Alta Snowmobile Tours

Alta sits at the head of a fjord in Norway's Finnmark, and right behind it the land climbs onto Finnmarksvidda, Europe's largest mountain plateau. A guided snowmobile tour takes you up through the birch woods and out onto that open white country, in a borrowed thermal suit, behind a local guide. Four tours from Alta cover the rides worth booking, from a four-hour trip to the plateau edge to a day of ice fishing. Below, each one's price sits next to who may drive and the small print the listings bury.

  • Snowmobile season: about December to AprilThe tours start once the plateau has a proper snow cover and keep going into the long, bright days of spring
  • Drivers show a class B driving licenseNorway lets only license holders drive a snowmobile, and the guide checks it before the start; without one you ride as a passenger

In a hurry? Our top pick is Alta Adventure's Finnmarksvidda safari: ~$337 a person for five hours over frozen lakes on the plateau, with no more than 12 riders and pickup that covers the airport and harbour as well as hotels. Book it here.

Book on GetYourGuide Book on Viator Compare all 4

Alta tours at a glance

  • Four hours to most of a dayThe shortest rides take four hours, about two of them on the snowmobile. The ice fishing day runs six and a half
  • A sled for two, or one of your ownÆventyr seats a driver and a passenger who swap. Alta Adventure sells a single-driver option at a higher price
  • Drivers need a licenseA valid class B car license, shown before the ride. Passengers need none, but Æventyr takes them from age 12
  • Weight and age limitsAlta Adventure caps passengers at 75 kg (165 lb) and takes no one under 7. Æventyr's night ride stops at age 70

If you only have a minute

Which Alta snowmobile tour should you book?

If a friend asked us how to spend a winter day on a snowmobile in Alta, this is what we would tell them over a coffee by the fjord.

The best snowmobile tour in Alta for most visitors is Alta Adventure's Finnmarksvidda safari, from ~$337. It keeps the group to 12 and collects you from the cruise harbour and the airport as well as central hotels. Five hours gives you frozen lakes to cross and a mountain cabin to stop at, with time on the throttle as well, and you can book a sled of your own.

Chasing the aurora? Æventyr's northern lights ride heads up to the plateau edge after dark for ~$284. Prefer daylight and a shorter outing? Æventyr's daytime ride from Gargia costs ~$288. For a long day with a rod on the ice, the ice fishing tour is ~$417.

Before you pay, find out who may drive and whether to book a sled of your own, see how the tours compare, then read what the listings play down.

Our pick

The Alta ride we would book: Alta Adventure, max 12

Not the cheapest ride in Alta. It is the one that takes you furthest onto the plateau in daylight, with a small group, a pickup that works for cruise and air travelers, and the choice of a snowmobile to yourself.

Three riders on snowmobiles in a line across a snowfield dotted with bare mountain birches near Alta Our pick

Alta: Guided Snowmobile Safari on Finnmarksvidda With Snacks, Alta Adventure

★★★★★ 5.0 from 50+ reviews on GetYourGuide · 5.0 from 70 on Viator

Alta Adventure keeps its plateau safari to 12 people. After pickup you stop at the company's office in town to change into warm suits and boots with a helmet, and to hear the plan and the safety rules. Anything you will not need on the snow can stay there.

A minibus then drives about 30 minutes out of Alta to where the snowmobiles wait. You get a demonstration and practice before the line sets off across frozen lakes on Finnmarksvidda. Photo stops break up the ride, and a mountain cabin visit brings warm drinks and snacks along with the guide's stories of the area.

Price
from ~$337 per person
Duration
About 5 hours
Group
Up to 12 people
Pickup
Airport, Alta Havn, centre, bus terminal; Scandic and Thon hotels
Sled
Shared with your partner, or single driver at a higher price
On the way
Frozen lakes; warm drinks and snacks at a mountain cabin
Driver
18+ with a driving license
Age
From 7; passengers up to 75 kg
GetYourGuide Viator

Live availability and prices on GetYourGuide

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How the day runs, step by step

The route depends on the snow and the weather. This is the outline the listing gives:

In town

  • Pickup at your hotel or a set point (airport, harbour, bus terminal)
  • Warm suits and boots with helmets at the office, then the plan for the day and a safety briefing
  • About 30 minutes by minibus to the snowmobiles

On Finnmarksvidda

  • Driving instructions and a demonstration, then the guide leads the line out
  • Frozen lakes and photo stops with a chance of reindeer herds or dog teams and skiers
  • A mountain cabin with warm drinks and snacks
  • Back by minibus to the office, then on to your drop-off point

What the price covers

The price covers the ride and the kit. What it leaves out is your own base layers and, unless you pay for the single option, a sled to yourself.

Included
  • Pickup and drop-off at set points in Alta
  • Warm suit and boots, plus a helmet
  • Driving instructions and safety rules
  • Warm drinks and snacks, plus local history
Not included
  • A sled of your own on the shared ticket
  • Wool layers and a scarf; hat and mittens
  • Driving without a valid license
  • Riding as a passenger over 75 kg

Between us, before you go

If you travel alone, book the single-driver option. The shared ticket is meant for two people who know each other, and the listing says so plainly. Before the ride every driver signs a contract that makes them responsible for their snowmobile.

The office asks for wool next to the skin and mittens rather than gloves. Our guide to dressing for the plateau covers the rest.

Why it beats the shorter rides

Æventyr's four-hour tours give you about two hours on the snowmobile. Here the whole day is built around the plateau, with frozen lakes to cross and a cabin stop out in the open. Twelve riders also keep the line short, so the guide sees everyone. What Finnmarksvidda is like.

Who we would not send on it

Anyone set on the northern lights, who should book the evening ride with Æventyr. Riders heavier than 100 kg (220 lb), whom the listing turns away. And families with children under seven, who need a different plan.

Book it if

You want a proper daylight ride on the plateau rather than a taste of it. You like small groups and need a pickup from the airport or a cruise ship. It suits couples and friends, and solo travelers willing to pay for a sled of their own.

Skip it if

Ready for the frozen lakes?

The safari is on GetYourGuide and on Viator. Both show a 5.0 score; Viator has a few more reviews and, at our last look, the lower "from" price. The tour is the same on both.

GetYourGuide Viator

The ride itself

How an Alta snowmobile tour works

Every tour on this page climbs from the valley onto the plateau. What differs is whether you go in daylight or in the dark, and how long you spend out there in the cold.

Style · daytime tour

Birch woods, plains, frozen lakes

Alta Adventure, Æventyr by day, Æventyr ice fishing

4–6.5 hpickup and kit, a briefing, then a guided ride up to the open vidda with a hot drink out there

You see the whole sweep of the plateau and the photos work. In midwinter the daylight is short and blue; from February the sun comes back fast and March is bright on the snow.

Style · evening tour

Up the postal road after dark

Æventyr's northern lights ride

4 hpickup in Alta, about two hours of driving, a stop under a dark sky at the plateau edge

Headlights on the snow and a sky that may or may not light up. Clouds win some nights, and the ride is the same price either way. It is colder after dark, and the listing stops at age 70.

Alta weather and snowmobile conditions, month by month

  • How good the month is for a tour
  1. Jan−5°C high23 °F

    Polar night ends mid-month, deep cold on the vidda

  2. Feb−5°C high23 °F

    Daylight back, dark evenings for the aurora

  3. Mar−2°C high28 °F

    Long sunny days on a thick snow cover

  4. Apr3°C high37 °F

    Bright Easter weeks on the plateau

  5. May9°C high48 °F

    Snowmelt, the tours stop

  6. Jun15°C high59 °F

    Midnight sun over the fjord

  7. Jul18°C high64 °F

    The warmest weeks, river and hiking season

  8. Aug16°C high61 °F

    Dark nights return late in the month

  9. Sep11°C high52 °F

    Autumn colors, aurora season opens

  10. Oct4°C high39 °F

    First snow on the hills, not yet enough to ride

  11. Nov−1°C high30 °F

    Polar night begins late in the month

  12. Dec−4°C high25 °F

    No sunrise, blue noon light, tours start once the snow lies

Temperatures are rough daytime highs in Alta town by the fjord. Up on Finnmarksvidda it is far colder, and still, clear nights there can drop below −30 °C (−22 °F). The bars show roughly how good each month is for a tour, which depends on how early the snow comes each winter. Highlighted months are the ones we would pick. The season in detail.

How long each tour lasts

  • Listed length

Lengths come from the listings and include pickup and dressing as well as the briefing. On Æventyr's four-hour tours the listing puts the actual driving at about two hours.

  1. Day or nightDaylight for the plateau and the lakes, the evening for a chance at the aurora. Aurora by snowmobile.
  2. Choose your weeksFebruary to April bring daylight and a deep snow cover, December the polar night. Month by month.
  3. Bring the licenseOnly holders of a class B driving license may drive in Norway. Passengers need none. Driving rules.
  4. Dress under the suitWool next to the skin, a fleece on top, thick socks. Leave the jeans at the hotel. What to wear.

Your own sled or a shared one explains the two price options on our pick and the passenger weight limit, which catches out more couples than the cold does.

How to choose

How to pick the right snowmobile tour

The plateau is the same for all four. What differs is the hour of the day, the size of the group and how long you sit in the cold.

Length

Four hours on Æventyr's day and night rides and five with Alta Adventure. The ice fishing day runs six and a half. What each one costs.

Group size

Alta Adventure takes 12 and the ice fishing day 15. Æventyr's night ride takes 17, its daytime ride up to 30. Where they ride.

Day or night

Daylight for scenery and photos; an evening ride for a chance at the northern lights. Aurora by snowmobile.

Who is coming

Alta Adventure takes children from 7, Æventyr passengers from 12. No listing here pulls a child sleigh. With children.

Who drives

Drivers need a class B license; on our pick they must be 18. The license rules.

Arriving by ship

Alta Adventure collects from Alta Havn. Leave a margin before all-aboard time. A cruise day in Alta.

Everything else to do in Alta

The 4 tours

Four ways onto Finnmarksvidda from Alta, side by side

We read every snowmobile listing for Alta on both booking sites and kept the four with a real track record. Each card gives the price and the length along with the tour company. It also names the catch, with a button for each site that sells it.

A small group of riders posing beside their snowmobiles on the open Finnmarksvidda plateau Our pick

Alta: Guided Snowmobile Safari on Finnmarksvidda With Snacks, Alta Adventure

The one we would book for a day on the plateau.

Five hours in a group of no more than 12, with pickup from a central hotel or from the airport and harbour. You cross frozen lakes and stop at a mountain cabin for warm drinks and snacks. Choose a shared sled or a single one.

  • Rating5.0 from 50+ reviews on GetYourGuide
  • DurationAbout 5 hours
  • Tour companyAlta Adventure
  • Group sizeUp to 12 people
  • StrengthsSmall group; airport and harbour pickup; single-driver option
  • Ideal forCouples and friends, solo travelers, cruise passengers

Good to know: A passenger may weigh no more than 75 kg, and anyone over 100 kg cannot join. Not for children under 7. Drivers sign a contract taking responsibility for the sled. Solo or shared.

~$337per person
GetYourGuide Viator
A green aurora arc over the dark Finnmarksvidda plateau above a group of snowmobiles Northern lights

From Alta: Northern Lights Night Adventure By Snowmobile, Æventyr

The evening ride for the aurora.

Four hours out of Alta after dark, up the old postal road to the edge of the plateau at Beskades, far from the town's lights. About two hours of that is driving, in pairs who swap seats. Coffee and tea come with snacks, and the thermal suit is lent.

  • Rating4.7 from 70+ reviews on GetYourGuide
  • DurationAbout 4 hours, in the evening
  • Tour companyÆventyr
  • Group sizeUp to 17 people
  • StrengthsA dark sky at the plateau edge; pickup in Alta
  • Ideal forAdults who want a chance at the aurora on the move

Good to know: The aurora is never promised, and a cloudy night costs the same. Not for travelers over 70 or over 130 kg. Viator shows a higher score but a higher price. Aurora by snowmobile.

~$284per person
GetYourGuide Viator
A row of riders in red suits on snowmobiles on the open plain above Gargia Valley Daylight ride

From Alta: Daytime Snowmobile Adventure, Æventyr

Four hours from an old lodge to the open plains.

The ride starts at a 150-year-old mountain lodge in Gargia Valley and follows the old postal road through snowy forest up to the plains. The guide tells the story of the area, and the snacks are made locally. Pickup in Alta and the thermal kit are included.

  • Rating4.9 from 70 reviews on GetYourGuide
  • DurationAbout 4 hours
  • Tour companyÆventyr
  • Group sizeUp to 30 people
  • StrengthsForest and plateau in one ride; a historic lodge; local snacks
  • Ideal forFirst-timers and couples who want daylight and a shorter day

Good to know: The biggest possible group of the four, and only about two hours of actual driving. Passengers without a license must be 12 or over. Driving rules.

~$288per person
GetYourGuide Viator
A snowmobile trail through bare birches on the way up to the plateau, seen from the driver's seat Full day out

Alta: Snowmobiling & Ice Fishing Adventure, Æventyr

Six and a half hours, a hole in the ice and fish on the fire.

A ride through the forest up to the plains, then a quiet fishing spot where the guides show you how to fish through the ice. If someone catches a trout or a char, it is cooked right there. Snacks and hot drinks are included with the fishing gear.

  • Rating5.0 from 4 reviews on GetYourGuide
  • DurationAbout 6.5 hours
  • Tour companyÆventyr
  • Group sizeUp to 15 people
  • StrengthsThe longest day out; fishing with a guide; a slower pace
  • Ideal forAdults and older children who want more than a ride

Good to know: A newer tour with only a handful of reviews on either site. Fish are not promised, and the listing asks you to bring snow clothing rather than listing a thermal suit, so ask. Not for children under 12. The ice fishing day.

~$417per person
GetYourGuide Viator

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Before you go

Eight things about Alta snowmobile tours that no listing puts in big letters

None of these sits at the top of a booking page, and each one decides whether you spend the ride grinning or shivering at the back.

What you should know

  1. No license, no handlebars. In Norway a snowmobile driver needs a class B driving license, which the guide wants to see before you set off. The rules in full.
  2. Solo travelers book single. Alta Adventure's shared ticket is for people who come together. Alone, you pay the single-driver price. Solo or shared.
  3. The passenger has a weight limit. On our pick the person behind may weigh no more than 75 kg (165 lb). Check before you plan to share.
  4. Four hours means two on the sled. Pickup and dressing eat into the listed time, as does the briefing. Æventyr puts the driving at about two hours.
  5. The passenger gets colder. The driver is busy steering while the person behind sits still in the wind. Swap at the stops.
  6. Age limits cut both ways. Children under 7 cannot join our pick, Æventyr takes passengers from 12, and its night ride stops at 70. With children.
  7. The aurora keeps no timetable. An evening tour gives you a dark sky, not a show. Clouds win some nights, and the ride is still paid. Aurora odds.
  8. The plateau is colder than the town. Alta by the fjord is mild for the Arctic, but up on the vidda the thermometer can fall well below −20 °C (−4 °F). What to wear.

Everything in one table

Four Alta tours, catch included

The four tours side by side. Each row sets the strength of a tour against its catch.

Swipe the table sideways to see all columns →

Tour Ideal for Price Length Starts from Tour company and rating Strength and catch Book
Finnmarksvidda safari (our pick) A day on the plateau ~$337per person About 5 h Airport, harbour, hotels Alta Adventure
5.0 on GetYourGuide		 Max 12 riders. Lakes and a cabin stop. Passengers max 75 kg.
GetYourGuideViator
Northern lights ride The aurora ~$284per person About 4 h Markedsgata 6, Alta Æventyr
4.7 on GetYourGuide		 Dark sky at the plateau edge. No refund for clouds.
GetYourGuideViator
Daytime ride from Gargia A first ride in daylight ~$288per person About 4 h Markedsgata 6, Alta Æventyr
4.9 on GetYourGuide		 Forest and plains, historic lodge. Groups up to 30.
GetYourGuideViator
Ice fishing day A full day out ~$417per person About 6.5 h Markedsgata 6, Alta Æventyr
5.0 on GetYourGuide		 Fish cooked on the ice. Few reviews; fish not promised.
GetYourGuideViator

About the numbers. Prices are regular "from" rates per person in US dollars, and the two sites do not always agree on them. Dates and exchange rates move them too, so check the booking page, which has the final word.

Who went

Reviews from riders back from the plateau

Fourteen travelers, some who drove under a clear sky and some who rode behind in falling snow, on what won them over and what they would do differently.

★★★★★Finnmarksvidda, max 12

We came in on a cruise ship and were picked up right at the harbour, which took all the stress out of the day. At the office we swapped into warm suits and boots, then a short minibus ride took us up to the snowmobiles. The first frozen lake was so wide and flat that it felt like driving across a white sea. The stop at the little mountain cabin with hot drinks was the moment I will remember most.

JCJulia C. · Hamburg, GermanyClear and crisp
★★★★★Finnmarksvidda, max 12

Paid for my own sled as a solo traveller and never regretted it. Twelve of us, one calm guide, endless white.

OAOliver A. · Leeds, UKClear and crisp
★★★★☆Finnmarksvidda, max 12

A lovely route over the lakes, and the guide knew the history of every valley. The passenger limit of 75 kg caught my brother by surprise, so check it before you book a shared sled. He ended up booking his own, which cost more.

NSNadia S. · Lyon, FranceSnowing or grey
★★★★★Finnmarksvidda, max 12

Small group and warm gear, with a cabin stop out on the plateau. My best day in Norway.

GPGrace P. · Auckland, New ZealandClear and crisp
★★★★★Northern lights ride

We drove up the old postal road in the dark with only our headlights on the snow. Up on the edge of the plateau the guide stopped the line and told us to switch everything off. Twenty minutes later a green arc rose over the hills and pulsed until we forgot the cold. Coffee and snacks in the dark, then a careful ride back down through the birches.

MKMikael K. · Helsinki, FinlandClear and crisp
★★★★★Northern lights ride

Aurora on the first night, thermal suit that actually kept me warm. Wonderful guide.

ATAna T. · Lisbon, PortugalClear and crisp
★★★★☆Northern lights ride

Clouds rolled in an hour before pickup, so we saw no northern lights, only a few stars between the gaps. The ride itself was fun and the guide made it a good night anyway. Remember the driving part is about two hours of the four.

RBRyan B. · Denver, USASnowing or grey
★★★★★Northern lights ride

Dark and very quiet. Then the sky turned green. I cried a little inside my balaclava.

YMYuki M. · Osaka, JapanClear and crisp
★★★★★Daytime plateau ride

The day started at an old wooden lodge in a valley outside town, where we were fitted with suits and boots that fit. The trail climbed through birch forest and then opened onto the plains, and suddenly there was nothing but snow and sky in every direction. My husband drove up and I drove down, and the local snacks at the stop were better than they had any right to be. Two hours on the snowmobile felt like the right amount for first-timers.

SESarah E. · Dublin, IrelandClear and crisp
★★★★★Daytime plateau ride

Through the forest and up to the plateau, where the light in the afternoon was pink and gold. Easy to recommend.

LHLucas H. · Rotterdam, NetherlandsClear and crisp
★★★★★Daytime plateau ride

I had never been on a snowmobile and was nervous at first. The briefing was clear and the guide kept a gentle pace in the trees, then let us open up a bit on the flat. Coffee and something sweet at the top while we waited for the slow ones.

PWPriya W. · SingaporeClear and crisp
★★★★☆Daytime plateau ride

Good ride and a friendly guide, but the group was big that day and we waited a while at each stop. A quieter weekday might suit you better.

CFCarlos F. · Mexico City, MexicoSnowing or grey
★★★★★Ice fishing day

A long, slow, happy day. We rode out across the plains to a spot that looked like every other spot, until the guides started drilling. My daughter caught a char after an hour of patience and they cooked it right there on the ice. Pack extra wool socks, standing still is far colder than driving.

EHErik H. · Stockholm, SwedenClear and crisp
★★★★★Ice fishing day

Ice fishing on a frozen plateau, fresh fish cooked on the spot. A day we will retell for years.

TBTom B. · Boston, USAClear and crisp

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Gloves on

Book Alta Adventure for your plateau ride

If you are in Alta with snow on the ground and want one snowmobile ride that you will still be talking about at home, we would book Alta Adventure's Finnmarksvidda safari. A small group, frozen lakes under a huge sky, a warm drink in a mountain cabin and a ride back to the harbour or your hotel afterwards.

Decide early whether you share a sled or book your own, and check the passenger weight limit before you do. Bring the license card itself.

~$337

per person · about 5 hours · pickup in Alta

GetYourGuide Viator
  • ✓ Pickup from your hotel or from the airport and harbour
  • ✓ Warm suit and boots lent, plus a helmet
  • ✓ No more than 12 riders
  • ✓ Shared sled or one of your own

Good to know

Why Alta is snowmobile country, and what you are riding across

Five minutes of reading makes the plateau and its old routes far easier to understand, reindeer herds included.

Alta is the biggest town in Finnmark, with about 21,000 people, at the head of the Altafjord at roughly 70° north. South of town the valleys climb onto Finnmarksvidda, a vast high plateau of birch scrub and bog, dotted with lakes that freeze hard for months, which is ideal ground for a snowmobile.

01A working machine first

Long before tourists rode them, snowmobiles were how people on the vidda moved through winter. Reindeer herders follow their animals with them, and families use them to reach cabins by frozen lakes. Norway keeps motor traffic in the outdoors to marked routes and permits, so visitors ride with a guide.

02The largest plateau in Europe

Finnmarksvidda covers roughly 22,000 km² (8,500 sq miles), mostly 300 to 500 m above the sea. The slopes carry low mountain birch, while the top opens into white plains where you can see for miles. What the vidda is like.

03Reindeer herding land

This is Sámi country, and every reindeer on the plateau has an owner. You may meet a herd near the track. Guides slow down and give the animals room, and so should you.

The moment most riders remember is the first stop on the plateau, engines off, when the only sound is the wind moving over the snow.

04The old postal road

Æventyr's rides climb from Gargia Valley along an old postal route that once carried mail to herding families on the plateau. The lodge at its foot is about 150 years old, and the route climbs from the valley woods to the open vidda. More on the old routes across the plateau.

05Town of the northern lights

Alta has long called itself the town of the northern lights, and it has a cathedral built in their honor. Inland Finnmark tends to have a drier climate than the coast, which helps on aurora nights, but no sky is ever promised. Aurora by snowmobile.

06Manners at the stops

Switch the engine off when the group stops, and keep your mittens on for photos; bare fingers chill fast at −20 °C. Stay in the guide's track and keep a safe gap to the sled in front. What to wear has more on staying warm.

12 ridersThe cap on our pick

70° NAlta's rough latitude

Dec to AprThe usual snowmobile season

Class BThe license a driver needs

Arriving on a ship? Our guide Snowmobiling on a cruise stop explains the harbour pickup and the timing.

Questions and answers

Frequently asked questions about snowmobiling in Alta

Fourteen questions we hear again and again, with the full answer.

How much does a snowmobile tour in Alta cost?

The four tours on this page start at ~$284 per person for Æventyr's evening ride and ~$288 for its daytime ride. Alta Adventure's five-hour safari is ~$337 on a shared sled, more for a single driver. The ice fishing day costs ~$417. Every price and what it buys is in our cost guide.

Which snowmobile tour in Alta is the best?

For most visitors, Alta Adventure's Finnmarksvidda safari, because the group stays at 12, the pickup covers the airport and the harbour, and five hours gives you real time on the plateau. Æventyr's evening ride suits aurora hunters.

Do I need a driving license to drive a snowmobile in Norway?

Yes. Only holders of a valid class B driving license may drive a snowmobile in Norway, and you show it before the ride. Without one you can still come along as a passenger. The license rules.

Can I ride as a passenger without driving?

Yes. Æventyr seats a driver and a passenger on each sled, and passengers without a license must be at least 12. On Alta Adventure's tour the passenger may weigh up to 75 kg (165 lb).

Can I have a snowmobile to myself?

On our pick, yes. Alta Adventure charges more for a sled of your own, and solo travelers should book that rather than the shared ticket. Æventyr's tours ride two to a sled. Solo or shared.

Is there a weight limit on the snowmobile tours?

Yes. Alta Adventure does not take riders over 100 kg (220 lb) and caps passengers at 75 kg. Æventyr's northern lights ride stops at 130 kg (287 lb), and the ice fishing day at 140 kg (309 lb).

Can children come on a snowmobile tour in Alta?

Older ones can. Alta Adventure takes children from 7, and Æventyr takes passengers without a license from 12, the same as its ice fishing day. None of these listings offers a child sleigh. With children.

When is snowmobile season in Alta?

Roughly from December into April, once the plateau has enough snow. February to April combine daylight with a deep snow cover, while December brings the polar night. The season in detail.

Will I see the northern lights on a snowmobile tour?

Maybe, on an evening ride under a clear sky. The aurora is never guaranteed, and Æventyr's night ride costs the same whether the sky lights up or stays grey. Aurora by snowmobile.

What should I wear on a snowmobile tour?

Both operators lend a thermal suit with boots and a helmet, and Æventyr adds gloves. Wear wool next to the skin and a fleece on top, and add thick wool socks with a hat and mittens. Leave the jeans and cotton behind. What to wear.

Can I go snowmobiling from a cruise ship in Alta?

Yes. Alta Adventure picks up at Alta Havn, the harbour, on its five-hour tour. Check your all-aboard time first and leave a margin, because the ship will not wait for a tour. A cruise day in Alta.

Is snowmobiling hard for a beginner?

No. No experience is needed: a briefing and driving lesson come first, and the group follows the guide in a line at a pace set for the slowest rider. The listings exclude pregnant travelers and people with back problems because the ride can be bumpy.

Is hotel pickup included?

Yes, on all four. Æventyr picks up and drops off in Alta, with a meeting point at Markedsgata 6 in the centre. Alta Adventure collects from set points that include the airport and the harbour as well as the Scandic and Thon hotels.

Can I cancel a snowmobile tour?

On GetYourGuide these tours can be cancelled for a full refund up to 24 hours ahead. Alta Adventure also refunds in full when its guides cancel for bad weather. Read the cancellation line on the booking page before you pay.

Read before you travel

Guides to snowmobiling in Finnmark

Ten questions that keep coming up, each with the long answer instead of the short one.