Reindeer Farm Rovaniemi: a day in the snow.

When it is most beautiful depends on the snow: in Rovaniemi the snow season typically starts in November. Reindeer farms can also be visited in summer, just without sleigh rides. If you come in winter you should be prepared for real cold and pack a few extra layers.

This tour combines reindeer with a ride behind Alaskan Huskies, a lunch with salmon soup, and a visit to the Santa Claus Village at the Arctic Circle. If you prefer reindeer only, you will find shorter tours for comparison further down.

Reindeer are part of everyday life in northern Finland. The reindeer herding area covers 36 percent of the country's land area. And every animal you see in the forest has an owner, because reindeer are semi-domesticated. So when you visit a reindeer farm in Finland, you meet animals that belong to a living tradition, not zoo animals.

For you this means: you see reindeer not behind glass, but where people work with them. That is exactly why it is worth coming with open questions. The herders and guides are happy to talk about what a year with the animals looks like.

Families report that the children were especially thrilled by the Huskies. The lunch also comes up in the reviews: the salmon soup there tastes like home cooking and is just right after the cold.

There is some criticism though. Several guests found the rides with reindeer and Huskies rather short, and some report waiting at the meeting point before it started. A few found the Santa Claus Village less special than expected. Anyone looking for long sleigh rides should therefore also consider tours with longer routes.

Typical for winter in Rovaniemi are temperatures from minus 10 to minus 20 degrees. At a reindeer farm you spend a lot of time outdoors, sit still in the sleigh and watch the animals. You feel the cold faster than you do on a walk through the city.

In summer the visit looks quite different. You can visit reindeer farms then too. Between early June and early July, the sun in Rovaniemi does not set at all. Instead of sleigh rides there are then walks and conversations by the fence.

One detail surprises many visitors: both female and male reindeer grow antlers. And the calves are usually born in May, some not until June. If you come in early summer, you may therefore see young animals with a bit of luck.

Reindeer are calm, but not cuddly animals. On the farm the herder will tell you how close you may approach. With slow movements and a little patience the animals often come closer on their own.

In family reviews the Huskies are mentioned as the children favorite moment. After the ride there is often still a moment to see the dogs up close.

Important to know: on this tour you sit in the sleigh and do not drive the team yourself. If you want to drive yourself, it is better to book a separate Husky safari. Rovaniemi has several offers for that.

The village is colorful, full of visitors, and especially an experience for families. If you are looking for Christmas atmosphere you will find it here in any season.

Adults without children sometimes see the village as more subdued. Plan the visit therefore as a relaxed ending after reindeer and Huskies, not as the highlight.

Your feet and hands get especially cold on a farm because you stand a lot and take photos. Thick winter boots, warm socks and gloves that still let you operate your phone make the biggest difference.

A hat that covers your ears and a scarf go with that. If you tend to feel cold easily, pack an extra layer; taking off a layer is faster than trying to warm up on the go.

At the same time it is worth taking an honest look at the map: the Sami homeland in Finland includes Enontekiö, Inari and Utsjoki as well as the northern part of Sodankylä. Rovaniemi is not in this area. Not every reindeer farm here is therefore a Sami farm.

The Sami Parliament has published its own principles for tourism aimed at ending the exploitation of their culture and false information about the Sami. So feel free to ask who runs a farm, and enjoy the reindeer without reading a culture into it that is not actually there.

If you want to observe reindeer in peace, you can visit the Ranua Wildlife Park south of Rovaniemi, where woodland reindeer are among the animals you can see there. For a rainy day in the city the Arktikum is a good choice, the seat of the Arctic Center and the Lapland Regional Museum.

A sleigh ride and a conversation with a herder, however, are not included in that. For that a farm visit remains the most direct way to the animals.

There are also reasons to choose differently. The tour costs from $217, a pure reindeer tour with sleigh ride is available from $101. If you especially want to ride through the forest for a long time, a tour with a longer route is a better fit.

If you want to book the reindeer farm in Rovaniemi without weighing too many options, this tour is a good all-around day. If one of the experiences is especially important to you, it is worth looking at the specialized tours in the guides.