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The Story of Stella Polaris Adventures

Stella Polaris Adventures is one of the longest-established activity providers in the Kuusamo and Ruka region. The company’s roots date back to the 1920s, when Iikka Mustonen from Käylä began guiding travellers through the rapids of the Kitkajoki River. Today, Stella Polaris offers white-water rafting, snowmobile safaris and a wide range of other nature-based experiences throughout the year, continuing a family business story that spans nearly a century.

It All Began on the Kitkajoki River

The story of Stella Polaris Adventures dates back to the 1920s, when Iisak “Käylän Iikka” Mustonen, a guide and forest ranger from Käylä, began taking travellers through the rushing rapids of the Kitkajoki River. At a time when tourism was only beginning to take its first steps in the Kuusamo region, Iikka offered visitors unforgettable experiences in nature: white-water rafting, fishing, wilderness excursions and genuine local hospitality. He is regarded as one of the pioneers of tourism and commercial white-water rafting in Kuusamo, whose example helped lay the foundations for nature tourism in the region.

The Tradition Continues with a New Generation

More than 70 years later, in 1995, Iikka’s descendant Marko Mustonen founded Stella Polaris Adventures to continue the family’s long tradition of wilderness activities and tourism. Alongside white-water rafting, the range of services quickly expanded to include snowmobile safaris, snowshoeing excursions, ice fishing trips, wilderness camps and a wide variety of nature experiences throughout the year. As the company grew, Stella Polaris established itself as one of the leading activity providers in the Kuusamo and Ruka region.

Growth and New Experiences

Over the years, Stella Polaris Adventures has grown from a small family business into a versatile tourism company. Today, the company operates from several locations in the Ruka–Kuusamo area, has its own white-water rafting centre in Juuma, accommodation cottages and a fleet of around 50 snowmobiles. The company continues to be guided by the same values that shaped its beginnings in the days of Käylän Iikka: strong local knowledge, safety, respect for nature and authentic experiences.

Route Services Become Part of the Stella Polaris Family

In 2018, the Stella Polaris family of companies expanded further when Reittipalvelu Stella Polaris Oy took over the maintenance of snowmobile trails in the Ruka–Kuusamo area through a business acquisition. Today, the company provides snowmobile trail maintenance and grooming services across Northern Finland and actively contributes to improving snowmobiling conditions and maintaining trail networks.

The Fifth Generation Takes the Lead

In 2019, Marko Mustonen’s eldest son, Henri Mustonen, took over as CEO of Stella Polaris Adventures. His youngest son, Aleksi Mustonen, serves as the company’s Operations Director for safari and activity services. With the generational transition, the company has continued to grow while remaining firmly rooted in the wilderness traditions of the Kitkajoki River, Käylä and Kuusamo.

In 2025, Henri Mustonen was named Kuusamo’s Young Entrepreneur of the Year in recognition of his determined work in developing the company, expanding its tourism services and carrying the traditions of the family business into a new era.

Nearly a Century of Adventures

Today, Stella Polaris Adventures is already being run by the fifth generation. Although the equipment and operating environment have changed over the decades, the legacy of Käylän Iikka lives on in every excursion, rafting trip and safari. For nearly a century, the same idea has been passed down from one generation to the next: to offer guests authentic experiences in the northern wilderness, guided by local people.