Riverboat and Reindeer Farm Tour from Rovaniemi

After pickup from select hotels in Rovaniemi, your tour starts with a drive by coach or minivan to the banks of the nearby Kemijoki River.

Finland’s longest river, the Kemijoki flows through Rovaniemi where it merges with one of its tributaries, the Ounasjoki River, which snakes south from deep within the Arctic Circle. When you arrive at the riverbank, listen to a safety briefing and put on your provided life vest before taking a seat in the open, motorized jokivene, a wooden boat that seats up to 12 passengers, plus a driver-guide.

Relax as you glide along the picturesque valleys of the Kemijoki and Ounasjoki, taking in views of the gorgeous countryside scenery that includes fields, woodlands and shores dotted with wooden homesteads. Along the way, hear fascinating facts about how the rivers were used to float logs, tied together into rafts, to local mills as part of the timber industry during the 19th and 20th centuries.

After about 45 minutes of cruising, step ashore to visit a traditional reindeer farm. While you learn about the rearing and care of these gentle animals, you can hand-feed them and snap photos. Then enjoy a cup of coffee and join in an Arctic Circle crossing ceremony, a traditional ritual to welcome those who have set foot in the Arctic.

You'll spend about an hour at the farm before hopping back in the boat for the approximate 30-minute return cruise. Your experience then ends with hotel drop-off.