Rovaniemi: Apukka Reindeer Journey

The best part of this Lapland outing is its quiet pace. You sit low in a wooden sleigh while a reindeer pulls you through the snow, with the forest passing by at a gentle walking speed. It feels less like an amusement ride and more like a short visit to a northern way of life. The reindeer encounter is especially appealing because you can feed them and, in some situations, gently touch them.

I like the roughly 45-minute ride, which gives you enough time to settle into the cold and enjoy the setting. I also like the warm drink by the fire, since the simple pause makes room for useful stories about Finnish life and reindeer husbandry. Guides such as Emily, Tommy, and Alexi have been praised for explaining things clearly to both children and adults.

The main caution is value. At $206 per person, this is an expensive two-hour activity, and the scenery or group arrangement may feel modest if you expect a long, fast safari. Dress very warmly, and understand that the sleighs may be linked together and allocated by the guides for the reindeer’s safety.

Key points to know before booking

• A gentle 45-minute sleigh ride: The 2 to 3 kilometer route moves at a calm pace through snowy forest, with some departures also crossing a frozen lake.
• Feeding comes after the ride: You get time to approach the reindeer, offer them food, take pictures, and sometimes touch them lightly.
• The guides add real value: English-speaking guides explain reindeer care, Lapland customs, and daily life in the north.
• Winter clothing is supplied: Thermal overalls, boots, wool socks, and mittens are included, though your own warm layers still matter.
• The transfer needs careful attention: Pickups leave Rovaniemi City Center 50 minutes before the activity and Santa Claus Village 35 minutes before it.
• The price favors convenience: It costs more than some similar outings, but transport, clothing, guiding, and a well-run schedule are included.

A quiet start at Apukka Resort

This experience takes place at Apukka Resort, outside central Rovaniemi. If you stay in the city, the included transfer departs from Korkalonkatu 32. If you are near Santa Claus Village, use the Napapiiri I bus stop beside the main E75 road.

The timing matters. The city pickup is scheduled 50 minutes before the activity begins, while the Santa Claus Village pickup is 35 minutes ahead. Apukka confirms your exact pickup time by email within 48 hours of booking, so read that message carefully. Missing the pickup means no refund.

Once you arrive at the resort, the reindeer farm is a few minutes on foot from the main buildings. That short walk is part of the transition. You leave the feeling of a normal resort behind and move toward the animals, forest trails, and sleighs.

The transfer is useful if you are not renting a car, and it removes the trouble of finding a remote activity site in winter. Still, allow extra time around the scheduled departure. One past departure was delayed after the activity, and another person found the vehicle crowded enough to stand during part of the ride. These details are not guaranteed, but they show why the transfer is practical rather than luxurious.

Meeting the reindeer before the sleigh ride

The reindeer are the heart of this outing, and the introduction is more than a quick photo stop. You can watch them at close range, learn about their habits, and feed them. That hands-on moment is often the most memorable part for children, while adults may appreciate learning how reindeer husbandry fits into life in northern Finland.

Do not arrive expecting every animal to look like a polished Christmas-card mascot. Some reindeer are small, some do not have antlers, and their coloring varies. One point raised by a disappointed participant was the expectation of beautiful white animals. Real reindeer are working animals, not identical holiday decorations, and the experience is better when you approach them as living creatures.

You may also notice that the reindeer do not all behave in the same way. Some are eager for food. One was described as especially energetic and inclined to overtake the animal ahead. That liveliness can make the encounter more fun, but it also means the guides need to manage the group carefully.

The animals’ welfare is an important part of the picture. Most of the experience presents reindeer that appear well cared for, and several people specifically praised their healthy condition. At the same time, one person felt uneasy seeing two animals tied to trees and thought some of the reindeer pulling sleighs seemed reluctant to stay on the trail. That concern deserves attention. If animal treatment is a deciding factor for you, ask the operator how the reindeer are rested, trained, and managed before booking.

The 2 to 3 kilometer sleigh route

The sleigh ride usually lasts about 40 to 50 minutes, even though the full activity lasts two hours. The route covers 2 to 3 kilometers and follows snowy forest trails. Some accounts describe crossing a frozen lake, which adds a broad, open stretch to the wooded route.

This is not a high-speed ride. A reindeer sleigh moves steadily, and the slow pace is the point. You hear the runners over the snow and the animals’ hooves, rather than an engine. When the forest opens into a clearing, the view can change quickly. One especially fortunate ride reached an open area just as the sun appeared.

I like this format for a first Lapland activity because it lets you enjoy the cold country without having to drive, ski, or control an animal yourself. It also suits families and couples who want a peaceful outing rather than an adrenaline rush. The ride has been enjoyed by children as young as two, though very young children can feel the cold more sharply than adults.

The guides assign seats in the sleighs to keep the load balanced. Each sleigh is steered by a professional, so you do not drive the animals. That is sensible for safety, but it limits independence. You are joining a guided procession, not taking the reins.

Group size can affect the mood. On a quiet departure, a small party of three once received what felt like a private outing. At busier times, as many as seven sleighs may be tied together. One person found that arrangement closer to an amusement ride than a secluded forest journey. If solitude is important, ask about the expected group size for your date, though it may not be possible to choose a smaller departure.

What the guides add to the ride

The guiding is one of the strongest parts of the experience. The subject is not only the reindeer in front of you. You hear about their lives, their care, Lapland culture, Rovaniemi, and Finnish traditions.

Emily has been praised for handling both adults and children with ease. Tommy was singled out for friendly explanations about reindeer, Rovaniemi, and Lapland. Alexi made the feeding session more personal by sharing information while participants spent time with an individual reindeer. Another departure had a Finnish guide, which added a welcome local connection.

The guide also sets the tone when something unexpected happens. One sleigh stopped several times because a reindeer had not previously worked with people in the open setting. The guide stayed calm and helped the group continue safely. That is a useful reminder that a live-animal activity will not run with the exact predictability of a motorized excursion.

The language is English. Instructions are given before the ride, including practical advice about clothing and how to behave around the animals. For families, this clear structure helps children understand what they can do without turning the encounter into a free-for-all.

Fire, hot drinks, and a closer look at Lapland

After the ride, you gather by a fire for a hot drink and biscuits or cookies. The exact drink may be described simply as tea, juice, or a reindeer-themed coffee in different accounts, but the key point is the same: something warm is served after sitting outside in winter.

This pause is not filler. A sleigh ride can be beautiful but brief, especially at this price. The fire gives the guide time to explain reindeer husbandry and answer questions, while you get feeling back in your hands and feet. The setting also makes the activity feel connected to older northern traditions rather than just a photo opportunity.

You then have another chance to feed the reindeer and take pictures. Some people were able to pet them lightly on the back. Follow the guide’s directions here. The animals may be calm, but they are still strong and unpredictable, especially when food is involved.

The fire stop also helps balance the ride’s quietness. You get scenery, animal contact, and conversation in one compact outing. If you hoped for a longer route, the warm drink and storytelling make the two-hour schedule feel fuller.

Clothing, cold, and physical comfort

Apukka supplies a thermal overall, thermal boots, wool socks, and mittens. This is a major convenience, especially if you are visiting Rovaniemi with ordinary city clothes and do not want to buy a complete Arctic wardrobe.

Still, treat the supplied gear as a base layer of protection, not a guarantee that you will feel warm. Several people felt cold even while wearing the provided clothing, and one person found their feet became especially chilly. Another pointed out that a blanket would have helped after more than 40 minutes sitting in the sleigh.

Wear your own warm clothing underneath. Bring a hat and extra layers if you have them, and avoid assuming that a cashmere sweater alone will solve the problem. The activity takes place outdoors, often in temperatures far below freezing. At around minus 20 degrees Celsius, even a well-organized outing can feel severe.

The cold affects the experience more than the distance does. You are not walking hard or generating much body heat, so hands and feet need extra care. If you are traveling with a small child, plan for the possibility that the child may need frequent warmth and attention.

The activity is not suitable for wheelchair users. The walk from the resort to the farm, the sleigh setup, and the snowy outdoor surfaces make access difficult.

Is $206 a fair price?

At $206 per person, this is not a budget activity. A 45-minute ride alone would make the price feel high, particularly if the forest route looks ordinary on your day or the sleighs are linked in a large group.

The price becomes easier to understand when you count what is bundled in: transport from Rovaniemi or Santa Claus Village, winter clothing, an English-speaking guide, the sleigh ride, animal time, stories, and a hot drink. Apukka is also a resort, so the setting may offer a more organized base than a simple farm visit.

I would call the value strongest for first-time visitors who want a straightforward, family-friendly introduction to reindeer culture. You are paying for ease and structure as much as for the ride itself. The value is weaker if you already have several Lapland excursions booked, are comparing only minutes in the sleigh, or want a private and remote experience.

The activity also works well as a gentler companion to faster outings. If your schedule includes husky rides, snowmobiles, or other active excursions, this gives you a slower afternoon. Just do not book it expecting speed, a long wilderness journey, or guaranteed empty trails.

Who should book this reindeer journey?

I would recommend it most to families, couples, and first-time visitors who want to see reindeer at close range without handling the sleigh themselves. The calm speed, short walking sections, warm drink, and clear instructions make it approachable for a wide range of ages.

It is also a good choice if you are staying in central Rovaniemi or Santa Claus Village and need transport included. You can arrive without arranging a taxi to a remote farm, and the clothing loan reduces the amount of winter equipment you need to pack.

You may want to skip it if you dislike organized group activities, need full wheelchair access, or expect a dramatic ride through untouched wilderness. It may also disappoint you if your main goal is a long, fast safari. The reindeer are real animals with their own habits, and the guides may need to stop, regroup, or adjust the pace.

Before booking, check the pickup email and ask about the likely group size if that matters to you. Pack warmer clothing than you think you need, and set your expectations around a gentle 45-minute route rather than a full-day expedition.

The final call

Book this Apukka experience if you want a polished introduction to reindeer, Finnish northern traditions, and snowy scenery, with transport and winter gear handled for you. The feeding session, fireside drink, and warm, personable guiding give the outing more substance than a simple sleigh photograph.

Skip it if $206 feels too high for two hours or if you need a private ride with no linked sleighs. For the right visitor, the value lies in the complete package and the chance to slow down beside the animals. For others, a shorter or less expensive farm visit may be enough.

FAQ

How long does the Apukka Reindeer Journey last?

The full activity lasts two hours. The reindeer sleigh ride itself usually takes about 40 to 50 minutes and covers 2 to 3 kilometers.

What is included in the price?

The price includes the sleigh ride, an English-speaking guide, stories about reindeer husbandry, a hot drink, winter clothing, and transfers when needed from Rovaniemi City Center or Santa Claus Village.

Where does pickup take place?

In Rovaniemi City Center, pickup is at Korkalonkatu 32, 50 minutes before the activity starts. At Santa Claus Village, pickup is at the Napapiiri I bus stop beside the E75 road, 35 minutes before the start.

How do I find out my exact pickup time?

Apukka Resort sends the confirmed pickup time by email within 48 hours of booking. You should read this message carefully because missing the pickup does not qualify for a refund.

Can I feed or touch the reindeer?

You can feed the reindeer and take pictures with them. Lightly touching them may be possible, but you should follow the guide’s instructions around the animals.

Do I drive the sleigh?

No. The sleighs are steered by professional drivers. Guides allocate seats to keep the load balanced for the reindeer.

Is the activity suitable for wheelchair users?

No. The activity is not suitable for wheelchair users.