Levi: Arctic Ice Floating Adventure

Floating in an icy lake sounds like a stunt until you put on the waterproof Arctic suit. Then the cold water becomes a quiet place to drift, look up at the winter sky, and let your body relax. The suit keeps you on the surface, so you do not need swimming skills.

I like the calm setting and the simple reward afterward: hot coffee or tea warmed over an open fire. Guides such as Mattais also help make the outing feel personal, taking photos and offering careful support in the water. The main drawback is the long transfer, about 45 minutes each way, which leaves less time at the water than the three-hour headline may suggest.

Key points at a glance

• The suit does the hard work: You float on the surface without swimming skills and stay dry inside the waterproof gear.
• Expect about 90 minutes of transport: The ride from Levi to the floating site takes roughly 45 minutes each way.
• This is a quiet nature experience: The main attraction is stillness, clean air, and winter forest scenery rather than speed or spectacle.
• Guides provide close support: You receive instructions before entering the water, with help available at the site.
• Warm up by the fire: Coffee or tea is included, and some outings may also include marshmallows, cookies, and photos.
• Check the height rule: Participants must be at least 120 centimeters tall, and at least two adults are needed for the activity to run.

Why Arctic ice floating feels so different

Levi offers plenty of winter activities built around motion: snowmobiles, huskies, skis, and sleigh rides. This one asks you to stop moving. You lie back in a frozen setting and let the special suit carry your body while you listen to the quiet around you.

That change of pace is the point. You are not being asked to master a sport or keep up with a group. Once you are comfortable in the water, you can focus on the cold-weather forest, the open air, and the strange sensation of floating in a place that looks far too cold for swimming.

The experience also removes much of the fear people naturally have about icy water. Your guide explains what to do before you enter, and the suit keeps you on the surface. You still need to be comfortable stepping into cold surroundings, but you are not expected to swim, tread water, or stay physically active.

I would think of this as a quiet outdoor activity with a small burst of adventure. The unusual part is getting into the water. The soothing part comes after that.

Meeting at Safartica in central Levi

Your day begins at the Safartica office in Levi. Plan to arrive 10 minutes before the scheduled start time. If you are staying in the town center, selecting the Safartica Levi office as your meeting point should make the start easy to manage.

Pickup is available within a 10-kilometer radius, but you need to contact the operator at least 48 hours ahead if you want a transfer to the office. This is useful if your accommodation is outside the center, but do not leave the request until the last minute.

The activity runs for three hours from start to finish. Since the drive to the floating site takes about 45 minutes in each direction, the outing includes close to an hour and a half of transport. That matters when you compare it with shorter activities in Levi. You are paying for a full excursion, but the actual floating time is only part of the afternoon or evening.

The transfer also serves a practical purpose. The floating location is away from the town, in a quieter natural setting. The peaceful surroundings are a major part of the experience, so the drive is not simply wasted time.

The 45-minute ride into Arctic nature

After leaving Levi, you ride for about 45 minutes to the floating venue. Exact scenery and road conditions can vary, but the setting is designed to place you among winter forests and away from the noise of town.

The transfer gives you time to prepare mentally. If this is your first time wearing a floating suit, the idea may sound odd at first. You might spend the ride wondering how cold the water will feel or how much freedom you will have once dressed. The guide can answer questions and help you understand the steps before arrival.

This is also where the time commitment becomes clear. If you have only one free afternoon in Levi, you should decide if a slow, reflective outing is worth more to you than a faster activity. I think it is a good choice for a day when you want to break up more energetic excursions.

The quiet setting is not a side detail. Floating beside a forest is very different from using a crowded pool or taking part in a busy group activity. You get room to appreciate the air, trees, and stillness, even though the experience itself is guided.

Getting dressed in the protective suit

At the floating site, you receive winter clothing and a specially designed Arctic water suit. The suit is waterproof and keeps you on the surface. It is the key piece of equipment, and it changes the experience from a risky cold-water challenge into something accessible to people who cannot swim.

You receive instructions before stepping into the water. Listen closely, especially if you feel nervous. The guides are there to explain how to enter, how to position yourself, and how to remain comfortable once you are floating.

One useful clothing tip comes directly from the practical side of the experience: bring thin gloves. Thick ski gloves may not fit easily inside the dry suit. Your hands can also cool faster than the rest of your body, so hand warmers are worth considering.

Wear the required winter clothing, but avoid assuming that more bulk is always better. The suit needs to fit properly and allow you to get in and out without trouble. Thin layers and thin gloves are more useful than oversized ski gear at this stage.

The minimum height is 120 centimeters, or about 3 feet 9 inches. Children below that height cannot take part. At least two adults are also required for the activity to operate, so this is not an outing for a lone adult booking on a whim.

Entering the water without swimming skills

The most memorable moment is stepping into the water. You see ice and winter conditions, then find yourself supported by a suit that keeps your body floating. That contrast is what makes the activity unusual.

You do not need to know how to swim. The suit keeps you on the surface, but you still receive guidance before entering. This makes the activity a possible choice for families with children who meet the height requirement, provided they are comfortable following instructions.

An eight-year-old participant reportedly began nervous and later enjoyed the experience with help from the guides. That gives you a useful sense of the activity’s tone. A child does not need to be fearless at the start, but patient adult support and calm instructions matter.

The guides at the floating site help you get settled. Mattais, one of the guides associated with the Levi outing, has been praised for making the experience comfortable and for helping with the practical details. You may also find the guides taking photos so you can keep a record without trying to handle a phone in a bulky suit.

Once you are in the water, the pace slows down. Do not expect a packed program of games or challenges. You float, look around, and enjoy the unusual silence.

A quiet float among snowy forests

The floating itself may last less time than you first imagine because the three-hour schedule includes transport, changing, instructions, and refreshments. Still, the time in the water is the heart of the outing.

I like that the activity does not try to overfill the quiet. The appeal is clean air and a sense of being separated from ordinary routines. You can let your body rest while the suit carries you, rather than working to stay warm through constant movement.

The natural setting also gives the activity its character. Winter forest views provide a simple backdrop, and the silence becomes part of the attraction. If you want loud music, fast action, or a long list of stops, this is not the right choice. If you enjoy unusual moments that leave room for your own thoughts, it has a stronger appeal.

Weather and daylight can shape how the setting feels, but the supplied details do not promise a specific view, sunset, or northern lights display. Book it for the floating and the Arctic surroundings, not for a guaranteed sky show.

The experience is also a good fit for people who have already scheduled active winter outings. After a day of walking or sightseeing, lying back in the water can feel like a welcome change. You are not required to be athletic, and the main skill is simply following the guide’s instructions.

Coffee, tea, and warmth by the fire

After the float, you can warm up with coffee or tea prepared over an open fire. This small detail matters more than it may sound. A hot drink gives the outing a clear finish and turns the return from the water into a social pause rather than a rushed change of clothes.

Some outings may also include marshmallows and cookies, along with photos taken by the guides. These extras are not listed as the core inclusions, so treat them as a pleasant possibility rather than a guarantee. The guaranteed refreshment is hot coffee or tea.

The fire also adds a traditional outdoor feel. Instead of returning straight to town after a quick dip, you have time to stand around, talk, and take in the setting. That helps the experience feel more complete.

Food is not included as a meal. If you need something substantial, eat beforehand or plan food separately. The hot drinks are a comfort and a light refreshment, not a replacement for lunch or dinner.

What the $147 price really covers

At $147 per person, this is not a budget stop. The price includes winter clothing, the Arctic floating activity, an English-speaking guide, and hot drinks. It also covers the guided transport structure of an experience that takes place outside Levi.

I see the value in the unusual equipment and the personal assistance. You are not simply paying for access to water. The operator provides a suit designed to keep you afloat and dry, instructions, winter gear, a guide, and a remote natural setting.

The price makes less sense if you mainly want a quick photo in a floating suit. The three-hour schedule and the 45-minute ride each way mean you should value the full outing: transport, preparation, quiet time in nature, and the fire-side drink afterward.

It is best compared with other guided winter excursions, not with a standard swim or a free walk through the forest. The experience offers a memory that is difficult to reproduce independently, especially when you consider the protective suit and the need for a suitable floating site.

Flexible booking also helps. You can reserve now and pay later, and cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the activity for a full refund. Those terms are useful in Lapland, where changing plans and weather concerns can affect a tightly scheduled holiday.

Who will enjoy this most

I would recommend this activity to you if you want a quiet, unusual experience rather than another high-speed winter ride. It suits adults, couples, families with children at least 120 centimeters tall, and anyone curious about cold-water floating but unwilling to swim in ordinary gear.

It is particularly good for:

• People who want a calm break from active excursions
• Families with children who may need patient instruction
• First-time floaters who do not have swimming skills
• Visitors who enjoy forest silence and simple outdoor rituals
• Couples or friends looking for unusual photographs

You should think twice if you dislike changing into specialist clothing, feel uneasy around water, or want a full three hours of activity at the site itself. The transfer takes up a large portion of the schedule.

Also consider your hand warmth. Thin gloves or hand warmers can make a real difference. Thick ski gloves may not fit inside the dry suit, so plan your accessories before leaving Levi.

Practical booking advice for Levi

Book this for a day when you can reach the Safartica office 10 minutes early and leave enough room around the three-hour schedule. Do not place it immediately before a fixed dinner reservation unless you are comfortable with a narrow margin.

If you need pickup to the office, arrange it at least 48 hours in advance and check that your accommodation is within the 10-kilometer pickup area. The central office is the simplest meeting point for people staying in Levi.

The activity is conducted in English. At least two adults are needed for it to take place, so confirm that your group meets that condition before booking.

The guide takes care of the essential instruction, but you should still arrive ready to cooperate. This is a controlled outdoor experience, not a do-anything water activity. The safest approach is to listen, move carefully, and let the suit do its job.

Should you book the ice floating adventure?

Book it if you want one memorable, peaceful break from Levi’s faster winter activities. The waterproof suit, careful instruction, forest setting, fire-heated drinks, and chance of guide-taken photos give the outing a clear sense of occasion.

I would not book it simply because the word ice sounds dramatic. The real pleasure is gentle: floating quietly, breathing cold air, and enjoying a strange sense of comfort in an unlikely place. Remember that nearly half the tour time may be spent getting to and from the site.

For the right person, that slow pace is exactly the value. Choose it for calm, novelty, and a well-supported first experience in icy water. Skip it if you want speed, extensive sightseeing, or a full meal included.

FAQ

Where does the activity meet?

The main meeting point is the Safartica office in Levi city center. Arrive 10 minutes before the scheduled start time.

Is pickup available from my accommodation?

Pickup is included within a 10-kilometer radius. Contact Safartica at least 48 hours before the activity if you need pickup to the office.

How long does the activity last?

The full experience lasts three hours. The journey from Levi to the floating venue takes about 45 minutes each way.

Do I need to know how to swim?

No. You receive instructions before entering the water, and the special suit keeps you on the surface.

What is the minimum height?

The minimum height is 120 centimeters, or about 3 feet 9 inches. People below this height cannot take part.

What does the price include?

The price includes winter clothing, ice floating with an English-speaking guide, and hot drinks.

Is food included?

No meal is included. Hot coffee or tea is provided, and marshmallows or cookies may be offered during the outing.

Can I cancel the booking?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. You can also reserve now and pay later.