Sami Reindeer Experience in Tromso: Feed & Lasso with Family

Throw a lasso like a herder, then feed the reindeer yourself

This small-group activity takes you 30 minutes by bus from Tromso to Lavangsdalen, where a Sami family teaches you how they live and work with reindeer. You'll throw lasso on reindeer antlers the way herders do, feed the animals by hand, and warm up with hot juice and snacks in a heated cabin. Groups stay under 32 people, and children from age 6 are welcome.

The Experience

The bus ride to Lavangsdalen sets up what comes next: a Sami family waiting to show you how reindeer herding actually works. Once you arrive, you don't watch from a distance. You pick up a lasso and try to catch the reindeer the way the Sami do—it's harder than it looks, and that's the point. If time allows, you'll throw on the antlers; either way, you get to feed the animals by hand, which is where most people's phones come out. The whole thing takes about 3.5 hours from pickup to drop-off.

Between the lasso work and feeding, you'll spend time in a heated cabin with the family, drinking hot juice and eating light snacks. This is where the conversation happens—questions about Sami life, how the herds move with the seasons, what the work actually demands. The cabin also gives you a chance to look at handmade Sami products if you want to take something home that isn't mass-made. Small groups (max 32 people) mean you're not competing for the family's attention or the reindeer's patience.

Note that this activity does not include reindeer sledding—you're here to interact with the animals and learn the herding skills, not to ride. Infants and small children can come along in a stroller, and child seats are available in the bus if you ask ahead.

What’s included

• Bus transport from Tromso to Lavangsdalen and back.
• instruction and hands-on time with lasso-throwing and reindeer feeding.
• hot juice and light snacks in a heated cabin.
• access to handmade Sami products for purchase.
• English-speaking guide throughout.

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendly

Operated by Northernlight.guide

Is this one for you?The 3.5-hour duration leaves room for other activities in your day—a morning slot fits before lunch, or an afternoon visit leaves your evening free. If you want to experience reindeer herding up close without committing to a full-day expedition or a sledding tour, this small-group format with a Sami family is built for that half-day window.

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Top questions

How long is the drive from Tromso to the Sami family's place?

The bus ride to Lavangsdalen takes approximately 30 minutes each way, so you'll spend about an hour in transit as part of the 3.5-hour activity.

What exactly do you do with the lasso?

You throw the lasso on reindeer antlers the way Sami herders do when they're working with the herd. It's a hands-on demonstration of a real herding skill, and time permitting, you'll get to try it yourself.

Can young children join this activity?

Children aged 6 and up can participate fully. Infants and smaller children can come along in a pram or stroller, and child seats are available in the bus if you request them in advance.

What's included in the activity besides the lasso and feeding?

Hot juice and light snacks are served in a heated cabin during the tour, where you can also learn about Sami culture directly from the family and browse handmade Sami products to buy as souvenirs.

Is reindeer sledding part of this experience?

No, this activity focuses on lasso-throwing and hand-feeding the reindeer. Sledding is not included, so you're learning the herding side of the work rather than riding.

How many people typically go on this activity?

Groups stay under 32 people maximum, which keeps the experience personal and gives everyone time with the Sami family and the reindeer.