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Reviews

• Frightening experience - physical injuries

  J1766RKclaram,,Jan 4, 2026

  - Review from Tripadvisor

  1.00

  I'd give 0 if I could. Activity organized with extreme negligence, with no concern for the safety of tourists or the welfare of animals. The caravan consists of several sleds that follow one another. When we did the activity, there were about 20 sleds, with 2 attendants. The reindeer of the sled behind us was very agitated before the departure, he was getting very close to us; a lady of the staff observed our discomfort and came to explain that he was young and curious. When the caravan left, this reindeer was involved in the rope, because he had it wrapped around the part behind our sled. Someone came to take him in his arms and put him in his place. From the start, he walked very close to our sled (his head squarely on my daughter's shoulder, with horns that might hurt her face). Soon after, he started jumping on us, directly - on both sides, on my daughter as well as on me. We started screaming because we were afraid and he was hurting us when he jumped. He hit us both with his hooves and horns, but also with the wooden bars he was attached to pull his sled. We screamed for several minutes, without the attendants stopping to see what was happening. They eventually turned on the lamp for a few seconds, without slowing down the walk, and continued afterwards. No one even asked what was going on and why we were screaming. Arriving in front of the teepee for the sausage break, the guide approached our sled; my daughter yelled at him that we were not well; he shrugged and told us to get down and into the teepee. No one came to us to ask why we shouted, if we were okay. At the end of the break we asked if anything had been done for our safety - the guide told us it had not; my daughter told her that we refused to board the same sled and that we would continue on foot if we did not change sleds. A couple agreed to change and we were able to continue the path. At the end of the activity, no one came to us to ask if we were all right. We found at home that we had bruises (my daughter on the left shoulder and me on the right leg) and that our coats had been damaged as a result of friction with the wooden hitch that repeatedly hit us. To my complaint, management responded that the guide handled the situation well and that we had no evidence of the injuries sustained... Anyone reading this comment should judge whether this activity is organized in a safe and respectful way for tourists and animals.

• Fantastic experience...

  Lorraine O,,Dec 13, 2025

  - Review from Viator

  5.00

  Fantastic experience really peaceful would definitely recommend would be nice to have blankets or something to wrap up in for the kids especially they got quire cold even in all there snow gear

• Sleigh ride in the snow

  Lenie V,,Nov 19, 2025

  - Review from Viator

  4.00

  It was a new and exciting experience for us being on a sleigh in the snow. We don’t have reindeer in South Africa, so this was a chance to learn more about them and to get close to them.

• Greedy and uncaring

  PatriceC249,,Dec 30, 2024

  - Review from Tripadvisor

  1.00

  How can one be so greedy ? Prices for excursions at Apukka are among the highest in the whole of Lapland. We had booked and paid for 2500 euros of excursions alone but when our 4 years old son stubbornly refused to go back in the extreme cold of the night (which all the employees are trained to call "exceptional" at all times even though they are the norm in this particularly cold part of Lapland), the Apukka management was even more stubborn at refusing any exchange for the following day. All the while being very nice and smiling of course because they are good businessmen. Do not go to Apukka resort for your excursions, there is plenty of cheaper and more customer friendly competitors in Rovaniemi and there is availability even in the peak days of Christmas.

• Amazing but remember lots of layers to keep warm.

  Louise P,,Nov 25, 2024

  - Review from Viator

  5.00

  The reindeer ride was absolutely fantastic and our host was very knowledgeable and shared lots of information about local ways of life for reindeer herders. It is extremely cold on the part where you stop for reindeer sausages and hot juice so our host told us best way to stay warm is lots of loose not tight layers. You can borrow suits, gloves, boots and balaclavas from reception and i highly recommend taking a balaclava as it will keep your nose and cheeks warm.

• Disappointed

  Trish C,,Mar 22, 2023

  - Review from Tripadvisor

  3.00

  I am not sure how they can charge so much for this activity, nearly $500 Aussie... Staff were disinterested, treated it like a chore, were not inerested in any of the passengers... We were rushed from start to end then had to sit and wait for our bus ride back into Rovaneimi..... We have been with lot better agencies... And Appuka is meant to be good... Unfortunately bigger is not better....

• Be careful about pickup

  smd2009,,Jan 21, 2023

  - Review from Tripadvisor

  4.00

  The reindeer ride itself was very peaceful. It is completely in the dark as you are hoping for northern lights. You have an opportunity to stroke and feed the reindeers and then cook sausage on the campfire (veggie sausages are also included). All the clothes are provided and it was a lovely experience. We booked through Viator. Unfortunately the pickup time was wrong and the pickup place was also wrong. We therefore had to pay 40 euros to get a taxi to join the tour as they told us the pickup bus had left 10 minutes earlier than we were told but also that we weren’t in the right place even though Viator told us we should be picked up from the scandic city hotel. They don’t offer hotel pickup which is a shame. It runs by shuttle bus so be aware of this if booking and make sure you double check your pickup times and locations

  

• Poor communication about pickup point. Lovely experience once there

  Thomas B,,Jan 20, 2023

  - Review from Viator

  4.00

  The tour itself was lovely and peaceful. We had a lovely Reindeer ride in the dark in the woods. We then cooked sausage over the campfire and got to feed and stroke the Reindeer. It was very lovely. However viator told us to be at the pickup point at 1950. No-one turned up. We rang the company to be told the pickup was 1940. We were also told that the hotel we were waiting at was not the pickup point. We had left our own hotel to find this pickup point to then be told we were not in the right place despite waiting at the hotel where the viator app told us to be. This led us to spending €40 on a taxi to join the tour. They do not offer hotel pickup and therefore the pickup point needs more clarity so that other people do not end up in the same position as ourselves

• Cold but fabulous

  fiona n,,Dec 14, 2022

  - Review from Viator

  4.00

  Great experience. A bit long for younger kids (9 years) as they got cold but a very special experience. We had a lovely guide who made us very welcome around the fire and told us about Sami culture

• A little Slow

  F1988ZMteresah,,Mar 9, 2020

  - Review from Tripadvisor

  3.00

  Our guide was wonderful and you could tell she loved & cared for her reindeer. She was very interesting to chat with. Our ride was at night through the forest which was beautiful but the pace was a little slow for our taste.

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