Have you ever seen the cute viral video of a reindeer running through the snow with its leg flicking out wide? If yes, have you ever wanted to meet said reindeer? Then you need to read this guide to visiting Local Lifestyle Rovaniemi!
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There are plenty of reindeer farms around Rovaniemi; most are huge farms with hundreds or thousands of reindeer. They offer feeding sessions, sleigh rides, and insight into the world of reindeer farming in Finnish Lapland.
However, on the opposite side of large-scale reindeer farming is Local Lifestyle Rovaniemi, a smaller farm that is home to one of the world’s most viral reindeer.
In this guide, I detail everything you need to know about visiting Local Lifestyle Rovaniemi. If you have any questions or comments, please leave them below!
What is Local Lifestyle Rovaniemi?
Local Lifestyle Rovaniemi is a small reindeer farm based in Sinetta on the outskirts of Rovaniemi. Owned by the fantastic Pia, who offers unique reindeer experiences for adults.
The farm started due to her love for reindeer, and she opted to provide a different type of tour that gives visitors to the region a chance to enjoy a more secluded experience away from the hordes of people that visit the larger farms.
Reindeer Tours Offered by Local Lifestyle Rovaniemi
Pia offers two types of reindeer experience: a reindeer feeding session and a walking with the reindeer tour. I will detail more about both types of tour below.
Reindeer Feeding Session
This is an hour-long tour, where the main activity is feeding the reindeer copious amounts of lichen.
After arriving at the farm, you will be taken into the reindeer paddock. The likelihood is that the reindeer will be far at the other end, completely uninterested until Pia returns with food.
The second they see Pia return with food, they will run towards you, acting like they have never eaten before. As you feed the reindeer, you can also pet them and get to know their individual personalities.
Once the food is out, they will typically go back to the other side of the paddock. When I visited, we also fed them their second favorite snack of dried birch leaves that they went wild for!
Once you are done feeding the reindeer, you will go inside Pia’s kota to warm up by the fire, eat biscuits, and have a warm drink.
Don’t worry, though, the kota has a huge window that looks directly into the paddock, so you can still see the reindeer! As you drink and eat, Pia will tell you more about the reindeer, farming, and anything you could want to know about raising reindeer.
Reindeer Walks
The reindeer walk is a three-hour experience, where you get to go on a forest walk with the reindeer.
The walk through the forest lasts around an hour, not because it is a particularly long walk, but the reindeer like to stop and eat along the way. After the walk, you will get to spend time feeding the reindeer.
Finally, you will warm up in the kota and eat a light meal as Pia talks to you about the reindeer and answers any questions.
During unseasonably warm winters, the walks may be canceled due to poor snow conditions. This was the case in the winter of 2025 when very warm temperatures caused a lot of the snow to melt.
How Much Do The Tours Cost?
I find that the tours are very reasonably priced, with the reindeer feeding session being one of the cheapest options in Rovaniemi.
- The feeding experience costs €35 per adult/ €20 per child(ages 2-13) and lasts for around one hour. This is a small group experience, and you will likely just be in a very small group in order not to overwhelm the reindeer.
- The reindeer walk costs €140 per adult/ €70 per child (ages 10-13) and lasts for around three hours, limited to eight people.
When Are Tours Available?
The tours are generally available from around December until the end of March.
Reindeer are semi-domesticated and spend most of the year out in the wild, enjoying the bounty of the forests.
This means that the times when they are on the farms can vary drastically depending on when the permanent snow arrives and melts.
Who Can’t Join The Reindeer Experiences
Those with mobility issues may struggle due to the snow on the ground, and it is a working farm.
Fortunately, the reindeer walk is a slow-paced, gentle walk and does not require a high fitness level. However, children under the age of ten are not able to join the walking tour.
How to Book a Visit To Local Lifestyle Rovaniemi
There is no booking platform; you will need to message Pia via her Instagram page or via WhatsApp on +358 40 7087569. She is very responsive to her DMs, but I would still get booked in advance to get the time slot you want!
It is also important to note that this isn’t her main business, so she may or may not run tours at any given time.
You will pay for the experience while you are at the farm by card.
How To Get to Local Lifestyle Rovaniemi
The farm is located around 25 minutes outside of Rovaniemi city in Sinetta.
You can opt to either make your own way there, or Pia offers a transfer service for those booking the reindeer walk. The transfer service costs 20 euros per person and can be requested when booking the tour.
A taxi will cost about 66 euros from the city center for 4 people, or a larger one is just over 80 euros (though prices can drastically vary depending on the time of day and year!). This makes the return journey very expensive, but you can make this a little bit better value by combining your visit with a trip to the Arctic Snow Hotel, which I have detailed a little bit more below.
However, if you have your own rental car, I recommend driving there as it is much cheaper and makes life a bit easier.
Does Local Lifestyle Rovaniemi Offer Reindeer Sledding?
No. If you are looking for an experience where you can go on a sled pulled by reindeer, you will need to book a sleigh ride at one of the bigger reindeer farms.
Can I Combine Other Activities With the Reindeer Experience?
While Pia only offers the two reindeer tours, the Arctic Snow Hotel is located within the same area. I highly recommend combining both of the activities to avoid having to drive out to Sinetta twice!
Located a two-minute drive or a 12-minute walk away, the two activities make the perfect combination. I have chosen to visit the Arctic Snow Hotel first and then head to Local Lifestyle afterward, depending on Pia’s availability.
Tickets for the Arctic Snow Hotel can be booked in advance and are valid for the entire day you booked. There is plenty to do at the ice hotel, so you will easily be able to burn a few hours before or after your reindeer experience.
Should You Book a Visit to Local Lifestyle Rovaniemi?
YES! YES! YES! This is honestly one of my favorite places in Rovaniemi, and I will be going back every winter to spend time with the reindeer. Unlike many other activities in Rovaniemi this tour focuses on a more ethical reindeer experience, away from the crowds, and makes for a much more special and personal experience.
I hope you enjoyed this guide on the best reindeer farm experience in Rovaniemi. If you have any questions or comments, please leave them below!