Tromso / The verdict
Is a reindeer and Sami tour worth it?
Yes, for most visitors: hand-feeding a reindeer herd and hearing Sami stories around a lavvu fire is a calm, distinctive half day, from NOK 1,490 for feeding only to NOK 2,195 with a sled ride, transport and a hot meal included. The sled ride is a short, slow loop that thin snow can cut or cancel, and herd sizes differ a lot between camps.
By The Real Traveler Experiences team. We earn a commission if you book through our links. It never changes a verdict.
The Tromso story
Tromso is the capital of the Arctic night: a compact, walkable city three hundred and fifty kilometres north of the Arctic Circle where the northern lights, the polar night and the midnight sun are the actual product. The centre is one main street plus a harbour, with the Fjellheisen cable car and the Arctic Cathedral as the two landmark sights.
The verdict in 30 seconds
Go
Yes, for most visitors: hand-feeding a reindeer herd and hearing Sami stories around a lavvu fire is a calm, distinctive half day, from NOK 1,490 for feeding only to NOK 2,195 with a sled ride, transport and a hot meal included. The sled ride is a short, slow loop that thin snow can cut or cancel, and herd sizes differ a lot between camps.
Go if
- You want a slower cultural counterpoint to dog sledding and aurora chasing
- You travel with children and want an easy, family-friendly animal encounter
- You want to book with a camp run by a Sami reindeer-herding family
Skip if
- You want an adrenaline ride: the reindeer sled is a slow loop of 10 to 30 minutes
- You can only go at the very end of the season, when melting snow can cancel the sled portion
- You want a big herd and have only the Camp Tamok option, which lists a herd of five or six reindeer
What it costs
- Tromso Arctic Reindeer, Reindeer Feeding with Sami culture and lunch, adult: kr 1490 (from price; about 4 hours with transport, no sledding). Official source, checked Oct 2026.
- Tromso Arctic Reindeer, Short Reindeer Sledding with feeding, adult: kr 1890 (from price; 10 to 15 minutes of sledding). Official source, checked Oct 2026.
- Tromso Arctic Reindeer, Long Reindeer Sledding with feeding, adult: kr 2090 (from price; 25 to 30 minutes of sledding). Official source, checked Oct 2026.
- Tromso Lapland, Reindeer Sledding, Feeding and Sami Culture with lunch, adult: kr 2195 (4.5 hours with transfers and a 20-minute sled ride subject to snow, partial refund if it cannot run; teenagers NOK 1,995, children NOK 1,095, infants free). Official source, checked Oct 2026.
- Reindeer Sledding at Camp Tamok with transport from Tromso, adult 12+: kr 3190 (child 4 to 11 NOK 1,595; about 6.5 hours with a 90-minute bus each way; the herd is 5 to 6 reindeer). Official source, checked Oct 2026.
What travelers report
Based on 12 traveler reports (Nov 2024 to Sep 2026) and the official sources linked on this page. 0 were negative.
What people like
- Hand-feeding the herd is the standout moment in most reports.
- 5 reports single out the lavvu storytelling, Sami talk or joik as a highlight.
- 4 reports enjoyed the traditional meal, usually reindeer stew with a vegetarian option.
- 3 reports value booking a camp run by Sami reindeer herders.
What people complain about
- Snow decides the sled ride: 2 reports had it shortened or cancelled.
- 3 reports call it a splurge or pricey, and 2 warn that winter dates sell out weeks ahead.
- The sled ride is slow, and one repeat visitor calls it nice but not essential.
- One family found the popular camp busy with several coach loads at once.
How to do it right
- Book direct with the camp: Tromso Arctic Reindeer is run by a Sami reindeer-herding family, and Tromso Lapland uses Sami guides.
- Choose the feeding-only visit for the lowest price: it keeps the herd time, the meal and the storytelling.
- Pick the long sled option only if the ride matters to you; it runs 25 to 30 minutes against 10 to 15 on the short version, and both depend on snow.
- Book weeks ahead for winter dates: reports say reindeer tours sell out.
- Meet at the pickup point early; Tromso Lapland collects in front of the Radisson Blu hotel 15 minutes before departure.
- Tell the operator about dietary needs when booking: vegan and gluten-free meals are offered.
The trap to avoid
Paying extra for a long sled ride you may not get: thin or melting snow shortens or cancels the sled portion, while the feeding, meal and storytelling run anyway.
What to do instead
Why this verdict
Go, and pick a camp with a real herd. Eleven of the twelve reports are positive and the twelfth is mixed, which is unusually one-sided for a paid tour. What they praise is consistent: standing in the enclosure hand-feeding reindeer, then sitting around a fire in a lavvu for stew and a host’s stories, often with a joik. Writers describe the feeding as calming, the storytelling as the part that stayed with them, and the trip as a way into Sami culture they had not expected. Several chose a camp run by a Sami herding family on purpose, and one repeat visitor warns against a newer operator that has been in the local news.
Two things temper it. First, the sled ride is the weak link: it is slow, it runs 10 to 30 minutes depending on the option, and snow decides whether it happens. One March visit was switched to a short loop for the reindeer’s safety on icy ground, and an April 2026 visit lost the ride entirely. Neither writer regretted going, because the feeding and the meal carried the day, but paying extra for the long ride is a gamble at the season’s edges. A repeat visitor calls the sled nice but not essential and prefers the feeding-only visit.
Second, price and demand. Reports call it a splurge, and two warn that winter dates sell out weeks ahead. The official prices back that up: from NOK 1,490 for feeding only at Tromso Arctic Reindeer, NOK 2,195 at Tromso Lapland with a sled ride, and NOK 3,190 for the Camp Tamok day, whose herd is just five or six reindeer.
Timing and tickets
Day tours run about four to four and a half hours with transport from central Tromso; Camp Tamok takes about six and a half. Tromso Lapland’s season runs from 15 November to 31 March. Book direct on the camp sites for the official price, and mention dietary needs at booking.
Practical edges worth knowing: Tromso Lapland collects in front of the Radisson Blu hotel 15 minutes before departure, vegan and gluten-free meals are offered if you flag dietary needs at booking, and one parent paid more than expected under dynamic pricing. The feeding-only option keeps the herd time, the meal and the storytelling for less, which is what the repeat visitor recommends while advising against the overnight stay at its price. Children pay reduced rates at Tromso Lapland, and Camp Tamok sets a minimum age of 4.
Book or check times
Tromso Arctic Reindeer experiencesTromso Lapland reindeer sleddingCamp Tamok reindeer sledding via Visit Tromso
We earn a commission if you book through our links. It never changes a verdict. How this works
Reindeer camp and Sami cultural tour with lunchpartner siteNight reindeer sledding with dinner and aurora chancepartner site
Questions
Can the reindeer sled ride be cancelled?
Yes. Tromso Lapland says the ride depends on snow, may be shortened, and is partly refunded if it cannot run. One March visit was switched to a short loop for the reindeer's safety on icy ground, and an April 2026 visit lost the ride to melting snow.
How many reindeer will you meet?
It depends on the camp. Tromso Arctic Reindeer describes a herd of hundreds, and one visitor fed a herd of up to 300 there, while the official Camp Tamok listing says its herd is five to six reindeer.
Is a reindeer and Sami tour ethical?
Reports point travelers to camps run by Sami herding families, such as Tromso Arctic Reindeer. One writer who has been several times advises avoiding a newer operator that has been in the local news over issues with its owner's family.
What does the tour include?
At Tromso Arctic Reindeer about four hours with transport, hand-feeding the herd, a traditional meal and Sami joik and stories; sled options add 10 to 15 or 25 to 30 minutes. Tromso Lapland runs 4.5 hours with a 20-minute sled ride, bidos stew and a 30-minute talk on Sami culture.
Can children join?
Yes. Tromso Lapland rates its tour very easy and family-friendly and lists children at NOK 1,095 with infants free. Camp Tamok has a minimum age of 4.
Pack for it
Gear verdicts from our sister site, Real Buyer Experiences: