Snowmobile tours in Abisko

6 min read Updated October 2026 Compare all tours

Snowmobiles in Abisko keep to set routes. Inside the national park, motor vehicles are only allowed on designated roads, car parks and snowmobile trails, so every tour follows a marked line through the birch forest, up a valley or across the ice. Activities in Abisko writes on its tour page that its ride is not a high-speed trip, and several reviewers of other tours say the faster part came only on a frozen lake.

Most operators pick you up at your accommodation in Abisko or Björkliden, lend overalls, boots and a helmet, and give a short driving briefing before you start. Two guests usually share one machine and swap between driving and the back seat.

The long ride to Abiskojaure

The longest daytime route runs from Abisko along the Kungsleden, the King's Trail, to Lake Abiskojaure. On foot this first stage of the trail is 14 kilometres, a hike of four to five hours. In winter Outback Abisko covers it by snowmobile, crosses the lake and continues along the upper course of the river Gámaeatnu before a fika break. The tour lasts about four hours, plus half an hour for pickup, and runs daily from December to March with at most eight guests.

Reviews of this tour are almost all very positive and mention the long route and the stop at the fire. The one point of criticism is that experienced riders found it rather tame. Children from 7 years can ride along, one per adult, and the tour is not recommended for people with back problems or during pregnancy. The tour page lists pickup in Abisko and Björkliden but also excludes transport to the starting point, so confirm where you will be collected when you book.

Panorama above Björkliden

Outback Abisko also starts a two-hour ride from Björkliden, west of Abisko. It climbs a short way, crosses a frozen lake and stops for a hot drink and sweet bread with a view of Lapporten, the U-shaped valley the Sámi call Čuonjávággi, and over Torneträsk. Groups are limited to eight, with two people per machine, and departures run daily from December to February. Children from 5 years can join as passengers.

The terrain is steeper than in the valley. One reviewer found driving in the mountains challenging, and another waited an hour at the meeting point before the tour was cancelled without warning. Our page on Björkliden and Riksgränsen describes the area around the ski resort.

Short rides through the valley

For a first try, the two-hour sightseeing tour by Experience Abisko runs through the Abisko valley along the edge of the national park and heads towards the mountains when the weather allows. It makes several photo stops and one break with warm drinks. Drivers must be 18, hold a driving licence valid in the EU and understand English. Teenagers from 15 to 17 sit on the back seat with an adult, and children from 7 to 14 ride in the sled behind the guide. Reviewers mention a free ride on the frozen lake at up to about 35 kilometres an hour. Thermal underwear and food are not included, and the tour is not suitable for wheelchair users or visually impaired guests.

Activities in Abisko runs a slower two-hour tour through the park and over frozen lakes, with a warm drink and a snack on the way. You need a licence from your home country to drive; otherwise you ride as a passenger. The tour page warns that snow can still be limited in December.

Electric snowmobiles

Outback Abisko runs electric snowmobiles on a daytime tour of about three hours through Abisko National Park, with stops at viewpoints and a snack by a fire. A driving licence is needed here too, and pickup covers Abisko and Björkliden. The same operator offers an evening version from December to March that heads into the valleys and over the high plateaus looking for the aurora.

Evening tours and the aurora

After dark, snowmobile tours double as aurora tours, though none can promise a display. On the evening tour by Experience Abisko you choose between driving your own machine, sharing one or sitting in the sled behind the guide. The route goes through the valley, towards Abiskojaure or onto Torneträsk. Reviewers report that the evening can mean a short drive and then a long wait at one spot, and that the group switched to a car when the trails were icy.

Outback Abisko drives up the mountain to a fire with a snack and a hot drink from December to March, and its guides finish with tips on where to look for the aurora yourself. If you would rather not drive at all, Activities in Abisko pulls a sled lined with reindeer skins behind the guide's snowmobile, for at most eight guests, from 20:30 to about 23:00. With little snow the sled can be bumpy. Our page on northern lights tours compares all the evening formats.

Light, ice and clothing

The season depends on snow and ice. On Torneträsk, SMHI has measured ice up to 112 centimetres thick. Daylight changes quickly: the sun does not rise at all from 6 December 2026 to 6 January 2027, while on 1 February it is up from 09:07 to 14:50 and on 1 March from 07:07 to 16:49. A daytime ride in late winter gives you the most light for the views towards Lapporten.

The tours lend the outer layer, but sitting on a snowmobile is cold, especially on the back seat. Bring wool underwear and a warm mid layer, and keep your hands warm between stops. Our page on what to wear in Abisko lists the details.