A traditional Finnish sauna evening

For many visitors, an evening in a traditional Finnish sauna becomes the quiet centre of the trip.

A wood-heated sauna in Lapland is not a wellness add-on. It is part of how the day ends: warm steam, cold air outside, and time to sit with nothing else to do.

Many of our cabins include a private sauna, which means you can fit it into your evening without leaving the property. For something more structured, a guided private lakeside sauna evening by the Ounasjoki River pairs a pre-heated traditional log sauna with grilled sausages, hot drinks and outdoor firepit access, sometimes with the northern lights overhead from the terrace.

When you can do it

• Year-round.

What’s included / what to bring

• Towels and water are usually provided. Bring swimwear if you prefer to wear it, and warm outdoor clothing for the cooling-off breaks at lakeside saunas.

Plan around the season, not just the activities

The same activity can feel very different depending on when you visit.

December and January bring the shortest days and a soft, blue midwinter light, with snow building up across the region. By February and March the days are noticeably brighter, the snow is at its deepest and most reliable, and conditions are steadier for longer outings. Late autumn and early spring are quieter, with fewer crowds and the chance to combine winter and shoulder-season scenery.

If you have not yet decided when to come, our seasonal guide to Lapland walks through what each month actually looks like, both the experiences available and the rhythm of daily life.

Where you stay in Levi matters more than you think

Choosing the right accommodation quietly influences every part of your trip. Distance to activities, privacy, and atmosphere all affect how each day unfolds.

A more considered stay allows you to:

• Step outside directly into nature instead of navigating busy centres.
• Enjoy flexible schedules without fixed transfer times.
• Return to your own space after a full day outdoors.

Properties in Levi range from modern apartments to secluded cabins. Some focus on simplicity, others on added comfort, but the common thread is ease.

Every home we list is hand-picked by our team, and every guest is looked after personally. If something is not right, you reach a real person, not a chatbot. That keeps the holiday calm even when conditions outside are not.

Common mistakes when planning a trip to Lapland

A few things come up often when guests look back on what they would do differently.

• Booking too many activities. Two or three well-chosen experiences usually leave a stronger impression than a packed schedule.
• Underestimating the cold. Even short waits outside can feel long without proper layering. Most providers include thermal suits, but a warm base layer still matters.
• Treating the northern lights as guaranteed. Plan the trip around what you can experience reliably. The aurora is a bonus, not the only goal.
• Staying too far from the things you want to do. A central or well-connected location turns short days into useful ones.

Frequently asked questions about things to do in Lapland

Things to do in Lapland that stay with you

The most meaningful things to do in Lapland rarely come from ticking off a list. They emerge from the balance between activity and stillness, between guidance and freedom.

Levi gives you access to all the well-known experiences, while local activity providers take you out into the landscape itself. With the right choices, even familiar activities can feel entirely new.

If you are planning your stay, take a moment to explore available activities in Levi and build your trip around the experiences that interest you most. We are based in Levi and happy to help you pick the right combination, including matching the activities to a Lapland holiday that fits your group.