Rovaniemi · Arctic Circle · Lapland
A wooden sleigh, a reindeer in a woven harness and a snowy pine forest on the Arctic Circle in Finnish Lapland. Glide through the trees wrapped in reindeer hides, then feed the herd and warm up by a fire.
Rides
In the centre, a real forest ride: about 40 minutes in the sleigh. On the left, a farm visit with a short ride at the best price; on the right, reindeer, huskies and Santa Claus Village in one day. Every card opens a full page.
Best price
★ 4.22 hours 30 minutesFree cancellationThe quickest way to meet the reindeer: a farm near the Arctic Circle, a 500-metre sleigh ride and hot juice. Transport from the centre and warm overalls come with it.
40 min ride
★ 4.73 hoursFree cancellationA real ride, not a loop: about 40 minutes through a snowy forest, with reindeer hides in the sleigh. Then hot drinks by the fire and time to feed the reindeer.
Most reviewed
★ 4.66 hoursFree cancellationA whole Lapland day in one booking: a reindeer sleigh, a husky ride, salmon soup for lunch and free time at Santa Claus Village. Winter suits included.
Photos included
★ 4.73 hours
Top rated
★ 4.93 to 3.5 hours
Small group
★ 4.53 hours
By night
★ 4.53 hours
At the Arctic Circle
★ 4.51 hour
Full day
★ 4.66.5 to 7.5 hours
No sleigh
★ 4.83 hoursCompare
The listings all say "sleigh ride", but the ride itself runs from a 400-metre loop at the farm to 2.5 km through the forest. Here is what each one gives you, from the listing.
| Tour | Where | In the sleigh | Best for | Length | From | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 km Reindeer Sleigh Ride Through the Forest | Santa Claus Holiday Village Safaris, Rovaniemi | 2 to 2.5 km, about 40 min | A real forest ride | 3 hours | $200 | Book |
| Reindeer Farm Visit with Sleigh Ride | Arctic Circle Snowmobile Park, Rovaniemi | 500 m | A first taste, on a budget | 2 hours 30 minutes | $97 | Book |
| Reindeer, Huskies and Santa Claus Village | Arctic Circle Snowmobile Park, Rovaniemi | 500 m, plus 500 m by husky | One full Lapland day | 6 hours | $210 | Book |
| Local Reindeer Farm with a 2 km Sleigh Ride | Beyond Arctic, Rovaniemi | 2 km | A long ride and photos | 3 hours | $207 | Book |
| Reindeer Farm Visit with a Photographer | Arctic Photo Experience, Rovaniemi | 400 m, when there is snow | Photos with the herd | 3 to 3.5 hours | $140 | Book |
| Reindeer Safari with a Sámi Heritage Family | Arctic GM Experiences, Rovaniemi | 2.5 km | A small herding family | 3 hours | $222 | Book |
| 2 km Aurora Reindeer Safari by Night | Santa Claus Holiday Village Safaris, Rovaniemi | 2 to 2.5 km, about 40 min | The forest by night | 3 hours | $200 | Book |
| Reindeer Safari at Santa Claus Village | Santa Claus Reindeer, Joulumaantie 13 | About 30 minutes | A short stay at the village | 1 hour | $134 | Book |
| Santa Claus Village, Snowmobile and Reindeer Farm | Safartica, Rovaniemi | A short ride | Santa plus a snowmobile | 6.5 to 7.5 hours | $256 | Book |
| Walk with Reindeer at Apukka | Apukka Resort, Rovaniemi | No sleigh: a 2 km walk | Autumn, or no sleigh | 3 hours | $122 | Book |
Every tour here cancels free up to 24 hours before. Sleigh rides need snow, usually from late November to mid-April; most of the rides lend thermal overalls and boots.
Reindeer country
Finnish reindeer are not wild. They roam the forests for much of the year and are rounded up by their herders, and Finland's herding area is split into 54 herding cooperatives. Around Rovaniemi, many farms have kept reindeer for generations and now open their corrals to visitors in winter.
A sleigh ride is calm, not fast: a guide leads the first reindeer and the others follow in a line through the trees. You sit low in a wooden sleigh, wrapped in a hide, and listen to the snow.
The Arctic Circle, which runs right through Santa Claus Village.
From a 400 m loop to 2.5 km in the forest.
Sleighs run from about late November to mid-April.
Most rides include thermal overalls and boots.
Most tours collect you in the city or at the village.
The visit
Most reindeer tours take two to three hours, pickup to drop-off.
A van collects you in town or at Santa Claus Village; you pull on thermal overalls and boots.
StartThe herder introduces the reindeer and how the farm works through the year.
At the farmA short loop or a long forest ride, depending on the tour you booked.
The rideLichen for the reindeer, hot juice or coffee by the fire for you.
Back by the firePlan your ride
Which ride, when to go, what to wear and the welfare question: one tab each.
Where it is
Rovaniemi, Finnish Lapland
The farms sit in the forests around Rovaniemi, so most tours pick you up in the city centre or at your hotel and drive you there. Santa Claus Village is about 8 km north of the centre, 2 km from the airport, and local bus 8 runs there all year.
Around your ride
When to go, what guests wish they had known, what else to do and the fine print.
Guest reviews
★★★★★We had super nice guides. The girls introduced us to the reindeer, gave us a breathtaking tour, and then shared a lot of knowledge. The tour is like a leisurely stroll, with a guide leading the front reindeer and all the other reindeer and their sleds following. It's super lovingly designed, and we even got to pet and feed the baby reindeer. It's not cheap, but it was totally worth it.
★★★★★We went on a reindeer safari and it was a wonderful experience. The sleigh ride through the snowy landscape was beautiful and peaceful. I never realized how funny reindeer can be. [...] After the ride, we were invited inside for a warm drink and cookies. [...] We even got the chance to feed the reindeer, and they were definitely hungry!
★★★★★Incredible! I think about this experience often even two years later. This day wrapped up all the magic of what I expected in Finland and everyone was so kind. I loved that they provided big winter suits to wear in the cold too! :)
★★★★★An excellent introduction to the world of reindeer farming and these magnificent animals. The 2-kilometer sleigh ride (one of the longest we could find) was very enjoyable and relaxing. Afterward, the break in the kota with a hot drink and a delicious crêpe while listening to the guide explain the reindeer’s way of life [...] was very enjoyable.
★★★★★Extraordinary! A close-up experience with a herd of reindeer, with all the necessary explanations about their lives and the farm. A super nice live guide who took care of me from start to finish with a smile. An unforgettable souvenir with high-quality photos received the day after the tour
★★★★★The reindeer sleigh ride was so much fun! Since we set off around 10:00, we were able to enjoy the sunrise during the ride. The journey through the snow-covered forest was magical. After the ride, we got to feed the reindeer. Finally, we enjoyed hot chocolate in a warm tipi and had lots of conversation about the reindeer. We highly recommend this activity.
★★★★★Great experience with the reindeer sleds and then with the Huskies. The dogs are adorable, and they are very well behaved, so we were able to spend some time with them. The salmon soup for lunch was delicious and tasted homemade. In the end, the experience at Santa Claus Village was a lot of fun too. I highly recommend the tour.
★★★★★It was a fantastic experience all around, and I can highly recommend it. From beginning to end, it was relaxing, and they took plenty of time for everything. The animals were wonderful, and the sleigh ride was absolutely beautiful. Feeding them afterward was a real treat.
★★★★★An activity that gets you up close and personal with the reindeer, which is a change from simply feeding them at the farm. We really enjoyed this short walk in the forest with the reindeer. At first, it's quite impressive to be so close to them (and especially to their antlers), but you quickly get used to it and enjoy these magnificent animals.
Want to drive?
On a reindeer sleigh you sit back. With huskies you can drive your own team, and this one ends at a reindeer farm.
Drive your own husky team 5 km through the forest to a family reindeer farm, have soup for lunch with the herders, then drive 2 km back to the kennel, in a small group.
7 km by huskySoup lunchFree cancellation
The guide
A quiet sleigh, a patient reindeer and the forest at the Arctic Circle: here is what you are booking.
You do not drive. A herder or guide walks or rides at the front, the first reindeer follows, and the other sleighs trail behind in a line. The pace is a walk with the odd trot. You sit low, wrapped in a reindeer hide or a blanket, and the only sound is the runners on the snow.
Guests talk about the calm more than anything. One called the 2 km ride "one of the longest we could find", and several say the short rides left them wishing for more.
For a first ride, the 2 km forest ride is our pick: about 40 minutes in the sleigh, then a fire and the reindeer to feed. On a budget, the farm visit gives you the herd and a 500-metre ride, and the reindeer, huskies and Santa day suits families who want the big three at once.
Santa Claus Village has its own reindeer safari, a short drive from your hotel and right by the Arctic Circle line. A farm in the forest feels quieter and gives you more time with the herd. Plenty of families do both: Santa in the morning, the reindeer in the afternoon.
Most rides lend thermal overalls and boots, so you need layers underneath, a hat and mittens. Thin gloves inside the mittens let you work your phone. Bring a spare battery in an inside pocket: the cold empties it fast.
Guides
In-depth guides to reindeer rides and Rovaniemi. See all guides.
Reindeer ride prices in RovaniemiFrom $97 for a 500 m farm ride to $222 for 2.5 km in the forest: what the extra money buys.
Are reindeer sleigh rides ethicalSemi-domesticated herds, led rides at a walking pace and the signs of a farm that cares for its animals.
Best time for a reindeer rideSnow from late November, Christmas magic, deep cold in January and light in February and March, month by month.
Santa Claus Village or a reindeer farmA 30-minute ride at the Arctic Circle or a forest farm with herders and a fire, and how to fit in both.
How many days in RovaniemiThree to four winter days fit a reindeer ride, Santa, huskies and two aurora nights. Sample plans inside.
Rovaniemi or LeviSanta Claus Village and the most reindeer rides, or a ski resort further north: which base fits your trip.From the blog
The 2026-27 sleigh season, Christmas at the Arctic Circle and a few reindeer facts. All posts.
Reindeer sleigh season 2026-27When the snow settles for good, what the farms offer before it does, how long the sleigh season lasts and which weeks suit which ride.
Christmas in Rovaniemi 2026The Countdown to Christmas, the busy weeks from late November to early January, snow at Christmas and the reindeer rides that suit a festive trip.
Are Santa's reindeer female?The antler clue behind the Christmas question, the Finnish words herders use, what reindeer eat under the snow and where the herding year stands now.FAQ
Straight answers to what people ask most about reindeer rides in Rovaniemi.
On this site from $97 for a farm visit with a 500-metre ride, up to about $200 to $222 for a 2 to 2.5 km ride through the forest. Full days with huskies and Santa Claus Village cost $210 to $256. See reindeer ride prices compared.
Yes, while there is snow: one farm runs its sleigh rides from mid-November to mid-April. Outside the snow season the farms offer visits and feeding without a sleigh, or a walk with a reindeer.
They can be. Visit Rovaniemi says that on responsible tours the animals are never forced to run or pull a sled, and that good operators openly explain how they care for their animals. See are reindeer rides ethical.
December to March, when the snow is reliable. Snow usually settles for good in late November; February and March bring longer, brighter days. See the best time to go.
Three or four days: one for the reindeer, one for huskies or a snowmobile, a half day at Santa Claus Village and at least two evenings for the northern lights. See how many days.
Santa Claus Village on the Arctic Circle, about 8 km from the centre, where you can meet Santa every day of the year. See Santa Claus Village or a reindeer farm.
Local bus 8 runs all year from the city centre; from November to March a private express bus also runs, and a taxi covers the 8 km. Most reindeer tours here include pickup, so you may not need either.
No. Finnish reindeer are semi-domesticated: they roam the forests for much of the year, but every one has an owner, and Finland's herding area is split into 54 herding cooperatives.
Probably. Male reindeer drop their antlers from late November to mid-December, while females keep theirs until they calve in spring, so an antlered team at Christmas is most likely female. More in the reindeer facts post.
Yes, from the end of August to early April on clear, dark nights. The lights are hard to see in the village centre, so the night reindeer safari takes you into the dark forest.
Rovaniemi, for most families: Santa Claus Village sits 2 km from the airport and Santa is there every day. Levi is a ski resort further north. See Rovaniemi or Levi.
Warm layers, a hat, mittens and winter boots. Most rides here lend thermal overalls and boots; the Santa Claus Village safari and the husky safari do not, so dress for the cold.
Ready to book
Reindeer rides from $97.
More: reindeer, huskies and Santa · the 2 km farm ride with photos · the night safari
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