Overnight in Lavvo, Reindeer Sledding, Reindeer Feeding, and Chance of Northern Lights

Try the oldest vehicle from the arctic, feed our reindeer herd, spend the night in a Lavvo tent, just as our ancestors did, and enjoy the arctic landscape in this overnight tour while the northern lights might dance above you!

Get to know our herd of 200 reindeer and join on a up to 30 minute sled ride while enjoying the beautiful nature around us and the wonderful night sky from the north!

You will be picked up outside Radisson Blu Hotel in Tromsø: just look for the guide wearing a blue Luhkka (traditional Sami poncho) and a bus with a big SLEDDING sign. Our guides will provide you with bracelets to indicate you will take part in the sled ride.

After checking in with our guide, you will hop on a 45 minutes’ drive to our camp. On your way, you will be able to enjoy the beautiful Northern Norwegian mountains and upon arrival, you will be greeted by our Sami guide who will give a brief safety introduction and guide you to your activity!

Part of the group will join the sled ride right away. On a circuit of 2.5km, immersed in Northern Norway breathtaking nature, you will try the oldest mean of transportation and feel like a real Sami in the Tundra! Then it will be time for the second group to take part in this lovely and ancient activity.

After the sled tour, you will head towards the fence and feed our lovely reindeers (many of the reindeer will even eat from your hand!).

According to Saami people, the northern lights have a sound. Sit quiet and listen: maybe you can hear it too! We can’t predict when lady aurora shows up, but we are lucky to have a location with very little light pollution and beautiful nature to experience this phenomenon in all its splendour!

Right after, it is time for dinner. We will gather in our Gamme (a modern interpretation of a traditional Sami hut) or the Lavvu (a traditional Sami tent, much like a Tipi) for a hot drink and a warm tasty Biddos, our traditional Sami stew with Reindeer meat, potatoes and carrots. We also offer a vegan alternative, a veggie soup with lentils, carrots, broccoli and green beans.

When we are all settled and comfortable, our Sami guide will tell you more about the Sami culture and history, they will show you some of our traditional handicrafts and clothes too. There will be also time for questions, feel free to participate and ask our guide!

At the end of the tour, when the rest of the group heads back to Tromsø, you will be accompanied to your tent where you will learn how to keep yourselves warm through the night, just like it has been done for centuries, in what we call “hot tent camping”. Now you can get comfortable and unwind at our camp, in front of a fire pit in our Gapahuk, in the big Gamme, in your Lavvo or under stars!

*Each tent has space for 1 to 4 travellers. The set up is two queen sized beds separated by the wooden stove. The tents are private.

‍* All animals used for these services are trained for the activity, however, the behavior of animals can be unpredictable and therefore it is essential that all participants follow all given instructions for their safety, and the safety of others.

* The sledding takes place as a "raid" where each reindeer and sled are bound together in a long row with the lead reindeer in the front.

* Sleds are shared, two participants on one sled (only participants traveling together).

* If conditions change, we keep the right to amend the duration of the reindeer sledding.

* Alternative: The Reindeer Sledding activity in the tour is subject to snow and weather conditions and may be cancelled on short notice - however, the rest of the tour will (usually) run as planned. Call or write to our office to check the latest update if you are uncertain due to challenging weather conditions. You will be offered a partial refund should the sled ride be cancelled.

*The tour does not involve living with a Sámi family.‍

Start:

Radisson Blu Hotel's main entrance at 17:45 (5:45pm).

Bus departure is at 18:00 (6pm).

You are back in the city around 10am the next day (in November) and 12pm (in December - March)

What is included:

• Scenic transfers (45 min each way)
• Knowledgeable English- and Norwegian-speaking guide
• Thermal winter suit, warm boots
• Reindeer sledding (approx. 30 min, depending on weather and snow conditions)
  
• Feeding the herd of hundreds of reindeer on our camp
• Hot traditional Sámi meal (bidhos) and hot drinks. Vegetarian option available on request.
  
• Cultural introduction to Sámi history and daily life
• Accommodation
• Local guide
• Sleeping-bag
• Breakfast

What to bring:

• Warm clothes, especially hat and mittens

Numer of participants:

Overnight: 1-4 per lavvo-tent, total capacity maximum 12 persons per night (in 3 lavvo-tents).

For the Reindeer Sledding & Feeding activities and evening-meal with cultural part, (the first 4 hours) of the tour there might be up to 100 participants in total.

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* It is possible for our guests to arrive to our camp autonomously if they wish to do so. Our address is Sjursnesvegen 144, 9027 Ramfjordbotn, Norway.

Please keep in mind that norwegian roads present a peculiar set of adversities. If you are not a skilled driver on snowy and icy conditions, consider coming with our bus. We value our guests' safety over everything! *