How to Meet and Feed Reindeer in Rovaniemi (Without the Crowds!)
I am not a fan of comparing destinations, but I admittedly sometimes find myself comparing Rovaniemi to a few other travel destinations in the Arctic and wondering which is better value to travelers.
And one thing that I always thought was a shortcoming of Rovaniemi’s was that no programs focused on the reindeer and Sami life. Rovaniemi is not in Sapmi and Finland’s Sami population tends to live north of here.
If youʻre booking your trip to Lapland last minute, I have you covered. Below are some of the top tours, hotels, and more!
🇫🇮 Top activities and tours in Rovaniemi:
- Reindeer feeding and forest walks with Pia (reviewed my experience below)
- Top-rated northern lights tour in Rovaniemi (offers guaranteed sightings!)
- Snowhotel visit from Rovaniemi (wheelchair-accessible option starting in Dec.)
🛌 Top hotels and lodging in Rovaniemi:
- Arctic TreeHouse Hotel (famous place by Santa Claus Village)
- Hostel Koti (a budget option w/ private rooms in the city center)
- Apukka Resort (glass igloos and activities combined – worth the splurge)
🚗 Looking to travel around Lapland independently? Click here to check Finland rental car rates!
We have reindeer farms and experiences, but a lot of them tend to be around Santa Claus Village or in combined activities. They are also on the itinerary of packaged tours.
So, while this may be a shortcoming in comparing Rovaniemi to Tromso, for example, it is mostly because we are not in the right region and have other attractions and experiences.
So, what is the best way to learn more about and feed reindeer in Rovaniemi? I recently went out to Local Lifestyle Rovaniemi and found the perfect option for those looking to do the same… but without the crowds.
This was not a sponsored experience. I have been watching (okay… mildly stalking) Pia and her reindeer for a while on her Instagram channel ever since one of them went viral. When I found out she was local, I was determined to get out there and meet the famous crew. I booked this experience last minute when the weather was bad here. More about that later…
In this post, I cover what it is like to visit Local Lifestyle, an ethical reindeer experience in Rovaniemi.
You will see what options she offers, including how to book and some tips for your trip out there. If you have any questions, let me know in the comments or please send me a message!
In this post...
- Who Can Do These Rovaniemi Reindeer Experiences (and Who Can’t)
- About Local Lifestyle Rovaniemi
- About the Rovaniemi Reindeer Feeding and Walks
- How to Book a Reindeer Experience at Local Lifestyle
- How to Get to Local Lifestyle Rovaniemi
- Do I think this reindeer feeding in Rovaniemi is worth it?
- More Rovaniemi Travel Guides
- Pin this Guide About Where to See Reindeer in Rovaniemi
Who Can Do These Rovaniemi Reindeer Experiences (and Who Can’t)
To not waste your time, I want to start this post out by stating more information about who this reindeer program is for… and who it isn’t for.
There are two main programs Local Lifestyle Rovaniemi offers:
- 1-hour reindeer feeding and educational session (€30 per person)
- 3-hour reindeer walks in the forest that includes feeding, light lunch, and an educational session (€130 per person)
Both programs are not made for young children. The children can cause stress for these animals as they are not as used to being in large crowds as the reindeer in Santa Claus Village.
Both programs are not wheelchair-accessible. The kota has a step going into it and the feeding quarters are teeming with hay and reindeer poop. There will also likely be a lot of snow on the ground, making maneuvering it around a bit of a challenge.
The first program is not ideal for those without a rental car UNLESS you want to take a taxi out that way. A taxi is about €60 each way… so this will add around €120 to your final price.
But keep reading if this is you because I will give a suggestion later about how to make this possibly work and combine it with another activity.
The second option I listed, the reindeer walk, actually offers a pick-up option. If you want to be picked up directly from your Rovaniemi accommodation, you can prearrange it and it changes the price from €130 per person to €150.
About Local Lifestyle Rovaniemi
I don’t want to include too much here because I want you to head out there and see for yourself! But, here is a short overview of Local Lifestyle Rovaniemi.
Pia started the reindeer walks and feeding in 2020. It has evolved to something far more later on and she has a small crew that does the walks these days – there are Kippana, Ritsa, Maikki, and Marsa.
When I visited, there was also a male reindeer hanging out for the day as he was in training (for another farm). Kippana is the queen and the famous one – she is the leader of the pack and you will notice it very quickly!
One thing I liked about Local Lifestyle is that the reindeers’ needs are always the top priority. Pia knows each reindeer so well that she can sense when something is wrong or if it is disinterested that day.
For the 2024-2025 season, she had a beautiful kota built that has a large window where you can enjoy a fire and some drinks and snacks with a large window looking out to the reindeer after your feeding and/or walk.
About the Rovaniemi Reindeer Feeding and Walks
As I mentioned above, there are two primary options that Pia offers (inquire with her for the snowshoe option):
- 1-hour reindeer feeding and educational session (€30 per person)
- 3-hour reindeer walks in the forest that includes feeding, light lunch, and an educational session (€130 per person)
I did the first one. Unfortunately, our lack of winter this year has made whatever snow was in the forest a gross slush, so reindeer walks have been canceled until further notice. I am going to try that experience next year, however.
The reindeer feeding is actually a fantastic opportunity for those who experience crappy weather in Rovaniemi – I wrote a whole post about that and included this experience in it!
The reindeer feeding and walks are only available seasonally. They start in December and end at the end of March. Why? Well, the reindeer are in the forest the rest of the year! Reindeer in Finland are semi-wild animals and spend most of their time away from the ranches.
The reindeer feeding is a small group. I had only two other people alongside me and they were together. The reindeer walks can have up to 8 people in the same group – so I would classify this as a private experience.
How to Book a Reindeer Experience at Local Lifestyle
Pia keeps it simple and personal. You can book by contacting her on Instagram here. You can also contact her by Whatsapp at +358 40 7087569. If you don’t have either of those, send me a message and I can put you in touch to ensure your request goes through!
She is pretty quick to reply and get you set up with a program if there is availability.
How to Get to Local Lifestyle Rovaniemi
Local Lifestyle Rovaniemi is located in Sinetta, a town about 20 kilometers (12 miles) north of Rovaniemi.
The most ideal way to get there is by a rental car, but I don’t advise renting a car in Rovaniemi in winter unless you’re very experienced at driving in snowy (or icy) conditions. Alternatively, you can take a taxi (about €60 each way, give or take a little).
If you are booking the reindeer walk and not just the feeding that I did, Pia offers transportation from your accommodation in Rovaniemi to Sinetta. This adds €20 to the already set €130 price (per person).
Are you planning to visit the Arctic SnowHotel on your trip? If you are, this is the PERFECT activity to combine with your visit to the snow hotel, if visiting independently and not on a tour.
The Arctic SnowHotel and Glass Igloos are located within a short walking distance from Local Lifestyle. So, you can technically visit them on the same trip if you don’t mind walking between the two. It is a 1-kilometer (0.6-mile) walk.
If you are visiting during the winter, it will be dark outside, so PLEASE wear a reflector if you are going to make this journey. You can purchase them at all supermarkets in Rovaniemi.
Do I think this reindeer feeding in Rovaniemi is worth it?
I have done experiences like this all across the Arctic and this was one of my favorites because it felt like anything but mass tourism.
It was a personal encounter with the reindeer and Pia made you feel so welcome and comfortable with asking questions. I also LOVED the kota – I kind of want to build one of my own (if someone gives me some property to do so!).
I haven’t had a chance to do the reindeer walks just yet, but once winter rolls back around next year, it is one of the top things I want to do! I will add more about the program here once I do.
This reindeer feeding was also such a great excursion when the weather put a damper on many of the other excursions in Rovaniemi. If you have any questions, please let me know. Thanks!
More Rovaniemi Travel Guides
- Rovaniemi in winter
- Places to eat in Rovaniemi
- Visiting the Arctic SnowHotel in Rovaniemi
- Things to do in Rovaniemi (if the weather is bad)
- Rovaniemi on a budget
- Best Rovaniemi day trips
- Rovaniemi travel mistakes (and how to avoid them)
- Best cafes in Rovaniemi
- Review of the Arctic TreeHouse Hotel
- Getting from Rovaniemi Airport to the city center
- Best tours in Rovaniemi
- Rovaniemi in November
- Rovaniemi in February
- Northern lights in Rovaniemi
- Dog sledding in Rovaniemi
Pin this Guide About Where to See Reindeer in Rovaniemi
