Rovaniemi horse-drawn sleigh ride: Feed horses, take reins

Sleigh, snowmen, horses and an open fire in one afternoon

A horse-drawn sleigh activity at Kotatuli in Rovaniemi where you ride through snowy forests, feed and handle the horses, and warm up in a traditional kota with snacks and hot drinks. Children can build snowmen and sled in a private setting, and the whole group travels under blankets through Lapland's winter landscape before gathering around the fire.

The experience

The sleigh itself is the point: you sit wrapped in blankets while horses pull you quietly through snow-covered forests and frozen countryside, the only sound the gentle crunch beneath the runners. Along the way you learn how these animals fit into local life, and you get to feed them and hold the reins yourself, not as a photo stop, but as part of the rhythm of the ride. The landscape stays still around you while the sleigh moves through it, which is the opposite of how most winter activities feel.

After the ride, you move into a kota, a traditional Sámi-style shelter, where an open fire is already burning. Snacks and hot coffee or tea arrive while you thaw, and the group sits in the warmth together. Children have space to build snowmen and sled in the private grounds before or after the ride, so families don't have to choose between the sleigh and the snow play. Everything stays contained in one place, which means no rushing between stops.

A live guide speaks English or Finnish throughout, and pickup is included, so you don't need a car to reach Kotatuli. Infants sit on a parent's lap, and the activity suits any fitness level. The horses do the work.

What’s included

• Sleigh ride through snowy forests with blankets.
• opportunity to feed the horses and take the reins.
• snacks and hot coffee or tea in the kota.
• access to the private grounds for snowmen and sledding.
• live guide in English or Finnish.
• hotel or accommodation pickup.

Before you book

Days and timesWednesday, Friday, Saturday and SundayDeparts at 14:00Last departure this season: 31 Oct

Book up to2d before

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (1 to 12 years)

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Finnish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 15 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. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 4 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Kotatuli Experience

Is this one for you?Pickup is included and the guide speaks English or Finnish, so you don't need a rental car or local language skills to reach Kotatuli and move through the afternoon. The private setting and contained schedule suit families with young children who need flexibility and space to play between activities.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Finnish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (1 to 12 years).

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 it like to actually hold the reins on a horse-drawn sleigh?

You take control of the horses for part of the ride, feeling how they respond to the reins and learning the basics of handling a traditional Finnish sleigh. It's not a demonstration. You're steering.

How cold does it get, and what keeps you warm?

Lapland winters are well below freezing, but blankets wrap around you in the sleigh, and the kota's open fire warms you afterward. Wear your own winter layers. The operator does not provide outerwear.

Is the kota a real shelter or just a building?

It's a traditional kota with an open fire inside: a genuine Sámi structure, not a heated cabin. The fire is the centerpiece, and that's where you warm up and have snacks after the ride.

Do you need to know anything about horses beforehand?

No. The guide teaches you about the horses and their role in Lapland as part of the experience, and feeding them is straightforward. The activity suits all fitness levels.