Reindeer sleigh safaris from Rovaniemi
Daytime rides where the sled is the main part of the visit, with the distance, the time on the sled and the transfer for each.
A reindeer safari is the format for travellers who want the ride itself to be the experience: 1.5 to 3 kilometres on the sled, about 30 to 40 minutes of riding where the listing gives a time, usually followed by a hot drink and time with the herd. The table shows every daytime safari we compare, with the facts that decide between them.
Daytime safaris compared
Most-reviewed safari first. Read the transfer column early: some rides start at the farm, others collect you from your hotel.
| Photo | Tour | Sled distance | Time on the sled | Transfer | Duration | Rating ↕ | Price ↕ | Book |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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1.5 km ride, hot drink & cookies Wonderlapland | 1.5 km | Not stated | Check listing | 2.5 hours | ★ 4.6 (363) | €200 per person | Book now |
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Farm visit, 2 km ride & photos Beyond Arctic | 2 km | Not stated | Check listing (farm 35 min away) | 3 hours | ★ 4.7 (345) | €185 per person | Book now |
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2–2.5 km forest ride Santa Claus Holiday Village Safaris | 2–2.5 km | ~40 min | Hotel pickup, Santa Claus Village area | 3 hours | ★ 4.8 (275) | €179 per person | Book now |
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2.5 km safari + driving licence Arctic GM | 2.5 km | Not stated | Check listing | 3 hours | ★ 4.5 (105) | €199 per person | Book now |
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Daytime 1.5 km ride Safartica | 1.5 km | Not stated | Check listing | 2 hours | ★ 4.4 (75) | €129 per person | Book now |
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Apukka reindeer journey, 2–3 km Apukka Resort | 2–3 km | Not stated | Check listing | Check listing | ★ 3.9 (30) | €189 per person | Book now |
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2–3 km safari in Santa Claus Village Santa Claus Reindeer | 2–3 km | ~30 min | No, meet at the farm | 1 hour | ★ 4.5 (21) | €120 per person | Book now |
Ride prices load live from GetYourGuide and Viator and are per person. What a family or group pays in total, the booking page shows before checkout. Distances and times are the operators’ own figures from each listing, checked 28 September 2026; times marked “(reviews)” come from traveller reviews. “Not stated” means the listing gives no figure, and we do not estimate one.
What sets the safaris apart
On paper the safaris look alike: a farm, a sled, a forest trail. The differences lie in the details of each listing.
- Time on the sled. Only some listings state it. The forest ride from Santa Claus Holiday Village Safaris gives about 40 minutes for 2–2.5 km, the safari from the farm inside Santa Claus Village about 30 minutes for 2–3 km. The others give a distance only.
- Transfer. The Santa Claus Village safari has no transfer; you meet at the farm. The forest ride picks up from hotels in the village area. Beyond Arctic’s farm lies about 35 minutes’ drive away, so part of the tour is the journey.
- Group size. Arctic GM keeps its safari to eight guests. On Safartica’s daytime ride, two people share a sled.
- What comes with the ride. Beyond Arctic includes feeding and professional photos. Arctic GM hands out a reindeer driving licence, which is a souvenir certificate rather than a tradition. Wonderlapland serves a hot drink and cookies but charges extra for winter overalls and boots.
Which safari fits your stay
If you are staying in the Santa Claus Village area, the forest ride with hotel pickup is the easy option, and the safari that starts at the farm in the village works if you can get there yourself.
From a hotel in town, look at the transfer column first. Where it says “Check listing”, the listing tells you whether pickup is included and from where.
With small children, a 400–500 m farm ride may be enough. See the short ride or safari comparison and our page on reindeer rides with kids.
What reviewers point out
Reviewers of these tours mostly praise the same things: a quiet ride through the forest, well-kept animals and guides who talk about the farming. The complaints are about the day around the ride.
Late pickups and long waits for transport come up in several safari reviews, so leave some slack if your day is tightly planned. One reviewer of the 1.5 km Wonderlapland ride found the group too large, “more like a mass event”; if a small group matters to you, pick a listing that states a maximum. A November review of the same ride reports a cancellation for lack of snow, the usual risk early in the season (more on our best time page).
Reviews from the forest safaris
Real traveller reviews from GetYourGuide.
2–2.5 km reindeer sled ride through the forest
★ 4.8 (275 reviews)
“This is a beautiful tour to experience the magic of Reindeers with a quiet sleigh ride through the forest, followed by hot beverages by the fire and finally feeding reindeers. …”
“The tour was very nice, but the organization (waiting time, transport, punctuality, and adherence to the procedures) was bad. …”
“they were more then 1 hour late for pick us up,whithout explanation or apology”
The ride itself is praised throughout: quiet, through the forest, with hot drinks by the fire and feeding afterwards. The critical reviews are about organisation: waiting time, transport and punctuality, with one reviewer reporting a pickup more than an hour late.
Local reindeer farm visit with a 2 km sleigh ride and photos
★ 4.7 (345 reviews)
“Very recommend trip. We had wonderful time there. Long sleigh ride in beautiful place. We had time to feed reindeers and make some photos. We also eat very good pankaces/crepes and drink hot chocolate in Kota. …”
“The ride was very slow. But it was still nice, with the scenery. The feeding afterward was also very nice.”
Reviewers mention a long ride in beautiful surroundings, time for feeding and photos, crêpes and hot chocolate in the kota, and a guide who stayed with the group. The critical reviews describe the ride as very slow and the tour as one of many of its kind.
1.5 km reindeer sleigh ride with hot drink and cookies
★ 4.6 (363 reviews)
“The farm is very well looked after and you can tell the reindeer are too. … The farm has been in the family for about 400 years! …”
“The cancelled due to lack of snow. Still waiting for my refund …”
“The group was too large. More like a mass event.”
Reviewers describe a well-kept farm with well-cared-for reindeer and a ride that was fun. On the critical side: a November ride cancelled for lack of snow, with the reviewer still waiting for the refund, and a group that another reviewer found too large.
2.5 km reindeer safari with a reindeer driving licence
★ 4.5 (105 reviews)
“… we enjoyed a fantastic sleigh ride with the reindeer. The farm owners and guides are truly passionate about what they do. The animals on the farm are very well cared for. …”
“… The ride with the reindeers was great. Afterwards the program became a bit shorter than we expected but overall it was great to hear our guide talking about the farming and the personality and personal connection with each animal. …”
“Transport: Waited 1.5 hours due to car issues. Didn't see the old farmhouse. The information and tour were nice; they did their best.”
Reviewers praise the ride, the hosts' enthusiasm, the care of the animals and what the guides tell about farming and the individual reindeer. The critical reviews mention a programme that turned out shorter than expected, a long wait for transport after a problem with the car, and the price for a short activity.
Daytime 1.5 km reindeer sleigh ride
★ 4.4 (75 reviews)
“This tour was so well organised from start to finish and the most amazing experience. …”
“Beautiful sleigh ride with the reindeer, some of which you can pet. It's also perfect for kids; they were able to feed them lichen.”
For this ride we could only read the standard reviews on the booking page, without a filter for critical ones, so the selection here is not a balanced sample.
Reviews collected from the tours' booking pages. Shortened for length (marked with …), wording unchanged; names reduced to first name and country.
FAQ
How long is a reindeer safari in Rovaniemi?
The daytime safaris on this page cover 1.5 to 3 kilometres on the sled. Where the listing states a time, it is about 30 to 40 minutes of riding. The whole tour, including the farm visit and any transfer, usually takes two to three hours.
What is the difference between a safari and a short reindeer ride?
Distance. The short farm rides cover 400 to 500 metres, which reviewers describe as a few minutes on the sled. On a safari the ride becomes the main part of the visit. The ride-length comparison on this site shows every option side by side.
Is hotel pickup included?
It depends on the tour. The forest ride from Santa Claus Holiday Village Safaris picks up from hotels in the Santa Claus Village area; the safari from the farm inside the village has no transfer. For the other safaris, check the listing. The table marks them as such.
Do I need my own winter clothing?
Bring warm layers either way. Some tours include outer clothing, others do not: the 1.5 km Wonderlapland ride, for example, charges extra for winter overalls and boots. The listing says what is included.
Can I drive the sled myself?
The safaris on this page are passenger rides. The reindeer driving licence that some tours hand out is a souvenir certificate and carries no qualification.
What happens if there is not enough snow?
Sleigh rides need snow. Early in the season a ride can be cancelled or replaced, and reviewers report such cancellations in November. Check the cancellation terms on the listing; most tours on this site can be cancelled free of charge up to 24 hours before.
Between 1.5 and 3 km on the sled
Check the transfer column before you choose. It decides how much of the day goes on the road.
See the comparison