My Experience Feeding Reindeer in Tromsø, Norway

As someone who grew up in a big city, reindeer were mystical creatures to me for a long time. Sure, I knew that they existed, but I couldn’t comprehend actually seeing one in real life. Nonetheless, doing so was top of my bucket list—and so, I booked a trip to Tromsø in Northern Norway. 

While on a winter trip to Tromsø, I was privileged enough to visit a reindeer farm and see these creatures in person. To this date, it’s still one of my favorite travel memories anywhere—let alone in the Nordics. To help you make a better decision, I’ll share my experiences with Tromsø Arctic Reindeer today.

The Tour I Chose (and Why) 

I chose this tour from Tromsø Arctic Reindeer, which involved feeding reindeer and also had a lunch included. We had the opportunity to try reindeer stew for lunch, and the tour also included coffee, tea, and snacks. I paid around $160 for this tour in January 2020. 

Besides seeing reindeer, I mainly chose this tour because it offered free transportation to and from the farm. I visited Tromsø without a car, and while public transport in and around the city is reliable, I didn’t feel comfortable taking the bus in a relatively remote location. The farm itself is just outside of the city. 

Feeding the Reindeer 

I was picked up from the Prostneset Bus Terminal, which is close to Tromsø’s waterfront. It was pretty early in the morning, and I visited Tromsø during the Polar Night period when the sun doesn’t fully rise above the horizon. It was still pretty dark, but we had reasonable twilight by the time we reached the farm. 

When we reached the Sámi camp, our guide told us about the reindeer and how to feed them. We were told that since they’re quite strong, you have to fix your posture to ensure that you can stand up. The reindeer were also very pleased to me holding their food, as you can see from the picture below 🙂. 

Besides feeding the reindeer, it was interesting to observe how they behaved toward one another. For example, some would move other reindeer away so they could get their food. Since they were also not shy, it was quite easy to take photos of them. I had my old Nikon D3400 camera at the time, but you can also get decent pictures with a smartphone. 

Learning About Sámi Culture in Northern Norway 

After feeding the reindeer, we headed into the hut for some lunch. The reindeer stew we were served, known as Bidos, also came with potatoes and carrots. It was simple but very much welcomed on a chilly Arctic day. It’s normally served for special occasions. 

In addition to the stew, we also received some cake. We then learned more about the Sámi people, who inhabit northern parts of Sweden, Norway, Russia, and Finland. The Sámi people are indigenous to Northern Europe, and Sámi—a member of the Uralic language group—is one of Norway’s official languages. To this day, many still rely on reindeer for their livelihood. Besides learning about the Sámi people, we also got to see a number of artifacts.

Historically, the Sámi people had to endure difficulties with discrimination in Norway. For example, assimilation policies attempted to “Norwegianize” them; this included the banning of minority languages in state-run schools. Fortunately, their rights and culture are now protected under the Sámi Act introduced in the 1980s. Norway has also since apologized for implementing these policies. 

Learning about the Sámi people on this tour was an excellent introduction to the culture. If you plan to visit Northern Norway, I strongly recommend doing the same. You can also visit the Sámi Museum in Karasjok if you want to go into more detail.

Besides learning more about the Sámi people, we also got to hear the joik—an important traditional vocal art. It was a very wholesome experience, and I felt like I had been spiritually revitalized at the end of the tour. 

We then headed back on the bus to Tromsø.

Would I Recommend This Tour?

Absolutely—this tour was well worth the money. Feeding reindeer was a unique experience, and I also really enjoyed learning about the Sámi people. While I didn’t need extra clothing, you can borrow warm overalls if you’re feeling cold while on the tour. 

Being picked up from the center of Tromsø and driven back to town was another huge advantage. The surroundings close to the camp are also stunning, and you’ll get an excellent sample of Northern Norway’s beautiful nature. 

Whether you’re in Tromsø for a few days or a week, I strongly recommend joining this tour.