Safartica

What It Is and Where It Operates

Safartica is a Lapland safari company in Finland that runs its own snowmobile, husky, reindeer and Northern Lights activities and also sells accommodation and transfers. The site calls it "a privately-owned Destination Management Company and incoming safari house," says it was "established in 2002," and says it "has also its own safari equipment, own snowmobiles and own venues," while working with "flexible, reliable and proactive partners and suppliers." It operates in Rovaniemi, "the hometown of Santa Claus"; Ylläs, which it calls "Finland's best ski resort next to the vast national park near the Swedish border in North-West Lapland"; Levi, "compact ski resort with high quality services in local village"; and Saariselkä, "Europe's northernmost outdoor resort," with Vaattunki as a further location near Rovaniemi. The site says it takes care of "small two person individual travelers, up to large groups of hundreds of persons." Prices are shown in euros.

The Tours and Activities

The site sums up the range: "Safari durations vary from two hour safaris to multiple day snowmobile expeditions as per your wish," and "our husky and reindeer safaris operate from 500 meter sleigh rides to a couple hour adventures." The activity menu lists husky safaris, reindeer safaris, Northern Lights tours, snowmobile safaris, the electric sled, sauna, ice fishing, Santa Claus visits, winter swimming, nature car tours, skiing and snowshoes, and private tours.

The Rovaniemi listings carry prices. For autumn there is a Guaranteed Aurora Tour in a small group at 199 €, Aurora Floating in a rescue suit on a frozen lake at 136 €, Autumn Delight (a visit to reindeer, husky and Santa Claus) at 188 €, Best of Rovaniemi with polaroid photos at 179 €, an Aurora Borealis Picnic at 99 € and an Aurora hunting photo tour by bus at 129 €. Other Rovaniemi listings include Arctic Floating at 136 €, Arctic Survival, "Suitable for a whole family!", at 148 €, a Husky Taster on an 800 m loop at 99 €, a 2 km Husky Trail at 134 €, a 3 km Husky Experience at 174 €, a 5 km Wild Run at 178 €, a Husky, Reindeer and Snowmobile Experience at 196 €, The Hidden Place of Santa at 159 € and a 2-hour Snowmobiling Quick Spin at 124 €. Saariselkä has a 2-hour Scenic Snowmobile Safari, and there is a Lappish Lunch Break combining snowmobiling and ice fishing. The site says of its eSled, an electric snowmobile pitched as a way to explore "without disturbing the silent peace of wintry nature": "We are the first company in the world offering electric snowmobile safaris." A German-language review on the site notes that choosing the single-rider version of the snowmobile costs a little more. There is also a Husky and Reindeer Experience with a visit to the Santa Claus Village.

Each resort page adds its own activities. In Ylläs the site suggests visiting Lapland Hotel SnowVillage, snowmobiling, "ice floating under the Northern Lights," snowshoeing, meeting reindeer and huskies and cross-country skiing, and notes that the village "turns it's street lights off every night at 10 pm" on Ylläs Twilight nights to improve aurora viewing. In Levi it lists snowmobile driving, "ice fishing safari," horse riding, husky mushing, reindeer sleigh rides, Northern Lights photography and floating in an ice hole.

How Tours Work and What to Expect

The site says Safartica has "multilingual guides to cover most European and some of the Asian languages." Reviews it displays describe the day: a bus to the husky farm with the guide explaining the program, winter overalls, boots, gloves, balaclava and helmet provided for snowmobile trips, a husky ride of 20 to 30 minutes with partners swapping who drives, and hot drinks afterward. The Levi page says the resort is "only 20 minutes car drive from Kittila airport," and the FAQ section covers how to book a safari, where to stay and "how to dress when it's -30 degrees Celsius." The Guaranteed Aurora Tour page promises to "Maximise your chances to see the Aurora" but does not say what the guarantee covers if no aurora appears.

Accommodation and Booking

Safartica sells its own accommodation: Ounasvaara Lakituvat chalets on the Ounasvaara hill near the Arctic Circle in Rovaniemi, Vaattunki Wilderness Resort by the rapids of the River Raudanjoki, and in Ylläs the Hotel Ylläsrinne, the new Hotel Ylläsrinne Deluxe and Ylläs Lake Hotel. The site also mentions glass igloo accommodation and packages combining a stay with activities at reduced rates. Activities and stays are booked online, and each office has its own contact: Rovaniemi at Koskikatu 9 (safartica@safartica.com, +358 16 311 485), Ylläs at Hotellintie 6, Ylläsjärvi (yllas@safartica.com, +358 40 502 6458), Levi at Hiihtäjänkuja 10, Sirkka (levi@safartica.com, +358 40 660 8571), and Saariselkä at Lutontie 16 (saariselka@safartica.com, +358 40 838 8285). The site shows Google reviews through a Trustindex widget, and its menu has pages on Aurora eMotion, Nature & Sustainability, a section for travel professionals and a Meet our professionals page. The Ounasvaara chalets, the site adds, sit next to nature and ski trails, downhill slopes and the sports facilities of Santasport.

What the Site Does Not State

The site does not give cancellation or refund terms on the activity or location pages, and it does not state group-size caps for the shared safaris beyond calling the aurora tour a small group. Minimum ages and any driving license requirement for snowmobiles are not stated on these pages; the only age note is that Arctic Survival suits "a whole family." Most prices are listed for Rovaniemi, so costs in Ylläs, Levi and Saariselkä are less visible. The site does not explain the terms of the guaranteed aurora tour.

Who This Suits

Safartica suits travelers staying in Rovaniemi, Ylläs, Levi or Saariselkä who want to book huskies, reindeer, snowmobiles or an aurora outing, and possibly a room, with one local company, and families looking for short options such as the 800 m husky loop or a Santa visit. Groups of any size can use it as a local agent. Those who want to know the exact terms of an aurora guarantee or a cancellation before paying should ask first.