Why Choose Our Sustainable Reindeer Tours?
Animal Welfare and Ethical Reindeer Husbandry
Our sustainable reindeer tours at Harriniva Hotels & Safaris here in Finnish Lapland are at the heart of experiencing what life is like nowadays and has been in the past. At Torassieppi Eco Reindeer Resort and the historic Torassieppi Reindeer Farm, we organise small-scale reindeer experiences that respect animal welfare, Sámi culture, and Arctic nature. All our reindeer activities are Green Activities certified, ensuring responsible tourism practices and transparent sustainability standards.
Reindeer have been essential for life in northern regions for centuries
In the past, draft reindeer were a reliable means of transportation, enabling the movement of people and goods through the challenging wilderness. Today, the significance of draft reindeer has reemerged thanks to tourism, as reindeer safaris and training are highly valued. Tourism has provided an important supplementary income for reindeer herders, while also keeping the draft reindeer culture alive.
We are Proudly a Green Activities Certified Company
In 2025 we became a Green Activities certified operator. This certification is a testament to our continuous work in sustainable tourism practices, energy efficiency, and waste management. Independent audits ensure our husky, reindeer, and wilderness programs meet the highest standards of sustainability.
As a family-owned pioneer in Lapland tourism since 1973, we are committed to protecting the Arctic. In addition to the Green Activities certificate all our destinations – Harriniva Adventure Resort, Jeris Lakeside Resort, and Torassieppi Eco Reindeer Resort – hold the Sustainable Travel Finland label. Harriniva Adventure Resort and Jeris Lakeside Resort are also certified with the international Good Travel Seal.
Sustainable reindeer tours at Torassieppi Eco Reindeer Resort
Visitors can learn about reindeer herding culture at the Torassieppi Reindeer Farm, visit the museum and historic main house, feed the reindeer, and join guided visits year-round. During winter, sustainable reindeer tours also include guided sled rides.
Plan your complete Lapland holiday
Combine sustainable reindeer tours with accommodation and winter activities at Harriniva Hotels & Safaris. Stay at Harriniva Adventure Resort, Torassieppi Eco Reindeer Resort, or Jeris Lakeside Resort and build your trip around authentic Arctic experiences.
Our holiday packages make it easy to include reindeer tours, husky safaris, snowmobile excursions, and Arctic Sauna World in one seamless stay.
Life of a reindeer
The reindeer of Harriniva Hotels & Safaris live at an old reindeer farm in the small village of Torassieppi. In mid-November, when the polar night season soon begins in Lapland and the colors of twilight appear on the horizon, the reindeer work season starts. During the season, the reindeer live in small groups in spacious enclosures. At the start of the workday, the reindeer are brought from the enclosure to the driving site. At the end of the day, they are released back into the pen.
Winter mornings begin with feeding the reindeer: fodder and lichen disappear into their mouths a few hours before the safaris begin. The freezing temperatures of frosty mornings barely affect these arctic animals, whose thick fur is designed to withstand the cold. Sometimes, the reindeer have rides both in the morning and in the afternoon. In between, they have a proper break, and they rest, ruminate, and enjoy more lichen. At the end of the day, they are fed complete feed and hay – Finnish plant-based food in recyclable packaging.
Working with reindeer
Reindeer typically work 2–5 days a week during the winter. The amount of work depends on the reindeer’s age, condition, and level of training. A reindeer’s work career begins at 3.5 years old, and a well-trained reindeer can work for up to ten years. A well-trained reindeer remains calm and handles the daily workload without much stress. Although harsh weather conditions can sometimes tire their legs, familiar and safe routines help them recover quickly. Reindeer are generally healthy animals, and a veterinarian visits annually to vaccinate them with antiparasitic medication. Otherwise, veterinary help is rarely needed.
Seasons
At the beginning of April, when the spring sun is already sparkling on the snow, and the whole world seems to have awakened from hibernation, the reindeer work season draws to a close. The reindeer are fed in their enclosures until the threshold of summer.
When summer arrives and the brightness of the midnight sun fills Lapland, the reindeer are released to roam freely in nature. Nowadays, many reindeer wear tracking collars around their necks, making it easy to monitor their location. Most reindeer stay in the nearby areas, drawn by the availability of feeding sites. There is also plenty of natural food, as the rapid growth of vegetation in the Lapland summer provides abundant nourishment. During the darkening nights of August, when the northern lights begin to flicker in the sky, the reindeer still enjoy the mushroom harvest.
After the autumn rutting season and as the weather cools, the reindeer gradually return to the farm to await the next winter. When the first snow falls, they know that it will soon be time to go back to work. The life of the reindeer blends with the rhythm of the seasons in the unique northern environment, preserving the traditional draft reindeer culture and supporting the livelihood of the herders.
All additional questions are warmly welcomed! Our guides are happy to share more about life at the reindeer farm.
