Rovaniemi: Reindeer Sleigh Ride & Arctic Farm with Pickup

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Duration3h 30m

GroupUp to 16

LanguagesEN

PickupAt your hotel

The sleigh pulls you flat on your back through snow that squeaks under the runners.

You arrive at a working reindeer farm near Rovaniemi, meet the herds, then lie back in a traditional sleigh for a 2.5km ride through snowy forest while the musher guides the reindeer. Afterward, you warm up indoors with hot drinks and stories about Sámi culture and Arctic life. Hotel pickup is included, and thermal overalls and boots are provided. Plan for about three hours total, including travel time and gear changes.

3h 30m

Step-by-step itinerary

Reindeer sledding and farmhouse visit

Meet reindeers at local farm
Take reindeer sled through forest
Enjoy scenic Arctic Lapland views
Visit farmhouse for snacks and drinks
Hear stories about Sámi culture

The Experience

You don't expect to be laid down in the sled. Most people picture themselves sitting upright, reins in hand, but that's not how it works here—the musher handles the reindeer, and you're wrapped in blankets, watching the forest canopy slide past overhead. The ride lasts about 40 to 50 minutes, which sounds short until you're out there and realize how much of it is just the sound of hooves and the creak of wood, the cold air sharp in your lungs even through the thermal overalls they give you. The trail is maintained by the herders themselves, so it's safe, but it doesn't feel tame. You're moving through actual Arctic forest on the outskirts of Rovaniemi, not a groomed park.

Before the sled ride, you spend time at the reindeer farm itself—the animals are there, including the young ones that people photograph endlessly. The herders talk about what reindeer actually do, how they live in Lapland, why the work matters. It's not a performance; it's more like standing in someone's yard while they explain their job. You get a reindeer driving license afterward, which is a real thing they hand you, and it's funny in a way that lands better once you're holding it. Then you move inside the farmhouse, where it's warm and there's hot drinks—coffee, tea, something hot—and biscuits. That transition from the cold to the heat, from the sled to a room with a fire, is the part people mention later.

The whole thing, including the drive from your hotel and the time to change into and out of the thermal gear, runs about two and a half to three hours. Pickup is included from most Rovaniemi accommodations, though you'll get your exact meeting time and location once you book. Two adults minimum for the tour to run, but if you're traveling alone, you can join a group that's already booked. Each sled holds two adults or two adults and two children, and the musher decides the final arrangement on the day. It's not a long ride, but it's the kind of thing you don't forget—partly because you've never done it before, and partly because you're in the Arctic Circle doing it.

What’s included

Hotel pickup and return service from your Rovaniemi accommodation, thermal overalls and boots, entry to the working reindeer farm, time to meet and photograph the reindeer herd, a 2.5km reindeer sleigh ride through the forest, hot drinks and biscuits in the farmhouse, an informative talk about Sámi culture and reindeer traditions, and a reindeer driving license as a keepsake.

Good to know

Easy physical levelInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Sunny Safari

Is this one for you?Right for travelers who want an authentic Arctic experience without arranging transport or cold-weather gear themselves. The 40-to-50-minute sled ride is peaceful rather than thrilling, so it suits people looking for a quiet moment in the landscape, not an adrenaline activity.