Rovaniemi: Husky & Reindeer Safari, Aurora BBQ Night

★★★★★★★★★★ 4.67 (126 reviews) 81% rated it 5 stars

Free cancellationTravelers' pick

1/15

Duration7h

GroupUp to 20

LanguagesEN · CM

PickupAt your hotel

Lapland husky rides meet reindeer sleighs under northern lights

You’ll race behind huskies through snowy Lapland, glide quietly on a reindeer sleigh, and share Lappish BBQ by a bonfire while scanning for northern lights near Rovaniemi. Hotel pickup is included so you don’t have to worry about getting lost in the dark Arctic evening. It’s less about chasing perfection — more about those odd little moments you’ll remember.

Step-by-step itinerary

Husky and Reindeer Rides, Aurora BBQ

Travel to huskies and reindeers place
Meet Arctic huskies
Enjoy short husky ride
Meet authentic Lapland reindeers
Enjoy relaxing reindeer sleigh ride
Free afternoon after morning activities
Guide picks you up from hotel
Drive to first Aurora viewing location
Enjoy Lappish BBQ by bonfire
Drive to second Aurora viewing location
Admire northern lights if visible

The Experience

I didn’t expect my toes to go numb that quickly — even with the thick socks. But honestly, the cold in Rovaniemi is different. It’s sharp but kind of clean, if that makes sense? Our guide, Olli, handed me a mug of hot tea right after we met the huskies. They barked and yipped like they’d been waiting all morning just for us. The husky safari was short (maybe 500 meters?) but fast enough that I got snow in my eyelashes and laughed out loud. Olli said the dogs love to run more than anything — you can actually see it in their eyes.

Afterwards we met the reindeer team. They’re quieter than I thought — almost shy. There was this one with a lopsided antler who kept sniffing my glove; I tried to say “kiitos” but probably butchered it (Olli grinned anyway). The reindeer sleigh ride was slower, gliding through pine trees dusted with frost. I could hear nothing but the runners sliding over snow and our breath in the air. We finished before noon and had time to choose: back to the hotel or Santa Village for the afternoon (I picked Santa Village because… when else?).

The real magic hit at night. Olli picked us up again after dark — which is basically anytime after 3pm here — and drove us out past town lights. We stopped by a frozen lake first; there was this weird silence, like even the air was waiting for something. While we waited for any sign of aurora (no promises), he grilled sausages over a fire inside a wooden kota hut. The smoke mixed with cold air and someone passed around Fazer chocolate — honestly, that part alone would have been worth it. The lights showed up faintly behind some clouds, greenish streaks moving so slowly I almost missed them at first.

I still think about that moment: standing by the fire, cheeks burning from cold and heat at once, watching strangers turn into friends as we squinted at the sky together. Not everything went perfectly (my phone died from cold halfway through), but maybe that’s what made it feel real.

What’s included

Your day includes pickup from your hotel or accommodation in Rovaniemi by Mercedes-Benz or Volkswagen minivan (max 8 guests), meeting friendly Arctic huskies with a short sled ride, visiting Lapland reindeers for your own sleigh ride through snowy forest trails, plus an evening drive to two Northern Lights viewing spots where you’ll enjoy hot tea and a traditional Lappish BBQ dinner around a bonfire before returning late at night.

Good to know

Easy physical levelNot for pregnant travelers

Operated by Northern Future OY