Saariselkä: Northern Lights & Reindeer Sledding Tour

A quiet sleigh ride can feel wonderfully grand. This 2.5-hour evening outing gives you two things I especially like: a peaceful ride through the snowy forest and an honest chance to connect with reindeer at close range. The campfire, hot drink, local stories, and possible Northern Lights add real charm. The main catch is simple: the sleigh ride may feel shorter than expected, especially if the campfire stop runs long, and the Aurora is never guaranteed.

You meet at Lapponia Tours’ gray safari house with the tower roof in Saariselkä. From there, a roughly 15-minute minivan transfer takes you to Joikun Kotakahvio and the reindeer farm. Thermal clothing is provided, but you should still arrive in warm layers and comfortable shoes. Guides speak English and Finnish, and names praised for their warmth and personality include Eemeli, Nilla, Ansee, and Visa.

I would choose this for a calm, traditional evening rather than a fast-moving adventure. You sit back while the reindeer lead the way, feed them during a break, and gather around a fire in the dark forest. Children under seven and pregnant women cannot join, and the activity depends on weather conditions.

Key points to know before booking

• The sleigh ride lasts through quiet forest: You relax under the northern sky while trained reindeer follow their route through the woods.
• The campfire is a real part of the evening: Expect a hot drink, biscuits or local snacks, stories, and time to warm up.
• Reindeer care is central to the experience: You can feed the animals and learn about their work and daily life in Lapland.
• Aurora sightings are possible but uncertain: Clear skies and luck matter, so book this for the full experience, not only for the lights.
• Thermal clothing is included: Still wear warm layers, since the forest can feel much colder than Saariselkä’s streets.
• Flash photography is banned: Sudden flashes can frighten the reindeer and create a safety risk.

Meeting at Lapponia Tours in Saariselkä

The evening begins at Lapponia Tours’ safari house on Honkapolku 1. Look for the gray building with a tower-style roof. This detail matters because Saariselkä has several winter activity operators, and arriving at the wrong office could create a rushed start.

The transfer to the reindeer farm takes about 15 minutes. That is short enough to keep the outing focused, but it also means you should have your clothing sorted before departure. The tour lasts 2.5 hours in total, including the transfer time, so the actual time at the farm is not an entire evening.

Thermal clothing is included. This is useful, especially for anyone who has not packed a full Arctic wardrobe. Still, I would wear a warm base layer, insulating middle layers, thick socks, and comfortable shoes. The supplied clothing is extra protection, not a reason to arrive in light indoor clothes.

The activity is listed as wheelchair accessible, but the supplied details do not explain how boarding the sleigh or moving around the farm is handled. If you need specific assistance, confirm the arrangements before booking.

Meeting the reindeer at Joikun Kotakahvio

At the farm, the pace changes. You are not rushed from one photo stop to the next. The reindeer are the focus, and you get time to feed them and watch their behavior before or during the sleigh portion.

That contact gives the outing more value than a simple ride. You see the animals at close range, learn about their work and daily life, and get a better sense of why reindeer remain so important in Lapland. Several guides have been praised for explaining local culture and reindeer life in an engaging way.

The animals are described as well cared for, and each has its own character. That is worth noticing. A good animal experience should allow you to appreciate the animals rather than treat them as scenery, and this tour gives you time to do that.

You may also get help taking photographs. Nilla was praised for helping with pictures near the reindeer, while other guides brought a playful touch to the evening. Keep your phone or camera ready without becoming so focused on pictures that you miss the animals in front of you.

There is one firm rule: no flash photography and no flashlight use. Reindeer are sensitive to sudden bright light, and the guide can remove a camera or phone until the end of the tour if the rule is ignored. Use your camera’s night mode or take photographs without flash.

Riding through the dark Lapland forest

The sleigh is the heart of the outing. You sit in a relaxed position while a reindeer pulls you through the quiet forest. The ride is not designed as a high-speed thrill. Its appeal is the slow pace, the soft movement, and the chance to look up at the winter sky.

For many people, this is the most memorable part. The forest is dark, the route is quiet, and the reindeer know where they are going. You do not need to steer, so you can concentrate on the cold air, the trees, and the shape of the sky above you.

The exact ride length can vary in how it feels. One detailed account found the campfire lasted longer than expected and the sleigh ride felt shorter. That is useful to know. If your main goal is riding, this may not satisfy you as much as a longer reindeer safari. If you want a mix of riding, animals, conversation, and a campfire, the balance makes more sense.

The sleigh can also feel very cold, even with thermal clothing and blankets. You are sitting rather than generating body heat, so protect your feet, hands, and face. Warm layers are not a minor suggestion here.

The ride also gives you a quiet way to see Lapland. There is no engine noise during the sleigh portion, and the calm makes the forest feel far removed from the resort area. That silence is one of the strongest reasons to choose this tour.

A campfire, hot drink, and local stories

During the outing, the group stops by a campfire in the forest. You can warm yourself with a hot drink, often described as hot fruit juice, tea, or coffee, along with biscuits or local snacks.

This stop is more than a break from the cold. It gives the guide time to talk about reindeer, Finnish life, local traditions, and the Sámi connection to reindeer sleigh driving. The activity presents sleigh driving as a traditional practice of the Sámi, the Indigenous people of Europe, so the stories add useful cultural context to what you are seeing.

The guides are a major part of the experience. Eemeli was described as friendly and funny, while Ansee was praised for explaining the evening clearly and sharing information about Finnish life. Visa brought stories about the Sámi people and reindeer, and also entertained the group by carving a small masterpiece from a stick.

Another guide turned the campfire into a lively evening of fairy tales, songs, and dancing. That tells you something important about the tone: the experience can be more social and playful than a silent nature outing. If you prefer a very quiet evening, the guide’s storytelling style and the group mood may feel more active than expected.

Still, the campfire gives the night its character. Standing in a dark forest with a warm drink, listening to local stories, and watching sparks rise into the cold air is a strong Lapland moment, even when the sky stays cloudy.

Chasing the Northern Lights without a promise

The tour offers a chance to see the Aurora Borealis, but it does not guarantee a sighting. This is the right way to think about any Northern Lights activity. The lights depend on solar activity, cloud cover, darkness, and luck. No guide can control those conditions.

The route and evening setting give you a reasonable opportunity. You spend time away from bright resort lights, and the sleigh ride takes place under the northern sky. If the clouds open, you may see the Aurora while sitting behind a reindeer or returning through the forest.

Several outings had spectacular displays, including one evening when the lights appeared on the way back. Other outings had no Aurora at all but still felt worthwhile because of the sleigh ride, campfire, stories, and reindeer.

That difference should guide your booking decision. If seeing the Northern Lights is the only reason you are considering this experience, you are taking a gamble. If you would be happy with an atmospheric reindeer evening and regard the Aurora as a bonus, the tour offers better value.

Bring a camera if you like, but leave the flash switched off. You may need to accept that dark-forest pictures will not look perfect. The memory of the scene is likely to be stronger than the photograph.

Is $222 a fair price?

At $222 per person, this is not a budget activity. The price includes thermal clothing, English-language guiding, transport from the Saariselkä meeting point to the farm and back, the sleigh ride, a hot drink by the fire, reindeer feeding, and the possibility of seeing the Aurora.

I think the value depends on what you want from a Lapland evening. Compared with a simple short animal encounter, this includes more time and more elements. You receive transport, clothing, cultural explanation, a forest ride, and a campfire rather than paying only for a photograph with a reindeer.

The cost is harder to justify if you expect a long sleigh safari or a guaranteed light show. The 2.5-hour total includes two 15-minute transfers, and the sleigh portion may feel brief when the campfire and conversation take up much of the evening.

The best value comes from treating this as a small cultural and nature experience. You are paying for the setting, the guide, the animals, and the chance of an Aurora, not simply for miles covered by sleigh.

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start gives you some flexibility, and the reserve-now, pay-later option can help if your plans are still shifting. Those terms are useful in a winter itinerary, where weather can affect several activities.

Who will enjoy this evening most?

I would recommend this tour to couples, families with children aged seven and above, and first-time visitors who want a gentle introduction to Lapland. You do not need to be athletic, and the main activity is sitting comfortably in the sleigh.

It also suits anyone who cares about animals and local culture. The feeding session and campfire stories add meaning to the ride. Families should note that the experience can be cold and that the dark setting may be tiring for young children, even though the sleigh itself is easygoing.

This is less suitable for anyone seeking speed, a long-distance safari, or a guaranteed Aurora. It may also disappoint photographers who want to use bright lights or take highly controlled night pictures.

The tour is not suitable for children under seven or pregnant women. Smoking, alcohol, drugs, flash photography, and flashlights are not allowed.

Practical tips for a smoother night

• Wear warm layers even though thermal clothing is supplied.
• Choose comfortable, warm shoes with good insulation.
• Eat beforehand if you need a full meal, since the included refreshments are a hot drink and light snacks.
• Keep your phone in an easy-to-reach pocket, but do not use its flashlight.
• Tell children before departure that feeding rules and the no-flash policy protect the reindeer.
• Leave room in your evening schedule for the possibility that the campfire portion takes longer than expected.
• Arrange your own transport if you are staying in Kiilopää, Kakslauttanen, Muotka, Inari, or Ivalo. Transport from those areas is not included.
• Check the forecast, but remember that a clear forecast still cannot promise an Aurora.

Should you book this reindeer sleigh tour?

I would book it if you want a slow, atmospheric Lapland evening with real time around reindeer, a campfire, and a guide who brings stories and personality. The strongest part is the combination of quiet forest travel and human connection around the fire. The Aurora can turn it into a spectacular night, but the experience does not collapse if the sky stays dark.

I would skip it if your priority is a long sleigh ride or a guaranteed Northern Lights display. At $222, you need to value the whole package. For the right visitor, this is a memorable and gentle way to meet Lapland, with the reindeer doing the driving and the forest setting the pace.

FAQ

Where does the tour meet?

The meeting point is Lapponia Tours safari house at Honkapolku 1 in Saariselkä. It is described as a gray building with a tower roof.

How long does the activity last?

The full activity lasts 2.5 hours. The transfer from the meeting point to the farm takes about 15 minutes, followed by a similar transfer back.

Is transportation included from Ivalo or nearby areas?

Transportation from Kiilopää, Kakslauttanen, Muotka, Inari, and Ivalo is not included. You need to arrange your own transfer to Saariselkä.

Are the Northern Lights guaranteed?

No. The Aurora Borealis is possible during the tour, but sightings depend on weather and natural conditions and cannot be guaranteed.

What should I wear?

Wear warm clothing in layers and comfortable shoes. Thermal clothing is included, but you should still dress warmly because the forest can be very cold.

Can children and pregnant women join?

Children under seven and pregnant women cannot take part. The activity is listed as wheelchair accessible.