Levi: Ice Floating and Northern Lights Tour

Floating in a freezing Finnish lake sounds like a bad idea until you put on the Arctic rescue suit. Then you can lie back, stay safely on the surface, and watch the stars above you. If the Northern Lights appear, you may see them both in the sky and reflected in the water.

I like the strange calm of the float and the chance to experience Lapland without engines, crowds, or much noise. I also like the warm finish, with hot drinks and a fire-side setting that helps take the edge off the cold. The main drawback is the one-hour drive each way, plus the fact that clouds can hide the Northern Lights.

Key points to know before booking

• The rescue suit keeps you afloat: You do not need swimming skills, but you must follow the guide’s instructions before entering the water.
• The floating site is about one hour from Levi: The three-hour activity includes the road journey, preparation, floating, and warm-up time.
• The Northern Lights are not guaranteed: This is an evening chance to see them, not a dedicated aurora promise.
• The experience can feel cold: Warm clothing is essential, and hand and foot warmers may help.
• Groups may be sizeable: One outing had 23 people and split into two groups for the floating session.
• Children have a minimum height: Anyone under 120 centimetres, or about 3 feet 9 inches, cannot take part.

The strange pleasure of floating in freezing water

The appeal is simple and slightly surreal. You put on a full rescue suit, step into Arctic water, and allow the suit to hold you on the surface. The lake may be partly frozen around you, while you float in an open patch of water and look up at the night sky.

This is not a swimming lesson or a fast-moving activity. You are not paddling across the lake or racing anyone. The point is to stay still, breathe slowly, and notice how quiet the night can be far from Levi.

I like that the experience asks very little of you once you are in the water. You do not need athletic ability, and you do not need to know how to swim. You do need to be comfortable with the idea of stepping into cold water, even though the suit provides buoyancy and protection.

The effect can be wonderfully odd. Snow may fall while you are floating. Ice can form near the edge of the open water. Above you, the sky may be black and full of stars. On a clear night, the Northern Lights might appear overhead or shimmer in the water.

Leaving Levi for the remote floating site

The meeting point is the Safartica office in central Levi. You should arrive 10 minutes before the activity begins, and you need to check the exact meeting time in the email from Safartica. The company warns that arriving at the wrong time or place means missing the activity without a refund, so this is one detail worth treating seriously.

The journey to the floating location takes about one hour each way. That is a large part of a three-hour outing, but it also explains why the activity feels removed from the ski-resort setting. Once you leave Levi, the night becomes quieter and the surroundings more open.

Pickup is included, with the Safartica Levi office used as the main meeting place for people staying in town. If you are staying elsewhere, check the pickup information carefully rather than assuming the vehicle will come to your accommodation.

The long drive has two sides. I see it as useful travel time if you want to get beyond the town lights and find darker skies. On the other hand, a one-hour ride each way leaves less time for the actual float than the three-hour duration might suggest. You should book this for the mood and setting, not for a long session in the water.

Getting ready in the Arctic rescue suit

At the site, the guide explains how the suit works and what to do before you enter the lake. No swimming skills are required because the suit keeps you on the surface, but you still need to pay attention to the instructions.

The preparation is part of the experience. You are not simply handed a coat and sent outside. You change into equipment designed for this exact setting, then move from the warm preparation area toward the water. The contrast between shelter and open Arctic air makes the first few minutes feel dramatic.

The suits provide the key safety feature: buoyancy. You can float on your back and let the water support your body. That weightless feeling is one of the strongest reasons to book this activity. It is less about doing something difficult and more about allowing yourself to stop moving.

You should still dress warmly beneath or around the suit as instructed by the guide. The official advice is to bring warm clothing, and that advice matters. One practical tip is to consider hand and foot warmers, especially if your fingers and toes tend to get cold. The suit protects you from the water, but it does not remove the need to manage the cold air and late-night conditions.

What the float feels like after sunset

Once in the water, you can lie back and look at the sky. The silence is the main attraction. There may be other people nearby, but the floating itself is a quiet activity, and the dark setting encourages you to slow down.

I like the way the experience changes your sense of scale. You are surrounded by cold water, ice, darkness, and sky, yet the suit lets you relax rather than fight the elements. The result is a calm, almost dreamlike few minutes.

The cold remains part of the deal. One outing was described as a very enjoyable experience but still a little chilly in the water. That is a fair warning. The suit keeps you on the surface and helps protect you, but this is not a warm-water float. If you dislike cold or late outdoor activities, you may find the novelty wears off quickly.

The setup can also feel brisk. You arrive, hear the instructions, put on the suit, and enter the water within a fairly short period. That keeps the evening moving, but it leaves little time to ease into the idea. Listen closely, follow the staff, and accept that this is a practical outdoor activity rather than a spa treatment.

Chasing stars and the Northern Lights

The Northern Lights are the headline attraction, but you need to treat them as a possibility rather than a promise. Clouds, timing, and natural conditions decide what you see. The tour gives you a chance to watch the sky from a dark location, yet no guide can guarantee an aurora.

This is why I would still consider the activity worthwhile on a night without green or purple lights. Floating beneath ordinary stars, surrounded by quiet water and snow, is the experience itself. One outing had cloudy skies and no aurora, but the float still felt special because of the silence and the unusual setting.

Another outing spotted the Northern Lights on the return drive. The group had time to stop, get out, and take photographs, then stopped again when the lights appeared another time. That shows the value of having a guide and vehicle after the float. The evening does not necessarily end the moment you leave the water.

Still, do not book this solely for a photograph. The best approach is to view the aurora as a bonus. If it appears, you may get an unforgettable scene with the lights overhead and their reflection on the lake. If clouds roll in, you can still enjoy the weightless float and starry darkness.

Warming up with drinks, lights, and fire

After the float, hot drinks are included. This is not a minor extra. After standing outside, changing clothes, and lying in cold water, you will appreciate something warm in your hands.

The setting has been described as a cozy cabin area with lights and fires. Hot chocolate and marshmallows by the fire have also been part of the post-float routine. These touches give the evening a welcome second act. Instead of rushing straight back to Levi, you have time to warm up and talk about what just happened.

I especially like this part for families and mixed-age groups. Not everyone needs to float at the same pace, and the warm-up period gives people a comfortable place to regroup. It also helps soften the transition from the stark lake to the ride home.

The included hot drinks add modest value to the $155 price, but they do not transform the outing into a bargain. You are paying for the transport, equipment, guide, remote setting, preparation, and unusual access to the lake. If you compare it with a simple Northern Lights minibus tour, the price is high. If you compare it with a one-of-a-kind Arctic activity that includes specialist suits and transport, the cost is easier to justify.

Group size, pace, and the human side of the tour

The guide speaks English and gives instructions before anyone steps into the water. The staff have been described as friendly, caring, well organized, and clear in their explanations. That matters here because the suit and the cold water can feel unfamiliar at first.

Group size may affect the mood. One group had 23 people and needed to split into two for the floating session. A large group can mean more waiting and less of the private, silent feeling you may picture from the photographs.

At the same time, splitting the group allows the activity to run safely and gives the guide more control around the water. You should not expect a private lake experience. You should expect a shared outing in a carefully managed setting.

The pace is fairly structured. The drive takes about an hour, then come the instructions, changing, floating, warm drinks, and return journey. If you want a slow wellness session with lots of personal time, this may feel too organized. If you prefer clear guidance and do not want to manage Arctic equipment on your own, the structure works in your favor.

Is it suitable for children?

The minimum height is 120 centimetres. Anyone below that height cannot take part, regardless of age. The activity also takes place outdoors at night, so you should think carefully about a young child’s ability to handle the cold, the late timing, the long drive, and the wait while others prepare.

Older children may love the novelty. One family described the children as delighted with the experience. The rescue suit removes the need for swimming ability, which makes the activity more accessible than it may first appear.

Still, the suit does not make the evening warm or effortless. Children need to follow instructions, tolerate the cold, and remain comfortable during transport. Bring proper warm clothing and consider hand and foot warmers for anyone who gets cold easily.

Practical details that affect your decision

The activity lasts three hours, but about two of those hours can be used by the road journey to and from the site. You should plan your evening around that commitment. The late timing may also make it a poor fit if you have an early morning tour or a tired young family.

At least two adults are required for the activity to operate. This is important if you are a solo visitor or booking close to the date. Confirm that the outing is running before building your evening around it.

Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before departure, and you can reserve now and pay later. Those terms help if your Lapland plans are still shifting, but they do not protect you from missing the meeting time. Check your Safartica email and arrive at the office 10 minutes early.

The rating of 4.6 from 59 reviews fits the experience well. The strongest praise centers on the guides, the unusual floating sensation, the calm setting, and the warm finish. The recurring concerns are also clear: the water can feel cold, groups can be large, and the Northern Lights may not appear.

Who will enjoy this most?

I would recommend it to you if you want an Arctic experience that is quieter and stranger than a standard snowmobile or aurora chase. It suits people who enjoy trying something once, families with children above the height limit, and couples who want a calm evening rather than a high-speed ride.

It is also a good choice if you like the idea of the Northern Lights but do not want the whole evening to depend on seeing them. The float gives you a memorable activity even under cloudy skies.

I would hesitate if you dislike cold water, have difficulty standing or changing outdoors, or want a short excursion close to Levi. The one-hour drive each way is not a small detail. I would also skip it if your only goal is an aurora photograph, since the lights are never guaranteed.

Should you book the Levi Ice Floating and Northern Lights Tour?

Book it if the idea of lying weightless in a rescue suit beneath a dark Arctic sky makes you curious. At $155 per person, it is not cheap, but the price covers the long transfer, specialist suit, English-speaking guide, floating session, and warm drinks. The experience has value because it is unusual, not because it packs in a long list of stops.

Go in with the right expectations. You may see the Northern Lights, or you may see stars and clouds. You may float in a small group rather than alone. You will almost certainly spend a good part of the evening on the road.

For me, the strongest reason to choose it is that the float remains worthwhile even when the aurora does not show. If you can accept the cold, the drive, and the price, this is one of Levi’s more distinctive night activities.

FAQ

How long does the Levi Ice Floating and Northern Lights Tour last?

The activity lasts three hours. The floating location is about one hour from Levi in each direction, so the total time includes transport, preparation, floating, and warming up.

Do I need to know how to swim?

No. Each person receives instructions before entering the water, and the Arctic rescue suit keeps you on the surface. You still need to follow the guide’s safety instructions.

Are the Northern Lights guaranteed?

No. The Northern Lights are a natural phenomenon and cannot be guaranteed. The evening is arranged to give you a chance to see them from a dark location.

What should I bring?

Bring warm clothing. Hand and foot warmers may also be useful because the outdoor setting and cold water can feel chilly.

Where is the meeting point?

The main meeting point is the Safartica Levi office in the city center. You should arrive 10 minutes before the activity starts and check the exact meeting details in the email from Safartica.

Is pickup included?

Pickup is included. If you are staying in Levi, select Safartica Levi as the meeting point when booking.

Is the activity suitable for children?

The activity is not suitable for anyone under 120 centimetres, or about 3 feet 9 inches. You should also consider the late timing, outdoor conditions, and one-hour drive each way before bringing young children.

How many adults are needed for the activity to run?

At least two adults are required for the activity to take place.

Can I cancel the booking?

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