Reindeer in Tromso tour is it worth the money?

It’s Christmas Day and were going to feed the reindeers in Tromso on the Norwegian Sami reindeer and cultural experience trip.

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Having been out all night chasing the northern lights, we’d only had a few hours sleep. It was, therefore, a challenge to get ourselves to the Radisson Tromso for our 10 am departure.

The Radisson Blu is one of the hotels that many Tromso activities use as a meeting point, and Christmas Day was no exception. There were several buses for Tromso tours waiting and lots of tourists trying to find which bus they had to get on.

Checking in to see reindeer in Tromso

There was chaos outside the Radisson and the check-in process was rather disorganised.

We’d booked our reindeer tour Tromso through Wandering Owl although the trip is run to the best of my knowledge by Tromso Artic Reindeer no matter who you book through.

Taking that into consideration you’d think that any of the tour guides holding clipboards would be able to help you with which coach to get on, but that’s no the case.

On a third attempt, we finally found our name on a list. The tour leader gave us a coloured armband and told us to wait.

It didn’t take long before the guide shouted yellow and orange bands follow me, we were orange by the way.

Boarding the coach

The coaches were around the corner on the coach park, and it was a rather treacherous walk to get there.

The pavements were like sheet ice, and it would have been wise to have been wearing our crampons. We didn’t have ours on, but if you make any trip that departs from the Radisson Blu or Clarion Hotel, it would be advisable to wear them on your shoes.

Check out what winter Norway clothing to pack here.

I’d like to say boarding was easy, but there were two coaches and two colours of wrist bands so you’d think one colour for each coach right? NO, Artic Reindeer mix you up. Hence, again there was chaos with everyone trying to get on the right coach.

Don’t let this put you off visiting the Sami Camp and reindeer’s, let me tell you its a magical day, but I do think that the departure system needs some fine-tuning.

It’s a pleasant and short ride by coach to the home of the Tromso Arctic reindeer. The farm is approximately 16km from the centre.

A reindeer herder met us from the coach and led into a Sami lavvu tent for a briefing of the day ahead.

Meeting one of the Sami reindeer herders in Norway

The fire was roaring, and it was lovely and cosy inside. Our guide Henrick wore traditional Sami Norway clothing and gave us a few safety tips about feeding reindeer.

He told us to forget about the time and ensured us we would all get a chance to enjoy a sled ride. Those with the yellow bands would go sledding first, and those with the orange would feed the reindeer first.

If you were getting cold at any point, you were welcome to warm up in one of the Sami tents with a hot drink and cookies provided.

The ladies would serve lunch from 11.45 till 1 pm and then there would be a talk in one of the tents about the history and culture of the Sami people.

Excited we headed out with our buckets of reindeer feed into the snow-covered fields were 400 hungry reindeers were waiting to devour the delights on offer.

Feeding reindeer in Tromso

I’ve only seen reindeer on a couple of occasions before and never in the numbers that were here on this reindeer farm Tromso.

Lapland reindeer come in many different colours. There were white ones, brown ones, dark ones and ones with patches. All of them had lovely thick fur, but they much small than I imagined.

Their antlers were also unique, some were straight, some were magnificent like the ones you see in pictures, others were smaller, and a few reindeer seemed to be missing one.

Chatting to Henrick as we wandered around, he answered all my questions.

The reindeer we were feeding were mostly pregnant females that the herders bring down from the mountains in the winter months so they can feed them.

Food is scarce around the Tromso fjords in winter so the Sami herders supplement the reindeer diet to ensure that they have enough food for there babies to grow inside.

Reindeer Antlers

The female reindeer is much smaller than the males as are there antlers. The females grow antlers to protect their food in the wild; once they have their child, the antlers drop off.

The reindeers that we could see with the more spectacular antlers were young bulls.

We spent a good hour enjoying the reindeer before our host called for us to join the queue for our reindeer sledding Tromso experience.

Again Arctic reindeer could have organised this better by using time slots. Having left the feeding it was disappointing that we could not get straight on a reindeer sleigh.

Anyway, we took the opportunity to have a coffee and a cookie and warm up inside the Sami tent before rejoining the queue.

Reindeer and sled ride experience

The reindeer and sleigh ride arctic experience did not disappoint. The reindeer sled was constructed simply from wood and covered in reindeer skin. Trust me, the sleighs are more comfortable than you first think.

The Sami people give you a blanket to keep warm, and the reindeer pulling sleigh experience lasts approximately 10 to 15 minutes.

The reindeer sleigh rides take you around the fields in a long line and as they are only walking the speed is enjoyably slow.

The snow-covered mountains and view of the fjord make for stunning vistas. Fellow reindeer often skipped by; some joined the line as though they were disappointed that it was not them pulling the sleigh.

It’s truly a magical experience, and I don’t think there’s anything more Christmassy that you could do in winter. For us, it was the perfect way to spend Christmas day.

You can book your reindeer and Sami Culture experience either on TripAdvisor or Get your Guide.

At the end of the ride, the staff take everyone’s photograph using your phone or camera, so the pictures are yours to keep.

Lunch on the Sami culture Tromso tour

After our tromsø arctic reindeer sledding it was time to warm up with lunch inside a traditional Sami lavvu tent.

There was a choice of bidos which is a Sami dish of reindeer stew or vegetable soup, (both of which were delicious).

Later during the talk, Henrick told us how reindeer animal meat is unique in that it contains omega 3, which you usually find in fish only.

Hence if you don’t like fish, eating reindeer more often is a healthy option.

Lasso throwing lesson

There’s the opportunity to try our hand at lasso throwing before the talk on Sami culture and history began. Throwing the rope is far trickier than it looks.

My attempts always fell short of the reindeer antlers that we were practising on, so I don’t think I’ll be herding reindeer at any point soon.

Learning about Sami Culture

Inside the candlelit Lavvu (Sami traditional tent) we were given an incredible insight into a Sami reindeer herders life by one of the hosts.

She began by singing a Sami joik about the reindeer, which captured everyone’s attention.

It was beautiful and thoroughly enchanting, even the young children found it engaging.

The hour’s talk was filled with the history of the Sami culture Norway and how they had originated in Spain 10- 12 thousands of years ago.

The Sami near Tromso came to the area from the northeast. They are renowned for there ability to hunt and fish. Reindeer was one of the animals that they used to kill.

Still, families moved around according to the seasons and food available. The reindeer herding that they are known for today started around the 15th century when every Sami family kept a small group of reindeers.

Reindeer farming was not for everyone, and many Sami families branched out into agriculture.

While today only 10 per cent of families herd reindeers, the animal is still an essential part of life for the Sami people.

Sami people today

Today there are groups of Sami living in Norway, Sweden, Finland and Russia.

They have over ten different dialects, and their languages are entirely different between the countries.

To preserve their heritage, they are the only people in Norway that the government allow to herd and breed reindeer.

Like all industries, the Sami people have to follow the rules and regulations of Norway.

Threats to reindeer in Tromso

One of there biggest challenges is overcoming the difficulties of reindeer predators. When females give birth to their young, they are vulnerable. Animals such as lynx and wolverines are waiting for their next meal ticket.

However, the biggest threat in arctic tromsø is the sea eagles. Groups of them fly around the herds during the birthing season and swoop down to kill their prey.

They kill the young by puncturing their lungs and return later to feast on the meat.

In past Norway, reindeer herders would have shot them. However, as the eagles are now on the red endangered list, the authorities no longer allow them. Hence all they can do is keep watch and frighten the eagles away during this period.

Sami peoples connection to reindeer

In addition to learning about their cultural origins, the host told us all about how they use every part of the reindeer.

Today they do not wear traditional clothes made from reindeer skins, but it was fascinating to be able to touch and see them.

She also showed us one of the earliest pairs of shoes for ski-ing. These Sami reindeer boots were made from reindeer fur and had a point that curled up at the end. The pointed toe would hook underneath the skis.

Final thoughts on Sami experience Tromso

The Sami tour and reindeer experience gave a fascinating insight into the culture and traditions of Sami farm life.

It was much more personal and engaging than seeing exhibits in a museum.

The singing of the joiks and folk songs was a privilege to hear, and as a musician, I would have loved to have had a go, although I know that as they sing from the throat its not an easy thing to master.

It’s terrific that the Sami are preserving these traditions today and great that they can integrate them into modern-day living.

Is the reindeer and Sami Tromso trip a tourist trap?

Yes, you might consider it a tourist trap. However, the reindeer camp we visited is still a working herd, and the hosts were genuinely enthusiastic about sharing their heritage and past.

Yet, they have embraced modern technologies such as snowmobiles to help herd the reindeer in a much more comfortable way, but why shouldn’t they.

Hendrick told me that his family have been herding reindeers for generations. Still, it was only a few years ago that they opened the reindeer farm Norway for people to visit.

He wanted to allow people to learn and experience life as the Sami people live. Yes, today many of them have modern houses and jobs in the city, but there are still folk like Hendrick that make a living from reindeers.

Like many farmers throughout the world, its been necessary to branch out to supplement their income. I’d also like to point out that they’ve done it very well.

There’s room for improvement in the organisation of transport. However, they’re still learning, and I’m sure in future seasons it will be a slick operation.

Put it on your list of Tromso things to do!

If you visit Tromso, Norway make sure you book a trip. Spending time with the reindeer and learning about the culture is well worth it, and the experience is genuinely authentic.

It’s one of the best things to do in Tromso. Not to mention riding a reindeer with sleigh is a magical adventure, whatever your age.

F & Q

Do reindeer shed their antlers?

Yes unlike many species of deer, male reindeers lose their antlers in winter and females lose theirs in summer.

The males use their antlers to attract females and to fight other males who try to poach their women. Once the females fall pregnant, the males shed their massive antlers.

Female reindeers grow antlers to protect their food during the winter when it’s scarce. Female reindeers also eat old antlers once they go soft as they provide a high level of calcium which is exceptionally nutritious.

Can you ride a reindeer?

You can’t ride the reindeers themselves, but you can enjoy a magical sleigh ride pulled by reindeers.

Are reindeer visits ethical?

The reindeer has been an essential part of the lives of indigenous people for generations. Like horses and elephants in other parts of the world, Sami people have been using reindeer as a method of transportation for thousands of years.

Of course today there is no need for such animals to transport goods and people in most parts of the world, but preserving reindeer farms and sledding is an important part of Sami culture.

On my Tromso sledding experience, the reindeers seemed well cared for, and many trotted alongside the sleigh as we rode around.

The reindeer are fed to supplement their diet and herders have brought them down from the mountains in this way for hundreds of years, so feeding reindeer is nothing new.

Everyone has there own opinion, but from my observations, the Sami care for the reindeers in Tromso better than many animals around the world.

Where can I see reindeer?

You may be lucky to see the male reindeers on the mountainsides as you drive around Tromso.

However, Tromso winter weather means that the roads are often icy. Unless you’ve got experience of driving in such conditions, I would suggest when planning things to do in Tromso Norway you book organised tours.

The Tromso arctic reindeer experience is a fantastic example.

What to wear in Tromso winter

Wearing the correct clothing in Tromso is essential if you want to enjoy your time in this beautiful part of Norway. You can read all about what to wear for Tromso winter activities here.

What to do in Tromso as well as visiting reindeer

Tromso city is an enchanting place to visit during the winter months. There’s plenty of Tromso excursions to enjoy and I can highly recommend visiting Tromso in December.

My Tromso Christmas experience at the Arctic reindeer centre was nothing short of spectacular.

What are the best Tromso attractions?

Things to do in Norway in winter are plentiful, and you can do them all in Tromso. Whether you want to go husky sledging, snowmobiling, fishing, skiing or whale watching there are plenty of Tromso trips to enjoy.

Check out this post for more information that will help you plan your winter trip to Tromso.

How to get to Tromso

The easiest way to get to Tromso in winter is to fly. There are daily flights from cities such as Oslo and other neighbouring Scandinavian countries.

Before you visit tromsø check Skyscanner to get the best deals on flights from your country.

Travel Insurance

Travel insurance is something you should never leave home without. Visiting area’s that have snow, increases your risk of falling and needing medical assistance.

Make sure you’re fully covered and get a quote today.

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