Reindeer herding in Ivalo: Feed the herd and learn from locals

Travel by snowmobile sleigh into the forest and feed reindeer that roam wild year-round

A Day with Reindeer Herders is a four-hour activity in Ivalo where you travel by snowmobile-pulled sleigh into the wilderness to feed a large reindeer herd and learn the daily work of local herders. Your guide is a working reindeer herder who speaks English. Pickup from your accommodation is included, and children from age four are welcome. After feeding the animals, you build a fire in the forest, grill sausages, and hear stories about reindeer herding and local culture.

The experience

Ivalo sits at the edge of Lapland's wilderness, and this activity puts you inside it. A local reindeer herder picks you up from your accommodation and drives about half an hour to the starting point, where you board a sleigh pulled by a snowmobile. From there you travel deeper into the forest to reach the herd, which lives freely year-round across the landscape. The work is straightforward: you help feed the reindeer, learning as you go how herders manage the animals and what the daily rhythm of the work looks like.

After the feeding, the group builds a fire in the forest. Sausages go on the grill while your guide shares what herding means here: the constraints of the season, the relationship between herder and animal, the way the work has changed and stayed the same. This is not a demonstration you watch. It is work you do, and the fire and the meal are part of how the day unfolds.

What’s included

• Pickup from your accommodation.
• transport by vehicle and snowmobile-pulled sleigh.
• snacks and grilled sausages.
• a live English-speaking guide who is a working reindeer herder.

Before you book

Days and timesNext departure: 2 Jan 2027

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (16 to 89 years) · Child (4 to 15 years) · Under 4: can't be booked

GroupUp to 8

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 16 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 4 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Ivalo Experiences

Is this one for you?The early morning start and the snowmobile sleigh ride are core to reaching the herd where it lives. If you want to see reindeer herding as it actually happens rather than at a visitor center, this is the arrangement that makes it possible.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 15 years). Children under 4 can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What's the drive like from my hotel to where the reindeer are?

Your guide picks you up from your accommodation and drives about half an hour to the starting point in the wilderness. From there, you travel by snowmobile-pulled sleigh to reach the herd.

What happens after we feed the reindeer?

The group builds a fire in the forest and grills sausages while your guide talks about reindeer herding and local culture. This is when you hear the stories behind the work you just did.

Do I need special fitness or experience to do this?

The activity suits all physical fitness levels. It is not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries or poor cardiovascular health, as the snowmobile sleigh ride and forest conditions are part of the experience.