What activities are worth doing during a winter in Lapland?

If you’re wondering which activities in Lapland during the winter are truly worth doing, an endless list of things you see in brochures won’t help you. What matters most is how you want to experience winter. Are you looking for adrenaline, silence, wide-open spaces, encounters with wildlife, or that rare feeling of stepping away from your everyday routine for a few days? In Swedish Lapland, these experiences are often close at hand—but not every activity is right for everyone.

That’s exactly why it’s worth seeing Lapland not as a snow-covered amusement park, but as a landscape with its own rhythm. Winter here isn’t just a backdrop. It shapes the light, the sounds, the paths, the animals—and even you. When you embrace that, individual activities turn into genuine experiences.

Which winter activities in Lapland are right for you?

When guests ask me for my personal recommendation, my answer often surprises them. Many expect me to mention husky tours or snowmobiling. In fact, it’s usually the quieter experiences—like snowshoeing, ice fishing, ice swimming, or an evening by the campfire or in the panoramic sauna—that they’re still talking about months later. Not because they’re more spectacular, but because they convey the true Lapland experience.

But of course, it also depends on what you’re looking for. Many people arrive with a specific image in mind—the Northern Lights, huskies, red cabins, crunching snow. That’s understandable, but in the end, it’s often the unexpected moments that stick with you. That first breath at minus 25 degrees. The deep blue of the afternoon sky. The absolute stillness on a frozen lake.

If you want to combine exercise with nature, dog-sledding tours, snowshoeing, or snowmobile rides are exciting options. If you’re looking for the quieter side of the North, ice fishing, a sauna followed by a dip in the snow, or a night far away from artificial lights are often more fulfilling than any action-packed tour. And if you want to experience as much of Lapland as possible in a short time, a combination of several quiet and active experiences usually makes more sense than a packed daily schedule.

Dog Sledding – Experience Lapland Firsthand and in Its Original Form

There’s a good reason why a husky tour is one of the most memorable winter experiences. You’re not just sitting on something and being driven around. You glide through birch forests, across snow-covered expanses, and along frozen bodies of water, pulled by dogs that live for exactly this. The pace is brisk, but the landscape remains ever-present. Above all, the moments when the team pauses briefly and sudden, complete silence descends are the ones that stay with many people for a long time.

Still, a husky tour isn’t necessarily for everyone. It’s cold, sometimes physically demanding, and the experience depends heavily on how the tour is organized. Small groups and a guide who truly knows the region make a big difference here. That’s when an activity becomes a profound experience of nature.

Snowshoeing – Slow Enough to Understand Lapland

If you ask me which winter activities in Lapland are often underestimated, snowshoeing is right at the top of the list. It’s not spectacular in the traditional sense. And that’s exactly why it works so well. You move slowly, hear your own footsteps in the snow, and notice details you’d never see from a snowmobile.

Snowshoes are ideal if you really want to take in the landscape. Tracks in the snow, the shape of the trees under a heavy load, the light during the short winter days—all of this only becomes apparent when you take your time. For many, that’s exactly the moment when Lapland no longer feels like a tourist destination, but like a real place.

Snowmobile – Open Spaces, Speed, and Winter Freedom

Snowmobiling has a firm place in Lapland. Not because it’s loud and fast, but because it gives you access to areas that are otherwise hard to reach in winter. You can venture far out—across lakes, through forested areas, and into open landscapes—where you can truly feel the vastness of the North.

The appeal lies in the combination of power and vastness. At the same time, this isn’t the best choice for everyone. Those seeking absolute tranquility or who want to experience wildlife in a particularly intimate way often feel more at ease on foot. On the other hand, those who want to actively experience winter and cover a lot of ground will quickly realize, while riding a snowmobile, just how vast and open this region really is.

The Northern Lights—not just another item on the itinerary, but a gift

Many people come to see the aurora. That’s understandable. When the sky is clear and green bands stretch across the darkness, there’s something raw and almost surreal about it. But this is exactly where managing your expectations is important. You can’t just order the Northern Lights. You can improve the conditions—dark locations, patience, cold, clear nights—but it remains a natural phenomenon.

That’s exactly what makes the moment so special. If you’re just waiting for the perfect photo, you often miss the point. Standing outside, watching your breath, gazing into the darkness, and realizing how small—and yet how alert—you feel—that’s what it’s all about. It’s not uncommon for the night itself to become an experience, even if the aurora only appears briefly.

One of the great advantages of our Villa Björklund is its location. Our small village, with just six residents, is nestled in the heart of nature and far from any major light sources. That means that when the conditions are right and the aurora is dancing, you often don’t even have to get in the car. Often, all it takes is a step outside the front door to witness this natural spectacle right above the frozen lake.

By the way, this photo was taken during a visit from Ducati. A group of test riders from Italy was staying with us to test new motorcycles in winter conditions and shoot a promotional video. After a day on icy roads and snow-covered trails, this spectacular display of the Northern Lights awaited them that evening right in front of Villa Björklund. Moments like these never fail to remind us just how special the location of our little village is, nestled in the heart of nature.

Ice Fishing and Hibernation – Much Quieter Than Many Expect

To some, ice fishing sounds unspectacular. In reality, it’s one of the most authentic ways to experience winter. You sit or stand on a frozen lake, drill a hole in the ice, and wait. No nonstop action, no dazzling fireworks. Just the cold, the light, and time.

That’s exactly what makes it so special. Ice fishing is particularly well-suited for people who don’t want to be constantly entertained on vacation. It helps you slow down. And it’s often during these quiet moments that the best conversations arise—or that rare experience of not having to do anything at all.

Sauna and cold air—a Nordic rhythm

Not every winter activity has to take place outdoors in the traditional sense. In Lapland, the sauna is practically a given. After a long day in the snow, the warmth isn’t just pleasant—it’s part of a rhythm all its own. First the heat, then out into the crisp air, maybe a quick dip in the snow, then back inside again.

It sounds simple, but it’s often one of the most intense moments of the trip. Your body relaxes, your mind clears, and suddenly you no longer see winter as a challenge, but as something that carries you along. Those who are only looking for action often overlook these quiet experiences. It’s a shame, really.

One of my favorite places in winter is our panoramic sauna right in front of Villa Björklund, overlooking the frozen lake. As the wood-burning stove crackles and twilight slowly sets in outside, a sense of tranquility settles in—one that many guests remember long after their trip is over.

My personal highlight, though, is the moment right after that: stepping out of the sauna—where it’s about 70 degrees—into the crisp winter air at minus 25 degrees. My whole body is steaming, and making a snow angel on top of that is, for me, one of the most wonderful winter moments of all.

Ice Bathing and a Tent Sauna on the Lake – Pushing Your Limits Brings Happiness

For many guests, ice bathing is initially the activity they’re most wary of. That’s understandable. The idea of voluntarily stepping into a hole in the ice sounds crazy at first. That often makes their smiles all the bigger when they come back out.

The experience is especially intense in our heated tent sauna right on the frozen lake. The contrast between soothing warmth and ice-cold water not only provides a real adrenaline rush and leaves you gasping for breath, but also creates a sensation that many find hard to describe. Afterward, most people say, “I never thought I’d ever do that.”

Personally, I find that after an ice bath, you really feel like a new person. Yes, it’s cold. Yes, it stings and takes some effort. But that’s exactly what makes it so special to me. As soon as you get out of the water, you feel alert, refreshed, and full of energy.

Wildlife Observation and Tracking

Lapland isn’t empty in winter. It just seems quieter. With a good guide, you’ll learn to look for signs that others miss: tracks in the snow, feeding traces, movements in the forest, and the presence of reindeer or moose. Not every tour leads to a spectacular sighting, but even just reading the tracks changes the way you see the landscape.

You’ll no longer just be wandering through beautiful scenery. You’ll realize that life is happening here, even if it remains hidden. Especially for people who don’t just want to consume nature but want to understand it, this is often more valuable than any run-of-the-mill highlight.

Personalized winter adventures for anyone who wants to dive deeper

Not every winter trip has to consist of individual day activities. Some guests are looking for a truly personalized adventure. For example, a cross-country skiing tour lasting several days with an overnight stay in a simple wilderness cabin, a helicopter tour to remote areas, or a combination of snowshoeing, ice fishing, and campfires far from the nearest road.

For me, these kinds of custom-planned tours are among the most immersive ways to get to know Lapland. They aren’t based on a set itinerary, but are planned together and tailored to your experience, fitness level, and interests. That way, a trip becomes not just a set program, but a true adventure.

Do you have an idea or a special request? If so, feel free to schedule a free 30-minute consultation. Together, we’ll discuss your ideas and plan a trip to Lapland that’s truly tailored to you—whether you’re looking for a relaxing getaway, an active adventure, or a trip centered around a very special experience.

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The best mix, rather than as many program items as possible

One of the most common misconceptions is that a good winter vacation in Lapland has to be as packed as possible. Snowmobiling in the morning, huskies at noon, the Northern Lights in the evening, and right on to the next activity the next day. That sounds like a lot, but it doesn’t automatically mean it’s an intense experience. True impressions need space.

Most of the time, a balanced mix is the better choice. An active day, followed by something more relaxed. A brisk hike, then an afternoon by the fire or in the sauna. If you plan your trip this way, you won’t just experience Lapland from the outside—you’ll be more likely to get into the rhythm of the region. Small, personally guided tours are especially well-suited for this, because they can adapt more flexibly to the weather, your energy levels, and your interests than rigid group tours.

Who is each option best suited for?

If this is your first trip to Lapland in the winter, a combination of a husky tour, evenings spent watching the Northern Lights, and a more low-key nature activity is often ideal. That way, you get both exercise and a sense of the atmosphere. If you’ve been to the North several times before or are deliberately looking to get away from traditional sightseeing, longer snowshoe hikes, quiet days in the wilderness, or more remote tours are usually more exciting.

Your travel situation also plays a role. Couples often seek out special, quiet moments and enjoy evenings away from large groups. Friends sometimes prefer a more lively atmosphere. Of course, independent travel allows for more freedom in this regard than standardized package tours. That’s exactly why it’s worth asking not just about activities, but also about how you’d like to travel.

What Makes the Difference

The same activity can feel completely different—depending on where you are, who you’re with, and how much room there is for authenticity. A snowmobile tour in a large caravan is quite different from a ride in a small group through truly open countryside. A husky tour takes on a different character when you experience the animals and the setting as more than just photo opportunities. And an evening watching the Northern Lights feels different when you’re not standing in a parking lot with twenty other people.

This is precisely where Lapland as a backdrop differs from Lapland as an experience. Those who merely check off the North as a destination take home pictures. Those who immerse themselves in it take away something deeper—often greater peace, greater alertness, and a surprisingly vivid memory of the cold, the light, and the silence.

I’ve been living and working in Swedish Lapland for years, and what still fascinates me to this day isn’t just the grand spectacle. It’s the transitions. The first light of dawn after a cold night. An animal’s tracks in fresh snow. Guests who visibly slow down after two days and begin to realize they no longer want to fill the silence. When you’re thinking about which winter activities here are right for you, don’t just look for the most well-known ones. Look for what truly moves you. That’s usually where your real Lapland experience begins.

Everyone experiences Lapland differently. That’s why, for me, there’s no such thing as the one perfect winter trip. During a free 30-minute consultation, we’ll work together to figure out which activities are right for you and what your personal Lapland experience could look like. I look forward to learning about your wishes and showing you my home.

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