What to wear for a reindeer ride
On a reindeer sled you sit still for a while in the Lapland cold. How to dress for that, and what the tours provide.
A reindeer ride is not a workout. You sit on the sled while the reindeer does the work, and that is exactly why the cold gets through. Some tours provide winter overalls and boots, others charge extra for them, and for many the listing is the only place to find out. The table shows what we could confirm for each ride.
Winter clothing by ride
Sorted by review count. “Check listing” means we could not confirm what is included; the listing says.
| Photo | Tour | Sled distance | Day / evening | Winter clothing | Rating ↕ | Price ↕ | Book |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Farm visit + 500 m ride Arctic Circle Snowmobile Park | 500 m | Day | Check listing | ★ 4.2 (1,584) | €87 per person | Book now |
|
Farm visit + short 400 m ride Wonderlapland | 400 m | Day | Check listing | ★ 4.6 (416) | €150 per person | Book now |
|
1.5 km ride, hot drink & cookies Wonderlapland | 1.5 km | Day | Overalls and boots cost extra | ★ 4.6 (363) | €200 per person | Book now |
|
Farm visit, 2 km ride & photos Beyond Arctic | 2 km | Day | Check listing | ★ 4.7 (345) | €185 per person | Book now |
|
2–2.5 km forest ride Santa Claus Holiday Village Safaris | 2–2.5 km | Day | Check listing | ★ 4.8 (275) | €179 per person | Book now |
|
2.5 km safari + driving licence Arctic GM | 2.5 km | Day | Check listing | ★ 4.5 (105) | €199 per person | Book now |
|
Daytime 1.5 km ride Safartica | 1.5 km | Day | Check listing | ★ 4.4 (75) | €129 per person | Book now |
|
Apukka reindeer journey, 2–3 km Apukka Resort | 2–3 km | Day | Check listing | ★ 3.9 (30) | €189 per person | Book now |
|
Northern lights sledge ride Arctic Circle Snowmobile Park | Not stated | Evening | Check listing | ★ 4.4 (25) | €109 per person | Book now |
|
2–3 km safari in Santa Claus Village Santa Claus Reindeer | 2–3 km | Day | Check listing | ★ 4.5 (21) | €120 per person | Book now |
|
Evening safari, 3 km Safartica | 3 km | Evening | Check listing | ★ 4.4 (14) | €199 per person | Book now |
|
Apukka night sleigh ride Apukka Resort | Not stated | Evening | Check listing | ★ 3.8 (14) | €195 per person | Book now |
Prices come live from GetYourGuide and Viator; the booking page shows the final amount before you pay. 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.
Why the sled gets cold
On a walk you stay warm by moving. On the sled you barely move, and the air flows past you as the reindeer pulls. The longer the ride, the more this matters: a few minutes on a short farm ride is easy, half an hour or more on a safari is where good layers pay off. Evening rides add the cold of the night.
Layers from the skin out
- Base layer: long thermal underwear, ideally wool or a synthetic that wicks moisture. Cotton holds sweat and cools you down.
- Middle layer: a fleece or wool jumper, plus warm trousers.
- Outer layer: a windproof, insulated jacket and trousers, or the winter overalls the tour provides, if it does.
Hands, feet and head
- Feet: warm winter boots with room for thick wool socks. Tight boots cut the circulation and get cold faster.
- Hands: thick mittens keep fingers warmer than gloves. Thin liner gloves underneath let you take the mittens off for a photo.
- Head and face: a warm hat that covers the ears, and a scarf or neck gaiter you can pull over your face while the sled is moving.
What the tours provide
What is included varies by tour. On the 1.5 km Wonderlapland ride, winter overalls and boots cost extra. Add them when you book or bring your own. A reviewer of the Arctic Circle Snowmobile Park farm ride mentions complimentary snowsuits that were welcome because the reviewer was a little underdressed. For the other rides, the listing states what is included; if it says nothing, plan to bring your own warm layers.
Even where overalls are provided, your own base layer, socks, hat and mittens make the difference. Provided clothing goes over what you wear, not instead of it.
Cameras and phones
Batteries drain quickly in the cold. Keep your phone or spare camera batteries in an inside pocket, close to your body, and take them out only for the picture.
Small children get cold faster than adults on a sled. Dress them in the same layers, check hands and feet during the visit, and consider a short ride rather than a long one. More on our reindeer rides with kids page.
A traveller on the clothing
Real traveller reviews from GetYourGuide.
★ 4.2 (1,584 reviews)
“One of the most magical things I've ever done. Complimentary snowsuits were very welcome as I was a little underdressed! … we loved our sleigh ride together as a family, wish it could have gone on longer! …”
Reviewers who enjoyed this visit mention the staff, feeding the reindeer and the driving licence souvenir. The critical reviews centre on the length of the ride and the price for what is a short ride. A review from April describes the end of the season: too warm, most reindeer already released, and a few kept back to pull sleds around a sandy track. If you travel late in the season, weigh that before booking.
Reviews collected from the tours' booking pages. Shortened for length (marked with …), wording unchanged; names reduced to first name and country.
FAQ
Is winter clothing included on reindeer tours in Rovaniemi?
It varies by tour. On the 1.5 km Wonderlapland ride, winter overalls and boots cost extra. For the other tours, the listing states what is included, so check before you book and bring warm layers either way.
What should I wear under provided overalls?
A thermal base layer, a warm middle layer, thick socks, a hat and mittens. Overalls block the wind and add insulation, but they go over your own clothing, not instead of it.
Gloves or mittens?
Mittens keep your fingers warmer. Thin liner gloves underneath let you take the mittens off briefly for photos.
Do I need special boots?
Warm, insulated winter boots with room for thick socks. Some tours provide boots or offer them as an extra; the listing says which.
Is an evening ride colder?
Usually, yes: the night adds to the cold, and you sit still on the sled. Dress one layer warmer than for a daytime ride.
What each ride provides in winter clothing
What each ride includes in winter clothing, at a glance.
See the comparison ↑