Top 5 Ruka Private Sightseeing Tours: Exploring Lapland Your Way
So, you’re thinking about a trip to Ruka, Finland, which is honestly a fantastic choice. The air there is just so clean it almost feels different to breathe, you know? The snow is pretty much everywhere, covering everything in this soft, white blanket that makes the whole world feel quiet and calm. Anyway, you could just wander around by yourself, but a private sightseeing tour is, like, a totally different thing. With a private tour, it’s just you and your guide, so you can actually ask all the questions you want. You get to see the real Lapland, the places that aren’t typically in the big travel brochures. To be honest, it’s about making your trip feel special, sort of like it was made just for you and your family or friends. At the end of the day, these tours are about creating memories that are a little more personal, a bit more you.
1. The Ultimate Northern Lights Chase with a Pro Photographer
Okay, so let’s talk about the Northern Lights, which is probably why you’re thinking about Lapland in the first place, right? Seriously, seeing the aurora is one of those things you just have to do once. A private chase for the lights is pretty much the best way to do it. You go with a person who actually lives there and knows all the best spots, far away from any town lights. This particular tour is sort of special because your guide is also a professional photographer. I mean, they literally bring all the camera gear and help you get those mind-blowing photos you see online. You don’t have to worry about settings or tripods or any of that stuff. You just get to stand there, in the quiet, and watch the sky do its thing. It’s often a bit of a wait in the cold, but when those green and pink lights start to move across the sky, you kind of forget everything else.
The experience is just completely different from being with a big group. For instance, your guide can change plans on a dime, chasing a clear patch of sky if the clouds roll in. We’ve heard from people who said their guide served hot berry juice and some local snacks while they waited, which is, you know, a really nice touch. It feels very personal, almost like you’re out there with a knowledgeable friend. As a matter of fact, the guide will tell you all these old stories and local legends about the lights. So you’re not just seeing them, you’re getting the whole story behind them, which is honestly quite magical. It’s a very calm and deep experience, very different from the usual tourist hustle. At the end of the day, you walk away with incredible pictures and a story that feels genuinely your own.
2. A Cozy Reindeer Farm Visit & Sleigh Ride
So, unlike the fast-paced adventures, this one is all about slowing down. A visit to a reindeer farm is, in a way, like stepping back in time. You meet the Sami people, the indigenous folks of Lapland, who have been herding reindeer for, well, a very long time. This is their life, and on a private tour, you get a genuine peek into it. The reindeer themselves are these incredibly gentle animals, you know? They have these big, soft eyes, and you get to feed them their favorite lichen right from your hand. To be honest, it’s a very calming sort of activity. After you get to know the reindeer, you get tucked into a sleigh with warm blankets. The sleigh ride itself is almost silent, just the sound of the reindeer’s hooves on the snow and the runners of the sleigh gliding along. It’s pretty much the opposite of a loud, modern machine.
With a private tour, the herder has all the time in the world for you. They’ll invite you into a ‘kota,’ which is like a traditional Sami hut, and you’ll sit around a crackling fire. They might serve you coffee that’s been boiled over the open flame and tell you about their culture and how they live with the seasons. It’s not a performance, you know, it feels very real and authentic. As a matter of fact, you get to ask anything you want, like what the reindeer’s names are, or what it’s like during the summer when the sun never sets. Honestly, it’s this connection to a completely different way of life that makes it so memorable. It’s less about a thrilling ride and more about a warm, human connection. At the end of the day, you feel like you’ve learned something real about the place you’re visiting.
3. Thrilling Husky Safari Through Snowy Forests
Alright, so if the reindeer sleigh ride is about peace and quiet, a husky safari is basically the exact opposite, and it’s absolutely amazing. The moment you arrive at the kennel, you can just feel the energy. The dogs are literally so excited to run; they’re barking and jumping and you can tell they just love what they do. I mean, it’s what they were born to do, right? You get your own sled, which is actually a lot of fun. Your guide gives you a quick lesson on how to drive it – how to use your weight to steer and how to use the brake. And then, you’re off. The feeling of the sled taking off as the dogs pull is just incredible. You’re flying through these quiet, snowy forests, with just the sound of the sled on the snow and the panting of your husky team. It’s really, really cool.
The best thing about a private husky safari is that you kind of set the pace. You’re not stuck in a long line of 20 other sleds, you know? It’s just you, your guide, and the incredible Lappish wilderness all around you. Your guide will often take you on paths that are a bit more interesting, maybe up a hill for a great view or through some tighter, more technical forest trails. They are, of course, right there to help if you need it. After the ride, you usually get to spend some time with the dogs, thanking your team with lots of pets and cuddles. They’re super friendly. Then you might warm up by a fire with a hot drink and hear more stories about the dogs and the mushing lifestyle. Seriously, it’s a very active and fun way to see the landscape, and at the end of the day, it’s an experience that makes you feel very alive.
4. Snowshoeing to Korouoma Canyon’s Frozen Waterfalls
Basically, this tour is for people who really want to get out into nature on their own two feet. Snowshoeing is kind of like hiking, but on top of deep snow. It’s a bit of a workout, but it’s honestly not as hard as it looks, and it lets you get to places you just couldn’t otherwise reach. The Korouoma Canyon is a pretty special place. In the winter, the massive waterfalls that cascade down the canyon walls freeze solid, creating these gigantic pillars of blue and white ice. I mean, they are really huge, almost like something from another planet. You walk along the bottom of the canyon, looking up at these frozen giants. The only sound is the crunch of your snowshoes and maybe the call of a bird. It’s very, very peaceful.
Having a private guide for this is a really good idea. The canyon can be tricky, and your guide knows the safest routes and the most impressive spots to see. They actually point out animal tracks in the snow and tell you about the local plants and wildlife. Partway through the hike, they’ll usually find a sheltered spot, build a small fire, and you’ll have a cookout lunch. Grilling sausages over an open fire in the middle of a snowy canyon is one of those simple, perfect moments, you know? It’s this kind of detail that makes a private tour feel so rewarding. You are not rushed, so you can just take your time, snap tons of photos, and really absorb the scale of the place. To be honest, it’s a great way to feel connected to the wild, raw beauty of Lapland.
5. A Taste of Lapland: Ice Fishing & Wilderness Lunch
Now, this one is really about patience and just enjoying the silence. Honestly, ice fishing is sort of a national pastime in Finland. A private tour will take you out to a frozen lake, far from any roads or noise. Your guide drills a small hole in the ice, which can be surprisingly thick, and gives you a tiny little fishing rod. Then, you just sit there, on a small stool or a reindeer hide, and you wait. You know, it’s very meditative. You’re just staring at this little hole in the ice, surrounded by this huge, white, silent landscape. It’s actually very relaxing. You might catch a perch or an arctic char, or you might catch nothing at all. At the end of the day, that’s not really the point.
The best part of this tour is probably the lunch. While you’re fishing, your guide is usually getting a fire going nearby. If you catch a fish, they’ll cook it for you right there on the spot—it seriously doesn’t get any fresher than that. Even if you don’t, they’ll have brought along some other food, like soup or sausages, to cook over the flames. You just sit there in the middle of a frozen lake, eating a hot meal cooked over a fire. It’s a simple, pretty much perfect, experience. A private tour means you’re not crowded around one small fishing spot with tons of other people. You get a sense of solitude and quiet that is, to be honest, very hard to find anywhere else. It’s about experiencing the winter landscape in a very slow, very Finnish way.
See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Top Ruka Finland Tours)
Read our full review: Northern Lights Photo Tour Full Review and Details
Read our full review: Reindeer Farm & Sleigh Ride Full Review and Details
Read our full review: Private Husky Safari Full Review and Details
