Cultural Canoe Trip around Rovaniemi

Visit Rovaniemi in a unique and original way ! Canoeing together on the arctic rivers, your guide will show you around the hometown of Santa Claus and capital of Lapland.

Before embarking for your sightseeing tour, your qualified canoe guide will teach you the basic techniques on how to canoe and will provide you with all the safety instructions needed. You will be explained how to use the paddles, how to move on water and steer your canoe, how to react if capsizing, etc. You will start on very quiet waters, protected by islands, to get used to the canoe and the different techniques. During the tour, your guide will always keep an eye on you, and will come to your aid if you are in need of help.

While paddling, your guide will show you around Rovaniemi and the different tourist attractions : the Arktikum Museum, Kemijoki, Ounasjoki, Ounasvaara, the Lumberjack bridge, the Rovaniemi beach, the church... They will share with you their knowledge about the town and its history, life in the Arctic, and the nature that surrounds Rovaniemi. As you follow the flow of the river, you will have one stop at the Kotisaari island, which used to be a stronghold for lumberjacks, before heading to the Local Heritage Museum of Rovaniemi located on the shores of the river.

The visit of the museum will be the opportunity to travel back in time and discover life in a local farmhouse a hundred years ago. The museum covers different aspects of the traditional lifestyles in Lapland and the different trades such as salmon fishing, cattle farming, hunting and forestry. The museum displays a rich collection of artefacts and interesting objects such as one of the very first bibles written in Finnish, as well as photography exhibition of the history of Rovaniemi.