Arctic Fishing & Open Fire Cooking

Winter gets quieter on the ice. This five-hour trip to Rahajärvi, near Ivalo, gives you a real taste of traditional Lappish fishing rather than a quick photo stop. You drill holes, fish with a short line, check nets set beneath the ice, then cook what you catch over an open fire. I especially like the hands-on work and the simple meal beside the lake. The main drawback is the cold: winter clothing is not included, and conditions can change quickly.

I also like that the outing does not end when the fishing stops. You help make the fire and try different ways to prepare the fish, with cooking equipment, tableware, and safety gear provided. A possible concern is that fish catches are never guaranteed, so you should book this for the full experience, not only for a meal.

Key points to know before you book

• Three traditional fishing methods: Learn ice-hole drilling, rod fishing, and net fishing beneath the frozen lake.
• Rahajärvi by winter road: The trip begins with a drive from Xwander’s shop in Ivalo to the lake and returns around 15:15.
• Catch-to-fire cooking: Fish from the cold northern water is prepared and eaten outdoors, with open-fire cooking included.
• A warm finish: The fire, a tent, creamy fish stew, bread, and marshmallows help make the cold more manageable.
• Suitable for mixed-age families: A group with young children and grandparents enjoyed the activity, with guides offering demonstrations and help.
• Pack for serious cold: Bring warm, windproof clothing, water, snacks, and a camera. Winter gear is not supplied.

Why this Ivalo fishing trip feels different

Many Lapland activities ask you to watch. This one asks you to work a little. That is its strength.

At Rahajärvi, you learn how people have used frozen lakes for food and daily life. The basic tasks are clear: make a hole through the ice, lower a line, and check nets beneath the surface. You are not simply standing beside a guide while something happens nearby. You take part in the process.

The setting adds to the appeal. A quiet frozen lake, a forest camp, and a fire create a slower afternoon than you usually get on a packed sightseeing schedule. The activity has a useful rhythm: travel, prepare, fish, cook, eat, and warm up.

I would not book it expecting constant action. Ice fishing can be patient work. You may spend time waiting at a hole or helping with equipment. That is part of the point, but it will suit you best if you enjoy outdoor activities that reward curiosity rather than speed.

The experience costs $167 per person. That is not a small price for five hours, but it covers more than fishing equipment. You get transport from the meeting point to the lake, a live guide, safety equipment, cooking supplies, tableware, and food prepared over the fire. If you value instruction and a meal in the forest, the price is easier to justify. If you only want to try fishing for a few minutes, it may feel expensive.

Starting at Ivalontie 12 at 10:00

Your day begins at Eräsoppi, the Xwander shop at Ivalontie 12 in Ivalo. You need to arrive by 9:45, not at the official departure time, so the guides can handle preparations before the car leaves at 10:00.

That early arrival matters. Arctic outings work better when everyone has time to sort clothing, equipment, and seating without rushing. You also avoid the unpleasant start of sprinting into a vehicle with one glove missing.

A complimentary pickup service is available within Ivalo. If you are staying in Inari, Nellim, Saariselkä, or Kiilopää, contact Xwander before booking to ask about a transfer. The listed price does not include transport to the shop, so check this point carefully if you are staying outside Ivalo.

The drive to Rahajärvi is part of the change in mood. You leave the shop and town behind and head toward a frozen lake in the forest. The trip returns to the shop at about 15:15, making it a half-day activity that can fit around an evening meal or another planned activity.

The minimum group size is two people. That is worth checking before you build your whole day around it, especially if you are booking alone or close to your departure date.

Drilling through the ice at Rahajärvi

The first major task is kairaaminen, the Finnish practice of drilling holes through the ice. You use an ice auger, turning it down through the frozen surface until the hole reaches open water.

This is a small but important lesson. Ice fishing is not just a matter of sitting with a rod. You first have to reach the lake. The work gives you a better sense of the effort involved in traditional winter fishing, and guides demonstrate the technique before you try it.

You should expect this part to require some physical effort. The supplied information does not give the ice thickness or the exact equipment used, so conditions may vary with the season. Your guide will direct the process, but warm clothing and proper gloves are essential.

Once a hole is ready, the guide introduces pilkkiminen, the Finnish method of ice fishing with a short rod. You lower your line into the water and wait for a bite. This can be exciting when the line moves, but the experience also depends on patience and luck.

The clear, cold northern water is part of the appeal. The promise is not a guaranteed catch, yet the chance to prepare a fish from the same lake gives every bite more meaning. If you catch nothing, you still learn the method and take part in the cooking session, but it is sensible to bring a snack in case the meal is modest.

Checking nets beneath the frozen lake

The third technique is juomustus, net fishing under the ice. This is a particularly interesting part of the outing because it shows a different way to use the frozen lake.

Rather than waiting at one hole with a line, you help check nets placed below the ice. The guides explain the process and handle the parts that need experience. A family group with young children and grandparents found this format worked well because the guides demonstrated each step and helped the children take part.

Net fishing also helps keep the activity varied. You are not tied to one quiet fishing hole for the entire afternoon. The exact catch will depend on the lake and conditions, so do not treat the net as a promise of a full basket.

This mix of methods is one of the strongest reasons to choose this tour. You get an introduction to three forms of winter fishing in one outing. It feels more useful than a short demonstration because you see how the pieces connect, from breaking the ice to preparing food.

From lake to fire, with the catch prepared nearby

After the fishing, the group moves on to the cooking. Xwander provides the equipment and tableware, so you do not need to bring cooking supplies. The guide helps prepare the fish and shows different ways to cook it over an open fire.

That transition is the heart of the experience. You have just handled the fishing tools, and now the result becomes lunch. Fish from the northern waters is described as especially tasty because the water is cold and clear, though the exact menu depends on the catch and the day.

The meal can include creamy fish stew and bread. Salmon soup was also served during one outing, and marshmallows were cooked over the fire at the end. These details matter because the food is not an afterthought. It gives the group a reason to gather, talk, and stay warm after working outside.

The open fire is practical as well as pleasant. A warm tent was used during one family outing, helping everyone take a break from the cold. Still, do not assume the fire replaces proper clothing. Bring thermal layers, a windproof outer layer, warm socks, gloves, and a hat. The operator does not provide winter clothing.

You should also tell Xwander about allergies and dietary requirements when booking. That gives the guides a chance to plan the food before the trip.

A calm family activity, with real outdoor work

This is a good choice for families who want more than a passive sleigh ride or a short photo session. The format allows adults and children to do different jobs, and the guides give demonstrations before asking you to try.

The experience has already worked for a group that included young children and grandparents. The guides helped the children with the fishing and explained the methods carefully. That does not mean every part will be easy for every age, since drilling and standing in cold conditions take effort, but the pace allows for instruction and shared tasks.

I would also recommend it to couples and small groups who like food-based activities. You get a genuine connection between place and meal: frozen lake, local method, open fire, fresh catch. It is less about luxury and more about doing something simple in a northern setting.

It may not suit you if you dislike cold weather, quiet waiting, or uncertain results. The trip is not a high-speed adventure, and there is no promise that you will catch fish with the line. The most satisfying approach is to treat fishing as one part of a larger day.

The live guides speak Finnish, English, and French. Clear instruction matters here because the equipment and techniques may be unfamiliar, especially when you are working on ice.

What the $167 price really covers

At $167 per person, this outing sits above a basic short activity but includes a full half-day program. You are paying for transport from the Ivalo meeting point, guiding, safety equipment, cooking equipment, tableware, and open-fire food.

The value is strongest if you want three things at once:

• Practical instruction in traditional ice fishing
• A guided trip into the forest around Rahajärvi
• A prepared meal beside a fire

If you already have winter clothing and enjoy hands-on cultural activities, the price can make sense. If you need to buy or rent all your cold-weather clothing separately, your total day cost will be higher. The tour does not include winter clothing or transport to Eräsoppi.

The five-hour duration is also useful. You get enough time for the drive, fishing methods, cooking, and a relaxed meal without the experience taking up your entire day. The return to Ivalo around 15:15 gives you an easy endpoint for evening plans.

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure and a reserve-now, pay-later option add flexibility. Even so, check the minimum of two participants and any transfer needs before you rely on the booking.

What to bring for the cold

The most important item is clothing. Winter conditions in Lapland can shift quickly, and the operator specifically advises warm, windproof clothing.

Bring:

• Warm base and outer layers
• Windproof clothing
• Water
• Snacks
• A camera

The food is included, but snacks are sensible because fishing success and meal size can vary. Water is also worth carrying, even on a cold day.

Your camera should be easy to use with gloves or stored safely from snow and moisture. The lake, forest, ice holes, fire, and cooking make good subjects, but keep the camera secondary to staying warm and handling the equipment safely.

The guide makes the difference

The guides are central to this activity. You need them to explain how to drill, fish, check the nets, and cook safely. A guide named Julian received specific thanks for careful instruction, and the team has been praised for helping children and giving clear demonstrations.

That kind of support matters more here than on a simple sightseeing trip. You are handling tools and working around ice and fire, so good explanations make the day both safer and more enjoyable.

The guides also help bridge the gap between a local tradition and a visitor experience. You do not need to arrive with fishing knowledge. The point is to learn by doing, with someone showing you the correct method.

Should you book Arctic Fishing and Open Fire Cooking?

Book this experience if you want a genuine, hands-on winter activity near Ivalo. It is especially well suited to families, small groups, and anyone who likes local food, traditional skills, and a quiet forest setting. The combination of line fishing, net fishing, and fire cooking gives the five hours a clear purpose.

Think twice if you need guaranteed catches, dislike cold outdoor conditions, or want a fast-paced activity. You must provide your own winter clothing, and the $167 price is best value when you take part in the whole program rather than viewing it as a short fishing lesson.

For the right person, this is a memorable way to spend a Lapland afternoon. You leave with more than photographs: you have learned how the lake is worked in winter and tasted food prepared close to where it was caught.

FAQ

Where does the activity begin?

It begins at Eräsoppi, the Xwander shop at Ivalontie 12 in Ivalo. You should arrive by 9:45 for a 10:00 departure.

How long does the experience last?

The total duration is about five hours. The group returns to the Xwander shop at approximately 15:15.

Is transportation included?

Transport from the Xwander shop to Rahajärvi is part of the activity. Complimentary pickup is available in Ivalo. Transfers from Inari, Nellim, Saariselkä, and Kiilopää must be arranged in advance, and transport to the meeting point is not included.

What fishing methods will I learn?

The activity covers drilling holes through the ice, ice fishing with a line, and checking nets placed under the ice.

Is food included?

Yes. Open-fire food, cooking equipment, and tableware are included. The catch is cooked after fishing, and examples of food served include fish stew, bread, soup, and marshmallows by the fire.

Do I need to bring winter clothing?

Yes. Winter clothing is not included. Bring warm, windproof clothing, along with water, snacks, and a camera. Conditions can vary and change quickly.