Many families who write to us want two things from a winter trip to Rovaniemi: to sit in a reindeer sleigh, and to meet Santa Claus without queueing in a crowd. Usually that means two separate bookings, two pick-ups and a lot of clock-watching. We built the Private Reindeer Sleigh Ride & Santa Visit so the whole thing happens in one private tour, for your group only.
This article explains exactly how that tour runs, what is included and what is not, who it suits, and when one of our other Santa or reindeer tours would be the better choice. Everything below comes from the tour’s product page; if something is not stated there, we say so and ask you to check with us when booking.
In short: the Private Reindeer Sleigh Ride & Santa Visit is a private StayLapland tour from 990 €. It lasts 2.5 hours and combines a reindeer sleigh ride of about 1 km through snowy forest with a 30-minute private meeting with Santa Claus in a Lappish kota. A personal Santa’s Elf stays with your family from pick-up to drop-off, and pick-up and drop-off within 10 km of Rovaniemi city centre are included. Bookings close 12 hours before the start time.
At a glance
- From: 990 €
- Experience type: Reindeer and Santa Claus tour
- Duration: 2,5 hours
- Difficulty: Very easy
- Book in Advance: Cut off: 12 hours before start time
- Included: 1 km reindeer sleigh ride; Visit to a private kota and exclusive meeting with Santa Claus 30 minutes; A special gift from Santa for each child; Warm berry juice and cookies; Unlimited photo opportunities with Santa; A personal Santa’s Elf accompanying your family throughout the entire experience, from pick-up to drop-off; Pick-ups and drop-off inside of 10 km from Rovaniemi’s city center
- Cancellation: Free cancellation 7 days before the activity. We will charge a cancellation fee of 100% if booking is cancelled 7 days or less before the event.
- Accessibility: Not wheelchair accessible; Not stroller accessible
StayLapland · From 990 €
Private Reindeer Sleigh Ride & Santa Visit
2,5 hours · Very easy · Cut off: 12 hours before start time
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The tour is built around one idea: your family never has to find its own way anywhere. Here is the order of things as described on the product page.
- Pick-up. Your personal Santa’s Elf collects you from your accommodation or another agreed pick-up point and travels with you to the reindeer farm. Please be ready and waiting in your hotel lobby 10 minutes before the scheduled pick-up time.
- The sleigh ride. At the farm you take a calm sleigh ride of approximately 1 km through snowy forest. The ride is guided by a professional reindeer herder, and along the way you hear stories about the life of reindeer and the bond between these animals and the people of Lapland.
- The kota. Your Elf then takes you to a private Lappish kota – a traditional hut – where a fire is burning and Santa Claus is waiting.
- Time with Santa. You have 30 minutes with Santa: time to talk, take as many photos as you like and enjoy warm berry juice and cookies. Each child receives a special gift from Santa.
- Drop-off. Your Elf accompanies you back to your drop-off point.
The whole experience takes 2.5 hours, and the difficulty level is listed as very easy.
Why we run it as a private tour
Everything on this tour is for your group only: the Elf, the sleigh ride and the kota where you meet Santa. That matters most for families with younger children, who often need a moment to warm up before they are ready to talk to Santa, and for anyone who would like photos without other visitors in the background.
If a private experience is what you are looking for in general, you can see all of our private activities in Rovaniemi in one place.
Exactly what is included
This is the list from the product page:
- A reindeer sleigh ride of 1 km
- A visit to a private kota and an exclusive 30-minute meeting with Santa Claus
- A special gift from Santa for each child
- Warm berry juice and cookies
- Unlimited photo opportunities with Santa
- A personal Santa’s Elf accompanying your family throughout, from pick-up to drop-off
- Pick-up and drop-off within 10 km of Rovaniemi city centre
Our general FAQ also says that we provide warm clothing for our activities – overalls, woollen socks, gloves, hats and warm shoes, in all sizes. If you would like to confirm the clothing for your particular date, just ask us when you book.
What is not mentioned on the product page, so please do not expect it: a meal, a professional photographer or transport from further than 10 km outside the city centre. Custom pick-up is possible on request.
Pick-up points and meeting place
The starting point is Postikatu 1, 96100 Rovaniemi. We pick up from a long list of places, including Postmaster Hotel, Aurora Hill Resort, Rovaniemi Airport, the bus station, Santa Claus Holiday Village and many hotels in the city centre, and also directly from your accommodation. Pick-up within 10 kilometres of the city centre is complimentary. Please give your preferred address when you book, or send it to booking@staylapland.com or WhatsApp +358 40 128 7846.
If you are staying with us at Postmaster Hotel or Aurora Hill Resort, both are on the pick-up list, so the Elf can collect you where you are staying.
StayLapland · From 249 €
1,5 hours · Very easy · Cut off: 12 hours before start time
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Who this tour suits – and when to choose another
Book this tour if you want both a reindeer sleigh ride and a private Santa meeting, you are travelling with children, and you would rather have one well-organised 2.5 hours than two separate trips.
Choose our Magical Private Santa Visit instead if meeting Santa is the main goal and you do not need the sleigh ride. It takes 1.5 hours, starts from 249 € and also includes a 30-minute private meeting with Santa, a gift for each child and your own Santa’s Elf. Note that it needs at least 2 people on weekdays and Saturdays, and at least 4 on Sundays and public holidays.
Choose our Private Kuoksa Reindeer Adventure instead if the reindeer are the real reason for your trip. It is a 3-hour private visit to a reindeer farm with a 2–3 km reindeer safari in the forest and plenty of information about reindeer herding, but no Santa.
Please note: the tour is not wheelchair or stroller accessible. Our FAQ gives 3 years as the recommended minimum age for our activities, as winter conditions can be too harsh for infants; there is no upper age limit.
Weather, season and the small print
This is a winter experience that depends on snow and on the reindeer. The product page is clear about what happens when the weather does not cooperate:
- If the weather conditions do not allow for a sleigh ride, the tour is arranged as a reindeer walk instead.
- The tour may be cancelled or rescheduled in case of extreme weather conditions.
The booking calendar shows the dates we run the tour. If your date is closed or sold out, or you are booking for a larger group, contact us by WhatsApp or email and we will see whether we can arrange a departure for you.
Cancellation: free cancellation up to 7 days before the activity. If the booking is cancelled 7 days or less before the event, the cancellation fee is 100%.
Children: children under 13 must be accompanied by adults paying the full price.
Booking cut-off: 12 hours before the start time.
The reindeer and the people behind the tour
Reindeer herding is part of everyday life in Lapland, and the stories you hear from the herder during the ride are about exactly that: how the animals live and how closely they are tied to the people who look after them. We care for our reindeer with respect and according to local tradition, and we keep our groups small. Our Santa Claus activities hold the Biosphere and STF certificates for responsible tourism.
If you would like to read more about our reindeer before your trip, our article on the reindeer safari in Rovaniemi and our overview of ways to meet Santa Claus with StayLapland are good places to start. You can also browse all of our reindeer activities and Santa Claus activities.
Combining it with the rest of your stay
At 2.5 hours, the tour leaves plenty of the day free. Because the Elf picks you up and drops you off, it fits easily around a stay at Postmaster Hotel in the city centre or at Aurora Hill Resort, and around our other activities.
The tour is also available as a gift card, which some families use to surprise the children – or the grandparents – before the trip.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the Private Reindeer Sleigh Ride & Santa Visit?
The whole tour takes 2.5 hours, including the pick-up and drop-off by your personal Santa’s Elf.
How long is the sleigh ride and how long do we spend with Santa?
The reindeer sleigh ride is approximately 1 km through snowy forest, and the private meeting with Santa Claus in the kota lasts 30 minutes.
Is the sleigh ride guided?
Yes. The sleigh ride is guided by a professional reindeer herder who leads the way.
What happens if there is not enough snow?
If the weather conditions do not allow for a sleigh ride, the tour is arranged as a reindeer walk instead. In extreme weather the tour may be cancelled or rescheduled.
Is pick-up included?
Yes. Pick-up and drop-off within 10 km of Rovaniemi city centre are included, and custom pick-up is possible on request. Please be ready in your hotel lobby 10 minutes before the pick-up time.
What is the cancellation policy?
Cancellation is free up to 7 days before the activity. If you cancel 7 days or less before, the cancellation fee is 100%.
Is the tour suitable for wheelchairs or strollers?
No. The tour is not wheelchair or stroller accessible.
Ready to book?
StayLapland · From 990 €
Private Reindeer Sleigh Ride & Santa Visit
2,5 hours · Very easy · Cut off: 12 hours before start time
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You may also like
- Magical Private Santa Visit — from 249 €, 1,5 hours
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