Guide · How It Works

Visit a Reindeer Farm in Tromsø: The Day Step by Step

From the meeting point at the bus terminal to warm soup in the lavvu: here you will see what to expect when visiting the reindeer of a Sámi family, and what you should know beforehand.

Check availabilityfrom $200 · free cancellation

Editorial tromsorentierfarm.deUpdated on October 3, 2026about 7 min to read10 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

01Meeting Point: Pickup at the Prostneset bus terminal in Tromsø, at 9:40 a.m. or 12:40 p.m.
02Getting There: The family camp is about 30 minutes from Tromsø.¹
03On site: Feed the reindeer, a reindeer sled ride, a warm meal in the lavvu, and a joik.
04Duration: Around 4 hours in total.
05In thawing conditions: If there is not enough snow, the sled ride may be cancelled; feeding still takes place.

The Morning Begins at the Harbor

The visit starts right in the city center. Meet at the Prostneset bus terminal at the Tromsø harbor, at 9:40 a.m. or 12:40 p.m. depending on your booked time. Keep your booking confirmation ready on your phone so you can board quickly. Arrive a few minutes early, especially if conditions are icy, as the bus does not wait long. It is warm on the bus. It is cold outside.

If you are staying in a hotel in the center, you can usually reach the terminal on foot. Pack everything you need for the day in your backpack beforehand: gloves, a hat, and an extra warm layer. There is no shop at the camp for forgotten items, and once you are outside with the animals you will quickly notice whether your fingers stay warm. Sunglasses or ski goggles are also worth bringing if the sun glares off the snow.

The drive out is the first part of the experience. Once you leave the city, the fjord and snow-covered mountains open up, and the conversations on the bus soon turn to the question of just how close you will get to the reindeer. The answer: very close. Along the way, the guides often already share what to expect and answer initial questions about the herd and the day program. Use the time to have your camera ready.

The itinerary

A visit with the reindeer

9:40 or 12:40

Departure at the harbor

Meeting point is the Prostneset bus terminal in Tromsø.
Approximately 30 minutes

Drive to the camp

This is how long the drive to the family camp takes.¹
At the Camp

Introduction

The guides explain the herd and the feeding rules.
In the enclosure

Feed the Reindeer

With the food bucket right in the middle of the herd.
In the snow

Sleigh ride

A round in the reindeer sled, provided there is enough snow.
In the Lavvu

Food and joik

Warm meal by the fire, followed by a traditional song to close.

Arrival at the Camp of a Sámi Family

The camp belongs to Tromsø Arctic Reindeer, an operation run by a Sámi reindeer-herding family from Tromsø.² By their own account, the family has lived and worked with reindeer for many generations. For you, this means you are visiting not a zoo, but the workplace of people for whom the herd is part of everyday life. The tone in the camp is accordingly personal, and many questions are answered by people who grew up with the herd.

It is about 30 minutes from the city center to the camp.¹ After arrival there is a short introduction. The guides explain how the herd lives, how the animals are kept, and what you need to watch for when feeding. These minutes are worth it, because afterward you will understand much better what is happening around you. You will learn, for example, why you should not approach an animal from behind and how to hold the feed bucket so it is not pulled from your hand.

Important to know: The reindeer in the Tromsø region are not wild animals. They are domesticated animals that belong to the Sámi, who have been herding reindeer for centuries.³ This also explains why the animals are so calm around people and eat from your hand when you feed them. An enclosure here is not a zoo but part of working with the herd. Stay respectful nonetheless.

Reviews

How guests rate the individual parts

Points

Part ratings and overall rating of the tour from 6,854 reviews on GetYourGuide.

In Comparison

How long a reindeer visit in Tromsø lasts

Tour	Duration	Rating	Price from
Reindeer sledding and feeding (this page)	4 hrs	4,75	from $200
Reindeer, feeding and Sami culture	2.5 to 3.5 hours	4,79	from $132
Camp and Sami culture with lunch	4 hrs	4,71	from $179
Fjord cruise, feeding and lunch	7 hrs.	4,93	from $283

Duration, ratings, and starting prices are from the tour pages on GetYourGuide. Amounts are from.

Three ways

Short, classic, or as a day trip

Tromsø: Reindeer Sledding, Feeding & Sami Culture Experience

Short

The Short Visit

Little Time in the Day

Duration: 2.5 to 3.5 hours
Price: from $132
Rating: 4,79

Check dates

Tromsø: Reindeer Sledding & Feeding with a Sami Guide

This tour

The Classic

Sled Ride, Feeding, Lavvu

Duration: 4 hrs
Price: from $200
Rating: 4,75

Check dates

Tromsø: Arctic fjord sightseeing, Reindeer feeding and lunch

Long

With a Fjord Cruise

A Full Day Trip

Duration: 7 hrs.
Price: from $283
Rating: 4,93

Check dates

Decision helper

Which Date Fits You?

Two departures, two ways to plan your day.

Northern Lights Hunt Planned for the Evening Start the Day at a Leisurely Pace Plenty of Time with the Animals Short and affordable

Morning

You Will Be Back in Time and Rested for the Night.

Afternoon

Departure is Not Until 12:40 PM at the Harbor.

Consider the End of the Season

If There Is No Snow, the Sled Ride Is Cancelled and There Is More Time for Feeding.

A Shorter Visit

From $132 for 2.5 to 3.5 hours.

Ride a sled with our reindeer, feed the herd, and share a warm meal by the fire in our lavvu, 30 minutes from Tromsø, transport included.

Tromsø Arctic Reindeertranslated from English · Source 1

Feeding in the Middle of the Herd

For many, feeding is the most beautiful part of the day. You get a bucket of feed, go into the enclosure, and within seconds you are surrounded. If you want to feed reindeer in Tromsø, hold the bucket firmly: the animals are curious, a bit pushy, and stretch their heads into the bucket without hesitation. Keep your hands still and let the animals come to you. After the initial rush it gets calmer.

Pay attention to the antlers. Both male and female reindeer can have antlers, though not all females do.⁴ The guides show you how to position yourself so that no antler catches your sleeve or glasses. Calm movements help more than quick pulling back. If you wear glasses, it is best to store them in a safe pocket before entering the enclosure.

Take your time to observe. There is a clear hierarchy in the herd, and after a few minutes you will notice which animals assert themselves and which ones wait patiently at the edge. Guests often describe exactly these quiet moments between the animals as the real highlight. In winter, wild reindeer eat mainly lichen; in summer, grasses and plants.⁵ The guides explain what the herd is fed at the camp.

Checklist

Included and to Bring

Included in This Tour

Feed reindeer in a Sami camp
Reindeer sleigh ride with a Sami guide
Warm Meal in the Lavvu
A Joik to Close

Bring Your Own

At least two warm layers
Gloves and a hat
Good winter boots
Charged Phone or Camera

Cost calculator

What the Visit Costs You

Choose a Tour and Calculate for Your Whole Group.

This tourSled and Lavvufrom $200 Short visit2.5 to 3.5 hoursfrom $132 Camp with Lunch4 hrsfrom $179

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

Tromsø: Reindeer, Snowmobile, and Northern Lights

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The Reindeer Sled Ride

After feeding, it is time for the sled. A reindeer pulls you at a gentle pace on a round through the snow, and the landscape around you is quiet and vast. This is not a ride for adrenaline but for tranquility: the soft crunch of the hooves, the breath of the animal in the cold air. For many guests, it is this very slowness that marks the moment they truly arrive in the Arctic for the first time. Wear your warmest layer for the ride.

The sled ride depends on the snow. Toward the end of winter, when it is thawing or icy, it may be cancelled because the ground is not safe for the animals or the sled. Guests report that they then spent more time feeding; one review mentions that the cancelled portion was refunded. Ask briefly before the end of the season when booking. In deep winter this is rarely an issue.

A note from reviews for older guests: the ride can be a bit bumpy. If you have back problems, sit up straight on purpose or speak with the guides beforehand. For most guests, the ride is exactly what they imagined a winter day in northern Norway would be. If you are unsure, simply ask for a gentler ride. The guides are happy to accommodate, as they know their animals and the route well. Guests also report that shorter and longer sled rides were available.

In the Lavvu: Fire, Food, and Joik

To warm up, you go into the lavvu, the traditional Sámi tent. Such visits are often connected with stories by the fire in the lavvu.⁶ A fire burns in the center, guests sit on hides and benches all around, and there is a warm meal. The smoke drifts out through the opening at the top of the tent, and after just a few minutes it is warm enough to take off your gloves and warm your fingers by the cup.

A stew with reindeer meat is served at many visits. In Sámi cuisine, such a reindeer stew with potatoes and carrots is called bidos.⁷ Guests also mention a vegetarian option in their reviews; if you do not eat meat, it is best to let them know when booking. There is talking and laughter by the fire. The meal is included in the tour price.

To close, the guide sings a joik. The joik is a traditional form of Sámi singing.⁸ It is a quiet moment, the fire crackles, and everyone listens. Many guests later name it as the moment when they understood the people behind the reindeer the most. Some guests film the song; it is best to ask beforehand if that is all right.

What to Wear

Averaged over the winter, the thermometer in Tromsø shows around minus 4 degrees.⁹ That sounds mild, but standing still outside the enclosure for a long time and the cold wind near the water make it feel much colder. Visit Tromsø recommends wool underwear directly against the skin, then warm, dry sweaters and a jacket, as well as warm footwear, gloves, scarf, and a hat.¹⁰ Wind makes the cold feel significantly stronger than the thermometer suggests.

The organizer recommends at least two warm layers, gloves, a hat, and good winter boots. The shoes especially determine how the day goes, because at the camp you walk through snow, mud, or icy spots. Waterproof boots with good grip are better than fashionable winter shoes. Someone who is cold will have a harder time enjoying the day than someone who brings one extra layer too many.

Also think about your hands when feeding: thick mittens are warm but impractical at the bucket. Thin gloves underneath let you take off the mittens briefly without getting cold fingers right away. A phone with a full battery belongs in an inner pocket, because cold drains it faster. A thermos or a small snack in your backpack also does not hurt if the return trip takes longer.

Return and a Few Final Tips

After around 4 hours you are back in Tromsø. The afternoon slot works well if you plan to go looking for the northern lights in the evening; the morning slot leaves the afternoon free for the city and museums. If you plan both on the same day, the morning slot is the more relaxed choice, because between your return and the evening there is time to warm up and eat something.

Booked through GetYourGuide, pay later, and cancel up to 24 hours before for a full refund. The tour is conducted in English; this excursion is not available in German. Check available dates before booking, as popular departures fill up quickly during peak season. Pay attention to the exact time when booking. If you are unsure, ask before you book.

Do not leave this visit until the last day of your trip. If the sled ride is canceled or rescheduled due to weather, you will have this buffer. And take your time in the lavvu to ask questions: the guides love to talk, and it is exactly these conversations that turn a trip with animals into an insight into a living culture. Those who come with questions return to the city with far more than just photos, and that is what often stays with you the longest.

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