Rovaniemi: Private Reindeer Farm Visit and Walk-Along

A visit to Unari Lake Reindeer Farm gives you something many Lapland outings cannot: time with a whole herd in a quiet rural setting, far from the busy activity centers around Rovaniemi. You feed the reindeer by hand, watch them follow the sledge, and walk through the forest with young animals.

I like the private format, since Janne and Dorothee can adjust the pace and answer your questions without a large group crowding the animals. I also like the warm finish: hot berry juice, homemade treats, s’mores, and a lesson in reindeer husbandry around a real campfire.

The main drawback is the distance. The farm is in Unarin-Luusua, about 90 km north of Rovaniemi, with no public transport, so you need your own car or another way to reach it. The remote location is also the reason the experience feels personal and unhurried.

Key points to know before you go

• A private meeting with the whole herd: You feed curious reindeer lichen and pellet feed at your own pace.
• Snowmobile sledge transport: Ride comfortably through the pasture while the herd follows behind.
• A forest walk with young reindeer: Bring lichen along and let the animals follow you through the trees.
• Campfire food and hot berry juice: Warm up in a kota tent with homemade delicacies and toasted s’mores.
• More than a photo stop: Learn about traditional and modern reindeer husbandry, then try throwing a herder’s lasso.
• A remote location: Plan carefully, since the farm is 90 km north of Rovaniemi and not served by buses.

Why this farm feels different from a standard Rovaniemi activity

Rovaniemi has plenty of winter attractions, but many are built around short, tightly scheduled visits. This farm offers a quieter alternative. You are not simply led to a fenced pen, handed a few pellets, and moved along for the next group. The visit is private, and the hosts allow about two hours without forcing every part into a strict timetable.

That difference matters. Reindeer are living animals with their own moods and habits. Some may come straight to you, while others keep their distance. A private visit gives you more room to watch that behavior rather than treating the animals like a backdrop for a quick photograph.

The setting also helps. Unarin-Luusua is a small place in central Finnish Lapland, well north of Rovaniemi. The farm can work well as a stop if you are driving toward Levi, Ylläs, Sodankylä, Luosto, or Saariselkä and Inari, or if you are staying in a nearby cottage.

You should not book this as a quick add-on from central Rovaniemi. The drive is a major part of the plan. But if you already have a car and want a rural experience away from the town center, the distance becomes part of the appeal.

Arrival with Lapponian herding dogs

Your welcome begins with two Lapponian herder dogs. They are friendly, enjoy attention, and may greet you before the reindeer do. This is a small detail, but it adds a homely feel to the visit and gives you an immediate connection with the people who run the farm.

If you are uneasy around dogs, tell the hosts ahead of time. They can keep the dogs at home for the day. The same advance notice is sensible if anyone in your group has animal allergies, although the activity is not suitable for people with animal hair allergies.

After a short introduction, you head toward the reindeer pasture. The hosts explain what will happen and help you settle into the pace of the visit. You are not expected to arrive with special knowledge. You only need warm clothing, suitable shoes, and a willingness to follow instructions around the animals.

Riding the snowmobile-pulled sledge

The ride to the pasture takes place in a sledge pulled by a snowmobile. This is not a high-speed snowmobile excursion. The sledge is a comfortable way to move through the snowy pasture while keeping the focus on the herd and the surrounding forest.

As the sledge moves, the reindeer may follow behind. That creates one of the best photo opportunities of the visit. You can watch the animals running after the sledge, or simply sit back and enjoy the sight without handling a camera.

Bring a warm hat, thick mittens, and proper winter boots. It is also useful to carry thinner gloves for photography, since bulky mittens make it hard to use a phone or camera. The supplied advice to wear a base layer, a warm middle layer, and a windproof outer layer is worth taking seriously. Sitting in an open winter sledge can feel cold even when you are dressed for a short walk.

Feeding the herd by hand

The first stop gives you close contact with the reindeer. The most curious animals may eat lichen directly from your hand. Lichen is a natural part of the reindeer’s diet and makes a good reward for getting the animals to come closer.

This is the moment to slow down. Let the reindeer approach instead of reaching too quickly. You can look at their behavior, notice which animals are bold, and take photographs when the herd gathers around you.

Once the baskets of lichen are empty, you continue with pellet feed. The change in food also changes the action. Instead of a few animals stopping beside you, the herd may gather and follow the sledge for more. It is a lively scene, but it still feels connected to daily animal care rather than staged entertainment.

You should expect fur, snow, and the occasional dirty glove. Wear clothes that can get messy. The activity is outdoors and close to animals, so it is not the right choice if you want a polished, indoor-style attraction.

Learning what reindeer husbandry involves

The campfire discussion gives the visit more substance than a simple animal encounter. You hear about the history of reindeer husbandry in Lapland as well as the way it is practised today.

That balance is useful. Reindeer are strongly linked with Finnish Lapland, but the work is not just folklore for visitors. The animals are part of a living rural tradition, and the hosts explain how older methods and modern practices fit together.

You also get to practise throwing a reindeer herder’s lasso. This is a hands-on way to understand one small part of herding work. Do not expect to master it instantly. The value is in trying the technique, learning how it is handled, and gaining a little respect for the skill involved.

The activity is especially good for people who want cultural context with their photographs. You still get plenty of time with the animals, but you also leave with a clearer idea of why reindeer husbandry matters in northern Finland.

Walking through the forest with young reindeer

If you want more activity after feeding the main herd, you can continue on foot with young reindeer that are being prepared to become sledge animals. They may follow you when you offer them lichen.

This walk is likely to be the calmest part of the experience. Instead of watching a larger herd gather around food, you move at a slower pace with a few curious animals. The forest setting gives you a chance to focus on details, take quieter photographs, and see how the reindeer respond to people.

The walk is not described as a long hike, and the full experience lasts about two hours. Still, you should be comfortable walking outdoors in winter conditions. The activity is not suitable for wheelchair users or people with mobility impairments.

For families, the age rule matters. Children under five cannot take part. Older children may enjoy the animals and the lasso practice, but parents should plan for cold weather, uneven outdoor conditions, and close contact with dogs and reindeer.

Warming up in the kota tent

After the outdoor activities, you gather around a campfire in a kota tent. This is where the visit shifts from animal encounter to a relaxed social experience.

You are served hot berry juice and homemade delicacies, followed by freshly toasted s’mores. The food is simple, but it fits the setting. After time outside in the cold, a warm drink and something sweet can feel like a proper part of the experience rather than an afterthought.

Tell the hosts about dietary preferences or restrictions in advance. The available food is described as local homemade treats and s’mores, but exact alternatives are not specified, so advance notice is important.

The fire also gives you time to ask questions. The private format works particularly well here. You can talk with the hosts at your own pace instead of trying to hear a guide over several families at once.

The value of a $165 private visit

At $165 per person, this is not a budget animal stop. The price makes more sense if you look at what is included: a private two-hour visit, snowmobile sledge transport, feeding the herd, the forest walk, the campfire, hot berry juice, homemade food, lasso practice, and direct instruction about reindeer husbandry.

For a larger group, the private arrangement can offer good value because everyone gets more personal attention. You are not paying only for a short photo opportunity. You are paying for the setting, the hosts’ time, the animal care, and the chance to shape the pace around your own group.

The value is weaker if you are already staying in Rovaniemi without a car and would need to arrange expensive private transport on top of the ticket. There is no bus connection or public transport to the farm, and the exact address and driving directions are provided after booking.

I would compare this with the total cost of your day, not just the listed price. If the farm fits naturally into a drive north, it can be a strong use of two hours. If you need to make a special long trip from Rovaniemi only for this visit, you should decide if a private rural setting is worth the extra time and transport expense.

Who will enjoy this experience most

I would choose this for couples, families with children over five, and small groups of friends who want a personal visit rather than a busy activity center. It also suits photographers, since the herd following the sledge and the hand-feeding scenes provide natural pictures.

People interested in Finnish rural life will get more from it than someone looking only for a fast souvenir photograph. The talk about reindeer husbandry, the lasso practice, and the chance to walk with young animals add real context.

It is less suitable for anyone with animal allergies, limited mobility, or discomfort around dogs. It also may not suit visitors with only one short day in Rovaniemi and no access to a car.

The atmosphere is informal and family-like. You should expect warmth from the hosts, but not a polished theme park production. That is the point. The appeal is the feeling of visiting a small working farm at the edge of ordinary village life.

Practical clothing and planning advice

Dress for standing and sitting outside, not just for walking between indoor buildings. Use a base layer, a warm middle layer, and a windproof outer layer. Add a warm hat, thick gloves or mittens, and insulated winter boots.

Take thinner gloves if you want to photograph the reindeer. Bring clothes that can get dirty, since you will be close to animals, feed, snow, and the campfire.

The activity is offered in Finnish, English, and German. Janne and Dorothee are associated with the warm, personal hosting style, and Janne is happy to answer questions about the animals and the farm.

The visit lasts about two hours, although the hosts do not rush you. Starting times vary, so check availability when choosing your date. Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the activity, and you can reserve now and pay later.

Should you book the Unari Lake visit?

Book it if you want a private, rural Lapland experience and can manage the drive to Unarin-Luusua. The combination of a whole herd, a snowmobile sledge ride, a forest walk, lasso practice, and campfire food gives the visit more depth than a basic feeding session.

Think twice if you need public transport, have mobility or animal allergy concerns, or want an attraction close to central Rovaniemi. For everyone else, the distance is a fair trade for a quiet farm visit where the animals, the hosts, and the snowy setting share equal billing.

FAQ

Where is the reindeer farm located?

The farm is in Unarin-Luusua, about 90 km north of Rovaniemi in Finnish Lapland. The exact address and driving instructions are provided after booking.

Is transportation to the farm included?

No. Transportation to and from the farm is not included, and there is no bus connection or public transport to the property.

How long does the experience last?

The visit lasts approximately two hours. The hosts do not apply strict time pressure.

Is the activity private?

Yes. It is offered as a private experience for you, your partner, family, or group of friends.

What languages are available?

The live guide service is available in Finnish, English, and German.

What animals will I see?

You will meet and feed a whole reindeer herd. You may also meet two Lapponian herder dogs and walk with young reindeer that are being prepared to become sledge animals.

What food and drinks are included?

Hot berry juice, homemade local delicacies, and freshly toasted s’mores are included. Tell the hosts about dietary preferences or restrictions in advance.

What should I wear?

Wear warm winter clothing with a base layer, middle layer, and windproof outer layer. Bring a warm hat, gloves or mittens, warm shoes, and clothes that can get dirty. Thinner gloves are useful for taking photographs.

Who cannot take part?

The activity is not suitable for children under five, wheelchair users, people with mobility impairments, or people with animal hair allergies.