First published on TripZilla.

Who doesn't hum along to the tune of 'Rudolph, the red-nosed reindeer' whenever Christmas comes around? The idea of magical flying reindeer always seemed magical to me; hence, imagine my delight when I found out that I could get up close and personal with them (the non-flying variety, of course) in Rovaniemi, Finland!

The reindeer are taken care of by the Sami people, an indigenous group that has lived in Northern Europe – in a region called Lapland – for thousands of years. Kiruna, for example, lies within Swedish Lapland, with Rovaniemi lying within Finnish Lapland. 

The Sami people embody a close connection to the Earth and Mother Nature, living nomadic lives. They hunt and fish to survive, with many being reindeer herders as well. A reindeer sledding session will hence allow you to gain privileged insight into the Sami way of life!

Most of these reindeer are wild reindeer, drawn to the Sami by the lure of food, water and security. They also have massive horns that can be rather sharp! It’s hence advised to respect a certain distance with these creatures and not venture too close.

The reindeer lumber along at a relatively slower speed, allowing you to relax completely.

You’ll be seated in a lying position, with 1-3 people on each sled – depending on the number of reindeer sleds available that night and on the size of your group.

At the end of the ride, you’ll be able to participate in a short learning session about Sami lifestyle. This takes place in a Lavvu, a temporary hut used by the Sami people. Warm up around the fire with a mug of warm mulled wine in hand as you listed to revered stories about Sami culture.

At the end of the day, you’ll even be gifted with a ‘Reindeer Driving License’ to take home as a novel souvenir.

If you're up for more, you can also choose to go on a husky sled ride. Whichever you choose, do remember to suit up for an experience to remember. Besides, just think of the photographs you’ll be able to take home. So, which one will you try first? Time to get going!