Santa Claus Holiday Village Safaris · Santa Claus Holiday Village
A caravan of reindeer pulls you 2 to 2.5 km through a quiet snowy forest outside Rovaniemi, with a guide leading the front reindeer and a hide and a blanket under you. Pick it for the length, because about 40 minutes in the sleigh is a real ride, where many farm rides are a short loop of a few hundred metres.
Start with the fact most people only learn on the day. You do not drive a reindeer sleigh in Rovaniemi. A herder or guide leads the first reindeer, the other sleighs follow in a line, and you sit back on a reindeer hide. What really changes from one tour to the next is how long you stay in the sleigh, and this one is among the longest on this site. The operator puts the ride at about 2 to 2.5 km, which takes around 40 minutes depending on the conditions. It has 4.7 stars from 275 reviews and costs from $200 per person in 2026. You can cancel free up to 24 hours before.
Santa Claus Holiday Village Safaris runs it, with guidance in English. You get thermal overalls and winter boots, then step into a wooden sleigh with a reindeer hide and a blanket. The pace is calm. Guests describe it as a leisurely stroll through the forest, and the quiet is the point: snow crunching under hooves, frost in the air, nothing else. After the ride the group stops at an open fire for hot drinks and sweet treats, and a guide talks about the lives of the reindeer.
Then comes the part many reviewers rate as highly as the ride itself. You get time to feed the reindeer and take photos with them, and guests mention baby reindeer at the farm too. Pickup runs from three fixed points, so check yours before you book. The listing says it is not suitable for pregnant women or wheelchair users. Sleigh rides need snow. Visit Rovaniemi says the snow usually settles for good in late November, sometimes earlier, and the sleigh season runs to about mid-April.
Wait at the Santa Claus Holiday Village reception 15 minutes before the start time, outside Santa's Hotel Santa Claus 30 minutes before, or outside the SantaSport hotel reception 40 minutes before.
Pull on the thermal overalls and winter boots, then meet the reindeer that will pull your sleigh.
The guides lead the reindeer caravan along a 2 to 2.5 km forest track. You sit on a hide under a blanket and enjoy the silence.
Gather around the open fire for hot drinks and sweet treats while a guide tells you how the reindeer live.
Give the reindeer their treats of the day and take photos with your favourite.
The transfer takes you back. Guests say pickup and drop-off run on time.
★★★★★The tour is like a leisurely stroll, with a guide leading the front reindeer and all the other reindeer and their sleds following. It's super lovingly designed, and we even got to pet and feed the baby reindeer. [...]
★★★★★It was a fantastic experience all around, and I can highly recommend it. From beginning to end, it was relaxing, and they took plenty of time for everything. The animals were wonderful, and the sleigh ride was absolutely beautiful. Feeding them afterward was a real treat.
★★★★★[...] Most importantly, you could tell our guides truly were knowledgeable and cared for the reindeer on the property. They were very informative about raising the reindeer, their work-life, and off-season life. Our guides clearly knew each individual personality. It was a nice, leisurely ride through the forest. [...]
★★★★★The afternoon had a great atmosphere thanks to the excellent organization and the friendly guides. We learned a lot about the reindeer and their habitat, and had plenty of time to take photos with the animals.
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About 2 to 2.5 km, which takes around 40 minutes depending on the conditions. The whole tour lasts 3 hours.
No. The guides lead the reindeer caravan and you sit in the sleigh on a reindeer hide under a blanket.
Yes. Thermal overalls and winter boots are lent for the tour. Bring a hat, gloves and warm layers to wear underneath.
At the Santa Claus Holiday Village reception, outside Santa's Hotel Santa Claus, or outside the SantaSport hotel reception, at set times before the start.
Ready to book
About 40 minutes in the sleigh through a snowy forest, then hot drinks by the fire and reindeer to feed.
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