A Day in the Life of Sámi Reindeer Herder
See Lapland trough our eyes – Reindeer herder experience
Your host Nils-Matti is Sámi reindeer herder in 12th generation. Only few Sámi people today are full-time reindeer herders, and Nils-Matti is one of those few. His way of life echoes the life his ancestors lived here for 500 years.
Nils-Matti invites you to join him on a rare and exclusive journey which takes you out on the vast, frozen tundra of his home region, the Käsivarsi Wilderness Area of Northwestern Lapland.
The excursion starts with a car transfer from the Village of Kilpisjärvi to Vasara Reindeer Ranch at Lake Peera. There are no roads in the wilderness and therefore there will be a change of vehicles at the Ranch, and the trip continues on snowmobile sledge.
We will provide you warm snowmobiling gear and blankets for your journey out to the tundra. The route is not predefined and Nils-Matti will contact your driver-guide to provide instructions where to find him – and the herd. Nils-Matti spends most of his time out in the wilds, tending to his reindeer herd, but It’s the reindeer who determine the whereabouts, and reindeer are led by the wind.
Once at the meeting point, be it a half-hour or an hour away, you can observe Nils-Matti at his chores and help him feed his herd. Close-up encounters with the reindeer are on the agenda, just keep your camera ready! Nils-Matti will share with you stories of his work, his family and his way of life during lunch which is enjoyed out in the open.
This trip to the empire of the reindeer in the land of snow and ice is a fascinating and once-in-a-lifetime experience. Not to be missed!
AVAILABILITY AND GOOD TO KNOW
- Reindeer Safari and Reindeer Herder Experience are available only between Dec 1 – April 30
- Reindeer are roaming freely and do not stay at the ranch during the summer
- This is experience is a VIP program for individuals or groups travelling together
- We will confirm all the bookings manually
