Guide · Summer

Reindeer farm in Rovaniemi in summer: how to experience the animals

No snow, no sleigh ride, but green forests, young calves and evenings that do not get dark: this is what a visit to the reindeer farm looks like in summer.

Check availabilityfrom $217 · free cancellation

Editorial team rentierfarmrovaniemi.deUpdated on October 3, 20266 min read12 sources

The Tour for This Guide Rovaniemi: Summer Reindeer Farm Experience 4.9 (22 reviews) 5 hours from$127per person Check availabilityFree cancellation up to 24 hours before start

In short

01Is that possible?: Yes, farm visits near Rovaniemi are also possible in summer.¹
02Summer tour: 5 hrs. on a farm, at most 9 guests, from $127.
03Calves: Most are born in May, some not until June.²
04Light: Between early June and early July, the sun stays above the horizon all night.³
05Weather: In July the average is 20.5 °C during the day and 10.2 °C at night.⁴

Reindeer in summer: what is different

Reindeer are usually associated with snow and sleigh rides, but visiting a reindeer farm near Rovaniemi in summer is equally possible.¹ Instead of a ride through the snowy forest, you can look forward to a walk on soft forest floors, among birch trees, blueberry shrubs and mosses. You will then see the animals in a landscape that few winter visitors know.

The biggest difference is that there is no classic sleigh ride in summer. Some farms replace it with a walk alongside the animals, others with feeding, conversations by the enclosure or a story around the campfire. So read the offer carefully to see what to expect. If you mainly want a sleigh ride, you should come in winter; if you want to experience the animals in peace, summer is exactly right.

Another advantage: in summer you do not have to battle cold and darkness. Without the cold you can stay outside longer, and your hands remain free for photos. Then there is the light. Rovaniemi is on the Arctic Circle, and in midsummer it does not get dark there at night.⁵ ³ That makes an evening on the farm a special experience.

The summer year

What happens with the reindeer in summer

May

Calves Are Born

Most reindeer calves are born in May.²
June

Late Births

Calving continues into June.²
June to July

Midnight sun

The sun does not set at all in Rovaniemi.³
July

Warmest month

On average 20.5 °C during the day.⁴
August

Evenings return

Mid-August, 16.9 hours of sun above the horizon.⁴

The summer tour on the reindeer farm

The tour that goes with this guide is a summer visit to a reindeer farm. It lasts 5 hrs. and is limited to 9 guests. That gives you significantly more time with the animals than a short visit, and the small group means everyone can ask their questions. The price starts from $127.

The tour is led in French, Spanish, English, Catalan and Persian. The offer does not list a German-speaking guide, but English works well. Guests rate the tour 4.89 out of 22 reviews. That are not many reviews yet, but they are very positive. We recommend reading the latest reviews before you book.

As in winter, you pay later, and cancellation up to 24 hours before the scheduled time costs nothing. This is especially practical in summer if you want to keep your schedule flexible depending on the weather. If you prefer to combine huskies and the Santa Claus Village, you will find the winter tour of this website on the homepage, but it requires snow.

Climate

Light and rain in Rovaniemi across the year

Hours without sunDays with precipitationSeason

Shown: hours without sun (mid-month) and precipitation days from 2.5 mm. Data from the NOAA station Rovaniemi Apukka, period 1991 to 2020.⁴

Month by Month

The weather in Rovaniemi at a glance

Month	Daylight (h)	Darkness (h)	High / Low	Precipitation Days	Northern lights
Jan	4.1	19.9	-7 / -17 °C	6	yes
Feb	7.9	16.1	-7 / -17 °C	4	yes
Mar	11.4	12.6	-1 / -13 °C	4	yes
Apr	15.3	8.7	5 / -5 °C	4	until early April
May	19.4	4.6	12 / 1 °C	5	no
Jun	24	0	17 / 7 °C	6	no
Jul	21.5	2.5	21 / 10 °C	7	no
Aug	16.9	7.1	18 / 8 °C	6	from late August
Sep	13	11	12 / 4 °C	6	yes
Oct	9.2	14.8	4 / -2 °C	6	yes
Nov	5.4	18.6	-2 / -8 °C	7	yes
Dec	2.3	21.7	-5 / -13 °C	6	yes

Midmonth daylight hours, averages of high and low temperatures, precipitation days from 2.5 mm. NOAA averages 1991 to 2020.⁴ Season according to Visit Rovaniemi.¹²

Summer months

June, July, or August

Early summer

June

Calves and the midnight sun

Day: 17,4 °C
Night: 7,1 °C
Sun: around the clock

Check dates

High summer

July

Warmest

Day: 20,5 °C
Night: 10,2 °C
Rainy days: 7

Check dates

Late summer

August

Evenings return

Day: 17,7 °C
Night: 8 °C
Sun: 16.9 hours

Check dates

Decision helper

Summer or winter for you?

Choose what matters most to you about the reindeer.

Winter

The snow season usually starts in November.⁶

Early summer

Most calves are born in May, some in June.²

June to July

The sun does not go down during this time.³

Summer tour

5 hours for up to 9 guests.

Winter

The husky day tour lasts 6 hours

In Rovaniemi the sun does not set during the official midnight sun period, which lasts from early June to early July.

Visit Rovaniemitranslated from English · Source 3

Calves, antlers and the summer coat

Early summer is the time of the calves. Most reindeer calves are born in May, and calving continues into June.² If you come in June, you may, with a bit of luck, see young animals that stay close to their mothers. Keep a particularly large distance then and follow the instructions of the herder, because mothers with calves are cautious and do not want to be disturbed.

Antlers also look different in summer. Both female and male reindeer carry antlers that fall off each year and grow back.⁷ In summer they are often still covered with a soft, velvety skin that supplies the growing antler. Do not touch them, even if it is tempting: the antler is sensitive for the animal during this phase.

The coat is shorter and darker in summer than the dense, light winter coat. The animals therefore look sleeker, and at first glance they almost look like other animals. Feel free to ask the herder how the animals change over the year and what they eat in summer. Such conversations are often the most beautiful part of a visit to a summer farm.

Checklist

For a summer visit

Packing

Mosquito repellent and long sleeves
Sturdy, waterproof shoes
Light rain jacket
Sunglasses and a sleep mask

On the farm

Keep your distance from mothers with calves
Do not touch antlers in the velvet
Bring questions for the owner

Video

Seven things for summer in Rovaniemi

The video loads only after you tap Play.

Midnight sun and long evenings

Rovaniemi sits on the Arctic Circle, and in summer the light shows you what that means. During the official midnight sun, from early June to early July, the sun does not set below the horizon.³ A visit in the late evening therefore feels like a bright afternoon, just quieter.

For photos this is a gift. The deep, warm light in the evening makes the animals coats glow, and the long shadows in the forest give the pictures depth. If you are on your own, you can use these hours for a walk. And because it does not get dark, you do not have to rush back to the hotel before nightfall.

Plan for enough sleep anyway. The constant light can throw off your rhythm, and after a few nights you will notice the tiredness. A sleep mask helps, because not every accommodation has thick curtains. In mid-August, the sun is still above the horizon for 16.9 hours in mid-month, then the evenings slowly return.⁴

Weather, mosquitoes and the right clothing

Summer in Rovaniemi is mild but not hot. In July the average daily high is 20.5 °C, the average low 10.2 °C.⁴ On 7 days of the month at least 2.5 mm of rain falls.⁴ In June it is a bit cooler, with 17.4 °C during the day and 7.1 °C at night.⁴ So a sweater for the evening belongs in your luggage even in summer.

The biggest issue in summer are mosquitoes. In the forests of Lapland they can be a nuisance in high summer, especially near water and on windless evenings. Pack a good insect repellent, wear long sleeves and long trousers in light colours, and think about a head net if you are sensitive. On some farms a fire helps to keep the pests away.

Firm, waterproof shoes are the best choice for your feet, because forest paths can be damp and muddy after rain. A light rain jacket keeps showers off, a small backpack carries water, snacks, and insect repellent. And sunglasses are no luxury in the northern summer, the light is bright and lasts a long time.

What else you can experience in Rovaniemi in summer

The Santa Claus Village is open every day of the year, even in summer.⁸ There you cross the Arctic Circle and can soak up Christmas atmosphere while the sun is shining outside. For families it is a nice detour, for adults a quirky experience well worth having.

If you want to learn more about life in the north, visit the Arktikum. Under its roof are the Regional Museum of Lapland and the Arctic Centre of the University of Lapland.⁹ Animal lovers will also enjoy a trip to Ranua Wildlife Park, where forest reindeer are among the animals you can see there.¹⁰ That way you get to see the wild relatives of the farm animals.

You often come across reindeer on the roads of the region without any tour at all. In Lapland they graze close to roads and houses all year round.¹¹ So drive carefully, especially in the evening, when the animals are also on the roadway. Only stop for photos where it is safe, and let the animals continue on their way undisturbed.

Summer or winter: an honest assessment

Whether summer or winter is better depends on what you want to experience. If you are looking for the classic Lapland postcard with snow, sleigh rides and perhaps northern lights, winter is the time. The snow season in Rovaniemi usually begins in November.⁶ If you want to experience the animals in peace, at pleasant temperatures and without heavy clothing, summer is the time. Northern lights are visible over Rovaniemi only from late August to early April, so not in midsummer.¹²

In winter the selection of tours is larger, and combinations with huskies or snowmobiles are possible. The reindeer, husky, and Santa Claus Village day tour lasts 6 hours and starts from $217. In summer the 5-hour summer tour starting from $127 is the obvious choice. Both seasons therefore have their own appeal and their own price.

An honest tip: if the sleigh ride is what matters most to you, wait for winter. If meeting the animals and being in nature is more important to you, summer can be even more beautiful. Those who know Lapland in winter discover a completely different side in summer. Perhaps you will come in both seasons.

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