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Where can I go to experience reindeer?

With reindeer being associated with all things Lapland, they feature on almost all of our trips in a variety of ways, from reindeer sleigh rides to visiting them in their forest habitat. In most locations, you are likely to also see them wandering freely along the side of the road, sniffing out greenery that may be hiding under the snow.

These reindeer are not wild, as all reindeer in Lapland belong to a herder and have markings on their ears to details their owner, but they do roam freely in the wilderness.

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One of our favourite reindeer experiences is at Menesjarvi where you will travel out with a reindeer herder via snowmobile pulled sled in search of his herd. He will then call the reindeer in for food and you can then enjoy watching them appear through the trees as they eagerly await their food.

At Torassieppi, not only will you be staying in the grounds of a farm, but you can also meet the resident reindeer who live nearby and enjoy the small onsite museum.

Reindeer sleigh rides such as those included in our Jeris multi activity trips are always popular with children and whilst the sleigh will sadly not fly through the air, being pulled across the snow in a reindeer pulled sled is always a great shared family experience. With our tailor made options at Jeris and Harriniva, there is also an evening reindeer safari that can be added, combining reindeer and Northern Lights.

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Things you need to know

Whilst mostly placid, reindeer are only semi-domesticated animals and consequently can be a little skittish, so you should meet them with the expectation that they may be a little wary of you. You will, however, be able to get some great photos of them of course and be able to look at their impressive antlers and beautiful reindeer fur.

Another important thing for (children in a particular) to understand about reindeer is that they are not pets and are animals which are herded for their meat and fur which are an essential part of the economy here.

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Whilst the reindeer you see on your reindeer sleigh ride have been trained specifically for this, it’s not always the case with other roaming reindeer and the herders and farms you visit are working farms. Throughout Lapland you will also see reindeer furs and be served reindeer meat at dinner, so for more sensitive children, it might be best to discuss this with them before you go.

If you have any worries or concerns about this, please feel free to talk to our travel experts. Many of them have been to Lapland with their families, so will be happy to talk about their firsthand experiences here.

Get an expert opinion

Family holidays are so important so please get in touch and let our Travel Experts use their firsthand experience to help you make the right decision for your family. We’ve explored our destinations with our own families, we’ve slept in the accommodation, dined in the restaurants, rafted on the rivers, zip wired through the tree tops, played in the snow, marvelled at the Northern Lights… So please contact us if you have any questions.

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