Is a Reindeer Ride in Lapland Worth It? Our Honest Family Review

When planning a Lapland trip, it’s easy to focus on the big experiences — skiing, Santa, snowmobiling. But for most families, there’s also the question of which experiences are actually worth prioritising… and which ones might feel a bit underwhelming.

A reindeer ride is often one of those “must‑do” activities — but it’s not cheap, and it’s not always clear what you actually get.

This guide is for families travelling to Lapland with kids who want a realistic view of whether a reindeer ride is worth including in their trip.

Quick Answer: Is a Reindeer Ride in Lapland Worth It?

Yes — especially for younger children and as part of the overall Lapland experience.

It’s not an adrenaline activity, and it won’t fill a full day, but it’s a calm, immersive experience that feels very “Lapland” and works well as a shared family activity alongside skiing or other excursions.

We visited Ruka in December as a family of three and included a reindeer sleigh ride as part of our week‑long trip. It was easy to organise as part of our Crystal Ski package, which helped keep the planning simple when we were coordinating activities around skiing and a child. Planning a trip to Ruka with kids? Start here: → Crystal Ski Ruka Review (Lapland): With Kids

This guide includes links to the options and experiences we used or considered, and some may be affiliate links. This means we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We only ever recommend experiences we felt genuinely added to our trip.

So here’s exactly what the experience looked like for us — from arrival at the reindeer farm to what actually made it feel worthwhile.

The Reindeer Ride: Short but Magical

The ride itself lasted around 3–4 minutes, which is brief but utterly enchanting. Sitting in the sleigh behind these gentle animals as we glided through the snow was truly magical — perfect for photos and videos the kids will treasure.

Even though the ride was short, the full experience felt much longer because of all the other activities and the relaxed pace of the afternoon.

Finnish Snacks by the Fire

Immediately after the ride, we headed to a small Finnish hut to grill local sausages and enjoy warm cranberry juice. It was a cosy, fun moment to relax after the ride, and the kids loved it.

This wasn’t something we would have travelled for on its own — but as part of the overall Lapland experience, it worked really well. One of the things we found is that these types of activities are much easier to enjoy when the rest of the trip is already organised. → See our exact Lapland trip

Feeding the Reindeer: Hands-On Fun

Next, we got to feed the reindeer, which was surprisingly interactive. The kids learned about how reindeer eat and loved getting close to the animals. For a family looking for educational and memorable winter activities in Lapland, this part is a real highlight.

Sledging: Thrills for the Whole Family

One of the most exciting parts was the sledging hill. It was huge, fast, and safe — a perfect adrenaline rush for kids and adults alike. Our children went down multiple times and couldn’t stop laughing.

Hot Chocolate and Finnish Treats

To finish, we went into the farm café for free hot chocolate, local cinnamon buns, and Finnish cookies. It was such an unexpected treat and a perfect way to wind down before heading back to Ruka village.

Timing and Convenience

The whole experience ran from 1:30pm to about 3.30/4pm, which made it perfectly timed for families. The short transfer from the village meant we weren’t spending hours on the road, and the afternoon was packed with activities without feeling rushed.

For a school holiday trip to Ruka, this kind of timing is ideal: skiing or snow play in the morning, a relaxed afternoon with reindeer and sledging, and enough time to get back for dinner or evening activities.

Tips for Families

• Dress warmly: even if snow suits are offered, layers are essential.

• Bring gloves with good grip for handling reins and feeding reindeer.

• Camera ready: the ride is short, so take photos before and after.

• Book in advance: school holidays fill quickly.

Why We Loved It

The reindeer ride in Lapland is more than a sleigh ride — it’s a full afternoon adventure:

• Meeting and feeding reindeer

• Sledging down a massive hill

• Grilling Finnish sausages and cranberry juice

• Hot chocolate and local treats

For families visiting Ruka during the school holidays, it’s magical, hands-on, and authentic. The kids had so much fun that even the short sleigh ride felt like an entire adventure.

The reindeer ride wasn’t the main reason we went to Lapland — but it’s one of those smaller moments that added to the overall experience. We found having everything else organised — from accommodation to activities — made it much easier to enjoy these extras without overthinking them.

So, is the reindeer farm worth visiting for families?

If you’re asking, “Is a reindeer ride in Lapland worth it for families?”, our answer is a big yes. It’s a manageable, magical experience even with younger children, and the combination of rides, feeding, sledging, and Finnish treats makes it feel like a full, memorable afternoon.

planning lapland with kids?

Start here — these guides answer the key questions we had before booking

About Plan Family Escapes

We’re a UK-based family sharing real, experience-led travel guides based on trips we’ve taken with our school-age son Joshua across destinations like Lapland, Turkey and India.

Everything we share is based on what we’ve personally experienced — with honest advice on what actually works when travelling with kids, focusing on making family travel easier, more comfortable and genuinely enjoyable.