Reindeer in Tromsø without snow
Most cruise ships visit Tromsø in summer, under the midnight sun, and many passengers hope for a reindeer sled ride. Between May and October there is none. You can still meet the reindeer, though, feed them and sit by the fire in a lavvu.
Why there is no summer sled ride
Reindeer sleds run on snow, and near the coast the snow is gone by late April. None of the camps near Tromsø lists a summer ride instead. So from about May to October, every tour you see is a visit to the herd: feeding, stories, food, photos. If a summer listing shows a sled photo in deep snow, the photo is from winter. Read what the option includes.
What a summer visit offers
Quite a lot. You meet the herd up close, feed the reindeer by hand, hear about Sami life in the lavvu and often eat something cooked over the fire. In summer the reindeer have shed their winter coats and the males are growing new antlers in soft, velvety skin. Under the midnight sun, from late May to late July, the light never fades.
What we would book on a summer call
The feeding option from Reindeer Experience Tromsø is the obvious choice. It costs about $111, takes two and a half hours, runs more than once a day and keeps the camp fifteen minutes from the center, so it fits even a short call. Reviews from May and June 2026 confirm it runs in summer. You get a Sami guide, storytelling in the lavvu, feeding and professional photos. In winter the same listing adds the sled option, which is why it is on our comparison page at ~$190.
Other camps run their own summer feeding visits; look for "feeding" or "Sami culture" in the title, and check that the date you need is open. What you will hear in the lavvu is in our culture guide.
Feeding, stories and photos in summer
Reindeer Experience Tromsø's feeding option takes two and a half hours and costs about $111; in winter the same listing adds the sled ride.
What about autumn and spring?
October and early November are in between: dark evenings, often no snow yet at the camps, sometimes a first dusting. April can still have snow inland while the coastal camps are bare. In both cases, assume no ride unless the listing confirms it for your date. The season month by month is in our guide.
Coming back in winter?
If a summer visit makes you want the full experience, the sled season runs from about late November to early April. Our pick combines the ride, the herd and lunch in four hours from the cruise terminal. Planning it around a winter cruise is covered in our cruise guide, and what happens when the snow is thin in our weather guide.