Jan 25, 2026
Unforgettable Experience In Ivalo - An amazing experience. Nillo and his friends took us to see the beautiful sunrise while crossing the frozen lake. They really cared about us. They always asked if we were cold throughout the activities to ensure our comfort and safety.
Seeing Nillo calling the reindeers was a valuable experience. Having the opportunity to feed wild reindeer was more exciting than reindeer on a farm. Time spent with the reindeer was very satisfying.
Nillo and his friends found a perfect location for a campfire after finishing the activity with the reindeer. We were able to warm up while being served with delicious salmon soup with coffee and hot chocolate.
Due to the windy weather conditions we decided not to continue with the ice fishing activity. A bit disappointing but safety comes first and we also managed to catch a spike fish from the bait left in the hole in the lake. We cooked it ourselves at the resort and it was very delicious.
Thank you Nillo and friends for giving us an unforgettable experience. If you have the chance to go to Ivalo, this activity is a must do.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jan 12, 2026
A unforgettable expirence ! - We had a wonderful time with Johanna and Niilo.
We loved evreything about this activity : the snowmobile ride, the calling and feeding of the reindeers, the grilled sausage by the fire afterwards (which were super tasty!!) and of course the mesmerising nature around us. It was trully magical.
Johanna and Niilo are both very kind and passionate people and we absolutely envoyed learning more about their culture. I can assure you will have an amazing time with both of them, this is a must if you are in the lake Inari region !
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Apr 5, 2025
Our favourite Lapland activity we did!! - We did the reindeer herding experience and it was even better than we expected!! It was amazing from start to finish, seeing how Niilo and his friends herds and feeds the reindeer daily. Seeing the real nature of Lapland with no cruelty or tourist traps was so special & unforgettable.
The drive over the frozen lake was so cool to see and we tried some of the local river’s fresh water along the way!
We then watched as they build a fire (was so cool) and cooked sausages and had coffee and Johanna’s homemade berry juice which was AMAZING! We enjoyed every second of this trip and would recommend this to anyone! They even picked us up from our resort and dropped us back, so thank you guys for letting us see an insight into your world - we loved it so much :)
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Mar 14, 2025
Incredible authentic experience in the Lapland forest with wild-roaming reindeer - My day with Ivalo Experiences deep in the Lapland forest with wild-roaming reindeer was one of the most special and authentic experiences I’ve ever had in all my travels. Ivalo Experiences is a small business run by the amazing couple Johanna and Niilo, both natives of Ivalo in Finnish Lapland. Niilo has deep ancestral roots in reindeer husbandry and has been a reindeer herder all his life. If you want to see the real, non-touristy version of Lapland, go spend a day with them as they carry out their real daily tasks in the wild forest!
The day started with us flying across the pristine, frozen lakes of northern Lapland in a sleigh, heading into the forest. Once we arrived at the forest, the amazing herders called out to the reindeer to come out of the woods to eat. We rode in the sleigh watching the incredible work of the herders in moving through the forest and feeding hundreds of reindeer. After feeding the reindeer, Johanna and Niilo built a fire and made coffee, homemade berry juice and delicious sausages. We gathered around all cosy and well fed, chatting about reindeer husbandry and learning about their fascinating local life.
As a guest, you get to be very up close with the gorgeous reindeer, so there is plenty of opportunity to take photos and marvel at this stunning land. This is the kind of memory that will stay with you for the rest of your life and the kind of sight you only see on National Geographic.
I wholeheartedly recommend Ivalo Experiences if you want to experience a truly authentic adventure in Lapland with amazing locals. Apart from reindeer experiences, they can also take you ice-fishing the local way and on immersive hikes during the spring and summer.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Mar 12, 2025
What an amazing journey in Ivalo forest. - What an amazing journey that Johanna and Niilo offered us. Their thermal cloths kept us warm and comfortable. Mid the forest, we were helping feeding the reindeer that came out of the forest. This was a waauw effect and highly recommendable to do. The journey was also serviced by Finnish local people, Lap dressed-up which is definitely adding to the experience. In the afternoon, Johanna and Niilo prepared and served us the most exceptionally tender and delightful reindeer tenderloin steak in their traditional Kota. Don't hesitate and book your journey with Ivalo experiences, you will not regret.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jan 5, 2025
Unforgettable experience with great food! - We loved spending the day with Johanna and Niilo and their reindeer. What a special experience in quiet nature with a home-cooked meal from locally and naturally sourced ingredients! Highly recommended for people of all ages. My 71-year-old parents were thrilled with the time spent and said it was the experience of a lifetime.
Review provided by Tripadvisor