Reindeer Ride Experience in Rovaniemi: A Magical Journey in Lapland for Your Bucket List
If you're looking for unique animals encounters while exploring the Arctic, then going on a reindeer ride experience in Rovaniemi, Lapland is definitely one for the bucket list.
Reindeer rides are more than just a scenic journey—they’re a cultural experience rooted in centuries-old practices. Whether you’re a solo traveler, a couple seeking romance, or a family on an Arctic adventure, a reindeer ride experience in Rovaniemi offers something special for everyone.
From cozy sleigh rides under the Northern Lights to daytime treks through pristine forests, we're sharing everything you need to know about having a reindeer ride experience in Rovaniemi, from which tours are offered, to how to find the best one, and what our full experience looked like.
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Going on a Reindeer Ride Experience in Rovaniemi: a Brief Intro
So, are you ready to learn all about reindeer rides in Rovaniemi? Let's dive right in!
Can You Ride Reindeer in Lapland?
Did you know that some people actually ride reindeer like horses? Well, thats not the case in Lapland, but it is in a small tribe in Mongolia!
Reindeer rides are actually sleigh rides, where the reindeer pull you - kind of like Santa Claus! (That's why we put our Santa costumes on 
).
Where Can You Go on a Sleigh Ride with a Reindeer?
You can go on a sleigh ride with reindeer in quite a few places! The most popular places for this are northern Norway, Swedish Lapland, and Finnish Lapland.
There are a lot of places across Lapland, Finland that you can do sleigh rides, but the most popular are Rovaniemi, Levi, and Saariselka. These places are home to some of the bigger resorts, as well as a number of reindeer farms.
Rovaniemi is probably the most popular place for reindeer sleigh rides, which is why we are going to share about our reindeer ride experience in Rovaniemi.
How to Book a Reindeer Ride Experience in Rovaniemi
When we first arrived to Rovaniemi, we were determined to find a reindeer sleigh ride to join. Little did we know, that most companies are booked at well in advance, which made finding one a bit challenging last minute!
Going on a Reindeer Ride Experience in Rovaniemi: Cost & Time Tables
Now, let's chat about how much reindeer rides cost, and when they run.
When are Reindeer Sleigh Rides Available?
If you're you're visiting Lapland in the winter, then you will definitely have the opportunity to go reindeer sleigh riding! There needs to be snow though, so the deeper into winter you go, the better. (Don't worry - there are different reindeer activities available in summer).
Reindeer sleigh rides can be booked for the morning, or there are also ones at night! Keep in mind that the sunrise is late and the sun sets early, so the sleigh rides are never offered at absurdly early or late times.
Most reindeer rides must be booked in advance, with the exception of the ones at Santa Claus Village (but these aren't the ones we recommend). It's also important to note that some farms aren't open every day, which is another reason it's important to book in advance.
Reindeer sleigh rides are only in the winter.
How Much is a Reindeer Ride in Lapland?
Reindeer sleigh rides are not a cheap activity, but nor are any of the excursions in Lapland really. We had a really short experience on a discount, which was 40 euros, but typically reindeer ride experiences in Rovaniemi are on average to $100-200/person, and are excursions that are a few hours long.
We recommend doing an all-in-one package at a farm. This will allow you to enjoy a variety of Arctic adventures for a bit of a discount, rather than doing a different activity each day.
The Different Reindeer Rides in Rovaniemi
There are such a variety of reindeer sleigh ride options! This is because most reindeer farms and resorts also have huskies, snowmobiling, and other activities, so there are lot of combo offers.
We've looked up a a ton of different tours and are sharing all of the highlights + prices, so you can easily pick out which one suits you best. (We've also excluded a few that we felt were not worth it).
- 500-meter sleigh ride with juice & biscuits ($90)
- 400-meter sleigh ride with berry juice, cookies, & transportation ($103)
- 2 km sleigh ride with professional photos included ($140)
- 1.5 km sleigh ride with hot drinks & cookies ($166)
- 500-meter reindeer ride + 500-meter husky ride with cookies & juice + visit to Santa Claus Village ($170)
- 3-4 km sleigh ride under the northern lights with sausages & hot drinks ($186)
- 500-meter reindeer ride + 500-meter husky ride with salmon soup lunch + visit to Santa Claus Village ($196)
- 500-meter reindeer ride + snowmobile ride with juice & biscuits ($196)
- 500-meter reindeer ride + 500-meter husky ride + snowmobiling with hot juice & biscuits ($206)
- Reindeer sleigh ride + Northern lights tour with Finnish pastries and hot drinks ($229)
- 400-meter reindeer ride + 500-meter husky ride + tour of Santa Claus Village + Northern Lights tour with chocolate & tea ($249)
- Snowmobile ride + reindeer sleigh ride + Santa Claus Village visit with hot drinks ($244)
- Reindeer sleigh ride + husky ride + 1 hr snowmobiling ($249)
We recommend doing a combo tour that includes multiple activities.
Other Similar Activities
Not visiting in the winter or want to do something a bit different instead? Well, don't worry - there are also some other really cool activities you can enjoy from canoeing and visiting the reindeer farms or riding an Arctic horse instead.
Here are some other cool activities we picked out for you just in case:
- 2-hour Northern Lights sleigh ride ($80) - this is a motorized sleigh rather than a reindeer sleigh ride
- Reindeer farm with photographer ($103)
- Summer reindeer farm experience ($114)
- Reindeer farm + canoeing ($134)
- Late night ride with Finnish horses ($140)
- E-fat bike tour to reindeer farm ($172)
- Snowmobile ride + reindeer farm visit & reindeer herding and walk ($135)
Reindeer Ride Experience in Rovaniemi: FAQ & Things to Know
Before sharing our own reindeer ride experience in Rovaniemi, we're going to share some things you should know about sleigh rides in general!
It can be a bit confusing when choosing one, so hopefully the answers to these questions will cover any questions you may have about the different excursions.
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How Long are Reindeer Ride Experiences in Rovaniemi?
Reindeer ride experiences in Rovaniemi range from short 1-hour experiences, to several hours.
The sleigh ride themselves are not nearly as long, as there are other activities included such as learning about the reindeer, feeding them, or having snacks and hot drinks.
Reindeer sleigh rides can be as short as 500 m, and as long as a few km. We did the 500m one and it was pretty short, so we'd recommend to opt for a 1 km one.
Many reindeer sleigh rides are short routes, but you can get long ones through the wilderness.
How Long Does a 1 km Reindeer Ride Take?
A 1 km reindeer ride takes about 20 minutes.
What is the Top Speed of a Reindeer?
Reindeer can run up to 37 to 50 miles per hour! Well, that's what they say. But the truth is that reindeer are pretty mellow animals, so reindeer sleigh rides actually go very slow.
Can Reindeer Really Pull a Sleigh?
Reindeer have been domesticated in Lapland for a long time, and due to their long relationship with humans, they are well accustomed to pulling sleighs.
How Many People Can Ride in a Sleigh?
Sleighs are typically for two people. However, if there is someone who is very heavy, then they will need to go in a sleigh by themselves.
How Much Weight Can a Reindeer Pull?
Reindeer can pull up to 300 lbs, so with having two people in the sleigh, you'll have to be able to pair up in a way that your sleigh does not weigh too much for the reindeer.
There are typically 2 people in each sleigh.
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How to Prepare for a Reindeer Ride Experience in Rovaniemi
Now that you know the different tour options, let's get you ready for your reindeer ride experience in Rovaniemi.
Weather in Lapland
Lapland has 4 seasons, with mild summers, and super cold and snowy winters. Being located in the Arctic Circle, it is one of the coldest places on Earth!
The Best Time to do a Reindeer Sleigh Ride
Reindeer ride experiences in Rovaniemi are typically from November to April. The best time to do one though is in the height of winter when there is plenty of snow, such as January or February.
In December we had enough snow, but it would have been better with more!
How to Prepare for a Reindeer Ride Experience
So are you ready for your Arctic adventures? Here are a few things to help you prepare.
What to Wear on a Sleigh Ride
Despite what I was thinking, snow pants are totally unnecessary for the reindeer sleigh ride. Just remember to dress warm! Bundle up with a jacket, scarf, hat, gloves, thermal socks, boots, and bring hand warmers as well.
Make sure to dress warm!
What Should I Bring on a Sleigh Ride?
There isn't much you need to bring on a reindeer sleigh ride - just your phone and camera to document it! We wanted to use our drone but weren't able to, so we'd recommend bringing an Insta 360 with an extra long selfie stick to get cool footage.
If you choose one of the excursion that lasts several hours, then we'd recommend bringing a power bank, since the cold temperatures drain your battery very quickly.
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Reindeer Ride Experience in Rovaniemi: Our Experience
Since we didn't book in advance, our options were very limited for reindeer sleigh rides, but we got very lucky with a deal, and found one we were able to squeeze in later in the day (we definitely don't suggest doing this).
Our tour was at 12:00, and was an hour long. Our guide gathered us and briefed us about the experience, and he started breaking up the group in smaller groups to start the sleigh rides.
We decided to go at the end, so in the meantime we were able to hang out with some of the reindeer that are older and no longer do sleigh riding. We fed them with the thin branches scattered along the floor, and took a ton of pictures.
While waiting for our sleigh ride we took pictures and fed the reindeer.
When it came for the sleigh ride, we grabbed the back one so we could get pictures of us with no one behind. The ride was pretty short, but we got to enjoy a small loop for 10 minutes with the reindeer pulling us.
After the sleigh ride we went into the Kota (traditional Finnish hut) where there was a fireplace, hot glogi, and cinnamon buns. We received our Official Reindeer Driver's License, and spent a few minutes warming back up.
The last 10-15 minutes our guide taught us all about reindeer herding in Finland, giving us fun facts about reindeer and the Sami culture, and taking any questions people had about Finnish traditions and the life of these magical animals.
After we left the Kota we were free to roam the farm and enjoy the reindeers, snuggle up by the bonfire, and play on the little playground ride they had.
Overall, we really enjoyed our experience, and felt it was a unique way to learn about Sami culture and reindeer. Next time we will certainly book in advance and enjoy some of the other activities offered!
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Safety & Rules for Doing a Reindeer Ride Experience in Rovaniemi
Now that you know what a reindeer ride experience in Rovaniemi looks like, let's go over a few things you should know to be safe and enjoy your visit.
Are Reindeer Friendly to Humans?
While reindeer aren't typically dangerous animals, they can certainly try to attack someone if they feel threatened. This is why it's important not to rough-house around them or run up to them.
If you are traveling with children, please encourage them to behave accordingly for the safety and well-being of both the kids and the animals.
Do Reindeer Like Being Pet?
Unlike huskies, you're not going to be able to play with the reindeer, and many won't really enjoy you touching them at all.
They're very calm animals, but also prefer their space, so it's better to simply feed them and not make any sudden movements.
Reindeer also do not like their faces or antlers being touched, so if you want to get close to them, stay closer to their backends.
Please don't go near the reindeer's face.
Rules at Reindeer Farms
There aren't a ton of rules at reindeer farms, but here are a few things you should keep in mind:
- Respect the space of the reindeer, and don't touch their faces or antlers.
- Listen to your guide at all times.
- Keep your volume down near the reindeer.
- Drones were not permitted at our farm (that doesn't mean everywhere, but something to keep in mind).
- Leave no trace.
- Only feed the reindeer with branches, leaves, or what the guide allows.
Always listen to your guide before approaching the reindeer.
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Going on a Reindeer Ride Experience in Rovaniemi: Tips & Feedback
Now that you know what a reindeer ride experience in Rovaniemi looks like, we want to share a bit of our feedback, as well as some tips for the best possible excursion.
Is a Reindeer Ride Experience in Rovaniemi Worth it?
We're going to be honest, while a reindeer ride experience in Rovaniemi is really unique and cool, we couldn't help but feel bad. We truthfully were under the impression that reindeer are super strong animals, and that is would be more similar to husky sleigh ride. While the reindeer at our farm were well taken care of, the ones at Santa Claus Village did not look like it.
Not all reindeer ride experiences are worth it, and we'd recommend only going to a farm that really takes good care of their reindeer, and to choose one of the tours we listed above.
We're so happy we did this bucket list experience, but also wouldn't justify splurging to do one of the really expensive ones if it's just the ride. We suggest doing a tour package that includes a little bit of everything, so you can explore a variety of arctic adventures for a similar price.
Make sure you are going to an ethical farm that treats their reindeer right.
Tips for Reindeer Rides in Rovaniemi
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So are you ready to book your reindeer ride experience in Rovaniemi? We hope our guide has helped you learn all about this unique excursion, and are happy to help if you have any questions down in the comments.
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