Looking for a truly responsible, informative and fun experience with adorable reindeer? Then this activity is for you.
- Meet and hand feed friendly reindeer
- Learn about traditional Sami reindeer herding and reindeer racing
We are a Sami reindeer herding family located in the far north of Finnish Lapland in authentic Sami lands. We have a small herd of male reindeer living nearby our resort, that participate in traditional Sami reindeer racing.
This herd grazes in the wilderness with our larger herd during the summer months, but come fall, they find their way back to their fence by our resort. They come on their own, because they are used to having a nice meal served to them each day during the colder season. They are also accomplished racing reindeer and are hence more used to people than average reindeer.
We will go inside the fence (if you wish so) where you can get really close to the individuals as you hand feed them their favourite treat, lichen. We never force our reindeer to engage with us, instead we let them come to us if they choose to… and having lichen in your hand, usually means they choose to!
Continue reading about this responsible reindeer activity below.
BOOKINGS and inquiries via e-mail contact@auroraholidays.net or just give us a call +358 40 7625 005
Responsible and reindeer friendly activities with Aurora Holidays in Utsjoki
Reindeer are semi wild and semi domesticated free roaming livestock. Since they roam free in the wilderness, it is crucial for their survival as prey animals to maintain their cautious personality.
Since reindeer are not fully domesticated animals, and due to their personality developed for survival, even the most experienced tourist attraction reindeer does not enjoy being petted. Even though you might see this activity in many places, it is never at the free will or for the enjoyment of the reindeer.
As a traditional indigenous Sami reindeer herding family, we care about the well-being of all of our reindeer. This is why we do not force our beloved animals to interact by tying them down or by any other means. Instead we have this little heard that is a little bit more used to human interaction, and we entice them to interact in their own pace by offering them a tasty and nutritious reward.
Lichen is included in their natural diet in the wild as well, but it is harder to reach under the snow cover.
Reindeer racing and meeting these famous reindeer athletes
The reindeer races are an essential part of the northern reindeer culture. These races have taken place in Finland since 1932.
These reindeer that you’ll meet and feed with us are an integral part of our successful racing team. A tradition which has been passed on from father to son and now our daughter as well.
In the race, the reindeer pulls his skiing human partner behind him. The wellbeing of the reindeer is at utmost importance in these races as well. A reindeer can not be forced to race if he chooses not to, and these races often end in quite entertaining situations for the spectators, and the reindeer…maybe not so much for the human racer wearing skis.
We’ll tell you more about this traditional activity as well, during your meet and feed experience with our racing reindeer.
BOOKINGS and inquiries via e-mail contact@auroraholidays.net or just give us a call +358 40 7625 005
