Reindeer farm & Riisitunturi National Park

Hand-feeding reindeer their lichen dessert at -25 °C, then hiking through Riisitunturi's candle spruces, a day that feels like another planet.

Annina & Nicolas 6 February 2024 · 3 min read

In short

At 9 am we help with the reindeer feeding, the animals eat the lichen dessert straight from our hands, at -25 °C. In the afternoon we hike through Riisitunturi National Park, whose completely snow-encased trees make us feel like we're on another planet.

The tour in numbers

Walking time: 1 h to 1 h 30
Distance: 1.5 km
Difficulty: easy to moderate
Start: Riisitunturi National Park car park, approach from Patoniementie 180, Posio. The winter route climbs from there to the Riisitunturi wilderness hut.
Season: Winter, for as long as there is snow
Getting there: Approach from the Tolvantie, about 3 km from Syrjälahti and about 6 km from the village of Tolva. The road to the car park is maintained in winter. Large car park with an information shelter.

Country:

Finland

Date:

6 February 2024

Photos:

We get up early, because today we have a 9 am appointment at a reindeer farm, where we’ll be helping with the morning feeding. Before we can get into the car we first have to scrape off a centimetre-thick layer of ice, it was -25 °C overnight. Thankfully the car starts, and thanks to the spike tyres it grips the icy surface too. At the reindeer farm our friendly guide is waiting, and he introduces us to the history of the farm, the reindeer and their way of life. Then we head to the pasture of the female reindeer and their young. The main feeding is done from a snowmobile, and afterwards we get to serve the reindeer their “dessert”, so-called lichen moss. They happily eat it right out of our hands.

Nicolas standing in the snow as two reindeer come closer — At the reindeer farm: the herd in the morning light and the lichen moss the reindeer eat from our hands · 7 photos

A reindeer feeding by the fence as the sun goes down behind — At the reindeer farm: the herd in the morning light and the lichen moss the reindeer eat from our hands · 7 photos

After the feeding we’re thoroughly frozen and are glad to take a seat in the warm café. We have a tea and a hot chocolate before setting off in the car towards our accommodation. On the way we fill up the tank and Annina has her first go at driving on snow. Back at the accommodation we make ourselves lunch. Fortified, we set off again, this time towards Riisitunturi National Park. A narrow, single-lane, snow-covered road takes us to a large car park. Several routes start from there. We head in the direction of Riisitunturi. Along the way we feel like we’re on another planet. The landscape is completely blanketed in the finest powder snow we have ever seen, and at just under -25 °C the air is truly bitingly cold, something our faces, hands and feet notice very quickly.

A wooden hut in the forest, sun breaking through the branches — The way into Riisitunturi National Park, where the finest powder snow buries the trees completely · 5 photos

A person walking the path between deeply snow-covered trees — The way into Riisitunturi National Park, where the finest powder snow buries the trees completely · 5 photos

We can’t get enough of the beautiful snow-laden trees and the setting sun. We shoot wildly in every direction and soak in the view. At some point, though, we realise we should turn back, as we’re properly frozen through. So we turn around shortly before sunset and drive home in the most beautiful light. We head straight into the sauna to warm up. Afterwards we cook spinach tagliatelle with fried cauliflower. After a quick look through the photos, an episode of a series and a futile watch for northern lights, we go to sleep.