Tailored holidays & adventures in Ruka-Kuusamo

Tailored Adventures Rukapalvelu was born from Jokke Kämäräinen’s passion for entrepreneurship and his courage to trust his instincts. As a true lover of the outdoors, Jokke felt a strong desire to offer guests experiences that were genuinely unique and memorable. It was only natural to begin developing a tourism business alongside the rapid growth of the Ruka ski resort.

The story of Rukapalvelu began on October 10, 1987, when Jokke purchased five snowmobiles and started offering safaris in Ruka. In the early years, the main customers were guests staying in company-owned holiday cabins. The business was year-round from the very beginning. In the summer of 1988, three rafting boats were acquired to serve summer visitors, and the first camp sites and a small wilderness hut were built in Petäjävaara as a resting place for excursions. The following summer, a rafting camp was established in Juuma.

The first steps toward international tourism were taken in 1991, when the first incentive groups arrived from Germany in cooperation with Rantasipi Rukahovi. The company’s most famous wilderness camp, Kammi, was also completed that year. Through a joint development project, more guests were attracted from Germany and France. In 1993, the Safari House was completed, providing Rukapalvelu with its own dedicated premises.

Over the years, Rukapalvelu expanded its range of services. Alongside snowmobiling, fishing excursions and white-water rafting adventures were developed. Restaurant operations began in 1997 with the opening of a harbour café in Kuusamo. In 2000, the business moved to the new Restaurant Zone premises, where the first apartments and an extension to the Safari House were also completed. Additional accommodation capacity was added in 2003 with the completion of the Rukariutta apartments. Rukahuolto was established in 1998, and the Pohjanseita wilderness camp was built near Kuusamo Airport the same year. The Safari House and Restaurant Zone were expanded in 2005, and the following year the Pohjanseita Forest Spa was completed.

During the last decade, Rukapalvelu has invested heavily in developing its accommodation, restaurant, and activity services. In 2018, Hotel Arctic Zone was completed in a prime location in the heart of Ruka village, followed by eight new apartments in Rukariutta in 2019. The Arctic Zone Apartments were fully renovated in 2020 to meet increasing quality expectations and guest requirements.

International tourism has experienced strong growth, and in 2023 the number of charter groups arriving through international tour operators increased significantly. These weekly package guests now form the foundation of the activity calendar, around which safari operations are naturally built and developed.

In 2024, Rukapalvelu’s long-standing Korsu Restaurant underwent a major transformation, receiving a fresh new look and a new name – Hippa. At the same time, the magic of Christmas took over Petäjävaara, where guests are now welcomed by Santa Claus himself. A carefully designed Christmas experience begins already at the airport and continues seamlessly throughout the entire stay.

Growth continued in 2025 with the completion of a new equipment hall in Rukariutta and a snowmobile garage in Petäjävaara to support the expanding activity operations. In 2026, the Rukariutta area will once again undergo a significant expansion with the completion of 24 new apartments.

Rukapalvelu’s customer base has evolved from domestic corporate clients to international groups, and today the company serves both Finnish and international leisure travellers throughout the year. Since the very beginning, the company’s philosophy has been to serve every customer with enthusiasm, around the clock and every day of the year.

Rukapalvelu aims to be a gateway to the nature, experiences, and authentic northern lifestyle of Kuusamo. The company’s mission is to deepen people’s connection with nature while creating unforgettable experiences in one of Finland’s most spectacular wilderness destinations.

Today, Rukapalvelu offers a diverse selection of accommodation, restaurants, sauna experiences, and activities ranging from white-water rafting, river floating, and fishing trips to snowmobile safaris and a wide variety of other outdoor adventures. Whether you are looking for an unforgettable adventure or peaceful moments surrounded by nature, Rukapalvelu is ready to welcome you – every day of the year, in every season.