Guidebook · Farm visit

Visiting a reindeer farm in Rovaniemi: how your visit works

Pickup, arrival at the gate, a short sleigh ride, and time for questions: that is what a visit to the reindeer farms near Rovaniemi looks like, and here is what you should pay attention to.

Check availabilityfrom $217 · free cancellation

Editorial team rentierfarmrovaniemi.deUpdated on October 3, 20267 min read18 sources

The Tour for This Guide Rovaniemi: Reindeer, Huskies and Santa Claus Village 4.6 (2,413 reviews) 6 hoursPickup IncludedWith huskies and Santa Claus Village from$217per person Check availabilityFree cancellation up to 24 hours before start

In short

01What to expect: An example from Visit Rovaniemi: 400 m by sleigh, the animals up close, drinks and cookies by the fire.¹
02Duration: A farm visit with sleigh ride lasts 1.5 hours; this tour with huskies and the Arctic Circle lasts 6 hours.
03Feeding and touching: Children are allowed to feed and touch the animals on a private family visit; ask ahead of time.²
04Time of year: The sleigh needs snow, usually from November onward; farm visits are also available in summer.³ ⁴
05Price: A farm visit with sleigh ride from $101, this tour from $217.

How a visit to the reindeer farm works

If you want to visit a reindeer farm in Rovaniemi, the easiest way is to book a guided tour with pickup. A bus or minivan takes you out of the city to a farm in the woods, where the animals stand in large enclosures among pine and birch trees. As soon as you step out, you will notice how quiet it is. The owner or a guide greets the group and briefly explains how to behave around the animals before you head to the enclosures.

After that, the sleigh ride usually follows. A reindeer pulls you along a set track through the forest, calmly and without rush, and you do not need to steer anything. How long the route is depends on the tour. Visit Rovaniemi describes a farm where the ride is 400 m long and the visit ends with drinks and cookies by the fire.¹ On other tours, the distance is already in the name, for example a ride of 2 km through the forest.

After the ride, there is time for the animals, for photos, and for questions to the owner. On some farms a kota, a wooden hut with an open fire in the center, awaits to warm you up. The tour on this page is part of a longer day: it also includes a ride behind Alaskan huskies, traditional salmon soup, and a visit to the Santa Claus Village, where you cross the Arctic Circle.

How it works

Your farm visit step by step

Before booking

Read the offer

Check whether the offer includes a sleigh ride, feeding, and a fire to warm up.
In the morning

Dress in layers

Several layers of winter clothing will keep you warm on the farm.⁵
Pickup

Into the bus

The pickup is already included in this tour.
On the farm

Arrive calmly

Listen to the owner before you approach the animals and follow their rules.
In the sleigh

Sit and watch

A reindeer pulls you through the forest on a short stretch.
Later

Warm up

This tour includes traditional salmon soup for lunch.

Feeding: what the animals eat and what is allowed

Feeding reindeer is often at the top of the wish list for families. Whether it is possible depends on the farm. Visit Rovaniemi describes a private family visit where children are allowed to feed and even touch the animals.² This applies to this offer and not automatically to every farm. If feeding is important to you, read carefully what the offer states before booking, or ask the provider.

The animals are fed what they naturally eat in winter. In addition to lichens, which they scrape from under the snow, they are also given branches, hay, and beard lichens.⁶ If feeding is allowed, the owner will hand you the food or place it in a bucket. Keep your hand flat and open, and the animal will take the food with its soft lips without nipping you.

Do not bring your own food, not even bread, apples, or cookies from the hotel. Reindeer have a sensitive stomach, and unfamiliar food can harm them. Also do not throw anything over the fence if no owner is nearby. If you follow these rules, you make it easy for the animals to stay relaxed, and that is exactly when they often come closer on their own.

Compare

Farm visits from Rovaniemi

Tour	Duration	Language	Rating	From price
Farm with sleigh ride	2.5 hours	English	4,25	from $101
Farm with photographer	3.5 hrs	English, Spanish	4,93	from $137
Farm with walk	2 hrs	Finnish, English, German	5,00	from $150
Farm with short ride	2.5 hours	English, French, Spanish	4,65	from $173
This husky tour	6 hrs	English	4,57	from $217

This is how the offers on GetYourGuide state it; each price is a starting price per person.

Selection

Three Ways to a Reindeer Farm

Rovaniemi: Reindeer Experience with Sleigh Ride

Budget

Farm with Sleigh Ride

Short and affordable

Duration: 2.5 hours
Rating: 4,25
Pickup: Included
Price: from $101

View tour

Rovaniemi: Reindeer Farm Visit, Walk-Along and Local Culture

German

Farm in English

Walk with the Animals

Duration: 2 hrs
Group: Max. 10 Guests
Rating: 5,00
Price: from $150

View tour

Rovaniemi: Reindeer, Huskies & Santa Claus Village

Full day

This tour

Reindeer, Huskies, Arctic Circle

Duration: 6 hrs
Rating: 4,57
Pickup: Included
Price: from $217

View tour

Decision helper

Which Farm Visit Fits You?

Choose what matters most to you on your visit.

Farm with Sleigh Ride

From $101 for 2.5 hours with pickup.

Farm with walk

Also guided in English, maximum 10 guests.

Farm with photographer

3.5 hours, maximum 8 guests.

This tour

Reindeer, Huskies, Salmon Soup, and Arctic Circle in 6 Hours

Summer Visit

5 hours on a farm, maximum 9 guests.

Enjoy a quiet reindeer sleigh ride over 400 m, meet the animals up close, and warm up by the fire with drinks and cookies.

Visit Rovaniemitranslated from English · Source 1

Petting, photographing, keeping your distance

Whether you are allowed to pet reindeer depends on the owner, just like feeding. The animals are used to people, but they are not pets. Every reindeer you meet in a Finnish forest has an owner.⁷ That person on the farm will tell you how much closeness is appropriate. Move slowly, speak quietly, and do not reach suddenly for the head. Touching the neck or shoulder is usually more comfortable for the animal.

For photos, it is worth getting down on your knees. At eye level, the animals appear closer, and the snow in the background brightens the picture. Turn off the flash, as it startles the animals. In the cold, your phone battery drains quickly, so keep it in an inner pocket and only take it out when you want to take a photo. A spare battery in your jacket is worth its weight in gold on a farm.

Pay attention to the antlers when photographing. Both female and male reindeer grow antlers of solid bone, which shed once a year and regrow.⁸ An animal that lowers its head or bumps you with its antlers wants distance right now. Step back. Also never stand directly behind an animal, and do not let children run into the enclosure unsupervised.

Map

Rovaniemi at a glance

Most reindeer tours pick you up in town; the Santa Claus Village is to the north.

Map of Rovaniemi with city center, Arktikum, airport, and Santa Claus Village — Rovaniemi

1
City center
Rovaniemi sits right on the Arctic Circle.⁹
In Google Maps ↗
2
Arktikum
Here the Arctic Centre of the University and the Regional Museum share a building.¹⁰
In Google Maps ↗
3
Santa Claus Village
The Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi is open every day of the year.¹¹
In Google Maps ↗
4
Airport
Ten kilometers separate the airport from the city center.¹²
In Google Maps ↗

Open the map in Google Maps

Checklist

For Your Visit to the Reindeer Farm

Dress Up

Bottom layer: wool or thermal base layer
Felt-lined Winter Boots and Wool Socks
Mittens with Thin Gloves Underneath
Hat Over the Ears and a Scarf

On the farm

Listen to the Owner First, Then Go to the Animals
Do Not Bring Your Own Food
Turn Off Your Phone Flash
A second battery, close to the body

On this tour

Pickup Included
Reserve first, pay later
Free cancellation up to one day before

Video

Reindeer Farm and Night Walk in Rovaniemi

The video loads only after you tap Play.

What the owner tells you about the reindeer year

Reindeer husbandry is a profession in Finland, not a backdrop for visitors. The herding area covers 122,936 km², which is a large part of the country.¹³ Part of the herds lives freely in the forest and is only gathered at certain times. On a farm you will usually see animals that are accustomed to people and sleighs, while the rest of the herd roams the forests outdoors.

A good way to start a conversation is to ask about the gathering. During a gathering, herders bring smaller groups together with larger herds and drive them into enclosures, on foot, by motorcycle, by quad, and even by helicopter.¹⁴ Feel free to ask how it works with this family, when it takes place, and what happens to the animals afterward. Such questions make the visit much more vivid than any photo.

In spring the young ones arrive. Most calves are born in May, some not until June.¹⁵ In winter, on the other hand, everything revolves around feeding: the animals scrape lichens from under the snow, and on the farm hay and branches are provided as supplement.⁶ If you want to know how the animals survive the winter, the owner is the best source you can find on site.

Winter or summer: when the visit is worth it

For the classic sleigh ride you need snow. In Rovaniemi the snow season usually starts in November, but the first snow can fall as early as October or not until December.³ If you travel in late autumn, you should not count on a ride in the snow. Winter temperatures average between -10 and -20 °C, so you will be standing in real cold for a long time on a farm.¹⁶

Light plays its part too. In mid-December, the sun in Rovaniemi shines for an average of only 2.3 hours.¹⁷ A morning visit then takes place in the blue twilight, which looks beautiful in photos but turns to darkness early. In March, the sun is already up for 11.4 hours in mid-month, with average lows of -12.9 °C.¹⁷ If you want both bright light and snow, plan for late winter instead.

You can also visit reindeer farms in summer.⁴ Instead of sleigh rides, there are then walks, conversations at the fence, and long evenings, because from early June to early July the sun stays above the horizon in Rovaniemi even at night.¹⁸ A self-guided summer farm visit lasts 5 hours and is limited to 9 guests. More information can be found in the summer guide.

What to wear and what to bring in your bag

Visit Rovaniemi recommends dressing in several layers to stay warm.⁵ Next to your skin, wear wool or functional fabric best; over that, a thick middle layer of fleece or wool; and on the outside, a jacket and pants that block the wind. Cotton directly on the skin is a poor choice because it stays damp when you sweat in the warm bus and then go back out into the cold.

Your feet get cold fastest on a farm because you stand a lot and sit still in the sleigh. Insulated winter boots with a thick sole and wool socks make the biggest difference. For your hands, mittens are warmer than finger gloves; thin gloves underneath let you operate your phone briefly without fully exposing your fingers. A hat that covers your ears and a scarf over your face are essential.

In your bag, bring a fully charged phone, a spare battery, a tissue, and something to drink in a thermos if your tour does not include drinks. Leave large backpacks at the hotel; there is little room in the sleigh. If you get cold easily, slip hand warmers into your gloves and boots. And plan a little time after the visit, because after hours outdoors a warm break feels wonderful.

Which tour fits your visit

The tour on this page combines the farm visit with huskies, lunch, and the Santa Claus Village. It lasts 6 hours, starts from $217, and scores 4.57 out of 2,413 reviews. Guests give it a 4.3 for value for money. It is a good fit if you want to experience as much as possible in one day and the reindeer are just part of your plan.

If reindeer are your main focus, there are shorter tours. A farm visit with sleigh ride lasts 2.5 hours and costs from $101, with a rating of 4.25 out of 1,582 reviews. A visit to a farm with a short ride also lasts 2.5 hours, starts from $173, and is offered in English, French, and Spanish.

For those who prefer to listen in German, there is a farm visit with a walk lasting 2 hours, led in Finnish, English, and German. The group is limited to 10 guests, and the price starts from $150. For great souvenir photos, there is a visit with a photographer, 3.5 hours long, for a maximum of 8 guests, from $137.

Book the tour

Reindeer, huskies, and the Arctic Circle in one day.

Book now, pay later, and cancellation remains free of charge up to 24 hours before.

Check datesfrom $217 · free cancellation 4.6 · 2,413 confirmed reviews

You ask,we answer.

How long does a visit to the reindeer farm last?

Depending on the tour, 1.5 to 6 hours. A short visit with sleigh ride lasts 1.5 hours; the full day with huskies and the Santa Claus Village lasts 6 hours.

Can I feed the reindeer myself?

The farm decides that. During a private family visit, children can feed and touch the animals.² Ask first about other offers.

Is there a tour in German?

Yes, for some offers. A farm visit with a walk is guided in Finnish, English, and German and lasts 2 hours.

Can I visit a farm in summer?

Yes. Farm visits near Rovaniemi are also possible in summer, then without a sleigh ride in the snow.⁴

How much does a farm visit cost?

From $101. A farm visit with a sleigh ride of 2.5 hours costs that much; the husky tour on this page starts from $217.

Will you pick me up at the hotel?

Yes, for this tour. The pickup is included; you will see the meeting point for your booking when you reserve.

Do I need snow for the sleigh ride?

Yes, for the sleigh. The snow season in Rovaniemi usually starts in November, sometimes as early as October, sometimes only in December.³