Reindeer

Reindeer are part of Lapland and everyone wants to experience a reindeer ride at least once in a lifetime.

They are a part of each visitor’s Lappish experience in some manner.

One day during the holiday, you visit the reindeer farm, take a short reindeer safari with a certificate for it, and enjoy an eventful restaurant evening with fried and stewed reindeer with lingon berries on your plate.  Even your souvenirs include reindeer products, a hide to take home for the living room floor or a reindeer stake for a special culinary meal to serve to friends, or just a jam spoon made out of a reindeer horn.

Maybe your bus had to slow down on your way to Suomu, as a herd was standing in the middle of the road and your fellow passengers wanted a picture of this reindeer with big antlers. What a lovely wallpaper this would make for your work computer.

The reindeer culture has its own vocabulary.  Kieppi and Jutaus could be hard to find in a Finnish dictionary. Even the distances in Lapland are measured in reindeer terms.  You can inquire about all these from the Suomu reindeer outfitter. She will guide you on a reindeer ride, let you feed the animals, tell you about reindeer farming and history over a rustic coffee break around an open fire in a tepee or a forest. This will provide many photo opportunities and allows you to feel the peculiar hollow fur, which keeps these animals very warm even during the harshest blizzards.