15 Ice Floating Experiences in Rovaniemi to Plan a Day Around

1.Ice Floating in Forest Lake with Aurora Borealis

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 614 reviews · from $142Our pick

Meet your English-speaking guide in central Rovaniemi, ride to a forest lake, and float in a fully insulated survival suit while watching the sky. The Northern Lights are not guaranteed, but guides such as Theo, Maria, Lia, and Alex help with safety and photos. Hot drinks and gingerbread follow the swim.

“Had lots of fun floating around the lake! Theo was very kind and helped us take beautiful photos when we saw the aurora! The inside of my suit case a bit wet, but not too bothersome. We did get a little cold on our hands and feet when we had floated for 10+ minutes, so would definitely recommend thick gloves and socks underneath the suits.”

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2.Traditional Sauna and Ice Swimming Experience

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 431 reviews · 1.5 hours · from $88Best value

Spend 1.5 hours at Pajasauna, a private 1958 blacksmith’s sauna near the Kemijoki River. Your host explains Finnish sauna customs, supplies towels, clogs, water, and hairdryers, and guides you between wood-fired heat and an icy river opening or plunge pool. Bus and train access is possible, but return transport needs careful planning.

“Really lovely sauna the people running it were lovely would definitely recommend”

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3.Daytime Ice Floating Rovaniemi, Frozen Lake Experience

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 252 reviews · 3 hours · from $134

Meet your English-speaking guide, ride about 30 minutes from Rovaniemi, and change into a thermal rescue floating suit beside a Finnish lake. You will float safely among ice or open water, with guides such as Victor, Brandon, or Alex helping you in and out. Finish with hot berry juice, cookies, and time in a cozy cottage.

“I would like to sincerely thank the team for organizing the ice floating experience. It was a truly unique and unforgettable activity, very well organized and safely managed. A special thanks to Victor, our guide, who was extremely professional, supportive, and reassuring throughout the whole experience. His clear instructions, calm attitude, and attention to safety made us feel confident and comfortable at all times. Thank you for an amazing experience — highly recommended!”

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4.Best Of Lapland: Sauna, Ice swimming, Dinner & Northern Lights

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 158 reviews · 4 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $189Top rated

From central Rovaniemi or Santa Claus Village, you’ll ride to a private lakeside setting for a Finnish wood-fired sauna, brief ice swimming, towels, slippers, and an open-fire salmon dinner. Guides such as Pedro, Alex, or Tanija may lead the evening. Northern Lights are possible only on 5pm departures from late October to mid-March.

“Easily one of the best part of our trip! Spent my birthday doing this activity and it was sooo worth it! Pedro picked us up from Rovaniemi center. We started on time and it was -17 degrees at that time. We were given clear instructions and started to change to go inside the Sauna. It was a wonderful experience. Also met lots of lovely people :) It is a memorable experience especially dipping in the ice lake with -17 degrees outside!! Did it for 2 times (25mins sauna then dip, repeat 2x then sauna at the end) After that, we went inside for a nice salmon meal and at the…”

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5.Sauna & Ice Swimming Tour with Dinner and Aurora

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 150 reviews · 4 hours · from $184

Spend an evening at a remote Arctic lake with a wood-fired Finnish sauna, icy lake or snow plunges, towels, slippers, and a salmon dinner in a cottage. English-speaking guides such as Pedro, Mattia, Victor, and Tania have hosted this warm, social experience. Evening departures from late October to mid-March add a chance to see the Northern Lights.

“Everything was perfect. They picked us up and drove us to the location which is remote and beautiful. We were 7 in one sauna which made it a bit crowded, but still nice. We had enough time to go in and out 3-4 times and then dio in the lake. The dinner was super good, we ate a lot and the food was yummy. I am vegetarian and they were able to prepare something for me too. The only little ick was that the sauna was loosing heat a bit, and couldn’t get really hot even if we kept putting wood and throwing water. Overall the experience was really amazing!!”

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6.Aurora Arctic Ice Floating in Rovaniemi, Small-group

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 109 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $151

This three-hour evening outing takes you from central Rovaniemi to a remote lake, where you enter an ice hole in a waterproof thermal rescue suit and float beneath the night sky. Guides such as Victor, Alex, Pedro, Brandan, and Tanja lead the activity, with hot drinks, cookies, a heated cabin, and hotel transfers included.

“This was a great experience! It's something we'll never forget. Our tour guide Victor took great pictures and video of us. We really appreciate everything Victor did for us!”

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7.Daytime Arctic Ice-Floating in Rovaniemi, Small-Group

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 75 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $138

Slip into a buoyant thermal suit and float in a lake outside Rovaniemi, even in winter. Your guide handles safety, photos, and getting you in and out of the water. Afterward, warm up in a log cabin with drinks and cookies. Pickup and drop-off are included, and groups are limited to 15 people.

“A great experience and so much fun. The guide provided all the information needed and made everyone feel safe.”

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8.Aurora Ice Floating in Rovaniemi

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 62 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $163

Travel from central Rovaniemi to a quiet frozen lake, pull on a buoyant dry suit, and float among chunks of ice beneath the Arctic sky. Guides such as Greta, Salla, Tommy, and Mark have helped make the experience feel safe and calm. Pickup, winter clothing, transfers, and a hot drink are included, though clouds can hide the Aurora.

“Something completely different and out of the ordinary. Shame it was a cloudy night so we didn't get to see the Northern Lights but hey ho you can't control the weather. Loved the experience and would definitely recommend doing something out of your comfort zone.”

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9.Arctic Ice Floating and Northern Lights Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 32 reviews · from $131

Put on a thermal rescue suit and float in an icy lake surrounded by snowy trees during this three-hour Rovaniemi tour. Your English-speaking guide gives clear safety instructions before the swim, then serves hot berry juice and cookies by an open fire. Northern Lights sightings depend on nature, not the tour schedule.

“We had the most wonderful experience floating under the starry sky in a very safe environment, just absorbing the silence of Lapland. Our guide, Brandon, was absolutely amazing. He was full of fun reindeer facts and interesting chatter and most importantly prepared us well for the floating experience. Would recommend this experience!”

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10.Ice Floating Experience

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 28 reviews · 3 hours · from $141

You’ll spend three hours on private land near Rovaniemi, floating on icy waters in buoyant thermal survival gear. An English, Spanish, or French-speaking guide gives a safety briefing, and groups are limited to nine. Afterward, warm up with a hot drink and fresh cookies. The activity may run by daylight or under the Northern Lights.

“The experience was great, and the guide was lovely and professional. However, the changing room could be improved, as it was very cold and not heated. Especially in winter, when temperatures can drop –24°C as we experienced, it would be much nicer to have a warm place to change clothes before and after the activity.”

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11.Ice Floating under Aurora Borealis

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 25 reviews · 3 hours · from $155

Join Safartica for a three-hour evening trip from Rovaniemi to a frozen lake. Your English-speaking guide explains the ice floating technique, supplies winter clothing and a full-body rescue suit, and helps you stay comfortable on the water. You may see stars or the Northern Lights, weather permitting, then warm up with hot drinks, cookies, and marshmallows.

“An amazing tour! The guides were amazing, best experience ever.”

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12.Private Sauna and Ice Swimming Tour with Snacks

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 12 reviews · 4 hours · from $210

Join an English-speaking guide such as Tommi or Tom for four hours at a private lakeside sauna near Rovaniemi. Warm up in a heated wooden sauna, take repeated cold plunges in an ice hole, and enjoy towels, thermal wear, snacks, and hot drinks. Swimwear is optional at this private setting.

“Esperienza indimenticabile. La nostra guida Tommi è stato disponibile e simpatico. Consiglio!”

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13.Ice Floating Experience with Northern lights

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 11 reviews · 3 hours · from $141

This three-hour Rovaniemi outing takes you by van to a frozen lake for 1.5 hours of guided ice floating in a thermal survival wetsuit. Guides such as Sarah, Nicolas, Elena, and Helena have been praised for their care and humor. Afterward, warm up with a drink and cookies, and look for the Northern Lights if the sky cooperates.

“Très belle expérience avec une guide extraordinaire « Sarah » à l’écoute, passionné, dynamique et proactive. Je recommande”

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14.Private Wooden Heated Sauna and Ice Swimming

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 7 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $179

Spend about four hours at a restored wood-fired sauna near a frozen lake outside Rovaniemi. Your private group gets towels, gloves, footwear, guidance for the ice swim, and hot blueberry juice with snacks by a fire. Guides including Tommy, Juuso, Jooso, and Alejandro have helped guests with Finnish customs, food, and language.

“We loved our evening in the sauna. The location was beautiful and peaceful next to a frozen lake, where we could also take a dip in the ice! This was the perfect contrast to the sauna. We were provided with everything we needed such as towels, and even shoes and gloves for the ice dip. Our guide was very friendly and helpful, and transfer from Rovaniemi was included. The company were great in communicating and organising meeting place etc prior to the tour. Thank you for a wonderful evening!”

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15.Midnight Sun Floating Experience in Forest Lake

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 5 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $165

Float safely on a forest lake near Rovaniemi in a warm survival suit as the summer sun stays above the horizon. Your guide handles the safety briefing, helps with the suit, and serves tea and snacks afterward. Pickup is offered from selected city-center hotels, with groups capped at 16 people.

“Lying on the ice lake with the professional guide of Clement, and having hot blueberry juice after the cold outdoor activity is quite interesting.”

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