How Apukka Tours Rovaniemi Spends Your 3.5 Hours in the Snow

Meeting your huskies: minutes 0-30

Your adventure begins the moment you arrive at Apukka Resort. After checking in, you'll head straight to meet the pack of friendly huskies who will be your partners for the next few hours. These energetic dogs are bred and trained specifically for sledding, and they're eager to meet new drivers. The handlers will introduce you to your team, showing you each dog's personality and quirks. This isn't a rushed encounter: you'll spend a good 15 minutes getting acquainted, learning their names, and understanding how they work together as a unit. The dogs are accustomed to visitors and genuinely enjoy this human interaction before hitting the trail.

During this meet-and-greet period, the handlers assess your comfort level and answer any initial questions you might have. This is your chance to ask about the specific huskies assigned to your sled and understand what to expect during the ride ahead. Many visitors find this connection with the animals to be one of the most memorable parts of the experience, as it transforms the huskies from abstract concepts into individual personalities you'll soon be commanding across the snow.

Gearing up and briefing: minutes 30-55

Once you've bonded with your team, it's time to suit up for winter. You'll be provided with thermal overalls, insulated boots, woolen socks, and mittens to keep you warm during your 6-kilometre ride. Allow about 15 minutes for getting properly dressed and adjusting everything to fit comfortably. The staff at Apukka will help ensure you're fully protected against the Finnish winter conditions. Layering is key, and the provided gear is designed to work together as a system. Don't worry about bringing your own winter clothing: everything you need is provided on-site.

After suiting up, you'll receive a pre-ride briefing that covers the fundamentals of husky sledding. The handlers will teach you how to stand on the sled, distribute your weight, use the brake system, and communicate commands to your team. This instruction typically takes 10-15 minutes and is essential for your safety and the dogs' wellbeing. You'll learn the specific calls the huskies respond to and practice the hand signals used along the trail. This briefing ensures that both you and your team are on the same page before you push off into the winter landscape.

Swap positions: one driver steps out, the next takes the reins

The opening run: minutes 55-105

Your sled glides onto the snow trail at around the 55-minute mark of your visit. The opening portion of your 6-kilometre route takes you deeper into the Finnish wilderness, with the huskies setting a steady pace through forested terrain and across snowy clearings. You'll have full control of your team as you navigate the first half of the distance. The physical act of mushing is more engaging than many people expect: you're constantly making small adjustments to your weight distribution, managing the sled's speed, and communicating with your dogs. The experience is exhilarating but also meditative as you move through the quiet winter landscape.

During this opening 50-minute stretch, you'll develop a rhythm with your team. The huskies know these trails well and respond eagerly to your commands. You'll pass through sections of dense forest where snow clings to the pine branches and emerge into open fields where the vista stretches out before you. This segment covers approximately 3 kilometres of your total journey, leaving you at a natural turning point where the next phase of your adventure begins.

The driver swap: around minute 105

At roughly the midway point, you'll reach a spot on the trail where drivers traditionally exchange positions. If you're sharing your sled with another person, this is where they take over the driving responsibilities while you ride as a passenger. The transition happens quickly, usually within just a few minutes. The handler accompanying your team will oversee the switch to ensure it's done safely and that both drivers understand their roles. If you're driving solo, this becomes a brief rest moment where you can catch your breath and take in the surroundings before continuing with the second half of your journey.

This swap point is strategically chosen along the trail, typically in a calm area where the dogs can pause briefly without losing their enthusiasm. Some visitors find riding as a passenger offers a different perspective on the experience, allowing you to relax and absorb the landscape without the concentration required for driving. Others prefer maintaining control of their team throughout. Either way, this midpoint break provides a natural rhythm to your adventure and ensures fairness if the sled is shared between two people.

The return route: minutes 105-155

The second half of your sledding adventure mirrors the route you took outbound but in the opposite direction, covering the remaining 3 kilometres back toward Apukka Resort. This return journey takes roughly 50 minutes, during which you'll experience the terrain from a fresh perspective. By this stage of your visit, you and your team have developed real working chemistry: the dogs respond readily to your commands, and you've learned how to fine-tune your technique. The huskies, far from being tired, often become more energized on the return leg, eager to head back home.

As you approach the resort area, you'll notice the landscape becoming more familiar. The final stretches bring you back through the same forests and clearings, but your skills as a musher have improved noticeably since you started. This return segment is where many visitors feel genuine accomplishment, realizing they've successfully commanded a team of powerful dogs across snowy Finnish wilderness. The dogs will be panting and happy as you pull back into Apukka, ready for their well-deserved rest.

Cooling down and hot drinks: minutes 155-185

After you've steered your team back to base, there's a brief cooldown period of about 10 minutes where you'll help unhitch the huskies and see them settled. The handlers will guide you through this process, and you'll get final moments with the dogs now that your ride is complete. Then comes one of the most welcome parts of any winter adventure: a hot drink served at the warming hut. This beverage is included in your experience and provides the perfect way to thaw out and reflect on what you've just accomplished. You'll have approximately 15-20 minutes to enjoy your hot drink, warm up indoors, and begin the transition back to regular life.

The warming hut at Apukka is a comfortable space where you can remove your winter gear gradually and spend time with other guests who've just finished their own sledding adventures. This is often when conversations flow most easily, with riders swapping stories about their dogs, their favorite moments on the trail, and their plans for exploring Rovaniemi. The hot drink serves as both physical warmth and a natural wind-down activity, bringing closure to the adventure portion of your visit.

Return transfer: minutes 185-210

Your final 25 minutes consist of getting changed out of your winter gear and returning to your original pickup location. If you were picked up from Rovaniemi city centre or Santa Claus Village, the return coach transfer is included in your experience. Plan for about 10 minutes to change back into your regular clothes and gather your belongings, leaving 15 minutes for the drive back to town. The exact timing of your return depends on traffic conditions and the distance from Apukka Resort to your destination, but you'll arrive back at one of the two drop-off points by the end of your 3.5-hour window.

This return journey gives you time to decompress from the adrenaline and excitement of the sledding experience. Many visitors find themselves already thinking about returning for another ride, while others simply enjoy the quiet moment to process the memories they've created. By the time you're back in Rovaniemi, you'll have accomplished something genuinely remarkable: you'll have driven your own team of huskies across Finnish wilderness and experienced a slice of Arctic adventure that will stay with you long after you leave.

Arrival & Gear

1. Get fitted for winter clothing

   Arrive at Apukka Resort and put on thermal overalls, boots, socks and mittens provided for you.

2. Pet and befriend the huskies

   Spend time with the friendly dogs before your ride, getting to know your future sled team.

3. Learn handling and safety

   Receive instruction on how to command, steer and brake your husky team on the snow.

4. Drive your own 6 km husky sled

   Take the reins and lead your huskies through the snowy forest on the main sledding route.

5. Enjoy a hot drink indoors

   Return to the lodge and relax with a warm beverage after your time on the trail.

6. Transfer back to your starting point

   Coach takes you back to Rovaniemi city centre or Santa Claus Village as requested.

Before you book