The Best Reindeer Sledding in Tromso!

Are you looking for the best reindeer sledding in Tromso? This is such a bucket list experience while in the Arctic, and here’s what we recommend!

If you’re heading to Tromsø, chances are reindeer sledding is already on your radar, and for a good reason! This unforgettable experience is one of the most iconic things to do in Norway and is almost ingrained in their culture.

Tromsø is part of Sápmi, the traditional territory of the Indigenous Sámi people, who have herded reindeer here for generations. Venturing out on a sled pulled by reindeer is both a bucket list experience and a great way to experience their heritage.

There are plenty of different tours in and around Tromso, but we think visiting a Sami camp is the best way to experience this. So, here’s everything you need to know about our experience with reindeer sledding in Tromso.

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❤️ We highly recommend this Reindeer Sledding Tour in Tromso – it’s such an unforgettable experience and the guides are brilliant!

What to Expect on a Reindeer Sledding Tour in Tromsø

We spent half a day on a reindeer sledding tour at a Sami camp near the city, and honestly thought it was absolutely fantastic. We had plenty of time at the camp, had a great experience with the reindeer, and the guides were lovely and so informative.

Getting to the camp

We were staying in Tromso City Centre (at this hotel) and first had to meet our guides. The meeting point was just a short walk away, at the bus station.

This is where a lot of the tours meet, including our northern lights tour the following night, so it was pretty easy to find. Plus, the company sent us very clear instructions of where to meet them, including a map link and a photograph.

Group of travellers waiting at Tromso airport bus stop with Arctic bus arriving. — *The bus we boarded when we arrived at the meeting point for the tour*

Once we met up with the guides, we were checked in and given a coloured armband depending on which tour we had booked – they offer both short and long sled rides. Then, we hopped on the bus and made the short drive to the Sami camp.

*Views along the fjords on the way to the camp*

The drive took around 40 minutes from Tromsø, and it was along the fjord, so the views were utterly beautiful. Once we arrived, we made our way into the Sami tent, where our guide told us the agenda for the tour and introduced themselves.

Meeting the reindeer

Our first activity was to meet and feed the reindeer. The Sami people have over 400 reindeer in the herd and have been looking after them for hundreds of years.

Every reindeer in Norway is owned by the Sami people and is free to roam so they are very well looked after.

The reindeer in the field when we arrived at the camp

We then fed the reindeer. We were given a bucket of food and told to hold it out to the reindeer at arm’s length (to prevent us from getting speared by their antlers!).

This was a lot of fun! The reindeer immediately knew it was dinner time and some of them became quite impatient, hitting the others out of the way to get to the food.

Andrew feeding the reindeer from a bucket

They were very sweet though, especially a small white reindeer who didn’t have antlers and kept getting pushed out of the way by some of the bigger ones. He ended up being my favourite and I gave him a few extra bits of food!

Once we’d fed the reindeer, we went on the sled ride.

❤️ If you want to experience Reindeer Sledding in Tromso, we highly recommend this amazing tour!

The reindeer sled ride

Because Tromso had experienced less snow than usual (we visited Tromso in March), we had to do a short ride instead of a long ride. This was for the safety of the reindeer as the ice can cause the sleds to slide into their legs and potentially injure them.

We went on a loop around the area, and it was really relaxing. The reindeer were super calm, plodding along by the sleds. Definitely much slower than husky sledding (another must-do if you’re in Tromso!), but the ride was really enjoyable.

The ride lasted around 25 minutes, then we went back into the tent to warm up a little and grab a hot chocolate and some cookies.

Lunch

After our little snack, we were called into the larger tent for lunch. Inside was a cosy cabin-style room with benches around the outside and a large fire in the middle.

Lunch was included in the tour, and we were given two options – vegetarian or reindeer stew. We both opted for the reindeer, and it was delicious.

People relaxing around a fire inside a rustic wooden lodge in Tromso.

We were also later informed that the reindeer we were eating wasn’t raised on the farm, which was quite reassuring!

We had two helpings of stew and some more hot drinks, and then went back into our original tent to learn about the Sami people.

The Sami people

This part of the tour was really interesting. We all gathered around the fire to listen to the stories from our Sámi guide, which were fascinating and really added to the experience.

I didn’t realise how much the Sámi people have been through. They were colonised by Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Russia, and had their children sent to boarding schools where they weren’t allowed to speak their own language.

Inside a traditional Sami tent with a central fire and blackened pots hanging above. — *We sat around this fire to learn about the Sami Culture*

In Norway, they were forced to assimilate and “become Norwegian.”

It wasn’t until 1980 that the King of Norway formally apologised, and a Sámi Parliament was established to represent them in government.

Today, there are nine Sámi languages still spoken. There used to be eleven, but two were lost due to colonisation. North Sámi is the most commonly spoken, and our guide got us to pronounce a few of the words.

The hut where we learned all about the Sami Culture

The culture is also incredibly rich. The traditional clothing, called a kofte, is worn for special occasions and is colour-coded to indicate your village and family (a tradition dating back to the 1800s).

Kids are given a knife at five to learn responsibility and respect, and reindeer are marked with unique earcuts for identification.

Weddings can have up to 3,000 guests – almost the size of a football stadium! They also have 1,000 different words for reindeer and 200 words to describe snow!

To end the talk, our guide sang us two yoiks. These ancient, wordless songs are said to be the oldest in Europe. It was beautiful to listen to, and we got to join in with one of them, which was a great way to end our reindeer sledding tour.

❤️ The Sami culture element of this Reindeer Sledding Tour was utterly fantastic!

The end of the tour

At the end of the tour, we applauded our guide, said goodbye to the reindeer, and hopped back on the bus. The drive back to Tromso was full of more beautiful scenery (if you’re not already considering it, we also recommend a fjord tour in Tromso).

Sunset over a calm fjord with mountains in the distance and a partly cloudy sky. — *The view along the fjords from the coach on the drive back to Tromso*

We booked the first tour of the day, which started around 10am and we were back in Tromso city centre just after 2pm.

There are also tours which start later in the day, but I think this was ideal as it gave us plenty of time to do something else in the afternoon. But, of course, this depends on how you’ve planned out the rest of your Tromso itinerary.

Overall, we had a really amazing morning.

👉 For our full Tromso experience, check out our 3-day Tromso itinerary and our 2-day Tromso itinerary.

The Tour We Booked

Our tour was with Tromso Arctic Reindeer, and it was honestly fantastic.

We booked this tour and loved every part of our experience from the reindeer feeding to the yoik songs, the delicious stew, and of course, the sled ride itself.

It was all organised perfectly, communication with the guides was excellent, and we had plenty of refreshments and drinks offered throughout.

We also loved how authentic it was. The herd of reindeer we met was owned by the same Sami people that we met. We got to experience their way of life, learn about their culture, and how things had changed for their people over the years.

All in all, we had a wonderful time and we cannot recommend this tour enough!

❤️ You don’t want to miss this Reindeer Sledding Tour in Tromso!

The Best Time to Go Reindeer Sledding in Tromso

Reindeer sledding tours in Tromso run from the start of November until the start of April.

In the summer months, there isn’t enough snow to safely offer a sledding experience. Plus, the reindeer are allowed to roam freely in the summer, and our guide told us that they usually spend the warmer months in the mountains.

Therefore, you can only do this experience in Tromso in winter.

An adorable reindeer with a big face looking at us

We saw this reindeer with incredible impressive antlers when we were reindeer sledding in Tromso

We went at the start of March and due to a lack of snow, the sledding part of our tour was almost cancelled. However, luckily, the night before, there was another snowfall, so it was able to go ahead.

If you want a higher chance of snowfall, going between December and February is better. However, the weather in the Arctic Circle is so unpredictable that there’s no failsafe way of knowing this.

Tromso Reindeer Sledding - us on the sled. The snow is not very deep — *See how the snow here is quite icy and not very deep?*

Even in peak winter, conditions can change quickly – snow can melt, storms can roll in, or clear skies can suddenly vanish.

If reindeer sledding is a top priority for your trip, you may want to plan a few flexible days around the tour in case it needs to be rescheduled.

However, with this tour, it’s more than just sledding. So even if the snow doesn’t fully cooperate, it’s still absolutely worth it.

What to Wear

Reindeer sledding takes place out in the open, often in freezing temperatures. The wind in the Arctic can be bitterly cold, so dressing properly is essential.

Start with a good thermal base layer – both top and bottom – followed by a thick jumper or fleece and insulated trousers.

Me walking amongst the reindeer in Tromso

A down or well-insulated winter coat is a must, along with a hat that covers your ears, a scarf or neck warmer, and waterproof gloves or mittens. Wool socks and sturdy, insulated winter boots will keep your feet warm.

Layering is key. Remember, it’s always better to overdress and remove a layer if needed than to be freezing and not enjoy the experience as much!

❤️ If you’re considering Reindeer Sledding in Tromso, be sure to book in advance as it’s quite popular!

Is Reindeer Sledding in Tromsø Worth it?

Yes, it’s 100% worth it! We had a great time on our reindeer sledding tour, and we’re so glad we picked this tour over a more generic option. Along with other tours, like a Northern Lights tour in Tromso, this is one of the best things to do in the area.

Learning about the Sami culture and the people who take care of the reindeer was fascinating and added so much to the experience. Plus, the stew was delicious, the people were lovely, and the reindeer were so sweet.

If you want an unforgettable experience with reindeer in Tromso, we highly recommend this tour. But be sure to book well in advance as it’s popular and can sell out quickly!

Any questions about reindeer sledding in Tromso, ask us in our Facebook Group!

👉 Wondering where to stay? Here are our favourite hotels in Tromso and our favourite Northern Lights hotels in Tromso!