Tromsø: Reindeer Feeding & Chance of Northern Lights Viewing

The best part of this Tromsø outing is the close contact with reindeer. At Breivikeidet, you can hold feed in your hand while the animals gather around you, with the Lyngen Alps rising behind the camp. I like that the evening combines animals, food, Sámi culture, and a Northern Lights search rather than betting the whole night on one sighting.

I also like the warm, human side of the visit. You eat Bithos in a traditional gamme, hear Sámi folk music and stories, and can ask about clothing, herding, and Arctic life. The main drawback is the price, $177 per person, plus the risk of cloudy skies and a fairly large group.

Key points to know

• Reindeer feeding is the heart of the visit: You can pet the animals and feed them at close range, but they are lively and can jostle for food.
• The setting is far from Tromsø’s city lights: Breivikeidet gives you mountain views and a good place to watch for the Northern Lights.
• The Sámi meal adds real value: Bithos is traditionally saved for special occasions, with a vegetarian soup available.
• You spend about 270 minutes on the outing: The coach ride takes a noticeable part of the evening, with reports ranging from about 45 to 90 minutes.
• Warm gear is available: Bring your own hat, gloves, scarf, and warm layers, but extra clothing and boots may be available at camp.
• The Northern Lights are never guaranteed: Clear skies and solar activity decide the show, not the tour operator.

From Tromsø to Breivikeidet and the Lyngen Alps

Your evening begins at the sidewalk outside the main entrance of the Radisson Blu Hotel in central Tromsø. Look for guides wearing blue ponchos marked Tromsø Lapland. The meeting point is on the side near Rorbua Pub and Scandic Ishav Hotel, beside the revolving doors.

There is no hotel pickup or custom drop-off, so allow time to reach this meeting point. Once aboard the coach, you leave Tromsø for Breivikeidet, a mountain valley surrounded by striking northern scenery. The journey takes a meaningful portion of the 270-minute outing. Some accounts put it at about 45 minutes, while others describe a ride closer to 90 minutes, so I would plan for roughly an hour each way and treat the road time as part of the evening.

The coaches are described as comfortable, including newer buses with good lighting for snowy drives. Still, this is not a quick stop just outside town. If you have only one free evening in Tromsø, remember that the tour occupies four and a half hours and may run during the coldest, darkest part of the day.

The reward is the setting. Breivikeidet offers a much more open view than central Tromsø, with the Lyngen Alps forming a dramatic backdrop. There is little artificial light around the camp, which helps both the night sky and the sense of being away from town.

Meeting the reindeer at the fence

After arriving, you receive instructions before heading to the reindeer enclosure. You are given feed and can approach the animals, stroke them, and watch them compete for the next handful.

The reindeer are accustomed to people, but they are still strong animals with antlers and a serious interest in food. One useful detail is to keep a firm grip on your bucket. A short visitor described the animals as cheeky, and that is a fair warning: some may try to claim more than their share. You may also see animals push against one another as they move toward the food.

You do not need to be nervous, but you should follow the guide’s instructions and avoid sudden movements. Clear eye protection was suggested by one visitor, particularly if you are worried about antlers at close range. Parents should stay close to younger children, even though the activity has entertained children well.

The feeding period gives you more than a quick photograph. You have time to watch the animals’ different temperaments. Some are eager eaters, while others wander off when they have had enough. Because the reindeer are around the fence in numbers, the encounter feels active rather than staged around a single animal.

Rain and thaw can turn the ground muddy. Waterproof footwear is useful, and boot covers may be available. In colder or wetter conditions, the camp can provide warm boots, extra gloves, and other clothing, but you should not rely on borrowed gear as your only plan.

Inside the gamme for Bithos and warm drinks

After time outside, you move into a gamme, a traditional Sámi dwelling. This is where the evening slows down. Fires or heaters provide a welcome break from the cold, and coffee, tea, hot chocolate, bread, butter, and small biscuits may be served alongside the meal.

The main dish is Bithos, described as a traditional Sámi meal reserved for special occasions. It is commonly served as a reindeer stew or soup. The meat is a central part of the food tradition, so this is not simply a standard tourist dinner with a northern label attached.

Food tastes vary. Some people find the stew delicious and filling, while others find it merely fine. That is normal with game meat, which has a different flavor and texture from the beef or chicken many people know. I would treat the meal as part of the cultural visit rather than book the tour mainly for dinner.

A vegetarian soup is available. Gluten-free provisions have also been arranged for some visitors, including bread, butter, and cookies, but if you need a specific diet, confirm it when booking rather than assume every option will be available on the night you visit.

The dining room can feel crowded when the group is large. One practical complaint is that it can be difficult for everyone to fit comfortably at dinner, especially when two coaches arrive together. This matters if you dislike organized group meals or want a quiet, private atmosphere.

Sámi culture beyond the postcard

The cultural part is what gives the outing more weight than a simple animal encounter. In the gamme, Sámi guides explain their way of life in the Arctic, the work of reindeer herding, traditional clothing, and practical customs. You can see and touch handmade garments and ask questions about how Sámi families maintain traditions in modern Norway.

Guides including Michael and Lisa have been praised for clear explanations, friendly conversation, and their ability to answer questions. The language options are English and Norwegian. The style can vary by guide, but the strongest part of the presentation is its personal connection. You are hearing about daily life from Sámi people rather than reading a general museum label.

The discussion also helps you understand the reindeer beyond their cute appearance. These animals are linked to food, clothing, work, identity, and seasonal life. That context makes the feeding activity more meaningful and helps avoid treating the reindeer as decorative Arctic props.

Folk music is part of the advertised program and adds another layer to the visit. The overall presentation is informal rather than academic. You should expect a talk with room for questions, stories, clothing, and demonstrations, not a long formal lecture.

The amount of time spent inside and outside can change with weather, meal service, and Northern Lights conditions. Guides may keep watch outside and call people from the gamme if the sky begins to brighten, so you are not necessarily left to monitor the horizon on your own.

Searching the sky for the Northern Lights

Breivikeidet is a sensible place for an aurora search because the camp has limited artificial light and broad mountain views. If the sky clears and the aurora is active, you may see faint bands, bright movement, or a stronger display directly above the camp.

The best sightings described from this outing have included long periods of visible aurora, strong green displays, and even red color. Some people have watched the lights while feeding reindeer, which is the sort of combination that makes the evening memorable.

But the Northern Lights are never promised. Clouds can cover the sky completely, and solar activity can be weak even on a clear night. Several people have had a fine visit with no aurora at all because the reindeer, meal, and Sámi presentation still provided the main structure of the evening.

This is important when judging the price. If you are paying $177 mainly for a guaranteed light show, the tour is a poor bet. If you value the reindeer encounter and Sámi cultural visit first, with the aurora as a bonus, the price is easier to justify.

A small practical issue can affect the viewing. On a strong display, the coach may still be moving or may not stop on the roadside. If you spot lights through the bus windows on the way back, you may not be able to get out for photographs. At camp, staff may switch off lights and help with pictures, but conditions and timing are not fully under their control.

Bring a phone or camera only if you also bring a warm way to handle it. Cold drains batteries quickly, and you may spend a long time outside waiting for the sky to change. The supplied information does not promise photography help, but staff have taken pictures for people and helped turn down lights during sightings.

What the $177 price really covers

At $177, this is a premium half-day evening activity. The price includes transport from the central meeting point, reindeer feeding, the Sámi meal, hot drinks, cultural presentation, and warm clothing at camp.

The value is strongest if you want several Arctic experiences in one booking. A separate reindeer visit, cultural talk, meal, and aurora outing could take more planning and still fail to offer the same setting. Here, the experiences support one another: the reindeer explain the food and culture, while the remote camp gives you a better night sky.

The value is weaker if you only want a short animal visit. The coach ride is long enough to matter, group meals can feel tight, and there is no guarantee of the Northern Lights. You also pay for the possibility of conditions you cannot control.

I would compare the cost with your overall Tromsø plans. If you have several nights available, you might prefer to make this the cultural and reindeer evening, then reserve another night for a dedicated aurora chase. If this is your only chance to leave town after dark, combining the two goals makes practical sense.

The rating of 4.5 from 1,440 reviews points to a strong overall record, but it should not erase the trade-offs. The most consistently praised parts are the close reindeer contact, friendly Sámi guides, comfortable transport, good organization, and the excitement of an aurora sighting when conditions cooperate.

Who should book this evening

I would recommend the tour to families, first-time Tromsø visitors, couples, and anyone who wants a gentle introduction to Sámi culture. You do not need special outdoor skills, though you do need to tolerate cold, darkness, a coach ride, and standing on uneven ground.

It works especially well for people who want more than a Northern Lights bus trip. Even when clouds shut out the sky, you still have animals, food, stories, music, and mountain scenery.

It is less suitable for wheelchair users and people with mobility impairments. The activity includes coach travel, walking to the enclosure, outdoor ground that may be muddy, and movement between the fence and gamme.

You should also think about the group size. Two buses have arrived together on some evenings, which can make the dining area feel crowded. If you want a private meal or a quiet wildlife encounter, this is not that kind of outing.

Bring warm clothing even though extra gear is included. Wear a hat, gloves, scarf, and several warm layers, and choose waterproof shoes if you have them. Pets are not allowed, and avoid strong fragrances around the animals and other people.

Should you book the Tromsø reindeer and Sámi camp tour?

Book it if you want a well-rounded Arctic evening and can accept that the Northern Lights may not appear. The close feeding session, traditional meal, and personal Sámi presentation give the tour solid value before the sky is even considered.

I would skip it if your budget is tight, you have limited tolerance for coach rides, or the aurora is your only goal. For everyone else, this is a thoughtful choice for seeing reindeer responsibly, learning about Sámi life, and spending an evening beneath the Lyngen Alps. Treat the Northern Lights as a lucky extra, not a promise, and you are more likely to feel the price was well spent.

FAQ

Where is the meeting point for the tour?

Meet on the sidewalk in front of the revolving doors at the main entrance of the Radisson Blu Hotel in Tromsø. The meeting side is near Rorbua Pub and Scandic Ishav Hotel. Guides wear blue ponchos with the Tromsø Lapland logo.

How long does the experience last?

The activity lasts 270 minutes, or four and a half hours. The coach ride to Breivikeidet takes a substantial part of the evening, with the exact journey time affected by conditions.

Is the Northern Lights sighting guaranteed?

No. The camp has limited artificial light and is chosen for aurora viewing, but clouds and solar activity can prevent a sighting.

What food is served?

The meal is Bithos, a traditional Sámi dish commonly served as reindeer stew or soup. Vegetarian soup is available, and coffee, tea, hot chocolate, bread, butter, and biscuits may also be served.

Is warm clothing provided?

Warm clothing is included, and extra boots, gloves, or other items may be available at the camp. You should still bring warm layers, a hat, gloves, and a scarf.

Is the tour suitable for wheelchair users?

No. The experience is not suitable for wheelchair users or people with mobility impairments. It includes walking between the coach, reindeer enclosure, and traditional gamme, with ground that may be muddy or uneven.