Guide · Sleigh ride

Reindeer sleigh ride in Tromsø: a quiet ride through the snow

A reindeer pulls, you sit and watch: here you will learn how a reindeer sleigh ride near Tromsø works, when it is possible, and which tours offer it.

Check availabilityfrom $200 · free cancellation

Editorial tromsorentierfarm.deUpdated on October 3, 2026about 7 min to read8 sources

The matching tour Tromsø: Reindeer sleigh ride and feeding with a Sami guide 4.8 (6,854 reviews) 4 hoursSami GuideWarm Meal in the Lavvu from$200per person Check availabilityFree cancellation up to 24 hours in advance

In short

01The Experience: A quiet ride in the sleigh, pulled by a reindeer, guided by Sami hosts.
02Best time: In deep winter from December to March, as long as there is enough snow.
03In thawing conditions: If there is no snow or the ground is icy, the ride is canceled; guests report partial refunds.
04Most popular tour: Sleigh ride and feeding with a Sami guide, 4 hrs, from $200.
05Most affordable ride: Sleigh ride, feeding, and culture in 2.5 to 3.5 hrs, from $132.

What a reindeer sleigh ride feels like

When you think of a sleigh in the Arctic, you often picture barking huskies. A reindeer sleigh ride is the opposite. The animal walks at a steady pace or a gentle trot, the sleigh glides quietly over the snow, and you have time to look around. It is not about speed, but about the feeling of being part of a very old way of traveling for a while. For many, it is the quietest part of the whole day.

How long the circuit takes depends on the tour. A guest from Germany reported that you could choose between a shorter and a longer ride, and a guest from the UK wrote that the longer ride was the one they took, but the shorter one would have been just as beautiful. Ask at the time of booking which options are available. During the ride you can take photos as long as you hold the camera firmly, because finding a phone in the snow is tedious.

Many guests describe the silence as the most impressive thing. Without engine noise you hear only the crunch of the snow and the breath of the animal. Especially after the bustling feeding in the enclosure, the ride is a moment for you to unwind and let the landscape impress you. If you like, leave your phone in your pocket for a few minutes. Enjoy it mindfully. That is all you need.

The season

Light and snow across the winter

From 27 November

Polar Night

The sun stays below the horizon until around 15 January.¹
Mid-February

The light returns

Around 6.7 hours of sun above the horizon.²
Mid-March

Long, bright days

Around 11 hours of sun, often with good snow still on the ground.²
April

Thaw possible

Average daily high of 4.1 degrees; the drive may be cancelled.²

Reindeer as pack animals of the Sami

Reindeer are not wild animals in northern Norway. In the Tromsø region, they belong to the Sámi, who have practiced reindeer herding for centuries.³ Pulling sleds was long part of this life, and even today, Sámi families show guests how humans and animals work together. If you ask, you will often learn something about the family's daily life with the herd, about pastures, migrations, and the weather that determines everything.

The Sámi right to tend reindeer has a long history. Already an addition to the border treaty of 1751 recognized existing rights to tend reindeer and was meant to protect the Sámi grazing rights in border areas.⁴ The sled ride you experience today as a guest stands in this tradition. If you are interested in history, this treaty is a good place to start.

Male and female reindeer can carry antlers, though not all females do.⁵ For you, this means: The animal in front of your sled may also carry an impressive set of antlers. The guides pay attention to which animal is suited for pulling the sled and are happy to explain why. In winter, reindeer feed mainly on lichens in nature; in summer, they prefer grasses and plants.⁶

Climate

Temperature and light in Tromsø by months

Hours without sunDays with precipitationSeason

Sunless hours at midmonth and days with at least 2.5 mm of precipitation. Measured at the NOAA station Tromsø, 1991 to 2020.²

In Comparison

Reindeer-sled tours near Tromsø

Tour	Duration	Rating	Price from
Sled and feed with a Sami guide	4 hrs	4,75	from $200
Sleigh, Feeding & Culture	2.5 to 3.5 hours	4,79	from $132
Sleigh Ride, Dinner, Northern Lights Chance	4.5 hrs	4,59	from $219
Sled and Sami culture with lunch	4.5 hrs	4,62	from $232
Sami reindeer sled over Nordkjosbotn	5.5 hrs	4,59	from $251
Reindeer sleigh ride at Camp Tamok	7 hrs.	4,74	from $335

Values of the tour pages on GetYourGuide. Prices are from, per person.

Reindeer or husky

Two ways to be out in the snow

Tromsø: Reindeer Sledding & Feeding with a Sami Guide

This page

Reindeer sleigh ride

Quiet and cultural

Pace: Leisurely
In addition: Feeding and lavvu
Price: from $200

Check dates

Tromsø: Reindeer Sledding, Feeding & Sami Culture Experience

Budget

Short sled ride

With culture and feeding

Pace: Leisurely
Duration: 2.5 to 3.5 hours
Price: from $132

Check dates

Tromsø: Reindeer Sled, Dinner, and Chance of Northern Lights

Evening

In the evening

Sled under the night sky

Pace: Leisurely
In addition: Dinner
Price: from $219

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Decision helper

Which sled tour fits you?

It depends on how much time you have and what you want to experience.

Sled and feed

The most booked tour with lavvu and joik.

Shorter round

From $132 for 2.5 to 3.5 hours.

Evening tour

Sleigh ride, dinner, and a view of the sky.

Camp Tamok

A long day further inland.

Ask beforehand

The ride may be canceled in thawing weather.

Many people think the reindeer in Tromsø are wild animals, but that is not true. The reindeer are domesticated animals and belong to the indigenous Sámi people, who have been herding reindeer for centuries.

Visit Tromsø Region AStranslated from English · Source 3

When enough snow falls

No snow, no sled. That is why the rides take place in winter, when the landscape around Tromsø is covered in snow. In December and January, it is dark or dim for most of the time: The polar night lasts in Tromsø roughly from November 27 to January 15.¹ Many guests experience the ride then in the blue light of midday. That has its own charm: Snow, twilight, and reindeer almost look unreal in this light.

From February it gets noticeably lighter: in mid-February the sun shows for around 6.7 hours.² By mid-March it is already around 11 hours.² Anyone who wants to experience the trip in daylight and take photos of snowy mountains is well served in these weeks. There is often still a solid layer of snow on the ground, and the average daily high in February stays below zero.²

Toward the end of the season, things get uncertain. In April, the average daily high temperature in Tromsø is already 4.1 degrees Celsius.² If the snow melts or the ground freezes, the ride is no longer safe for animal and guest. Guests report that the sled ride was canceled even in mid-March when the weather changed. If you travel in April, plan for this. If you are flexible, plan for February or March instead.

Checklist

For the sleigh ride

Dress Up

Wool underwear and warm sweaters
Winter jacket against the wind
Scarf over your face
Warm boots and gloves

Take along

Phone with a wrist strap
Spare battery in the inner pocket
Let the guides know if you have back problems

Cost calculator

What the sleigh ride costs everyone

Calculate the ride for your fellow travelers.

Sled and feed4 hrsfrom $200 Short round2.5 to 3.5 hoursfrom $132 In the evening4.5 hrsfrom $219 Camp Tamok7 hrs.from $335

people 2

Total from$400

per guest from $200

Check availabilityfree cancellation

Starting prices according to GetYourGuide, converted using the ECB reference rate. The exact price is shown only at booking time.

Video

A reindeer sleigh ride near Tromsø

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If the ride gets canceled

If the sled ride gets canceled due to weather, the rest of the visit usually still takes place. Guests report that they got more time for feeding and that part of the price was refunded. One guest from Argentina writes that the ride was canceled because of ice, as it would have been dangerous, and the money was paid back. Plan for such cancellations mentally.

For your planning, this means: If you absolutely want to sit in the sled, book in the deep winter rather than in April. And if you travel late in the season, consider the ride a nice addition, not the sole reason for the excursion. Feeding, the lavvu, and the stories carry the day on their own. In March, the chance of a ride is usually better, but even then, the day's weather decides.

You can cancel most tours free of charge up to 24 hours in advance. If the weather forecast shows rain and above-freezing temperatures a few days before the appointment, it is worth asking the operator whether the ride can take place. That way, you can adjust your plans in good time instead of being disappointed on the day itself. So plan with the weather, not against it. That way, you avoid unnecessary trouble.

Which tours include a sled ride

Not every reindeer experience near Tromsø includes a sleigh ride. The most popular tour offers a reindeer sleigh ride and feeding with a Sámi guide. It lasts 4 hours, and 6,854 guests have rated it an average of 4.75 stars. The price starts from $200. It also includes feeding, a warm meal in a lavvu, and a joik. This makes the tour the top choice for anyone who wants to experience everything in one day.

A more affordable option is an experience with reindeer sleds, feeding, and Sámi culture, lasting 2.5 to 3.5 hours and starting from $132. In the evening, there is a combination of reindeer sled ride, dinner, and a chance to see the northern lights, starting from $219. The evening tour combines the ride with a meal and a view of the sky. Both include the sled in the program.

Further out is the ride to Camp Tamok, which lasts 7 hours and starts from $335. A tour with a Sámi reindeer sled across Nordkjosbotn lasts 5.5 hours and starts from $251. For both, keep in mind: A longer ride means more scenery, but also a longer day. Read carefully what the program includes before booking.

Tips for the ride

Dress warmer than you think. Sitting in the sled, you barely move, and the breeze from the ride makes it even colder. Visit Tromsø recommends wool underwear, warm sweaters and jackets, warm shoes, gloves, a scarf, and a hat.⁷ A scarf across your face protects against the cold breeze. Thin gloves under thick mittens work well if you want to take photos along the way. A hat under the hood keeps your ears warm.

A note for older guests or anyone with back issues: One guest from Germany writes that the ride was nice but could be bumpy if you have back pain. Sit up straight, hold onto the sled, and talk to the guides beforehand if you are unsure. They know the trail and where it gets rough. Sitting upright relieves the back considerably. That way, you ride more relaxed.

Photography works best with a wrist strap or band on your phone. Keep spare batteries warm in your inner pocket, because cold drains them quickly. And take some time to simply look around, because the pictures in your head are often the ones that last longest. Many guests write that they eventually put the camera down altogether. Enjoy the ride with all your senses. Then the ride stays with you as a great memory.

Reindeer sleds or dog sleds?

Many visitors to Tromsø wonder whether they would rather go dog sledding with reindeer or with huskies. The answer depends on what you are looking for. Dog sleds are fast, loud, and sporty; reindeer sleds are slow, quiet, and deeply connected to Sámi culture. Both are wonderful experiences, just very different from each other. Both can easily be booked in Tromsø. Many visitors end up trying both.

With reindeer sledding, the ride itself is not the main focus; it is the entire visit: feeding the reindeer, conversations with the hosts, a meal in a lavvu, and a joik to close the evening. If you want to understand how people here have lived with animals for generations, reindeer sledding offers more of that. The language is different too: with reindeer sledding, stories and song take center stage, while with dog sledding it is more about the riding itself.

If you have time for both, you will not lose out with either choice. Many visitors do the reindeer sleds one day and the huskies another. If you have to pick one, choose reindeer sledding for calm and culture, and dog sledding for speed and adventure. The decision comes down to how you want to experience your day: peaceful or full of pace. Both are easily done in Tromsø.

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