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Family reindeer outings in Ranua: what works with children

A reindeer in a halter and red harness looking into the camera beside a wooden fence, with snow behind it

Illustration photo: a harnessed reindeer at a farm in Finnish Lapland, not in Ranua.

Lapland Handbook Staff How we research this

The short answer

With a toddler, book the farm visit: children under four go free, it is for all ages, and feeding the reindeer holds a small child's attention better than a long ride. With children who want to ride, the farm's forest safari is the longest sleigh ride and its youngest guests ride free. Without a car, book the version sold at the resort, which includes the transfer from the resort to the farm, or the lakeside ride that starts in the village.

How the operators compare

Prices are the operators' own published starting prices as of the date this guide was updated, and they change through the season.

Vaara: farm visitVaara: forest safariForest safari via the resortActivity park by day
Free for Under 4 Under 3 Under 3 Not stated
Older children pay Adult fare Adult fare Adult fare €99 up to 14 (operator's shop)
Getting there Drive to the farm Drive to the farm Transfer included Starts in the village
Warm clothing Not stated Bring your own Warm blankets in the sleigh Outerwear lent

Nothing is marked: which outing suits a family depends on the youngest child's age and on whether you have a car.

Where these figures come from
  • Vaara: farm visit: Feeding the reindeer with the farm family, a ride of about five minutes and a campfire. Mostly on foot, which suits the youngest.
  • Vaara: forest safari: Half an hour in the sleigh through the forest, booked on the farm's own shop. You drive yourselves to the farm.
  • Forest safari via the resort: The same farm's half-hour ride sold at the resort reception, with the transfer from the resort to the farm included.
  • Activity park by day: Feeding reindeer and leading one on a walk among sledging and skating, with winter outerwear lent. A child fare only on the operator's shop.

For a family, the questions about Ranua’s reindeer are who goes free, who pays full price, and who drives the children to the animals.

Who goes free, and who pays in full

The family farm lets children under four come free on its farm visit,1 and on its forest safari the free age stops at three.2 From then on a child pays exactly what an adult pays. The activity park works the other way: it charges children less, but only on its operator’s own shop,3 while the platform listing prices everyone as an adult.

Getting the children there

The farm’s own booking leaves the journey to you. The resort reception sells the same forest safari with the transfer from the resort to the farm included,4 and the activity company’s lakeside ride starts at its base in the village and can collect guests from the resort on request. For a family without a car, those two are the simple choices.

Which outing suits which visitor is set out on the best reindeer tour in Ranua, and what a family of four pays on each, through each seller, is on reindeer safari prices in Ranua.

Tours you can book

Questions people ask

Can a baby or toddler ride in the reindeer sleigh?

The farm's rides let the youngest go free and say they are for all ages, and its sleighs carry warm blankets. None of the listings says how a baby should travel, whether on a lap or not at all. Ask the farm when you book, and bring a warm sleeping bag or snowsuit for a child too young to move about and keep warm on their own.

What if it is too cold for the children on the day?

The farm stops its sleigh rides below minus 25 degrees. Its terms keep the whole price if you cancel within 21 days and make no exception for cold, though they promise a full refund if the farm itself calls a booking off. Choose the farm visit, which is mostly walking about the farm and by the campfire, if you are worried a small child will not last half an hour sitting still in the cold.

Do they lend warm clothing for children?

The activity company lends winter outerwear on its reindeer ride and its park, and rents a full set of overalls, boots, socks and gloves for 35 euros. The farm asks guests to bring warm clothing, gloves and a hat, and puts a blanket in each sleigh. Neither says which children's sizes are held, so bring your own layers for the youngest.

Written by

Lapland Handbook Staff

Lapland Handbook is written by its editorial staff in Rovaniemi. Every price, age limit and group size in a comparison is read from the operator's own page and marked "Not stated" when the operator does not publish it. Each guide names who should not book, and names the operator that suits each kind of group, whichever it is.

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