Interview with Kevin — from Planet Ride to snowmobile raids in Lapland

If you’re looking for a raid motoneige laponie that feels like a real expedition (not a tourist conveyor belt), Kevin’s story hits home. At 25, he left a classic business track in Lyon—business law, management school, marketing—because he knew he wouldn’t last behind a desk. Today he works alongside Philippe, a snowmobile guide in the far north. What he found in Lapland is more than scenery: it’s a rhythm of light and darkness that resets your sense of time, a demanding environment that forges tight groups, and a way of travelling that stays simple, hands-on, and deeply human.

“Hi Kevin—can you introduce yourself in a few words?”

Kevin: “Sure. I’m Kevin, I’m 25, and I work with Philippe, who guides snowmobile raids in Lapland. I studied business law and then management in Lyon, with a focus on marketing and web marketing. I quickly realised I wouldn’t thrive in that world, so I changed direction.”

“That’s a radical shift. Why Lapland?”

Kevin: “Several reasons. First, I wanted a job outside—not in an office. Three years ago, when I was at Planet Ride, I helped a friend get a job with Philippe as an assistant guide. He did three seasons up there, came back, told me about an opening to assist Philippe on raids… and I jumped at it.

What pulls me to Lapland is the atmosphere. During our five-month raid season, you actually live through several ‘seasons’ inside one winter. There’s the polar night—only 3 to 4 hours of daylight—and you genuinely feel like you’ve landed on another planet. A white desert stretching out in front of you, -30°C, and the northern lights above. That feeling of being cut off from everything… that’s what I love.”

“Time must feel different up there. How do people experience it?”

Kevin: “It can be disorienting, and most people need one to two weeks to fully adjust. Sometimes it’s dark at 2–3pm and your body tells you it’s bedtime—even if it’s only 6pm. Some riders find it strange, others love it. Either way, it reinforces the disconnect.

The upside of long nights is that you have more chances to see the northern lights. The downside is you can’t really predict them. In a week, you might see none—or several. It’s random, and we can’t guarantee it.

From April to May, you get the polar days: daylight until midnight or 1am, with only a short night. It takes a moment to adapt, but for a one-week stay it’s usually fine—and we take good care of our riders.”

“What should riders expect on your raids?”

Kevin: “Our trips are participatory. It’s ‘luxury’ in the sense that it’s a rare kind of journey, not that it’s about comfort at all costs. Participatory means riders can take part in camp life. If we sleep in a trapper’s cabin, we might cut wood for the fire and cook together. If someone doesn’t want to, it’s okay—the guides can do it—but most people enjoy it. It’s a total change of scene and a return to simple things in wild nature.

And of course: snowmobiling, big landscapes, that feeling of wide open space. For equipment, we use Lynx Commander 900 ACE snowmobiles. We provide extreme-cold suits in all sizes, helmets, and gloves. Riders still need to bring proper warm layers.”

Planet Ride pro tip (one that changes the week)

On a snowmobile raid, the “hard part” is rarely speed—it’s fatigue. The safest rhythm is to plan the day in short, repeatable blocks (ride / warm up / hydrate / quick check / ride again) rather than pushing one long stretch. You stay sharper, and the group stays cohesive—especially when light is limited.

“How big are the groups?”

Kevin: “We run 8 snowmobiles with a maximum of 12 people. We keep groups small on purpose—we don’t want to become a factory for big tourist groups. In a hostile environment, group cohesion becomes strong very quickly. People often meet on a raid, stay friends afterwards, and come back for another one.”

“Tell us about the different routes you offer.”

Kevin: “We have 7 routes in total. They’re designed for different levels and for different trip lengths. The most popular are the Scandinavian raids, which last about a week. They’re point-to-point itineraries—not star-shaped loops—so you don’t come back to base every night.

Over the season we operate from three bases in different regions. We start around Raattama for the Christmas raids, with activities specific to that area, including dog-sled sessions and a big Christmas meal. Then for about two and a half months we move to Karesuando, right on the Finland–Sweden border. We run Scandinavian raids there, plus shorter Arctic raids. For the last session we head toward North Cape, operating around Kaamanen. Those raids are more technical, with bigger mileage, deeper into northern Lapland.”

“Do you have favourite places in Lapland?”

Kevin: “North Cape is incredible—especially the small village of Meham, with houses on stilts facing the Barents Sea. The atmosphere is very special.

You also find trapper cabins across Lapland—simple shelters made available to travellers. Many are perched higher up, which gives you a 360° view over the white expanses of the far north.”

2026 update: what to plan for now

• Extreme cold management: -30°C changes everything—battery life drops fast, and small mistakes (wet gloves, sweaty base layers) escalate. Pack spare dry layers and keep essentials close to the body.
• Offline is non-negotiable: expect patchy coverage outside villages; download maps and keep key info accessible without signal.
• Daylight constraints: during polar night periods, the usable riding window is tight. Start days efficiently and keep stops structured.
• Small-group logistics: with 8 sleds / 12 people, spots can fill earlier in peak weeks—secure your dates in advance if your holiday window is fixed.

Mini-FAQ

How long is a typical raid motoneige laponie?

Kevin’s most popular format is a one-week point-to-point raid, designed to travel rather than loop back to base each night.

Can you guarantee northern lights on a Lapland snowmobile trip?

No. Longer nights increase your chances, but auroras are unpredictable: you may see none in a week—or several.

Is this closer to a comfort trip or an expedition vibe?

It’s participatory: you can help with wood, fires, and meals in trapper cabins. It’s “luxury” because the experience is rare and well-guided—not because it’s a hotel-based holiday.