What a reindeer farm visit is really like

There are plenty of reindeer experiences on offer around Levi and across Lapland, from sleigh rides to large farm tours. Ours is a different kind: a visit to a working family farm in Raattama, where the point is to take part in what we do every day anyway. This page explains exactly what that means, so you can decide whether it is for you.

Who we are

We are Kirsi and Mika, and we run the Alatalo reindeer farm in Raattama, in the Kyrö reindeer herding district. Reindeer herding has deep roots here, and Mika's family has herded for generations. There are many reindeer farms in the area; ours is one of them, and the reindeer are our livelihood, not a show. When you visit, you join a feeding that would happen with or without you.

When visits are possible

From November to March. That is when some of the reindeer are home in the winter enclosure, gaining strength, and those are the ones you meet. For the rest of the year the herd roams free in the fells and forest, and there is no visit to offer. If you are coming in summer, we are happy to talk about the reindeer, but you will not see them.

How the visit goes

• The enclosure is about a kilometre from the house, so we take you there in a sled behind the snowmobile.
• The reindeer are fed hay and leaf bundles, and you get to join in. Some of them are curious and come close; others keep their distance. That is up to them.
• Afterwards we spend time in the kota, the traditional hut, by the open fire, and taste some local treats.

The whole visit takes about two hours.

Always your own group

This is the part most people ask about. Every visit is private: just your own family or group, never combined with other guests, up to five people. That is what makes it calm enough for children and unhurried enough for adults. If your group is larger than five, contact us and we will see what can be done.

Prices and ages

75 € per adult and 40 € per child. The child price applies from 3 to 12 years, and there is no minimum age. Guests staying in our cabins should ask us about the visit when they book their stay.

Booking

Visits are by advance booking only, at the latest the day before. Send us an enquiry by email or phone with your dates and how many of you there are, and we will confirm. Please do not just drive in: the enclosure is a kilometre from our house and there is nothing to see at the farm without a booked visit.

What to wear

Dress warmly: a hat, a scarf, gloves and warm boots, the same as for any winter day here. A normal winter day is between −10 and −30 °C. For adults we have warm jackets to put on over your own clothes during the visit. There is no fixed cold-weather limit for the visit; we look at the conditions on the day.

Getting to the farm

The farm is in Raattama village, about 80 km from Kittilä airport and an hour's drive from Levi. If you stay in one of our two cabins, the farm is a few minutes away. There is a separate guide to the drive from the airport.

If anything here is unclear, ask us. We would rather answer a question in advance than have you arrive expecting something else.