Reindeer Meet & Greet with Basecamp Adventures at Borealis Basecamp

Have you ever wanted to do a reindeer meet and greet, maybe feed them or get an iconic reindeer selfie? There are several activities you can plan through Basecamp Adventures, and some are really cool and perfectly Alaskan. If you’ve never gotten to meet a reindeer up close, you may want to consider doing the reindeer meet and greet or reindeer walking with Basecamp Adventures at Borealis Basecamp outside of Fairbanks.

You don’t have to be a guest of the winter resort to book the experience, and if you have small kids with you or intense animal lovers, they’ll enjoy it. Read on to find our what you can expect from doing a reindeer meet and greet or walk with Basecamp Adventures, and you may just want to add it to your Fairbanks trip. If you have any questions about the experience or anything else about Borealis Basecamp, please leave a comment or send us a note. We’re always happy to share more and help others plan a great Alaska trip!

Why Do a Reindeer Meet and Greet at Basecamp Adventures

I will say that I’m a sucker for both animals and watching my kids enjoy something. The reindeer meet and greet at Basecamp Adventures is a nice way to spend some time up close with reindeer, and you get to feed them and pet them. It’s fun. When you’re meeting reindeer, they are young and cute, and they’re really used to being around humans, so they’re pretty calm. This is a good experience for young kids and adults who are interesting in Alaskan wildlife but want to see it in a controlled environment.

If you’ve been to the Reindeer Farm down in Palmer, you know that reindeer are simply domesticated caribou. This means that when you venture into Denali National Park and you see caribout, they’re the same animals you’re petting at the reindeer meet and greet at Basecamp Adventures. Even though they’re tame and being raised as such, it’s still cool to spend time with them. You get to feed them, either from a container or from your hand, and you can pet them with guidance, and of course if the reindeer are in the mood, you can get a reindeer selfie.

I will say, the reindeer meet and greet isn’t thrilling and adventurous. It’s fun and cute, but it’s not exciting. Even for our kids, they enjoyed it very much, but they wished it were a bit longer or more interesting. There wasn’t an educational element and it was less than a half hour in total, but it was nice.

Book a Reindeer Meet & Greet here!

Tips for a Reindeer Meet and Greet

Doing a reindeer meet and greet is mostly fun with small kids, as the interaction is really calm, but you still need to be mindful of the reindeer and their movements. Even the young reindeer at the meet and greet have antlers and they’re strong. It’s not tough for one of the older reindeer to knock down a small kid, and if you’re not looking you might get smacked or poked by an antler. It’s just good to stay alert.

If you’re doing the reindeer meet and greet with Basecamp Adventures in the winter, you’ll likely be wearing gloves. When you feed the reindeer you can either have their pellets in your hand or leave them in the container. If you choose to leave your gloves on and let them eat from your hand, just remember that you’ll need to clear your glove afterwards. It’s better to use your hands and then wash them when you’re done with your reindeer meet and greet.

Being Prepared for Reindeer Time

Since doing the reindeer meet and greet with Basecamp Adventures is such a simple experience, to prepare for it you just need to dress warmly and bring your camera. You check in at the Adventure yurt and then you’ll be walked over to the reindeer pen for your encounter. It’s pretty chill and you’ll not have much to do but enjoy.

Other Reindeer Experiences in Alaska

I mentioned the Reindeer Farm in Palmer previously. It’s another similar experience when it comes to meeting the reindeer and getting to interact with them. They have quite a few other types of animals too though, so that’s a bonus. If you’re in Palmer in the fall or winter you can have a Santa w/ reindeer sort of experience. Another reindeer activity you can do, actually here at Basecamp Adventures is to do a Reindeer Walk. This happens outside of the pen and you’ll actually go strolling around the property and into the woods with one of the reindeer. It’s cool and interactive, and it lasts longer than the Reindeer Meet and Greet. The last suggestion is to seek out caribou in the wild. From Denali National Park to the areas around the Parks Highway on the way to Anchorage, there are lots of ways you might have an Alaskan reindeer/caribou experience.

Getting to Basecamp Adventures at Borealis Basecamp

From downtown Fairbanks, Borealis Basecamp is about a 45 minute drive to the north on the Elliott Highway. Yes, this is a highway that’s often listed on rental car restrictions as a “DO NOT DRIVE” but you’re not going so far up the Elliott Highway that it becomes gravel. If you don’t want to drive yourself for your Basecamp Adventures dogsledding you are able to arrange to be picked up in Fairbanks through Borealis Basecamp. Be sure to confirm your transportation that is included with your booking if you need it!

Tip: check out our guide to getting around Alaska here. There’s lots of good information about intrastate flights, the many highways and more. If you’re concerned about driving yourself there is great info here.

Things to do in Fairbanks

I feel like when people talk about visiting Alaska, Fairbanks is a last thought, but it shouldn’t be. I love this city, it’s people, it’s dogsled culture and the beautiful nature all around it. Fairbanks is THE winter destination in Alaska with ample dark sky space to watch the Northern Lights and endless outdoor opportunities, whether you’re looking for a mellow snowy escape or hardcore Alaskan adventures. In summer, Fairbanks is a great home base for visiting the Arctic Circle, Denali National Park, spending days kayaking or fishing. It’s beautiful!

Ideas for Fairbanks activities:

Where to Stay in Fairbanks, Alaska

Keep in mind when you’re planning your trip to Fairbanks that it is not a large city. It’s the second largest in Alaska, but it’s not huge. Hotel options are limited and when it comes to booking a luxury hotel stay, that’s not really a thing here. There are nice hotels and really cool lodges and vacation rentals, but white glove luxe ain’t happening. We’ve stayed in all kinds of Fairbanks accommodations, so have solid recommendations (below). I like being based downtown if we have a diverse, busy itinerary, but staying outside of town up in the hills is such a treat, it’s worth planning a night or two away from the city.

You’ll find that the cost of lodging in Fairbanks ranges wildly from season to season. In the summer, standard hotel rooms are not likely available for under $250 per night, with the average being well over $300 per night. In the winter you can get some awesome hotel deals as low as $125 per night. Just keep this in mind as you’re planning your visit to Fairbanks or anywhere in Alaska.

Here are our hotel picks in Fairbanks: