KIRUNA: Sami Reindeer Experience

A short ride behind a reindeer gives this Kiruna outing its real appeal, but the better part may be the time spent beside the animals before and after the sled run. At the family farm in Rávttas, you feed tame reindeer by hand, learn how herders throw a lasso, and hear Sami stories around a fire.

I like the close contact with reindeer and the meal of ecological smoked and fried reindeer, called suovas. I also like that you do not simply sit in a sled and watch someone else work. You receive instructions, then steer your own sled around a track. The main drawback is the price: at $348 per person for three hours, this is a costly short outing, especially if your main goal is a long sled ride.

Key points to know

• Rávttas setting: Drive about 20 kilometers northwest of Kiruna to a family reindeer farm in a Sami area.
• Hands-on animal time: Feed tame reindeer by hand and walk with the sledding reindeer.
• Your own sled run: Receive instructions before steering a short reindeer sled ride around a track.
• Sami activities: Try lasso throwing and experience skiing in the Sami way.
• Fire and suovas: Eat smoked and fried reindeer meat with bread and coffee inside a lávvu.
• Practical limits: Warm clothing is important, and the activity is not suitable for people with mobility impairments or animal allergies.

From Kiruna to the reindeer farm in Rávttas

The experience begins with pickup in central Kiruna, usually at the tourist office or a hotel in Kiruna C. You then travel by car roughly 20 kilometers northwest to Rávttas, a village away from the town center.

That short transfer matters. Kiruna gives you hotels, shops, and the practical base for an Arctic holiday. Rávttas gives you a quieter setting where the focus shifts to the reindeer, the family farm, and the surrounding winter countryside. You are not spending the whole day on the road, but you do leave town quickly enough to feel that you are going somewhere different.

Pickup is not available from Jukkasjärvi, Altajärvi, Poikkijärvi, or other places outside Kiruna. If you are staying outside Kiruna, you need to arrange your own way to the stated meeting point. You can also tell the provider if you have your own car and do not need pickup.

The tour lasts three hours from pickup through return. That makes it easy to fit into a Kiruna itinerary, but it also means the experience moves at a brisk pace. You get several activities in one visit rather than a long, slow day at the farm.

Meeting tame reindeer by hand

At the farm, some of the family’s reindeer are kept and fed in a corral during winter. This is your first close look at the animals, and it is the part many people value most.

You can feed the tame reindeer by hand. That simple act gives you time to notice the animals at close range instead of seeing them only as transport. The visit is also designed to explain how reindeer and their herders fit into Sami life, so the animal encounter has a cultural setting rather than being just a photo stop.

The experience is particularly useful if you know little about reindeer herding. You can ask questions directly and hear information about the animals and Sami culture from Sami hosts. The tour is offered in English and Swedish.

Bring your camera, but keep your hands free while feeding the reindeer and taking part in the activities. You should also dress for serious winter conditions. Warm clothing is listed as essential, and a recent participant specifically noted that warm clothing was provided, which can help if you come from a warmer climate. Confirm the current clothing arrangements when booking, and do not treat provided clothing as a reason to arrive underdressed.

Animal allergies are a clear concern. This is not an activity where you stay at a distance from the animals, so it is not suitable for people with animal allergies.

Lasso practice and Sami-style skiing

After meeting the reindeer, you get a chance to try activities connected with Sami culture. The most distinctive is lasso throwing, with instruction on how to throw it like a reindeer herder.

Do not expect expert-level skill after one lesson. The value is in trying the movement and understanding one small practical element of herding. It adds something physical to the cultural explanation and gives you an activity to share with the group.

You also have the chance to ski the Sami way. The provided information does not specify the equipment, distance, or length of this part, so think of it as a short cultural activity rather than a full ski excursion. If you are booking mainly for skiing, this is not the right tour. If you want a taste of several Sami practices during one visit, it fits well.

These activities are also why the tour is more than a standard animal ride. You are not only being transported through the snow. You are given small tasks that help you understand how reindeer herders work and move in winter conditions.

Taking the reins on a short reindeer sled ride

Before the sled ride, the guide gives instructions. You then take a short ride with the reindeer and have an opportunity to steer your own sled around a track.

That detail is important when comparing this outing with other animal-sled tours. You are not promised a long wilderness journey. The ride is short and takes place around a track, but you are involved in steering rather than simply sitting as a passenger.

I like this setup for first-time visitors. A controlled track keeps the activity focused and gives you a clear introduction to handling a reindeer sled. It also lets the tour include several other parts of Sami culture within three hours.

The limitation is just as clear. If you picture a long run through open countryside, you may find the sled section too brief. The tour is strongest as a compact introduction that combines animals, culture, food, and a short ride. It is less suited to someone seeking a full-day sled expedition.

The winter setting adds much of the atmosphere. You walk with the sledding reindeer through snowy countryside, then return to the farm for food and conversation. Exact conditions depend on the season and weather, so bring clothing that keeps you warm while standing still as well as while moving.

Suovas lunch inside the lávvu

After the outdoor activities, you return to the farm for lunch in a lávvu, a traditional Sami shelter. The meal includes ecological smoked and fried reindeer meat, known as suovas, along with bread and coffee.

For many people, this is a valuable part of the visit because it connects the reindeer experience with food and daily culture. You have just learned about the animals and spent time near them, then you sit down to taste a traditional preparation of reindeer meat. It gives the visit a stronger sense of place than a generic packed lunch would.

The flavor and texture of smoked and fried meat may be unfamiliar, so this is worth considering if you are a cautious eater. Vegetarian alternatives are available on request. Make that request ahead of time rather than assuming it can be arranged at the last minute.

Coffee and bread keep the meal simple. This is not a restaurant-style lunch with a long menu. It is a warm, practical meal in a fire-heated setting, and that simplicity suits the farm visit.

Stories around the fire

The final part of the experience takes place around the fire in the lávvu. You can relax, ask questions, and listen to Sami stories about the culture and reindeer.

This is where the tour’s cultural purpose becomes clearest. The lasso, the sled, and the meal are memorable, but the conversation helps connect those activities. You get a chance to ask about what you have seen rather than moving straight from one attraction to the next.

The provider is Giron Reindeer, and the guides speak English and Swedish. One guide named Nils received particular praise for helping bring Sami culture into the experience. Guide quality can shape a tour like this, since the same activities mean more when the explanations are clear and personal.

Do not expect a formal lecture or a museum-style presentation. The format is conversational. You sit by the fire, listen, and ask questions. That makes it a good fit if you want direct contact with Sami hosts, but less ideal if you prefer a highly structured historical tour with extensive dates and background.

What the $348 price really buys

At $348 per person, this is one of the more expensive three-hour activities you can add to a Kiruna stay. The price makes more sense if you value the whole package: transport from central Kiruna, close contact with reindeer, a guided cultural introduction, lasso practice, Sami-style skiing, a hands-on sled ride, and lunch.

It is harder to justify if you only want a reindeer ride. The sled portion is short, and the experience is not built around covering a long distance. In that case, compare the length and format of other local sled excursions before booking.

I see the value in the range of activities. You get several experiences in one compact visit, and the meal and fire conversation give the outing more substance than a ride alone. The price also includes the return trip to central Kiruna, which saves you from arranging transport to Rávttas.

Still, budget carefully. A family traveling together could face a large total cost. The tour makes the strongest financial sense for someone who specifically wants Sami culture and direct animal contact, not simply an inexpensive winter activity.

Who will enjoy this Kiruna experience most

This outing suits you if you want a direct introduction to Sami culture without committing to a full day away from Kiruna. It works especially well for first-time visitors who want to combine nature, food, animals, and a little adventure.

You will probably enjoy it most if you:

• Want to feed reindeer rather than view them from far away
• Like guided cultural experiences with time for questions
• Prefer several short activities to one long ride
• Are willing to try reindeer meat
• Want a short transfer from central Kiruna
• Appreciate an English-speaking guide and a small farm setting

The activity is less suitable if you have limited mobility, since it includes walking through winter conditions, outdoor activities, and a sled experience. It is also not suitable for people with animal allergies.

The rules are practical and firm. Pets, weapons, sharp objects, smoking, vaping, alcohol, drugs, and explosive substances are not allowed. Baby strollers are not suitable for the activity, and smoking is not allowed in the vehicle or indoors. Bachelor and bachelorette party groups are also not accepted.

Booking details that matter

The tour operates with live guides in English and Swedish. Starting times vary, so check availability for the date you want.

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. The reserve-now-and-pay-later option can help if your Kiruna plans depend on weather or other activities, since you do not pay at the time of booking.

The meeting point is the tourist office in Kiruna’s new city center, or a hotel in Kiruna C if arranged. Pickup outside Kiruna is not offered. If you have your own car, tell the provider that you do not need pickup.

Bring warm clothing and a camera. Since the tour includes feeding animals, walking, lasso practice, skiing, sledding, and time outside by the fire, choose clothing that allows movement and keeps you warm during pauses.

Should you book the Giron Reindeer experience?

Book it if you want more than a sled ride. The best reasons are the hand-feeding, the chance to steer your own sled, the lasso lesson, and the time around the fire with Sami hosts. The suovas lunch adds a useful food connection, while the three-hour format keeps the outing manageable.

Skip it if your priority is a long reindeer-sled journey or a low-cost activity. At $348, the tour asks you to pay for cultural contact and a broad set of experiences, not mileage behind the reindeer.

For the right visitor, this is a focused introduction to Sami life near Kiruna. Come dressed for winter, request a vegetarian meal in advance if needed, and arrive ready to take part rather than simply watch.

FAQ

Where does the Sami reindeer experience take place?

The activity takes place at a reindeer farm in Rávttas, a village about 20 kilometers northwest of Kiruna in Norrbotten County, Sweden.

Where is the pickup point?

Pickup is available in central Kiruna, including the tourist office in the new city center or a hotel in Kiruna C. Pickup is not available from Jukkasjärvi, Altajärvi, Poikkijärvi, or other locations outside Kiruna.

How long does the activity last?

The experience lasts three hours, including transportation from central Kiruna and the return trip.

What languages are spoken?

The live guides speak English and Swedish.

Will I be able to feed the reindeer?

Yes. You can feed tame reindeer by hand and spend time close to them in the winter corral.

Do I get to steer the reindeer sled?

Yes. After receiving instructions, you can take a short ride and steer your own sled around a track.

What food is included?

Lunch includes ecological smoked and fried reindeer meat, called suovas, along with bread and coffee. Vegetarian alternatives are available on request.

Is the activity suitable for people with mobility impairments or animal allergies?

No. The activity is not suitable for people with mobility impairments or animal allergies.