We get this question almost weekly in December: "Is it better to book the husky ride and the reindeer ride together, or do them as two separate tours?" The usual assumption is that a combo must be the discount option. In Rovaniemi it is a little more interesting than that.

We looked at the actual listed prices and durations so you do not have to, and we added what we know about how these days feel from living here. The short version: money is almost a wash, and the real decision is about how you want to spend your hours.

Why this question comes up every winter

Lapland sells itself as a place where you can do everything: huskies, reindeer, snowmobiles, aurora, sauna. The brochure does not tell you that every one of those is a separate booking with its own start time, transfer and cut-off. When you only have three or four days, the logistics are the real cost, not the euros.

That is why a combo makes sense to a lot of people. It collapses two animal experiences into one outing with a single pick-up, one briefing and one lunch break. For parents with small children, or for anyone who hates mornings, one outing is a big deal.

The catch is that it can also feel rushed if you want to linger with the dogs, which is why we want to be honest about who should choose which.

A practical note from living here: the dogs are the loud, joyful part of the day and the reindeer are the quiet, slow part. Put together, they give you a contrast that works well for families, because children who are wound up after the huskies tend to settle down with the reindeer. That rhythm is something you only get if the two are in the same outing, and it is one of the better arguments for the combo.

What the combo includes

The Kuoksa Husky & Reindeer Adventure5% off · HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 is listed at 5 hours, from €349 per adult, rated Easy. You get a 5 km husky ride that you drive yourself after a safety briefing, a 2 to 3 km reindeer sleigh ride, an open-fire salmon soup in a teepee with drinks, and information about huskies and reindeer. Winter clothing including overalls, boots and gloves is included, and you can take photos with your own phone.

The guide speaks English, with other languages on request. The listing also warns that in bad weather the husky tour can be arranged as a shortened guide-driven experience. That is a safety call and a sensible one, but it is worth knowing before you book if driving yourself is the reason you want to do it.

Check dates and prices for the Kuoksa Husky & Reindeer Adventure →

Type HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 at checkout for 5% off.

The separate tours, priced honestly

Now the comparison. The Nulkki Husky Adventure5% off · HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 is a 4-hour trip from €189 with a 5 km self-driven ride, cookies and juice, and a 12-hour booking cut-off. The Kuoksa Reindeer Adventure5% off · HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 is 3 hours from €159, with a 2 to 3 km sleigh ride in the forest, information about reindeer herding, cookies and juice.

Add them up and you get €348 for 7 hours of activity, against €349 for 5 hours in the combo. In other words you are not saving money by combining, but you are saving two hours and one transfer. If you were thinking of the combo as a bargain, it is not. If you were thinking of it as a time-saver, it is.

One more difference is the food. The combo has a proper hot salmon soup by the fire, and the separate tours have cookies and juice. For a cold December day, that matters more than it sounds.

Who should choose the combo

Choose the combo if you have a short trip, a family with children who will run out of energy by the second activity, or a partner who would rather have one big outing than two small ones. It is also a good choice if you are visiting between Christmas and New Year, when everything books up and you want to secure one slot rather than hunt for two.

It also works well if you want to do the dog sledding on a different day than the reindeer without being tied to a second booking. You choose one date, you see what the weather is doing, and you decide.

If you are thinking about a day trip with the whole package including snowmobiles, jump to the section on upgrades below.

One more case for the combo: the booking cut-off. The combo is listed with a cut-off of 1 day before the start, which is stricter than the 12 hours of the separate tours. That tells you the farm wants a little more notice for a 5-hour day. In peak weeks we would not leave either one to the last minute, but it is worth knowing if you are trying to fit a decision around a weather forecast.

Who should book separately

Book separately if you want to spend more time with the huskies or if the dog sledding is the main event of your trip. The 4-hour Nulkki tour gives you a longer outing and the freedom to put the reindeer on another day, or skip it entirely.

Booking separately is also the smart move if the group is mixed. Some families want the husky ride and one parent would rather stay behind than do the reindeer. With two tours you choose who goes where.

We wrote a longer comparison of the two animals in our husky or reindeer safari guide, if you are still unsure which one matters more to you.

There is also a middle route we sometimes suggest: book the husky tour first, enjoy it, and add the reindeer on another day if you still have appetite. Because both have free cancellation up to 24 hours before, you are not locked in by being flexible, though availability does shrink fast in December. The downside is simply that you give up the single-outing convenience.

Timing, daylight and what to wear

In December the light is short and the cold is real, so you want to be dressed for standing around, not just moving. Winter clothing is provided, but bring a base layer, wool socks and a neck gaiter. Dogs are loud and excited before the start, and you will spend a few minutes waiting while they are harnessed.

Our husky safari clothing guide covers the layers in detail. For the combo, we would also bring a small thermos or snack if you have a child who gets cranky; the soup will come, but the early hours can be long.

As for timing, the booking calendar shows the start times. Choose the earliest if you can, because the husky and reindeer rides are best in daylight and the soup tastes better when you have not been hungry for an hour.

Finally, think about energy. A 5-hour outdoor day in the cold is tiring in a pleasant way, but it is still a full day. If you are planning an aurora tour the same evening, give yourselves a break in between, with a hot shower and a proper meal. Otherwise the evening will feel like a chore rather than the highlight it should be.

Upgrading the day

If you like the idea of the combo but want a bigger day, look at the Lapland Bucketlist Adventure5% off · HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5. It adds snowmobiles to the huskies and reindeer, lasts 6 hours and starts from €449, with a lunch and a photographer listed in the title. It is the one we recommend to families who want to tick everything off at once.

If you prefer something with a different flavour, the Ice Fishing With Reindeer5% off · HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 tour (3.5 hours, from €159) swaps the husky ride for a frozen lake. It is quieter and works well for people who want to avoid the speed.

For an evening, the Northern Lights Tour in an Atmospheric Cottage5% off · HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 is from €109 for 3 hours and is a gentle way to end a big day outdoors.

Check the Lapland Bucketlist Adventure →

Frequently asked questions

Is the combo cheaper than two separate tours?
Not noticeably. The Kuoksa combo starts at €349, while the listed Nulkki Husky Adventure (€189) plus Kuoksa Reindeer Adventure (€159) add up to €348. The main saving is time, because the combo takes 5 hours and the two tours take 7.

Do we drive the huskies ourselves?
The listing describes a 5 km self-driving husky ride with instructions on how to mush safely. If the weather is bad, the husky part can become a shortened guide-driven experience, so read the notes in the booking window.

How long is the reindeer ride?
The listing says a reindeer sleigh ride of 2 to 3 km, with information about the life of reindeer and herding.

Is it suitable for young children?
The listing says it is not suitable for kids under 3 years old. For older children it is a popular family day, but check the current age notes at booking.

Is food included?
Yes, the combo includes Flames & Fish, an open-fire salmon soup in a teepee, with drinks.

What is the cancellation policy?
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the activity; after that the full price is charged. The cut-off for booking is listed as 1 day before the start.

Our pick

If your priority is time, book the Kuoksa Husky & Reindeer Adventure5% off · HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5. If your priority is more hours with the dogs, book the separate tours. The money is the same, so choose by how you want your day to feel.

Remember the reader code HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 at checkout for 5% off, and use the calendar below to see what is actually open for your dates. If you are still planning the rest of the trip, our guide to activities in Rovaniemi is the place to start.

Check dates and book the combo →