No snowmobile experience? Neither do most people who book this ride. The base sits on top of Gubałówka, the long ridge north of Zakopane, and from there an English-speaking guide takes the group out across open snow with the Tatras lined up on the horizon. Before you set off you get a short training session, the safety rules and a full set of winter gear: helmet, goggles, jacket, trousers and gloves.
The machines are modern four-stroke two-seaters from Lynx and Ski-Doo, quiet and comfortable for a passenger too. Pairs share a snowmobile and swap seats at each stop; an odd-numbered group leaves one person riding solo, and a machine per person can be arranged for a surcharge. The trail starts gently on a forest track and gets more varied once everyone feels at ease, with an instructor following on a separate snowmobile.
Pick the length that suits you. The 1-hour Snow Trip covers varied routes on Gubałówka with a photo stop at a viewpoint. The 3-hour Snow Fun goes several kilometres out, into areas closed to visitors in winter, with views over Podhale, and stops halfway at a bonfire for hot tea and something warm to eat.
