Snowshoeing tour with Wild Lunch

REVIEW · SNOWSHOEING TRIPS

Snowshoeing tour with Wild Lunch

5.0 · 3 reviews 3 hours (approx.) From $95 Operated by ToTheNorth · Bookable on Viator
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Snowshoeing in Lapland, then lunch by fire? That is the basic magic of this 3-hour Wild Lunch experience outside Rovaniemi. I like the short, guided format that keeps things moving, and I really like how the adventure ends with a cozy teepee wild lunch in authentic winter style. If you get cold easily, here is the one thing to think about: winter overalls are not included, so you’ll want to come properly kitted.

The plan is simple and friendly: pickup from your apartment, a drive about 30 km into a hidden forest, snowshoe walking with guide support, then warming up around a fire for hot food and drinks. From the descriptions of the scenery, you can expect more than just trees, with snowy forest scenery and frozen lake views along the way. The main consideration is that the outing depends on good winter weather, so if conditions are poor the tour may shift dates or refund.

Key highlights you will actually feel during the tour

Snowshoeing tour with Wild Lunch - Key highlights you will actually feel during the tour

  • Small group size (max 16), so the guide can keep an eye on pace and comfort.
  • Equipment provided: snowshoes and hiking poles, which cuts the hassle and expense.
  • Pickup option around Rovaniemi, so you are not stuck planning transport to a remote forest.
  • A planned warm-up at a fire in a teepee, not just a quick snack stop.
  • A “first time friendly” feel, with explanations that help you get comfortable quickly.
  • Wild lunch focus with a hot drink and reindeer meat served after your walk.

Rovaniemi Snowshoeing With Wild Lunch, the simple deal

Snowshoeing tour with Wild Lunch - Rovaniemi Snowshoeing With Wild Lunch, the simple deal
This is a guided snowshoeing experience with a warm wild lunch built in. The timing is tight on purpose. In about three hours, you get the core Lapland vibe, walk through a snowy forest using proper gear, then warm up properly with food and drink in a teepee setting.

Why that matters: when you are visiting Lapland for a limited number of days, you often want experiences that do not eat your whole daylight. A half-day style outing gives you a lot of scenery without sacrificing evening plans back in Rovaniemi. And since the group is capped at 16, it is not the kind of tour where you feel like a passenger in a long line. You get a guided loop feel: walk, pause, eat, and then head back.

You also get a practical advantage. Snowshoes and hiking poles are included. That means you are not spending your morning hunting down rentals, finding the right size, or paying extra for gear. You simply show up, get fitted, and go.

Pickup and the 30 km drive to the hidden forest

Snowshoeing tour with Wild Lunch - Pickup and the 30 km drive to the hidden forest
The tour runs from 11:00 am and offers pickup. You will be contacted the day before with pickup instructions, which is helpful because winter timing is everything. If you hate the stress of figuring out meeting points in the dark, pickup is a real comfort.

After pickup, the group drives about 30 km outside Rovaniemi to a forest area described as hidden. That short transfer does two important things for you. First, it gets you away from city noise fast. Second, it increases your odds of seeing that classic Lapland mix: quiet white forest and wide winter views that feel removed from everything.

What to watch for: you need to plan around the pickup window. Since start time is fixed and pickup details come the day before, build in a little buffer the morning of your tour. In winter, being “almost on time” can turn into “late and cold,” quickly.

Snowshoeing in the snowy forest and frozen lake views

Snowshoeing tour with Wild Lunch - Snowshoeing in the snowy forest and frozen lake views
This is the heart of the experience. Once you arrive in the forest area, you snowshoe around the surroundings with guide support and clear explanations. The descriptions highlight that this works well even if it is your first time snowshoeing. That is a big deal. Snowshoes look intimidating until you understand how to step, balance, and keep a steady pace.

Here is the practical reality: in packed snow, snowshoeing is more about rhythm than athletic power. You walk, stop when the guide wants you to look around, and keep moving at a pace that feels safe. The goal is that “almost magical white coat” feeling people describe, not a workout you dread.

The scenery piece is also stronger than many basic snowshoe walks. You can expect snowy forest paths and frozen lake scenery as part of the route. That combination is what makes the photos worth it, but more importantly it is what makes the experience feel wider than just trees. A frozen lake adds depth to the view, and it often changes the soundscape too. In still winter air, it can feel quiet in a way that city parks never do.

The guide role matters here. The tour emphasizes friendly guidance and comfort, including explanations and check-ins so you do not feel lost. If you have never used hiking poles in snow before, this kind of coaching helps you avoid the awkward “arm cramps by accident” moment.

Possible drawback to factor in: snowshoes and poles included means you are good on gear, but you still need to be comfortable walking on snow. Most people can participate, but if you have serious mobility limits, you should think twice. This is a winter walk, not a seated or mostly static experience.

Warming up in a teepee: wild lunch with hot drink and reindeer meat

Snowshoeing tour with Wild Lunch - Warming up in a teepee: wild lunch with hot drink and reindeer meat
After your snowshoe time, you head to a fire for lunch in a cozy teepee. This is where the tour becomes more than just another guided walk. The teepee setting adds a strong “Lapland winter break” vibe, because you are not eating cold sandwich style. You are warm, you are gathered, and you are switching gears from outside cold to inside comfort.

The food details are part of the appeal. You get a hot drink, and the wild lunch includes buckwheat with reindeer meat. That matters for value and authenticity. A lot of tours “include lunch” but it is small and generic. Here, the menu feels specific to the region and served as part of the experience, not just a checkbox.

Also, fire + food is a smart design choice for a winter tour. It gives your body a reset between activity and return. In practical terms, it reduces the chance that you spend the last part of the day cold and cranky. In emotional terms, it turns the experience into a story you remember, not just a walk you logged.

If you are the type who likes learning in small moments, this part is also a good time to listen and ask questions. The descriptions focus on friendly guides who keep things comfortable, so it is not just eating and leaving. You get a warm pause that slows the pace down on purpose.

What you should pack: snowshoes provided, winter overalls not included

Snowshoeing tour with Wild Lunch - What you should pack: snowshoes provided, winter overalls not included
Good news first: snowshoes and hiking poles are included. That removes two common pain points. You do not need to rent equipment, and you do not need to worry about whether you picked the wrong size rentals.

The one clear gap is winter clothing. Winter overalls are not included. That means you should come with your own cold-weather gear and feel confident you can stay warm outdoors during a snowy walk.

Keep it simple. Wear layers you already know work for you, and bring what you need to keep your core warm. If you are buying winter clothes just for this trip, check what you are actually getting for your money, because overalls can be an extra cost if you do not already own them.

A second practical point: since this tour ends back in Rovaniemi with apartment drop-off, you may not want to wear anything that takes forever to get out of. Use clothing that is easy to manage so you can transition from teepee warmth back to city cold without turning the return into a gear wrestling match.

Duration and schedule: how the timing shapes the day

Snowshoeing tour with Wild Lunch - Duration and schedule: how the timing shapes the day
This experience is about 3 hours. That is the sweet spot for a winter day in Rovaniemi. Long enough to feel like you did something real, short enough that you can still plan dinner and maybe another activity later.

Because it starts at 11:00 am, it also works nicely if your morning is already filled. If you are doing other winter sightseeing earlier, this can be a mid-day anchor. It is not competing with the earliest activities, and it gives you daylight for snow and scenery.

The flow is straightforward:

  • You start with pickup.
  • You travel to the forest.
  • You snowshoe.
  • You warm up with lunch in a teepee.
  • You return and get dropped back at your apartment.

That structure is a big part of the value. It reduces waiting time and keeps the tour focused.

Price and value at about $95.53 per person

Snowshoeing tour with Wild Lunch - Price and value at about $95.53 per person
At $95.53 per person, the price is not “cheap,” but it can be good value if you compare what is actually included.

Here’s what you are paying for:

  • Guided snowshoeing in a forest area about 30 km from the city
  • Snowshoes and hiking poles included
  • Pickup and drop-off offered
  • A winter warm-up around a fire
  • A wild lunch with a hot drink, plus buckwheat and reindeer meat
  • A teepee setting that turns the meal into part of the experience

Many budget tours include an activity but make you handle logistics and gear separately. This one bundles key pieces so you can spend your energy on the walk and the scenery. For people who do not want to rent equipment or scramble for transport, that bundle matters.

One more value point: the group size caps at 16 travelers, which can improve the guide experience and the pacing. Smaller groups often mean less time waiting and more time getting questions answered.

If you are cost sensitive, your best move is to check whether you already have winter overalls. Because those are not included, your total cost for “being ready” may be higher if you need to buy gear.

Who this Wild Lunch snowshoe tour is best for

Snowshoeing tour with Wild Lunch - Who this Wild Lunch snowshoe tour is best for
This tour feels especially good for:

  • First-time snowshoeers who want clear explanations and a comfortable pace
  • Couples who want a shared winter activity that ends with a warm meal
  • Visitors who want an authentic-feeling Lapland moment without committing to a full day

The teepee meal and fire warm-up make it more “experience” than “activity.” If you like your tours to include a meaningful break, this format will suit you.

If you are traveling with someone who gets bored on long guided walks, this one has built-in variety. You have the movement, the scenery changes, then a warm social pause for food.

On the other hand, it might not be the best fit if you:

  • Dislike walking in snow at all
  • Do not have winter overalls and are uncomfortable staying warm outdoors
  • Need a tour that runs regardless of weather, since it requires good weather for operation

Quick practical tips before you go

  • If you want pickup, plan to be ready when pickup instructions arrive the day before.
  • Dress for staying warm outdoors. Winter overalls are not provided.
  • Expect a walk duration that fits into a 3-hour block, including lunch.
  • Bring your patience for winter timing. Short drives and cold air can make everything feel slower in a good way, but you should still plan calmly.

Should you book Wild Lunch snowshoeing near Rovaniemi?

If your idea of Lapland includes snowy forest walking plus a warm, authentic-feeling lunch in a teepee, this is an easy yes. The combination of included gear, friendly guided snowshoeing, and a wild lunch with hot drink and reindeer meat makes it feel like you get more than a basic tour ticket.

I would book it if you want value that is built into the package, not value you have to assemble yourself. Just make sure you are ready for the one real catch: winter overalls are not included, and the tour needs good weather to run.

If you are prepared with proper cold-weather clothing and you like guided outdoors time, you are likely to come away thinking the three hours flew by for the right reasons.

FAQ

What is the duration of the Wild Lunch snowshoeing tour?

The tour lasts about 3 hours.

Where does the snowshoeing take place?

It starts with pickup in Rovaniemi, then the group drives about 30 km outside the city to a forest for the snowshoeing adventure.

What time does the tour start?

The start time is 11:00 am.

Does the tour offer pickup from apartments?

Yes, pickup is offered. The pickup instructions are shared when you are contacted the day before the tour.

What is included in the price?

Snowshoes and hiking poles are included.

Are winter overalls provided?

No. Winter overalls are not included.

What language is the tour offered in?

The tour is offered in English.

What happens if weather is poor?

This experience requires good weather. If it is canceled due to poor weather, you will be offered a different date or a full refund.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can cancel for free up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. If you cancel less than 24 hours before the start time, the amount you paid is not refunded.