Private Reindeer Tour in Fairbanks: Walk with the Herd

Feed reindeer treats, clip lead ropes, and walk them through the black spruce forest.

A private 45-minute reindeer tour in Fairbanks combines classroom education on Arctic adaptations and reindeer history with hands-on time meeting the herd. You'll feed the animals, attach lead ropes, and walk them through the black spruce forest with frequent stops for photos. The tour is customizable for guests of different mobility levels, and infants can ride in a stroller.

The experience

The tour opens in a yurt classroom where you spend 15 minutes learning the difference between reindeer and caribou, their unique Arctic adaptations, and their place in Alaskan history. Then you step outside to meet the herd. You'll feed the reindeer treats before clipping lead ropes to take them for a walk through the black spruce forest. Because the tour is private, your guide adjusts the pace and route based on how your group moves.

The walk itself is built around photo stops. You're not watching the animals from a distance. You're leading them, holding the rope, standing close enough to see their breath in the cold air. The guide, a local herder, knows the individual animals and can tell you which ones are more social, which ones are older, what they eat through the seasons. Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller, so families with mixed ages can all go together.

What’s included

Professional and knowledgeable guide leading the tour in English.

Information

Lasts 45m, runs Tuesday to Sunday, 4 start times, from US$ 90 per person, with a live guide in English, as a private tour and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesTuesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday: 11:00, 12:00, 13:00 and 14:00Wednesday: 11:00 and 12:00Thursday: 12:00, 13:00 and 14:00Last departure this season: 15 NovAnother day? ›

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Book up to2d before

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (under 13)

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

ConfirmationConfirmation within 48 h

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendly

Operated by Chena Outdoor Collective

Is this one for you?Because this is a private tour, your guide adjusts the walk to match your group's pace and mobility, making it work for families with young children, older adults, or anyone who needs a slower rhythm through the forest.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (under 13).

What's the difference between reindeer and caribou that the guide teaches?

Reindeer are domesticated and have been herded for centuries in the Arctic, while caribou are wild. The classroom covers their physical differences and how reindeer have adapted to live alongside humans in Alaska.

Do I actually walk the reindeer myself, or does the guide lead them?

You clip the lead rope to the reindeer and walk them yourself through the forest. After feeding them treats first, you're the one holding the rope during the walk.

How much of the 45 minutes is spent in the classroom versus outside with the herd?

The classroom takes 15 minutes, leaving 30 minutes for meeting the reindeer, feeding them, and walking through the black spruce forest with photo stops along the way.

Can I bring a baby or toddler on this tour?

Yes. Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller, and the private format means your guide can adjust the walk's pace to keep everyone comfortable.