SUSTAINABLE TOURISM & RESPONSIBLE EXPERIENCES IN SANTA CLAUS VILLAGE
At Santa Claus Reindeer, which includes Santa Claus Reindeer, Mrs. Santa Claus Christmas Cottage and Lapland Restaurant Kotahovi, we run our business with a clear goal: to operate wisely, respectfully, and in ways that make sense – for nature, for reindeer, and for the people who live and work here.
We’re on the Sustainable Travel Finland path and received the Biosphere certification in June 2025. As a local family business in Santa Claus Village, we’re proud to work together with others in our region to build year-round tourism that’s honest, personal, and rooted in Lapland.
SUSTAINABLE TRAVEL FINLAND -PROGRAM
Santa Claus Reindeer (including Mrs Santa Claus Christmas Cottage and Lapland Restaurant Kotahovi) is part of the Sustainable Travel Finland (STF) program – a national initiative by Visit Finland that guides tourism companies toward more sustainable, responsible, and long-term practices. The program supports continuous development and helps ensure that tourism in Finland respects both nature and local culture.
By autumn 2025, our company will apply for and receive the Sustainable Travel Finland (STF) label to officially recognize and honor its responsible approach to working with reindeer. By achieving the STF label, we aim to strengthen transparency and trust, ensuring that visitors experience reindeer tourism that is both authentic and respectful of nature and animal welfare.
To learn more about our sustainability journey, feel free to talk to our team or reach out to us by email!
Our contact person on Sustainable Travel Finland program is Salla Tauriainen/ Marketing & Sales Manager, email: salla (at) www.santaclausreindeer.fi
Our commitment to sustainable tourism
Santa Claus Reindeer is a family-run company located on the Arctic Circle in Rovaniemi, in the heart of Santa Claus Village. Our roots lie in reindeer herding, passed down from father to son. Today, Janne Körkkö continues this tradition as both owner and reindeer herder, following the path of his parents, Ari and Irja Körkkö.
We honour the deep cultural and ecological traditions of reindeer herding – but we do so with a modern mindset and a strong desire to evolve. Our vision is to create a responsible, transparent and personal way of reindeer herding, one that respects the past while embracing the future.
We are guided by the Biosphere certification framework, which supports continuous improvement in environmental, social, and economic responsibility. This also forms the basis of our path toward the Sustainable Travel Finland label.
As part of our long-term commitment, we are also developing a new site: Taava Reindeer Farm, located in Janne’s home village. This second location will allow us to create even more immersive reindeer experiences in a rural setting – built from the ground up with animal wellbeing, environmental care and cultural continuity at its core.
This means:
- Keeping our practices in line with nature, the seasons, and the wellbeing of animals and people.
- Making careful choices to support local life.
- Using our platform to promote awareness, authenticity, and more sustainable choices.
Responsible travel experiences
Santa Claus Reindeer operates mainly in Santa Claus Village, one of the busiest tourism destinations in Lapland. We aim to show that responsible practices are possible even in high-traffic environments.
We focus on actions that support local cooperation, animal wellbeing, and respect for nature. Our goal is to offer visitors year-round, authentic experiences that also encourage more thoughtful ways of travelling.
In practice, this means:
- We work with local producers and suppliers, such as a reindeer meat producer, local fish provider, building material stores and small-scale resellers.
- We provide clear instructions for visitors arriving by public transport and encourage low-emission travel.
- We maintain our reindeer fences, trails, and structures ourselves, using traditional, low-impact methods.
- Our team also has strong hands-on skills: we regularly repair and maintain reindeer sleds, harnesses and other essential gear.
- Our staff knows the reindeer well and is always happy to share accurate and respectful information about the animals and reindeer herding traditions.
In Finland, nature and wellbeing are priorities – they’re part of our DNA. That respect for the environment, animals, and life itself is something we hope to pass on to every visitor who meets us and our reindeer.
Reindeer welfare in Finnish Lapland
At Santa Claus Reindeer, the well-being of our reindeer is at the heart of everything we do. We are committed to responsible and ethical reindeer care, ensuring they are treated with respect and kindness every day.
To name just a few of our practices:
✅ Each reindeer follows a work schedule with regular days off for rest.
✅ They receive veterinary check-ups yearly to ensure their health and well-being.
✅ We provide a varied and nutritious diet, tailored to their natural needs.
✅ Our reindeer live in a safe and spacious farm environment, where they can move freely.
✅ Reindeer training is done according to each individual reindeer’s will, comfort level and pace.
Caring for reindeer is a way of life for us, deeply rooted in tradition and responsibility. We continuously strive to provide the best possible conditions for them, ensuring their welfare now and in the future.
More about how we care for our reindeer
Compliance with Animal Welfare Legislation and Official Guidelines
We work with local authorities and veterinarians to ensure the welfare of our reindeer at every stage of our operations. We follow Finnish animal welfare legislation as well as regulations governing the transport of reindeer. The animals receive regular health checks, necessary vaccinations, and veterinary care whenever needed. We are in contact with supervising veterinarians, and their guidance is part of our responsibility work.
Work Schedules and Ensuring Recovery
Each working reindeer has a personalized schedule that ensures clear tracking of working days and sufficient rest periods. In practice, this means each reindeer has 2–3 days off per week, during which they do not participate in guest programs. The workload is tailored according to the season and the individual’s capacity – both physical and mental recovery are our top priorities.
Feeding, Enclosure Conditions, and Individual Care
Our reindeer guide team knows each working reindeer individually. This allows for continuous monitoring of their well-being and quick identification of any changes. The animals are fed daily according to nutritional recommendations and have constant access to clean water. Enclosure conditions are designed to support natural reindeer behavior and provide sufficient shelter, space to move, and places to rest.
Our contact person on reindeer herding and well-being is Janne Körkkö/ CEO & Reindeer herder, email: janne.korkko (at) www.santaclausreindeer.fi
How to reach Santa Claus Village Sustainably
SANTA CLAUS VILLAGE IN ROVANIEMI IS EASY TO REACH USING PUBLIC TRANSPORT – AN IDEAL CHOICE FOR THE SUSTAINABLE AND RESPONSIBLE TRAVELLER
- Local bus number 8 runs year-round between Rovaniemi city center, the railway station, and Santa Claus Village. It’s a convenient and eco-friendly way to travel while reducing your carbon footprint.
- The Santa Claus Bus also operates between Rovaniemi Airport, the city center, and Santa Claus Village, making it simple for visitors arriving by plane to continue their journey responsibly.
Using public transportation is not only sustainable, but also supports local infrastructure and contributes to responsible tourism in Lapland.
For up-to-date timetables and details, visit Visit Rovaniemi – Getting Around
PARKING AND CHARGING FACILITIES IN SANTA CLAUS VILLAGE
Visitors to Santa Claus Village have access to general parking areas for both cars and buses.
In addition, the nearby Shell Napapiiri service station offers charging points for electric vehicles as part of its services.
Our Heritage: Tips for Visitors
To enrich your journey, we warmly encourage you to visit Tiedekeskus Pilke and Arktikum in Rovaniemi. These two cultural and science centers offer inspiring exhibitions that explore Lapland’s nature, northern ways of life, and the delicate balance between people and environment.
Through stories, history, and interactive displays, you’ll discover how the traditions of the Arctic have evolved while still honoring the wisdom of living in harmony with nature. It’s a meaningful way to deepen your understanding of the region—and of what it means to protect its future.
These places are more than museums—they’re gateways to the values that shape life in Lapland.
About us
Our dear friend Santa Claus often says that everyone should meet a reindeer at least once—and we couldn’t agree more. Even the briefest moment spent with these gentle Arctic animals has a way of slowing down time and bringing a quiet joy that stays with you long after the snow has settled.
Our family’s story with reindeer began back in the late 1800s, when reindeer herding was not just a livelihood but a way of life. Generation after generation, we’ve passed down the knowledge, care, and deep respect for nature that define true reindeer culture. For years now, we’ve also had the privilege of sharing this world with visitors from near and far.
At the Santa Claus Reindeer Park, located in the heart of Santa Claus Village, our reindeer bring smiles to guests all year round. But what we offer is more than just a ride—it’s a glimpse into the traditions of Arctic life, the rhythms of the northern wilderness, and the peaceful companionship of the reindeer themselves.
A few minutes in a sleigh, and you’ll see why Santa Claus is always right: in the company of reindeer, stress disappears, and the magic of Lapland begins.
We are a proud family-run business, made up of the Santa Claus Reindeer, Mrs. Santa Claus’ Christmas Cottage, and our cozy Lapland Restaurant Kotahovi. Since 2008, we’ve been welcoming guests to experience the heart of Lapland right here at the Arctic Circle.
Come as you are. Leave with a story you’ll carry forever.