A Day with Sámi reindeer herder on the fells

In Utsjoki, there are more reindeer than people. On these lands, the Sámi reindeer herders herd their freely grazing reindeer.

Also our family is a reindeer herding family. During March and April, also guests have the possibility to join our reindeer  herding work on the fells, in a safe way. That is the time of spring-winter siida work, when we  provide our reindeer extra food to help them survive through the long winter.

For the spring-winter siida work, we drive to the fells with snowmobiles and big hay sleds. Guests can travelel as passengers on our snowmobile back seats or in sleds made for passengers. On this program, you are participating in a real working day of Sámi reindeer herding. If you wish, you can also help feeding our  reindeer from the big hay sleds.

During the tour, you get to see the  magnificent fell view and wildlife of Paistunturi wilderness area,  listen to stories about life in the Arctic and reindeer herding, enjoy some small snacks and see semi-domesticated reindeer in their natural habitat in the  wilderness.

The tour is usually about 3 hours, depending on the  location of our herd. We can pick you up within 10 km from Utsjoki  village and provide extra winter gear and helmets for the tour.  We normally start at 10 AM, but pick-up can be a bit earlier.

Culturally and ethically most sustainable reindeer program available:

Observing and working with reindeer in the wilderness with their rightful owner, following the natural feeding cycle, is a culturally sustainable  tourism program. This program also takes into account the wellbeing of the animals, as the reindeer are not put into captivity for tourism attraction or  moved outside their natural grazing lands. This way we make sure our reindeer keep their ability to find food in the wilderness and preserve the instincts they need to escape from predators. We only provide the extra food for a short period of time of the year and our reindeer are not close to people for any longer than is needed for this feeding process.