Korouoma frozen waterfalls with kids, and who should wait
Children usually love the ice falls and the sausages on sticks, and they usually find the last climb and the long drive harder than the adults expect. Two of the four tours set a minimum age of 8. Below we go through what each tour allows and how to make the day work for a family.
Minimum ages on each tour
Arctic GM and Beyond Arctic both say their tours are not suitable for children under 8. That rules out toddlers and young school-age children on two of the four trips.
Wild about Lapland and ToTheNorth list no minimum age in our notes. That does not mean any age works, so check with the operator before you book for a child under 8.
Arctic GM also lists no strollers or baby carriages, which makes sense on a snowy trail with steep, icy steps. Carrying a small child down into the canyon and back up is not something we would plan for.
Can children manage the hike?
The walk is about 5 km in total on most tours, with Arctic GM giving 4–6 km. It goes down into the canyon, along the floor to the falls and back up the same way.
One Wild about Lapland reviewer did the hike with two 9-year-olds who managed it easily. They described the trail as easy to moderate, with a couple of steep sections.
The hardest part for most people is the short, steep climb back to the car park at the end. Spikes on the boots help, and the guides set a pace for the group. Our guide to the hike goes through the trail section by section.
A long day for small legs
Every tour fills 6–7 hours, and about 3 of those are in a van, roughly 1.5 hours each way. For a child that is a long time to sit still, and the ride home comes after the hardest part of the day.
Bring something quiet for the van and a snack for the drive back. A child who has had a big breakfast copes better with a morning in the cold than one running on juice.
Toilets are basic, just outhouses at the car park and by the campfire in one reviewer's account, so a quick stop before the descent saves a cold wait later.
Sausages over the fire
The campfire is often the part children talk about afterward. Most tours grill sausages, and turning one on a stick over the flames keeps small hands busy while the adults take photos.
Reviewers mention vegetarian sausages on request on ToTheNorth, and a Beyond Arctic reviewer had vegan food arranged. Tell the operator about dietary needs when you book, not on the day.
The food is a light meal, not lunch in the usual sense. Arctic GM reviewers wish for more food and water, so pack extra for hungry children whatever tour you pick.
Dressing children for the cold
Temperatures in the canyon often run from −10 °C to −20 °C (14 °F to −4 °F). Children lose heat faster than adults, and they rarely say so until they are already miserable.
Several tours lend overalls or winter clothing, but the listings do not give children's sizes. Ask the operator before the trip, and bring your child's own snowsuit if you have any doubt.
Spare mittens matter most, since wet gloves from snowball fights are the usual start of a meltdown. The guide on what to wear in the canyon has a packing list you can adapt.
Which tour suits a family
Arctic GM's hike and BBQ from ~$89 is the easiest on the budget for children aged 8 and up. With four people, the fare gap to the dearer tours adds up quickly.
The fare covers thermal overalls plus hot drinks and sausages at the campfire, and Arctic GM can pick you up from your accommodation in Rovaniemi. It holds 4.9 from 1,600+ reviews on GetYourGuide.
Book the small-group option (max 8) rather than the standard one of up to 50 if you can. A smaller group regroups faster, and the guide has more time for a child who is slowing down.
A family day at the lowest fare
Arctic GM's 7-hour trip for children aged 8 and over. Thermal overalls are lent and the sausages are grilled at the fire; choose the small-group option when you book.
If your youngest is under 8, check with Wild about Lapland (from ~$163) or ToTheNorth (from ~$146) before booking. Wild about Lapland keeps groups to 8 and lends winter clothing and boots, while ToTheNorth lends only snow grips.
Teenagers who like photos may enjoy Beyond Arctic, whose photographer-guide takes edited pictures of the group. Our photo tour guide weighs it against the cheaper trips.
Before you book
- Check the minimum age on the listing, and ask the operator if your child is under 8
- Ask about children's sizes for lent clothing and boots
- Mention dietary needs at booking
- Pack extra snacks and water, plus spare mittens
- Plan a quiet evening afterward, since the day is tiring
All four tours cancel free up to 24 hours before, which helps if a child falls ill. Our page on what each tour costs totals the fares for a family, and the guide to the frozen falls gives children something to look out for.
Even the ice comes with no promise; it needs a long cold spell and starts to go in spring. The guide to the best months helps you pick a week when they are likely to be at their fullest.