Rovaniemi: Apukka Reindeer Journey

A reindeer sleigh ride is one of the gentlest ways to experience winter around Rovaniemi. At Apukka, you travel quietly through snowy forest, usually for about 40 to 50 minutes, then meet the reindeer at close range and hear how people in Lapland care for them. The whole outing lasts about two hours.

I like the calm pace and the chance to feed and pet the reindeer, rather than simply photograph them from a distance. I also like the warm drink, biscuits, and fireside talk at the end. The main drawback is price: at $206 per person, this is a polished resort activity, not a bargain short ride.

Key points to know before you book

• The sleigh ride covers 2 to 3 kilometers: Expect a peaceful forest outing rather than a fast safari.
• The ride commonly lasts about 40 to 50 minutes: The full experience takes two hours because it includes transfers, walking, explanations, and time with the animals.
• You may feed and gently touch the reindeer: This close contact is one of the most memorable parts for children and adults.
• The sleighs may travel as a connected group: A line of several sleighs can feel less private than a solo forest ride.
• Apukka supplies winter gear: Thermal overalls, boots, wool socks, and mittens are included, but you should still dress warmly.
• Pickup details matter: City-center pickup is 50 minutes before the activity, while Santa Claus Village pickup is 35 minutes before it.

Arriving at Apukka Resort and the reindeer farm

Apukka Resort lies outside central Rovaniemi, so the included transfer is useful if you are staying in town or at Santa Claus Village. From the city center, pickup is at Korkalonkatu 32, 50 minutes before your scheduled start. From Santa Claus Village, meet the bus at Napapiiri I beside the E75 road, 35 minutes before the activity.

Your exact pickup time arrives by email from Apukka Resort within 48 hours of booking. Read that message carefully. Missing the vehicle means no refund, and this is one of those small details that can spoil an otherwise simple outing.

Once you reach the resort, the reindeer farm is a few minutes walk away. The transfer and waiting time are part of the two-hour schedule, so do not expect to step off the bus and climb straight into a sleigh. You may have a little time around the resort before a guide leads you to the farm.

The walk is short, but snow and ice can make it slower for young children or anyone wearing awkward footwear. Apukka provides winter boots, thermal overalls, wool socks, and mittens, yet you still need warm base layers. At temperatures around minus 20 degrees Celsius, several people found their feet and hands getting cold even with the supplied clothing.

Meeting the reindeer up close

The farm visit gives the ride more meaning. Instead of treating the reindeer as scenery, your guide explains their role in Lapland and the work involved in reindeer husbandry. Guides such as Emily, Tommy, Christina, and Alexi have been singled out for clear explanations, friendly care, and stories about Rovaniemi, Finnish life, and the animals.

The reindeer are generally calm around people. Before or after the ride, you may have the chance to feed them and gently touch them, often at the back. This is especially good for families. Children as young as two have taken part, although the cold can be a bigger challenge than the ride itself.

Do not arrive expecting a field full of bright white animals with huge antlers. Reindeer vary in size, coloring, and antler growth. Some may have no antlers, and they can look quite ordinary compared with polished promotional photographs. That is not a flaw in the animals, but it is worth knowing if you have a very specific picture in mind.

The guides also allocate seats in the sleighs to keep the load balanced for the reindeer. Each sleigh is steered by a professional for safety. You do not drive the animal yourself, and that is sensible on a snowy route with several sleighs moving together.

The 2 to 3 kilometer sleigh ride

The ride is the heart of the outing. You sit in a covered or open sleigh pulled by a reindeer while a professional leads the team through snowy forest. The movement is slow and quiet, with the soft sound of hooves and runners on packed snow.

Most accounts put the riding time at roughly 40 to 50 minutes, although the official distance is 2 to 3 kilometers. Some departures have included frozen-lake sections as well as forest trails. On a clear day, a break in the trees and sunlight across the snow can make the setting feel wonderfully still.

This is not a husky ride. You will not get speed, sharp turns, or the thrill of driving. The reindeer walk at an easy pace, and the point is to watch the trees, listen to the guide, and enjoy a slow northern tradition. I think that makes it a strong choice for families, couples, and anyone who wants a quiet contrast to faster Lapland activities.

The group arrangement affects the mood. Some departures have used a line of as many as seven sleighs connected together. That keeps the operation orderly and helps the guides manage the animals, but it can make the ride feel more like a scheduled attraction than a private trip into the woods. If you want complete silence and solitude, this may disappoint.

You should also keep your expectations realistic about distance. A few people wanted a longer or faster ride. The journey is scenic, but the sleigh portion alone does not fill two hours. The rest of the time comes from the farm visit, stories, warm drinks, and organizing the group.

Fireside drinks, biscuits, and local stories

After the ride, you gather around a fire for a hot drink and, commonly, biscuits or cookies. This pause is not just a pleasant extra. After sitting still in Arctic weather, the chance to warm your hands and feet becomes part of the practical value of the tour.

The fireside talk covers reindeer husbandry and northern life. A good guide can turn a simple ride into a better understanding of why reindeer matter in Lapland, how they are handled, and how they fit into local traditions. Tommy, Emily, Christina, and Alexi have each been praised for explaining the animals and answering questions in a relaxed way, though your guide will depend on the departure.

The warm drink is welcome, but it is not a full meal. If you plan to eat at Apukka Resort, allow time for that separately. One useful advantage of the resort setting is that you can add food before or after the activity if the schedule permits, but the reindeer tour itself includes only the drink and light biscuits.

There can also be waiting between parts of the program. A well-run departure may move on time, yet large groups need to load, unload, walk to the farm, and balance the sleighs. One past outing included a long wait after the activity, which felt more like extra time at the resort than part of the ride. If you have small children, ask about the day’s timing when you arrive.

What the winter clothing can and cannot do

The included clothing is a real benefit. You receive a thermal overall, thermal boots, wool socks, and mittens, which saves luggage space and removes the need to rent a full outfit elsewhere. The gear is especially helpful if you are visiting from a warmer climate and do not own Arctic clothing.

Still, treat the supplied outfit as a final layer, not a complete solution. Wear warm clothing underneath, including a proper insulating layer for your legs and torso. Add a hat, scarf, or neck covering if you have one. The cold is most noticeable when you sit still on the sleigh, and your feet can become cold after 40 minutes even when the rest of you feels fine.

You should also protect your phone battery. This is practical advice for any winter outing, but it matters here because you will want pictures of the reindeer and the forest. Keep the phone close to your body between photographs. The details do not mention special photo time, and the schedule can move quickly during feeding, so have your camera ready.

Alcohol is not allowed in the vehicle. Wheelchair users cannot take part, and the snowy walk to the farm may be tiring for anyone with limited mobility. These are important points to settle before booking rather than discovering them at pickup.

Is $206 a fair price?

At $206, the Apukka journey sits in the expensive part of Rovaniemi’s activity menu. You are paying for more than the 40 to 50 minutes in the sleigh. The price also covers transport from Rovaniemi or Santa Claus Village, winter clothing, an English-speaking guide, the farm visit, animal stories, the hot drink, and a professionally managed operation.

That package can be worth it if you have limited time and want a straightforward outing with the practical pieces arranged for you. Families may find the clothing and transfers especially useful. You do not need to locate a farm, arrange transport, or figure out how to dress for a frozen forest on your own.

The value is weaker if your main goal is a long sleigh ride. The route is short, the pace is gentle, and large departures can reduce the sense of being alone in nature. Some people also found the scenery pleasant rather than exceptional. If you are comparing several reindeer farms, check the riding distance, group size, and total time with the animals, not just the headline price.

Apukka’s organization is part of the cost. Transfers have generally been well arranged, and the guides take responsibility for balancing the sleighs and explaining what to do. You are buying ease and structure, not a rugged independent outing.

How it compares with faster Lapland activities

This experience suits a different mood from a husky safari or snowmobile tour. You sit back, watch the forest pass slowly, and spend time learning about the animals. There is no driving lesson and no noisy engine.

One supplied comment accidentally referred to huskies, but the activity itself is centered on reindeer. Keep that distinction clear when choosing. If you want speed and action, look elsewhere. If you want a peaceful family activity with a strong Christmas-card feel, the reindeer sleigh is a better match.

The ride also works well as part of a mixed Rovaniemi schedule. A faster excursion can leave you cold, tired, and full of adrenaline. This one gives you a quieter block of time, though sitting still in the cold means you must dress properly.

Who will enjoy this most

I would recommend the experience most strongly to:

• Families with children who want close contact with reindeer
• Couples looking for a quiet, romantic winter outing
• First-time Lapland visitors who want an easy introduction to local traditions
• People staying in Rovaniemi or Santa Claus Village who value included transport
• Anyone who prefers scenery, stories, and animals to speed or physical exertion

I would be more cautious if you dislike organized group activities. Connected sleighs, assigned seats, and fixed pickup times make the outing predictable, but not private. I would also think twice if $206 feels high for a short ride, or if you want to spend most of your time actively driving or exploring.

The activity is generally suitable for young children, with families including children aged two, three, four, five, and six. The real issue is cold tolerance. A four-year-old may enjoy the reindeer and still struggle after sitting outside for 40 minutes.

Small details that improve the experience

Read the pickup email as soon as it arrives. Stand at the correct stop early, especially at Santa Claus Village, where the bus stop is beside the main road.

Wear warm layers under the supplied suit and give extra attention to your feet. You can take photographs, but feeding and touching time may be brief, so avoid packing your phone away in a hard-to-reach pocket.

Listen closely during the farm talk. The ride is beautiful, but the explanation of reindeer husbandry is what gives the outing substance. Guides who explain local life well, including Emily, Tommy, Christina, or Alexi on some departures, make the experience more than a photo stop.

Finally, allow for the possibility that a reindeer may pause or need extra handling. These are living animals, not machines. One departure had an inexperienced animal that stopped several times, while another animal moved with great energy and tried to pass the sleigh ahead. The professional guide handled the situation, but flexibility is part of the deal.

Should you book the Apukka Reindeer Journey?

Book it if you want a comfortable, well-organized introduction to reindeer, with transport, winter gear, a quiet forest ride, and time by a fire. The animal contact and strong guides are the best reasons to choose it, and families often get a lot from the mix of feeding, riding, and storytelling.

Skip it if you want a long or fast safari, a private ride, or the lowest possible price. At $206, the outing needs to match your priorities. For a first visit to Lapland, I think it is a memorable and gentle choice, as long as you understand that the sleigh ride is short, the pace is slow, and the cold is serious.

FAQ

How long does the Apukka Reindeer Journey last?

The full activity lasts two hours. The reindeer sleigh ride covers 2 to 3 kilometers and commonly lasts about 40 to 50 minutes, with the remaining time used for transfers, walking, stories, animal visits, and refreshments.

How much does the experience cost?

The listed price is $206 per person.

Is transportation from Rovaniemi included?

Yes. Transfers are included from Rovaniemi city center or Santa Claus Village to Apukka Resort and back.

Where is the city-center pickup point?

The Rovaniemi city-center pickup point is at Korkalonkatu 32. Pickup is scheduled 50 minutes before the activity start time.

Where is the Santa Claus Village pickup point?

The pickup point is the Napapiiri I bus stop beside the main E75 road. Pickup is scheduled 35 minutes before the activity start time.

Is winter clothing provided?

Yes. The activity includes a thermal overall, thermal boots, woolen socks, and mittens. You should still bring and wear warm clothing underneath.

Is the tour offered in English?

Yes. The experience includes a live English-speaking guide.

Can wheelchair users join the activity?

No. The activity is not suitable for wheelchair users.