Thin snow, cold snaps and refunds
Reindeer tours almost never cancel completely. The weather changes them instead: a shorter ride, no ride at all, or a colder day than you planned for. Each operator handles it differently, and reviews show how it works in practice.
What the weather can change
- Thin or icy snow: the ride is shortened or cancelled to protect the reindeer and the sleds. This is the most common change, early and late in the season.
- Storm or heavy snowfall: roads can close for a few hours, and an operator may cancel or delay the whole tour.
- Deep cold: tours run, but the time outside may be shortened and the lavvu becomes everyone's favorite place.
- Rain on snow: mild spells can turn the trail to slush or ice, which ends the ride until it freezes and snows again.
What each operator promises
| Tour | If the ride cannot run |
|---|---|
| Tromsø Lapland, day and evening | In writing: ride shortened if the snow is poor; partial refund if it cannot run at all, rest of the tour as normal; full refund option if cancelled before the start |
| Our pick and the evening tour | Not stated in the listing; ask before booking early or late in the season |
| Closest camp, sled option | Not stated; ask |
| Camp Tamok | Not stated; inland snow is usually the most reliable |
Every tour on our page can be cancelled for free up to 24 hours before the start. If the operator cancels the whole tour, you get your money back through GetYourGuide.
Spring 2026 put that policy to the test. Guests on Tromsø Lapland's day tour in March and April lost the ride to bare ground, got that part refunded without fuss and still enjoyed the herd. One of them still found the price high without the ride, which is fair.
How to lower the risk
- Go in the heart of the season. Mid-December to mid-March is the safest. Month by month is in our season guide.
- Ask before you book at the edges. In late November, early December, late March or April, message the operator through the booking and ask about the snow at the camp.
- Go inland when the coast is bare. Camp Tamok lies in a deep inland valley where the snow usually stays longer.
- Book early in your stay. On a multi-day visit, a cancelled ride on day one can be rebooked on day three.
- Use free cancellation. With reserve now, pay later, there is no cost to holding a seat while you watch the forecast.
The refund policy in writing
Tromsø Lapland states what happens when the snow lets you down, and promises up to 30 minutes in the sled when it does not, ~$229.
Bad weather and your ship
A snowstorm can slow the bus back to town. If your ship sails the same day, keep a bigger buffer in winter than you would in summer, and take the morning departure. Our pick's 10 am bus returns in the early afternoon, with room to spare before most afternoon all-aboards. All the timings are in our cruise guide.
Cold is not bad weather
Minus fifteen and still is a perfect reindeer day, if you are dressed for it. Wind and wet are worse than cold. The fix is clothing, not rescheduling. What to wear covers it layer by layer.