Ice Floating in Lapland: What It Is, Is It Safe & Is It Worth It?

At first sight, ice floating looks like one of Lapland’s stranger ideas: cut a hole in a frozen lake, put on a bright survival suit and climb in. In practice it is one of the easiest winter activities you can do. The sealed suit keeps your clothes dry and your body insulated while you lie on the surface, you do not need to know how to swim, and there is none of the cold shock of a Finnish ice swim.

Lake floats around Rovaniemi cost from about €100 to €130 per person, usually with the suit, a guide and transfers included; Nordic Adventures’ three-hour daytime float, for example, costs from €119 (Visit Rovaniemi). Evening versions add the chance, never the promise, of the Northern Lights overhead.

Check the suit before anything else. Minimum heights in Rovaniemi run from 120 cm (Safartica) to 150 cm and age 14 (Nordic Adventures), and icebreaker floats ask for 140 cm. If the suit does not fit you or your child, you cannot float.

Ice floating in Lapland at a glance

Why ice floating is more appealing than it sounds

“Get into a hole in a frozen Finnish lake” doesn’t sound like sensible holiday advice, yet ice floating is almost the opposite of an ice swim. There is no swimsuit, no deliberate cold-water shock and no paddling.

You climb into a thick waterproof rescue suit that seals at your neck and keeps your clothes away from the near-freezing water. The suit is buoyant enough that, once you lean back, you lie on the surface. Around you are snow, forest, ice and silence; above you, blue winter daylight, stars or, with luck, the Northern Lights.

What surprises people is how fast the nerves go. Many start with “you want me to get into that?” and end by asking to stay in a little longer.

What exactly is ice floating?

Ice floating, also sold as Arctic floating or Northern Lights floating, means entering cold water in a purpose-built flotation or rescue suit. In winter, operators keep an opening in a frozen lake, river or the sea. You step in with a guide’s help, lean back and let the suit hold you up.

The suit gives you:

• buoyancy;
• insulation;
• waterproof protection;
• cover from feet to neck.

Unlike winter swimming, the aim is not to expose your body to cold water. Rovaniemi’s tourism board describes it as floating in Arctic water in a suit that keeps your body warm and your clothes dry.

What does ice floating feel like?

The first 30 seconds are the strangest. You know the suit is designed to float, but your body sees black water ringed by snow and has doubts.

Then the suit takes your weight. Your legs rise, your shoulders settle back and there is little left to do. You stretch out your arms, look up and drift. Because the suit keeps you apart from the water, it is less like swimming than lying on a gently moving mattress.

You may still feel the cold on:

• your neck;
• your face;
• your head;
• your hands, depending on the suit.

What you should not feel is the shock of bare skin in near-freezing water. That is the whole difference: ice floating is Arctic sightseeing; ice swimming is cold exposure.

Is the water really around 0°C?

Water under winter ice is close to freezing, though the exact temperature varies with place, depth and conditions. The suit works by keeping the water away from you, not by warming it. Operators use high-quality rescue suits, with your own clothes under a waterproof outer layer. Safartica describes its Rovaniemi float as taking place in roughly 0°C water, with guests wearing their own clothing inside the suit.

Do you get wet during ice floating?

Normally, you stay dry inside the suit, which is one of the main differences from ice swimming. Still, bring:

• a spare top;
• spare socks;
• spare base-layer trousers if you have room.

No outdoor kit is immune to:

• imperfect seals;
• splashing;
• condensation;
• user error;
• snow getting in while you change.

Safartica has recommended a spare shirt even though its suits are designed to keep you dry. Think of dry clothes as cheap insurance, not something you expect to need.

Do you need to know how to swim?

For standard guided Rovaniemi floats, no. Safartica states that swimming skills are not needed because the suit keeps you at the surface.

It is still water, so:

• listen to the guide;
• enter only where you are told;
• stay inside the floating area;
• never try to recreate it on your own.

If deep water makes you very anxious, tell the guide before you get in. It is fine to decide at the edge that it isn’t for you.

How safe is ice floating?

A professionally run float is a world away from walking onto an unknown frozen river and cutting your own hole. The activity is:

• guided;
• held at a prepared spot;
• supervised;
• done in specialist flotation suits;
• preceded by a safety briefing.

The suit gives you buoyancy, and the guide controls where you enter and leave the water. That is the only kind of ice floating this guide covers.

What you should not do

Don’t assume that because commercial floats exist, the frozen rivers around Rovaniemi are safe to explore. Visit Rovaniemi warns that river ice can be dangerously thin, that it changes from place to place and day to day, and that you should not go onto unfamiliar ice without a professional guide.

Ice that looks frozen solid can still be unsafe. Snow hides weak patches, and river currents stop the ice from reaching the thickness you expect. There is no way to judge a random patch of ice by eye.

What happens before you enter the water?

A typical Rovaniemi float runs like this:

1. Meet the operator or get picked up.
2. Travel to the floating site.
3. Put on winter gear if it is included.
4. Get a safety briefing.
5. Put on the flotation suit.
6. The guide checks the neck and other seals.
7. Walk carefully to the edge of the opening.
8. Step in with help.
9. Lean back and float.
10. Climb out and warm up.
11. Have a hot drink.
12. Return to Rovaniemi.

The floating itself may be a small part of a three-hour tour, because transfers, dressing and instructions take time. That is not a bad thing: wrestling into a heavy rescue suit is part of the fun. Just remember when you compare tours that a three-hour tour is not three hours in the water.

How long do you actually float?

You don’t need long. After perhaps 10–20 minutes you have had the main part:

• the feeling of floating;
• the Arctic surroundings;
• photographs;
• darkness or stars;
• possibly the aurora.

Formats vary, and operators don’t always state the minutes in the water. If floating time matters to you, ask before booking.

How much does ice floating in Rovaniemi cost?

Rovaniemi listings give a clear idea of the range, per adult:

Nordic Adventures’ daytime float costs from €119 (Visit Rovaniemi), and evening aurora floats from Safartica and others sell for roughly €120–€135. Booked direct with the Icebreaking Company, the Arktis cruise from Rovaniemi costs from €401 and the Sampo from €496, both with transfers (Visit Finland, Arktis; Visit Finland, Sampo).

Treat these as a guide for the 2026–27 winter. Christmas dates, private departures and transfers all change what you pay.

Is €100–€130 worth it for such a short activity?

That depends on what else you are doing in Lapland. Judged by minutes in the water, it looks expensive. The price also covers:

• transfers;
• specialist rescue suits;
• the guide;
• a maintained floating site;
• changing time;
• winter clothing;
• a hot drink;
• small-group logistics.

Book ice floating because the idea appeals to you, not for the most activity per euro. If your budget is tight and you are choosing between a husky safari, a reindeer ride, a snowmobile and ice floating, put the first three ahead for a first Lapland trip. Ice floating makes an excellent fourth activity, once the classics are covered.

Daytime or Northern Lights ice floating?

This is the main choice you will make.

Daytime floating

Best if you want:

• better visibility;
• photographs of the ice hole;
• snowy scenery;
• a simpler outing;
• usually a slightly lower price.

In the low winter sun, black water, white snow and blue Arctic light make a striking contrast, and being able to see your surroundings makes the float feel even more surreal. Our top pick is the daytime frozen-lake float (4.8/5 from 299 reviews). The Rovaniemi: Arctic Ice Floating Experience is the daytime option for families with shorter children, with Safartica’s 120 cm minimum (4.9/5 from 29 reviews, a small sample), and the Rovaniemi: Ice Floating Experience keeps groups to nine (4.5/5 from 33 reviews).

Northern Lights floating

Best if you want:

• darkness;
• stars;
• atmosphere;
• the chance of an aurora overhead.

You lie in a black opening in snow-covered ice, the forest almost invisible, the sky filling nearly your whole view. If an aurora appears, there are few stranger places to watch it from. The forest-lake aurora float is the most-reviewed (4.3/5 from 944 reviews); the Rovaniemi: Arctic Ice Floating and Northern Lights Tour scores higher on fewer reviews (4.7/5 from 68), as does the Rovaniemi: Ice Floating under Aurora Borealis (4.6/5 from 27).

One thing to know before you book an evening float.

Are the Northern Lights guaranteed?

No. Never book an aurora float assuming the lights come with the ticket. Safartica and Nordic Adventures both state that the Northern Lights are a natural phenomenon and cannot be guaranteed. Cloud can cover the sky, the aurora may be weak, or the timing may not work. You are buying ice floating plus a chance of the aurora, not a float with a guaranteed show.

Is aurora floating a good way to find the Northern Lights?

Not especially, and the marketing rarely says so. A dedicated aurora tour by minibus can move: if cloud covers Rovaniemi, the guide can drive a long way to find clear sky. A floating site cannot move its lake, so you get whatever weather sits above it.

Book aurora floating if you want to float and seeing the Northern Lights would make it extraordinary.

Book a dedicated aurora chase if seeing the Northern Lights is your main goal. Our Northern Lights tours guide compares them.

Daytime or evening: which to choose

For a first float, evening is more memorable if the price difference is small. Even without an aurora, floating under a dark Arctic sky surrounded by snow has more atmosphere.

If you already have a proper Northern Lights tour booked, choose daytime floating instead. That gives you two different experiences, instead of turning every outing into another aurora hunt.

Who can do ice floating?

Rules vary more than for most Lapland activities, because the suit has to fit. Operators set limits on:

• height;
• body size;
• age;
• physical ability.

Don’t assume a child old enough for a husky or reindeer tour can float.

Minimum height for ice floating

Rovaniemi operators use noticeably different limits:

• 120 cm minimum with Safartica;
• 140 cm on the icebreaker floats from Kemi (Visit Finland);
• 150 cm and age 14+ on Nordic Adventures’ daytime and aurora floats (Visit Rovaniemi).

Some suits also have a maximum height or weight. There is no useful general answer to “how old does my child need to be?” The better question is: “Will your suit fit my child’s height and size?”

Is ice floating suitable for children?

Sometimes, but it is not a core family activity for very young children. It involves:

• bulky specialist clothing;
• slippery winter ground;
• stepping into dark, cold water;
• staying calm while floating.

Some children love it; others want out after 30 seconds. If you are travelling with children, check:

1. the minimum height;
2. the minimum age;
3. whether children’s suits are available;
4. whether an adult goes in at the same time;
5. whether the child can opt out on arrival;
6. what happens if the suit doesn’t fit.

For younger children, huskies, reindeer and Santa visits are easier choices; our guide to Rovaniemi with kids lists them.

Is ice floating suitable during pregnancy?

Don’t assume so. The Icebreaking Company says its floating requires normal physical health and is not recommended for pregnant guests. Policies vary, so if you are pregnant, ask the operator before booking.

What if you have a medical condition?

Because the activity uses a dry suit, it is not the same physical experience as winter swimming. It still involves:

• near-freezing surroundings;
• bulky equipment;
• getting into and out of water;
• walking on icy ground.

Some operators require normal physical health. If you have significant heart disease, circulation problems, limited mobility, a respiratory condition or anything else affected by cold or exertion, check with the operator and, where appropriate, your doctor. Staying dry does not remove every health consideration.

What if you’re claustrophobic?

Claustrophobia is easy to overlook. The suit is bulky, covers almost your whole body and seals closely at the neck. Most people find that reassuring; with strong claustrophobia it can feel restrictive. Tell the guide before you put it on, and try the suit on land: you can decide whether you are comfortable before you go near the water.

What should you wear under the suit?

That depends on the operator. Some ask you to wear your normal winter clothes under the suit; others provide winter clothing. Safartica’s Rovaniemi float includes winter clothing and says you need no separate thermal layer under the floating suit.

Follow your operator’s instructions. A suit that seals properly over one set of clothes may not seal over several extra bulky layers.

What should you bring?

For most tours:

• warm winter clothes;
• base layers;
• a hat;
• gloves;
• warm socks;
• a phone or camera;
• a spare shirt;
• spare socks;
• a hair tie if useful.

You do not need:

• a swimsuit;
• a towel;
• waterproof clothing for the water;
• swimming goggles.

This is not ice swimming. Our Lapland winter packing list covers the layers.

Can you take your phone into the water?

Better not. Even a water-resistant phone is gone for good if you drop it into a dark ice hole. Ask the guide to take photos instead: the bright suits stand out against black water, blue ice and white snow. Get the photos, then put the phone away and float.

What happens if water gets inside the suit?

Tell the guide straight away. A well-fitted suit should keep you dry, but only if you use it as instructed. Don’t:

• put your head under;
• loosen the seals;
• fool around;
• try tricks;
• swim away from the floating area.

Around the safety equipment, boring is good.

Is the suit buoyant enough?

Yes. Buoyancy is what the suit is designed for, which is why some programmes don’t require swimming ability. Once you lean back, the suit keeps you at the surface. Follow the guide’s advice on posture and movement, though, and don’t treat it like a pool inflatable.

Can you turn over?

You can move, but this isn’t a normal swim. The comfortable position is lying back with:

• arms relaxed;
• legs slightly apart;
• face up.

That is also the position you want if stars or the Northern Lights come out.

What is the best month for ice floating in Lapland?

December

December brings deep darkness and the Christmas season, usually with established winter conditions. It is also one of Rovaniemi’s busiest and most expensive months.

January

A properly Arctic feel. Long nights make evening floats especially atmospheric, though temperatures on land can be extremely low.

February

Often the best balance: deep winter scenery with lengthening daylight.

March

Good for daytime floating, with:

• more sunlight;
• bright snow;
• milder outdoor conditions than midwinter;
• full winter scenery.

April

Some Rovaniemi floats continue into April. Snow and ice vary, so availability depends more on the operator and the site.

Nordic Adventures runs its daytime float from November to April (Visit Rovaniemi), and the Icebreaker Sampo sails from December to April.

Can you ice float in autumn before the lakes freeze?

Yes. Some operators run autumn floating in open water before the ice forms, and Visit Rovaniemi lists autumn aurora floats alongside its winter ones. For the classic photo of you surrounded by snow and ice, go in winter.

Rovaniemi ice floating or icebreaker floating?

These are very different purchases.

Lake or river floating near Rovaniemi

Typically:

• about €100–€135;
• 2.5–3 hours in total;
• a wilderness site near the city;
• floating is the main activity;
• easy to fit into a short trip.

Icebreaker cruise with floating

Typically:

• a full-day trip;
• a cruise on an icebreaker;
• the frozen Gulf of Bothnia off Kemi;
• walking on the sea ice when conditions allow;
• floating in survival suits;
• far more expensive.

From Rovaniemi, the From Rovaniemi: Icebreaker Arktis Cruise with Ice Floating costs from €410 (4.4/5 from 401 reviews) and the From Rovaniemi: Icebreaker Sampo Cruise with Ice Floating from €505 (4.6/5 from 245 reviews), both with transfers to Kemi. Either takes about 10 hours door to door, with three to four hours on the ship (Visit Finland). The Icebreaker Cruise & Ice Floating Experience costs less, from €250, but has only 16 reviews (4.9/5), so read them before booking. So the two formats don’t really compete.

Is an icebreaker cruise worth paying more for?

Pay for the icebreaker if the ship itself interests you. The value lies in:

• sailing through the frozen sea;
• watching the ship break the ice;
• exploring the vessel;
• walking on the sea ice if allowed;
• floating;
• a full day out.

Don’t pay €400–€500 just to try floating: you can do that near Rovaniemi for about a quarter of the price.

Ice floating or ice swimming?

They sound alike but are almost opposites.

Choose ice floating if you like the idea of doing something absurd-looking in the Arctic without freezing. If you want the real hot-sauna-to-icy-water shock, book a sauna and ice swim instead, such as the Rovaniemi: Traditional Sauna and Ice Swimming Experience from €80 (4.9/5 from 468 reviews). Some Rovaniemi venues offer both.

Ice floating or snowmobiling?

These sit at opposite ends of Arctic adventure.

Snowmobiling

• fast;
• noisy;
• active;
• covers distance;
• dearer on longer tours;
• needs a driving licence if you drive.

Ice floating

• almost motionless;
• quiet;
• meditative;
• stays in one small spot;
• no licence;
• needs almost no skill.

Snowmobiling is about going somewhere; ice floating is about doing nothing in a very unusual place. Our guide to snowmobile tours in Lapland covers the other end.

Ice floating or husky sledding?

If you can choose only one on a first trip, choose the huskies. Husky sledding is more closely tied to Lapland and gives you more activity for the time and money; our guide to husky sledding in Lapland compares the rides. Ice floating makes more sense once the main Lapland experiences are covered.

Ice floating or a reindeer sleigh ride?

This is closer, because both are gentle.

Choose reindeer if you want:

• a cultural connection;
• animals;
• a family outing;
• classic Lapland images.

Choose ice floating if you want:

• something odd;
• something less conventional;
• a quiet, adult-leaning experience;
• unusual photographs.

Our guide to reindeer sleigh rides in Lapland covers the other option.

Is ice floating scary?

For many people, yes before getting in, and not much once floating. Your brain sees near-freezing water and rightly reads danger; the suit then changes the situation completely. Most of the fear sits in the moment you step down into the opening. Once the suit takes your weight, it can feel surprisingly peaceful.

If you are very frightened of deep water, don’t book it because it looks good on social media. Lapland has plenty of excellent activities that don’t involve lying in a hole in a frozen lake.

Is it cold?

Your surroundings certainly are; your body stays well protected, though you will feel the cold on your face. The coldest part is often not the water at all but:

• waiting outside;
• changing;
• walking across the snow;
• standing around before and after.

Good winter clothing still matters.

Does the suit feel uncomfortable?

It feels industrial, not luxurious: these are outdoor safety suits, not spa robes. Expect:

• thick material;
• large boots;
• restricted movement;
• a snug neck seal.

In the water the bulk matters much less, because the water carries it.

Can you float if you wear glasses?

Usually, yes. Remember that snow can be wet, lenses fog, and you can’t adjust much in bulky suit sleeves. Contact lenses are easier if you wear them; otherwise tell the guide and secure your glasses carefully.

Can you wear jewellery?

Take valuable jewellery off. Floating itself is unlikely to lose it, but pulling bulky suits on and off is exactly when rings snag, earrings catch and necklaces vanish inside clothing. Leave anything expensive at your accommodation.

What should photographers know?

Ice floating photographs well from outside the water. The strongest shot is usually a bright suit, black water and white ice. Catching the aurora and a floating person in one frame is much harder than the promotional images suggest, because:

• the subject moves;
• the water moves;
• exposures can be long;
• site lighting can drown out the aurora;
• the aurora may be weak.

Treat a floating-under-the-aurora shot as a bonus, not something you will recreate on a phone.

How many people are in the water at once?

It varies. Some sites let several people float together; others stagger entry, because:

• fitting suits takes time;
• guides need to supervise;
• the opening has limited space.

Smaller groups feel more peaceful. If atmosphere matters, ask how many people the operator usually takes.

Is private ice floating worth it?

For most visitors, probably not. This is already a slow, controlled activity, and a small-group departure works well. Private floating can make sense for:

• proposals;
• photography;
• families;
• very nervous participants;
• groups who want their own schedule.

Don’t pay a large premium by default.

Can you combine ice floating with a sauna?

Yes, and the pairing makes sense. Some Rovaniemi venues offer a sauna, ice swimming, floating and other ice activities at the same site. Just be clear what you are booking: ice swimming means getting cold, and ice floating means staying inside the suit.

A note on Rovaniemi’s river ice

It bears repeating, because photos give false confidence. Don’t walk onto apparently frozen rivers in or around Rovaniemi just because you see:

• footprints;
• snowmobile tracks;
• other tourists;
• thick snow.

Visit Rovaniemi warns that ice strength varies a great deal with currents, changing water levels and weather. Use marked routes and professional operators. The floating hole may look wild, but it is part of a controlled experience.

What we look for when booking

Our ideal Rovaniemi float has:

• 2–3 hours in total at most;
• transfers included;
• a small group;
• a specialist rescue suit;
• clear height and weight limits;
• a hot drink afterwards;
• a daytime or late-afternoon start;
• no unnecessary add-ons.

For the aurora version, choose a site well away from city lights, and a tour you would still enjoy if the aurora never appears. That last point matters most.

What we would avoid

Booking only for the Northern Lights

You may see none. Book because you want to float.

Ignoring height limits

Suit fit is a safety issue, not an arbitrary rule.

Assuming children can take part

Check the exact operator.

Paying icebreaker prices if you only want to float

A local Rovaniemi float costs about a quarter as much.

Comparing tours by total duration alone

Three hours can include a lot of transfer and changing time.

Trying it yourself

Never. This is a guided activity that depends on the equipment.

Questions to ask before you book

If the listing is vague, ask:

1. What is the minimum height?
2. Is there a maximum height or weight?
3. What is the minimum age?
4. How long do we actually float?
5. How many people float at once?
6. Do I wear my own clothes inside the suit?
7. Are winter clothes provided?
8. Are transfers included?
9. What happens if the weather or ice changes?
10. Can I take part with a medical condition?
11. Is there somewhere warm to change afterwards?
12. Will the guide take photos?

Those answers tell you far more than “once-in-a-lifetime Arctic experience”.

Frequently asked questions

What is ice floating in Lapland?

You wear a sealed, buoyant rescue suit and float in a prepared opening in icy water. The suit keeps you dry and at the surface.

Is ice floating safe?

Commercial tours use specialist suits, guides and prepared sites. Never try it on your own on unknown ice: Visit Rovaniemi warns visitors not to go onto unfamiliar river ice without a professional guide.

Do you get wet?

Normally, no. The suit keeps your clothes dry underneath.

Do you need to know how to swim?

Not on guided floats. Safartica states that swimming ability is not required because the suit keeps you afloat.

How cold is the water?

Near freezing; operators describe it as about 0°C. The suit keeps the water away from your body.

How much does ice floating in Rovaniemi cost?

Local floats start at about €100–€130. An icebreaker cruise with floating from Rovaniemi costs €410–€505 on GetYourGuide.

How long does ice floating take?

Most tours last 2.5–3 hours, including transfers, changing and instructions. The time in the water is much shorter.

What is the minimum age?

There is no single rule. Some floats go by height alone; Nordic Adventures requires guests to be 14 or older. Check the exact tour.

What is the minimum height?

It varies: from 120 cm (Safartica) to 150 cm (Nordic Adventures), with 140 cm on the icebreakers. Some suits also have maximum sizes.

Can you see the Northern Lights while ice floating?

Yes, if the sky is clear and the aurora is active. They are never guaranteed.

Is Northern Lights ice floating better than an aurora tour?

Not if seeing the aurora is your main goal. A minibus aurora chase can move to find clear sky; a floating site can’t. Treat an aurora float as a float that might include the Northern Lights.

Can pregnant women do ice floating?

Some operators advise against it; the Icebreaking Company says its floating is not recommended during pregnancy.

Can I do ice floating without a guide?

No. Ice around Rovaniemi can be deceptive and dangerous. Use a professional operator who knows local conditions.

Is ice floating in Lapland worth it?

Yes, if you want something unusual more than another high-energy activity. It isn’t the experience to book ahead of huskies, snowmobiling or a good reindeer visit, but once those are covered it fills a useful gap. You need no skill, very little courage once you are in, and you barely have to move.

You will remember lying almost still in near-freezing water while the suit holds you up and the winter landscape closes in. On a clear night, add stars; with luck, the Northern Lights.

For most people, a local 2.5–3 hour Rovaniemi float for about €100–€130 is the one to book, such as the daytime frozen-lake float. Pay for a full icebreaker day only if the ship itself is on your list. More options are on our ice floating tours page; check the height limit for every member of your group before you pay.