Many of our guests arrive at Kuoksa in the dark, step out of the car and ask the same thing: whose forest is this? The answer is simple. It is ours, and it has been our family’s for four generations.
This article tells the story of the Kuoksa Wilderness Park land as we tell it on our own pages, and puts it in context with a few facts about Finnish family forests and outdoor rights from Finland’s public institutions.
In short: Kuoksa is a private family forest outside Rovaniemi. For four generations our family has cared for its forests and lakes, and today three brothers carry that on as StayLapland. The land is home to Kuoksa Wilderness Park, where we run our husky, reindeer, snowmobile and Northern Lights tours, and in 2025 the park received both the Sustainable Travel Finland (STF) certification and the Biosphere certification.
Kuoksa Reindeer Adventure at a glance
- From: 159 €
- Experience type: Reindeer tour
- Duration: 3 hours
- Difficulty: Very easy
- Book in Advance: Cut off: 12 hours before start time
- Included: 2-3 km reindeer safari in the forest of Lapland; Information about the life of reindeer, reindeer farm and reindeer herding in general; A Tour Guide in English (other languages available on request: (Spanish, Portuguese, French, Italian, German & Finnish. PLEASE NOTE LIMITED AVAILABILITY FOR OTHER LANGUAGES) If another language is required. Please send us an email or WhatsApp after booking.); Winter clothing (Adult & Child size), overalls, boots, gloves, socks; Cookies and juice; Photos taken with your own device; Pick-ups are included in the price within a 10 km radius of Rovaniemi city centre; Between 1 December and 10 January, drop-offs are included only to selected locations: Postmaster Hotel, Rovaniemi City Centre, Ollerovaara area and Santa Claus Village; Air conditioned car
- Cancellation: Free cancellation 24 hours before the activity. We will charge a cancellation fee of 100% if booking is cancelled less than 24 hours before the activity.
- Accessibility: Not wheelchair accessible; Not stroller accessible
StayLapland · From 159 €
3 hours · Very easy · Cut off: 12 hours before start time
A forest that stayed in one family
StayLapland began as one family’s story. For four generations the family has looked after the forests and lakes of Kuoksa, and the land has been where family memories were made long before it welcomed visitors. Today three brothers continue that legacy.
What they want to share is the same thing they grew up with: the peace and quiet that can still be found on these lands, and genuine experiences of Lapland that guests can enjoy with a clean conscience. That is why our own motto, on our We Are Family page, is simply that at StayLapland we are family.
Family forests are the Finnish norm
A family-owned forest is not unusual in Finland. According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, more than 75% of Finland’s land area is forest, and Finnish forests are mostly owned by private individuals and families. In southern and central Finland about three-quarters of forests are privately owned, while most state-owned forest lies in the north and east.
The Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke) last published its forest ownership statistics for 2016. At that time private persons held three-fifths of Finland’s forest land, there were about 620,000 forest owners, and the average private forest property was 30.5 hectares. That series has since been discontinued, so these are the most recent official figures rather than today’s.
In Lapland, where much of the land belongs to the state, a private forest that has stayed with one family for four generations is something we are proud of and something we feel responsible for.
Caring for the land: what it means for us
For us, sustainability is not a new policy but a way of life rooted in the family’s traditions. On our sustainability page we describe what that looks like in practice:
- minimising waste, conserving energy and sourcing sustainable and local materials for our operations;
- running excursions to ethical guidelines, so that nature and wildlife are treated with respect;
- keeping tour groups small to limit our impact on nature;
- partnering with local suppliers and supporting Lapland’s cultural heritage;
- continuously looking for ways to reduce our carbon footprint.
We see it as an ongoing journey, not a finished job.
StayLapland · From 349 €
Kuoksa Husky & Reindeer Adventure
5 hours · Easy · Cut off: 1 day before start time
Certified in 2025: STF and Biosphere
In 2025 Kuoksa Wilderness Park was awarded two sustainability certifications. The first is Sustainable Travel Finland (STF), Visit Finland’s programme for travel companies. Visit Finland explains that STF-labelled companies hold a sustainability certificate audited by a third party and meet a strict set of criteria for responsible, long-term development.
The second is the Biosphere Certification, an international certification based on the United Nations’ 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. It recognises work to protect nature, to involve our team in meaningful sustainability work and to deliver high-quality experiences to our guests.
Kuoksa Husky Park and Kuoksa Reindeer Stories, which operate at Kuoksa, are applying for their own separate certifications.
Who works on the land today
Kuoksa is a shared home for several teams. Kuoksa Reindeer Stories was founded by Jouni Savukoski, whose family has passed reindeer herding down through generations in Savukoski, about 200 kilometres north-east of Rovaniemi. Most of the herd lives out in the forest throughout the year, while the trained working reindeer are at Kuoksajärvi. They have spacious pens and a reindeer-specific work shift calendar so that they get the rest they need.
The sled dogs belong to Tails Ahead Sleddogs, a kennel based in Taivalkoski run by Bent and Delia. Together with StayLapland they organise the dog sledding tours at Kuoksa Husky Park from November until April.
Everyman’s rights and a private forest
Finland has a tradition known as everyman’s rights (jokamiehenoikeudet). As Metsähallitus explains on Luontoon.fi, everyone may walk, ski and cycle in nature, stay temporarily, and pick wild berries, mushrooms and plants that are not protected, also on land they do not own.
The same rights have limits. They do not allow you to light a fire on somebody else’s land, disturb animals, cut down or damage growing trees, collect dry or fallen wood, or drive a motor vehicle off the road. At StayLapland we encourage our guests to explore responsibly: respecting wildlife, leaving no trace and appreciating the land that sustains local traditions and communities.
How this shows up on our tours
Every tour at Kuoksa is a visit to the family forest. The easiest way to see it is the Kuoksa Reindeer Adventure: from 159 €, 3 hours, very easy, with a 2–3 km reindeer safari through the forest, information about reindeer life, the reindeer farm and herding in general, winter clothing, cookies and juice, and pick-up within 10 km of Rovaniemi city centre. If the weather does not allow a sleigh ride, the tour is arranged as a reindeer walk instead.
For a longer day, the Kuoksa Husky & Reindeer Adventure (from 349 €, 5 hours) combines a 5 km self-driven husky ride, a 2–3 km reindeer sleigh ride and open-fire salmon soup in a teepee. Kuoksa is also where our evening tours go, including the Northern Lights snowmobile tour.
Browse all reindeer activities and combo activities, or read more about our reindeer safari and about reindeer in general.
Frequently asked questions
Who owns Kuoksa?
Kuoksa is private land that our family has cared for over four generations. Today three brothers carry on the family legacy as StayLapland.
What certifications does Kuoksa Wilderness Park have?
In 2025 Kuoksa Wilderness Park was awarded both the Sustainable Travel Finland (STF) certification and the Biosphere Certification. Kuoksa Husky Park and Kuoksa Reindeer Stories are applying for their own certifications.
Where do the reindeer live?
Most of the herd lives out in the forest throughout the year. The trained working reindeer are at Kuoksajärvi, with spacious pens and a work shift calendar that gives them rest.
When do the husky tours run at Kuoksa?
Tails Ahead Sleddogs and StayLapland organise the dog sledding tours at Kuoksa Husky Park from November until April.
Which tour is the gentlest way to see the forest?
The Kuoksa Reindeer Adventure is rated very easy: 3 hours in total with a 2–3 km reindeer safari, from 159 €.
Book the Kuoksa Reindeer Adventure
StayLapland · From 159 €
3 hours · Very easy · Cut off: 12 hours before start time
Questions about Kuoksa or our tours? Email booking@staylapland.com or WhatsApp +358 40 128 7846.
You may also like
- Kuoksa Husky & Reindeer Adventure — from 349 €, 5 hours
Sources
- Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry of Finland: Forest resources
- Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke): Ownership of forest land 2016
- Luontoon.fi (Metsähallitus): Everyman’s rights
- Visit Finland: Travel sustainably in Finland