Apukka Resort

The design of the igloos is fantastic and the location is stunning. The food was exceptional and staff were incredible friendly and helpful. The activities were some of the best we did on our entire trip and the Santa experience was so well done. We did the sauna lake side and the sauna and skis and both were amazing. You could honestly not leave the resort and feel completely fulfilled.

Enjoyed it with my family alot. All activities were great for family and for the kids a memorable experience that we will cherish forever.

I loved the Ice lake, view from my room, the fire place around the hotel outdoors.

Many activities for kids! My kids especially like the open space with the sleds.

This is a very long review, basically a complete honest recap of my stay. If you’re seriously considering staying at Apukka, continue reading. Otherwise, my TD;LR is at the bottom.
 
We stayed for 4 nights/5 days with the “It's All About Aurora Package” in an Aurora Twin Cabin. I had to book via email because I had a gift voucher, but they weren't quick to reply to my email (I had to call them to ask for an email update). The King Cabin I originally wanted ended up selling out, and we had to get the twin beds, which wasn't too bad because we were all the way at the edge of the forest and away from the noise/crowds. The King, Queen, and Twin glass igloo cabins are separated into sections on the property. Our “It's All About Aurora Package” came with several activities (Snow Train to the Northern Lights Camp & Reindeer Sleigh Ride in the Night), and we also added activities during our stay for extra fees (Route to the Arctic Circle Dining Experience, Husky Adventure, and Sauna and Lake Bath). Booking the extra activities via email was very easy. I told them what I wanted, and they sent over a payment link and scheduled it for us.
 
With our package, an airport transfer was arranged for us the moment we exited baggage claim. We didn't have to figure out how to get to the resort late in the evening. It was a taxi company that partners with Apukka, and they had a sign with my name already waiting at the exit. Upon arrival, the staff member was very kind during our check-in process. They offered to drive us and our bags to our room, or we could push them ourselves with a sled. Given how late and cold it was, we opted for the van.
 
Our room was very cozy and warm; the glass ceiling looking into the sky was stunning. I loved that our room was right next to the forest, which was away from the common area. I didn't mind the walk by all the other glass igloos; it made it very magical since every igloo was snow-capped. The walk did get a little slippery when the snow started to melt and refreeze, so be careful! The property is very large and you’re able to tube down a snow hill, build a snow man, go for a walk on the frozen lake, etc. It’s honestly a stunning location! It’s absolutely a winter wonderland dream.
 
Although our package was called the “It's All About Aurora Package”, I didn’t feel like the resort made a strong effort to make aurora-viewing possible, especially if you had poor weather. Upon check-in, I asked the front desk if there were any possibilities of seeing auroras at the resort during our stay because the clouds were moving in. The staff member basically danced around the answer and said to download the app, keep checking, and “maybe if you’re lucky”. I realized the app didn’t actually belong to Apukka and it also didn’t work for me or my partner. The app was stuck on a loading screen. We ended up downloading different apps to track the weather and auroras. The igloo did not have an alarm or anything to notify you if auroras were in the sky; you’d have to turn on notifications on your phone for the app to alert you. The Snow Train to the Northern Lights Camp (more about this activity below) also felt like a waste, especially if you had cloud coverage. I wish the resort did more to ensure guests staying with this package had the chance to see the auroras. Possibly even offering a refund on the activities (if you paid extra) or provide a Plan B if the clouds were covering the skies. For the amount you’re paying, you would assume that the resort would do more than making you hope that you’re lucky. Sadly, we had complete cloud cover over Rovaniemi during our trip, so we couldn’t make the best use of the glass ceilings at night. However, we booked a third-party Aurora Hunting Tour on TripAdvisor that made my dreams of seeing auroras possible. It would’ve been amazing if Apukka offered aurora hunting tours for their guests. Unfortunately, it was not an option.
 
Breakfast was amazing and included in our package. I've been to dozens of hotels and resorts around the world, and I think Apukka has one of my favorite breakfasts. They had a large selection of hot and cold options; continental and local flavors were available, too. I thoroughly enjoyed the egg/omelet station. They didn't change their selections during our four days, but I didn't mind it at all since they had a lot of yummy foods. Their pancakes were so good, and I loved putting a bit of reindeer cheese on them.
 
On our first day after breakfast, we went to get our complimentary thermal wear. I loved that they provided outer wear. While it was only 32F/0C for us, I can imagine it being much colder in the middle of the winter and most people would not have packed warm enough clothing. Not being warm would make the experience miserable. They provide one-piece thermal wears for all sizes, snow boots, and gloves if you needed them. It was comfortable and easy to put on. It definitely kept me warm. Ladies: it’s hard to take off if you need to use the restroom though.
 
In the afternoon, we did the Lakeside Sauna and Arctic Bath. This was an add-on to our stay and was €179.10/pp (10% discount for prebooking the activity). There were 4 small sauna cabins, and we had our own for 1.5 hours. The staff on duty was very kind and did a quick demonstration before we got started. It was really cool to feed the fire with wood and pour water over the stove for the steam. There was a little window in the cabin for you to open to allow fresh air in while you were in the sauna room. From the cabin to the lake, it was a short but extremely slippery walk. I slipped a few times. They blocked off the lake from the rest of the trails and guests, and they cut a hole into the lake. The lake water was 32F/0C!! It was freezing, but also really refreshing. They also provided bathrobes, towels, slippers, and cold water to drink. They had shampoo and body wash in the sauna, but we chose to shower back at our igloo.
 
We originally had the Route to the Arctic Circle Dining Experience for dinner that evening, but we had a sudden change of plans and had to postpone it for a different date. The Apukka staff replied quickly on WhatsApp and was very accommodating of our change.
 
On our second day, we also added on the Apukka Husky Adventure, and it was €170.10/pp (10% discount for prebooking the activity). We met at the Meeting Point and took a short 5-minute walk across the road to the kennels. The staff did a quick demonstration on how to safely get on, off, slow down, and stop the sled before we all got into our own sleds. It was two people per group of 5-6 huskies. Midway through our ride, we were given the option to swap positions so the other person can get the chance to mush.  The huskies were SUPER excited to start mushing. They were howling and barking and basically tugging before they got the green light. Once we were off, the huskies were having so much fun. They actually got frustrated when we had to slow down or stop. Once we were done with our ride, we had some warm blueberry tea and cookies then moved on to the puppies. They were 4 months old and hung out with their mom, grandma, and a few other breeds of hunting dogs to learn how to socialize. You can tell these dogs are well taken care of. They love their trainers and enjoy what they do.
 
For dinner, we had our Route to the Arctic Circle Dining Experience at Restaurant Aitta onsite for €79/pp. They had the option of regular menu or the vegan menu for this dining experience; my partner and I chose the regular menu. The meal started off with “Beetroots Roasted in a Charcoal Oven with Soft MÖ Chavre cheese, Lappish Balsamic, Dill Powder, and Crispy Buckwheat”. I enjoyed the balance of flavors this first dish started with. Next was the “King Crab Soup with Prawn Remoulade and Dill Flavored Oil”. This soup was probably one of my favorite things I’ve eaten at this restaurant. It was creamy and decadent, and full of flavor. I’m still thinking of this soup weeks after my trip! Following the soup was “Overnight Cooked Lappish Baby Lamb with Creamy Celery, Pickled Blackcurrants, and Smoky Rosemary Sauce”. The lamb was very tender and had good flavor, but it was on the gamey side. I don’t mind it, but some might not enjoy it. I thought the smokey rosemary sauce was a bit too salty and took away from the rest of the dish. A side of “Roasted Jerusalem Artichokes with Black Garlic Mayonnaise” came with the lamb. I really enjoyed the artichokes, but the portion was very big, so I wasn’t able to finish it. The meal wrapped up with a “Cloudberry-Cinnamon Sorbet with Marinated Berries and Caramel Sauce”. I’ve never had Cloudberry before this, so I didn’t know what to expect. It was very sweet and syrup-y. My partner said it tasted like ‘tree sap’, and I don’t disagree. It took a few bites for me to start enjoying it, but in small quantities. The staff at Restaurant Aitta were very kind and attentive.
 
After dinner, we had the Snow Train to the Northern Lights Camp activity, which was included in our booking package. We met at the Meeting Point then walked across the road to where the “snow train” was. It wasn’t really a train, but more of a wooden box on sleds with benches inside. A big tractor towed us through the forest; it was about a 20-25 minute ride. The ride was bumpy and uncomfortable, but at least it kept us warm. Unfortunately, during our entire trip, Rovaniemi had thick cloud cover. It was impossible to see any northern lights, so it was really surprising that the resort continued to have this activity rather than cancel or give you to option to swap activities. Knowing that you can book and pay for this activity as a resort guest or as an outside guest, it would make more sense to offer refunds, or alternative activities in case of poor weather. When we arrived at the Northern Lights Camp, it was actually raining. We sat in a large Lavvo, the Sami version of a teepee, with a warm fire. They gave us warm blueberry tea and some cookies. Our guide was somewhat knowledgable about auroras, but it was very obvious that he was trying to stall. He even pretended to check the skies to see if it cleared up in the 10 mins time after we arrived to the Lavvo. I started to feel a little unwell, so I asked to return to the resort. A few other couples also overheard that we were leaving, so they also opted to leave the activity as well. We got back on a smaller version of the snow train and left. Right before we left the activity, the rest of the group was asked to stand outside to “learn how to start a fire”, which, again, didn’t make any sense as the activity was about auroras. The entire activity was 3 hours long and I have no idea what the rest of the group did for all that time without clear skies.
 
On our third day after breakfast, we went to the Santa Claus Village. The resort has a shuttle that takes you there. It costs €8/pp per ride. The lobby has a time schedule, and it takes about 10 minutes to get to the village and back. You can also take the same shuttle into Rovaniemi City Center and it costs the same. We highly recommend that you checkout the Santa Claus Village and Snowman World and you can probably spend your afternoon there if you don’t have day plans at Apukka.
 
For dinner, we returned to Restaurant Aitta. We had to make a reservation in advance. For starters, we got the “Caramelized Root Celery Soup with Kale, Tarragon Oil, and Pickled Sea Buckthorn” and “Pine Seasoned Bear Consummé with Over Cooked Bear Meat, Mushrooms, Spruce Sprout Aioli, and Chives”. I’ve never had bear meat before, so I didn’t know what to expect. The way this was cooked reminded me of the stringiness of meat in a pot roast. Bear tasted like a mix of pork and venison. The consummé broth was quite nice, sweet, deeply flavored, and it added moisture to the bear meat. I’d imagine if the cut was larger and thicker, it would be rather tough to eat. I didn’t expect to ear bear on this trip, so I was a pleasant surprise that I had the privilege to do so. The celery root soup was interesting; it was a bit earthy and herby. Next was the “Pike Perch fried in a Horseradish Butter, Honey Roasted Leek, Sautéed Spinach and King Crab Sauce”. I really enjoyed this fish as it was cooked really well, though I couldn’t really taste the horseradish butter. The king crab sauce was the same as the king crab soup from the Dining Experience the other night, which I was very excited about. My partner ordered the “Traditional Sautéed Reindeer with Lappish Mashed Potatoes and Pickled Cucumbers & Lingonberry Jam”. This dish was hearty and very much like comfort food. The sautéed reindeer was in a ground meat format placed over a bed of mashed potatoes. The lingonberry jam helped cut through the heaviness of the dish. It was honestly very delicious. We also ordered a side of “French Fries with Nettle Salt”. The meal was €110.
 
After dinner, we had the Reindeer Sleigh Ride in the Night activity, which was the second activity included in our booking package. We met at the Meeting Point again then took a 5-7 minute walk into the forest where the reindeers were kept. We had a quick demonstration before being seated in the sleigh. It was two people per sled and there were a few reindeer pelts that you could sit on. The wooden sled was very hard and unconformable; I wish they provided some pillows or better cushions and additional reindeer pelts because it got quite cold on our ride. The whole ride took about 30 minutes. We slowly moved through the forest. It was a slow peaceful ride and a bit magical, but, again, I wish we had more blankets for warmth and comfort. I can imagine if you were lucky enough to have clear skies, you’d be able to see the aurora overhead. After the ride, we went back to where we started and went into a large Lavvo. The guides provided some warm blueberry teas and cookies and shared the backstory of reindeers in Finland. I was pleased to hear that they were very respectful of the reindeers and took really good care of them. The entire activity is 3 hours long, but several couples expressed interest in returning to the resort. So we also took that opportunity to leave the activity early as well. From what I understood, the rest of the guests got to enjoy reindeer sausages after we left.
 
On the last morning, we had breakfast one more time before heading out to the airport. We asked the front desk to arrange for a van to pick up our baggage to bring to the front, as we had several heavy bags, but they kept forgetting. We even messaged them on WhatsApp. In the end, we were running late and they sent the taxi directly to our cabin to pick us up to go to the airport.
 
…TL;DR…
 
All in all, we thoroughly enjoyed our stay at Apukka. The property is beautiful and the buildings were very on theme. I thought the swing, snow hill for tubing, and open fire pit to keep warm were a cute touch. I’m glad we got the opportunity to experience so many different activities (huskies, arctic lake dip and sauna, reindeer rides) and to enjoy different Lappish foods (reindeer and bear meat, cloudberry). The staff were friendly, helpful, and accommodating. The location of the resort is convenient and close to the Santa Claus Village, Rovaniemi City Center, the airport, and to the Sweden border in case you need to drive into another country to chase auroras.
 
If your main goal is to see the auroras, be sure to have a back-up plan in case clouds cover your skies while you’re at the resort because they will not make additional efforts for you to see it even if your package is “All About Auroras”. I’m SO glad that my partner and I booked a separate aurora excursion with a different company, or we would’ve missed out on that bucket list experience.
 
Apukka is a great choice for couples and families, although the price of your vacation will be quite high with more people. For our glass igloo, activities, and meals at Apukka alone (not including flights or activities we did outside of the resort), it was over €4,200/$4,900 for two people in March 2026. It was a privilege to stay at a resort like Apukka and it was a splurge for sure. While I would recommend this resort to others, I’d say be mindful of the activities you book. Alternatively, you can book a different hotel or Airbnb in the city center and then book the Apukka activities as an outside guest. If you’re able to splurge for a winter wonderland vacation, I would highly recommend this.
 
Kiitos to the staff at Apukka for helping make this trip to Finland an amazing experience and memory!

We had a wonderful stay and can’t wait to come back! The food was absolutely delicious—every meal exceeded our expectations with fresh, flavorful dishes. The activities were exciting and well-organized, keeping us entertained throughout our trip. The staff was friendly and attentive, making our experience even better. Highly recommend this place for a perfect getaway!

I was offered a last minute discounted upgrade to a Kammi Igloo, and I'm so glad I paid extra - these two level igloos are the coolest design! It was so much fun taking a luggage sled to my igloo on the first day and opening it up to the spiral staircase, the windows all around and the gorgeous lofted bed. The grounds of the resort were also more beautiful than I expected, and I did a number of nighttime activities in hopes of seeing the Northern Lights - it was great that all the activites are run from the resort, rather than having to bus in and out.

Il resort offre servizi al top. L'ambientazione è spettacolare, ogni dettaglio è curato. Lo staff è gentile e disponibile. Dalla struttura abbiamo visto delle bellissime aurore.

Everthing

Apukka was the perfect choice for our trip to Lapland. The staff were wonderful. The activities, plentiful and fun. We chose day and night snowmobiling, and sauna/cold plunge. The sauna experience was the best!
It's such a beautiful resort. We ate at Aiita and Kota. Each section at Aiita is warm and inviting.The food was absolutely amazing. There were many small dished I wanted to try, so I ordered tapas style and each dish was just so perfect. Restaurant Kota is a must as well. It's a beautiful building set up like the shelters found throughout Finland. Its food and experience with the fire in the center of the building are Finnish delights.
We stayed in an Aurora Cabin Family. This is the most beautiful room I have experienced and I travel frequently. The design is perfectly arranged and the view is spectacular. The entry has plenty of space for suitcases, clothes, coats, boots. So you can hide your stuff and enjoy the serenity of the room. Enjoy a hot beverage by the fire or just stare out the ceiling windows into Lapland's beauty.