Levi: Ice Floating and Northern Lights Tour

Weightlessness in a frozen Finnish lake feels unreal. I like the Arctic rescue suit, which lets you float safely without swimming skills, and I like the rare quiet of lying in open water under a starry sky. The Northern Lights may appear above you or shimmer on the surface, though clouds can easily hide them.

The main drawback is the long transfer: about one hour each way from Levi. You also need to accept real cold, late outdoor hours, and the chance that the aurora will not show. Still, the floating itself can be memorable, even on a cloudy night.

Key points to know before booking

• One hour from Levi: The floating site is about an hour away in each direction, so transport takes a large part of the three-hour outing.
• The suit keeps you afloat: You receive an Arctic rescue suit and instructions before entering the water. No swimming skills are required.
• Aurora viewing is never guaranteed: The evening is planned to give you a chance, but clouds and natural conditions decide the result.
• Warm drinks follow the cold: Hot drinks, a cabin setting, fires, and marshmallows help you warm up afterward.
• Groups can be sizeable: One outing had 23 people and split into two floating groups, so ask about group size if personal space matters.
• Bring warm clothing: The suit protects your body in the water, but your hands, feet, and time outdoors still deserve extra layers.

Meeting in central Levi before the night ride

Your evening begins at the Safartica office in central Levi. If you are staying in town, this is the main meeting point, and you should arrive 10 minutes before the stated start time.

Check the exact meeting time in the email from Safartica. This detail matters. Missing the time or going to the wrong point means missing the safari, with no refund.

The English-speaking guide handles the practical side from here. The drive to the lake takes about one hour, each way. That means the transfer is not a minor shuttle ride squeezed between activities. It is a large part of your three-hour outing, so I would book this on a night when you do not have another fixed plan immediately before or afterward.

The drive also takes you away from Levi’s lights and activity. That change is useful for the sky. The farther you get from bright town lighting, the better your chance of seeing stars, although no guide can control cloud cover or aurora activity.

Arriving at the remote floating site

At the lake, the pace becomes practical. You receive instructions before stepping into the water, then put on the special rescue suit. The outfit is designed to keep you on the surface, so you do not need to swim or know any special technique.

That reassurance is important. Floating in cold, open water sounds dramatic, but the suit changes the experience from a test of endurance into something slower and calmer. You can lie back, breathe, and let the water carry you.

You should still take the cold seriously. The suit protects you in the water, but it does not make the entire evening warm. Wear warm clothing underneath and around the suit, and consider hand and foot warmers. One useful suggestion from a participant was to put heat packs in your hands and feet, since those areas may feel the cold first.

There may be a short rush while everyone changes and gets ready. One account describes the sequence as moving quickly from arrival to instructions and putting on the suit. If you prefer a slow, spa-like start, this part may feel brisk. The benefit is that the staff keeps the activity moving and does not leave you standing around in the cold.

Floating beneath stars and possible Northern Lights

The actual floating is the heart of the experience. Once you are in the lake, the noise drops away. You are not paddling, racing, or trying to reach a landmark. You are simply supported by the water, looking up at the night sky.

That stillness is what makes this activity different from a standard aurora chase. You do not need a busy schedule of stops to fill the evening. The point is the strange feeling of being warm enough to float in freezing water while the air around you is pure and cold.

On a clear night, you may see stars above you. If the Northern Lights appear, you may also see their colors reflected on the water. That reflection is the detail that can make the experience feel almost unreal, especially when the surface is quiet.

You need to set your expectations correctly. The Northern Lights are an unpredictable natural event, and this tour cannot guarantee a sighting. Clouds prevented one participant from seeing them, but the floating still felt worthwhile because the silence and stars carried the evening.

Another outing spotted the aurora on the return journey. The group stopped more than once so people could get out and take photographs. That is a welcome bonus, but it should not be treated as the main promise. Book this for the floating first, then consider the lights an extra reward.

Photography can be awkward from the water. You are wearing a large rescue suit, the scene is dark, and cold hands are not ideal for phone controls. If you bring a phone, keep it secure and use it only when practical. The best part may be the view you remember rather than the picture you manage to take.

Warm drinks, fires, and the return to Levi

After the floating, hot drinks help restore your fingers and toes. The setting includes a cabin and refreshments, and reports describe fires, lights, hot chocolate, and marshmallows. These details matter because they turn the end of the activity into a social warm-up rather than a hurried trip straight back to the vehicle.

I like this part of the design. The water experience is quiet and personal, but the warm-up gives you a place to talk about what just happened. It also helps soften the cold for anyone who found the lake more demanding than expected.

The evening may then continue with the drive back toward Levi. Keep watching the sky along the route. An aurora can appear after the floating, and the guide may stop if conditions allow. Still, the timing of any stop depends on what nature provides and how the return journey is being managed.

The whole activity lasts three hours, including transport, preparation, floating, warming up, and the return. The one-hour trip in each direction leaves less time at the lake than the headline duration might suggest. That is not a flaw, but it is worth understanding before you compare this with a longer wilderness outing.

How cold is the experience?

The rescue suit is the key piece of equipment. It keeps you on the surface and helps protect you from the cold water, so you are not expected to swim. The instructions before entry are meant to make the process clear even if you have never tried anything similar.

The air can still feel cold while you are floating. One person found the water chilly, though the hot chocolate and fire afterward made up for it. That sounds like a fair description: the suit makes the activity possible, not tropical.

Wear your warmest practical clothing. The supplied information specifically tells you to bring warm clothes, and I would take that seriously. Pay attention to your hands and feet, and use warmers if you have them.

Young children need extra thought. The activity excludes anyone under 120 centimeters, or about 3 feet 9 inches. Even for children above that height, consider the late timing, the outdoor stay, the changing process, and the cold before booking.

The activity requires at least two adults to operate. That is a condition for the tour to take place, not a promise of a private experience. If you are booking as a solo visitor, confirm that the departure is running.

Group size and guide support

The guide is there to explain the process in English and help you through the suit and water entry. The feedback is especially strong on the staff’s friendliness, care, and clear instructions. That matters in an activity where the equipment may look intimidating at first.

Group size can affect the mood. One group had 23 people and split into two groups for the floating. A larger party can mean more waiting, less personal space, and a less solitary feeling at the lake.

At the same time, the operation appears able to divide a large party rather than put everyone into the water at once. If you want complete quiet, ask Safartica about the expected group size on your date. If you are comfortable sharing the setting, the group atmosphere may be part of the fun.

The strongest praise is aimed at the staff. The guides are described as friendly, serious, prepared, helpful, and caring. That combination is useful here. You want warmth in the welcome, but you also want people who treat cold-water safety as more than a joke.

Is $155 a fair price?

At $155 per person, this is not a cheap evening activity. You are paying for transport, the rescue suit, equipment handling, an English guide, the lake setting, floating time, and hot drinks. The long drive means you are also paying for access to a quieter location outside Levi.

The value depends on what you want from a Lapland holiday. If you only want a guaranteed Northern Lights sighting, this is not the right purchase because the aurora cannot be promised. A cloudy sky could leave you with no lights at all.

If you want a distinctive cold-weather activity that still has value without the aurora, the price is easier to defend. Floating silently in an Arctic lake is not an everyday experience, and the activity itself does not disappear when clouds roll in.

I would compare the cost with the amount of novelty you want in your trip. Levi offers many winter activities, but this one is less about speed and more about an unusual physical feeling. You pay for quiet, equipment, transport, and a carefully managed way to enter water that would otherwise be unsafe.

The hot drinks and fires are small parts of the price, but they improve the overall evening. Without a warm-up, the activity could feel like a cold stunt. With one, it becomes a complete three-hour outing.

Who will enjoy this most?

I would recommend it to adults and older children who like unusual experiences, can handle outdoor cold, and are happy to slow down. It suits someone who wants a peaceful break from snowmobiles, busy resort areas, or tightly packed sightseeing.

It is also a good choice if you enjoy the Northern Lights but understand that nature sets the schedule. You can look for the aurora from the water, on the return route, or not at all. The floating remains the dependable part.

Families can enjoy it, and one family described the children as delighted. Still, I would not book it automatically for young children. Check the 120-centimeter minimum and think about the late hour, changing process, and cold.

I would be more cautious if you dislike cold water, have little patience for a one-hour drive, or need guaranteed results for a single free evening. The experience asks you to accept uncertainty and a bit of discomfort in exchange for something rare.

Practical advice for a smoother evening

Arrive early at the Safartica office, but follow the specific time in your email. The stated meeting point is the Safartica Levi office, and being in the city center makes it simple if you are staying nearby.

Bring warm clothing that you can manage around the rescue suit. Give special attention to socks, gloves, and hand and foot warmers. You will be outside before and after the float, not only in the water.

Keep your schedule open around the full three hours. The drive is about an hour each way, and aurora stops on the return may add interest to the journey. Do not place an important reservation too close to the stated finish.

Think of the activity as two experiences joined together. The first is the quiet floating. The second is the warm drink, fire, and possible night-sky watch. If the Northern Lights fail to appear, the first experience can still carry the evening.

Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start, and you can reserve now and pay later. Those terms help if your weather plans are still shifting, but they do not change the natural uncertainty of the aurora.

Should you book the Levi ice floating tour?

I would book this if you want a calm, strange, memorable Arctic experience and can accept that the Northern Lights may not appear. The rescue suit removes the need for swimming skills, the guides provide clear help, and the hot drinks and fires give you a sensible way to warm up.

I would skip it if your main goal is a guaranteed aurora show, if a one-hour drive each way feels excessive, or if cold water sounds miserable rather than exciting. At $155, the activity needs to be something you genuinely want, not a last-minute add-on.

For the right person, the best moment may not be the aurora. It may be lying still in the lake, watching snow or stars above you, while the cold world grows quiet.

FAQ

How long does the Levi ice floating experience last?

The activity lasts three hours, including the journey, preparation, floating, warm drinks, and return.

How far is the floating location from Levi?

The floating location is about a one-hour drive from Levi in each direction.

Is hotel pickup included?

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

Where is the main meeting place?

The main meeting place is the Safartica office in central Levi. You should arrive 10 minutes before the activity begins.

What should I bring?

Bring warm clothing. Hand and foot warmers may also help you stay comfortable in the cold.

Do I need to know how to swim?

No. Each person receives instructions before entering the water, and the rescue suit keeps you on the surface.

Is the Northern Lights sighting guaranteed?

No. The Northern Lights are a natural phenomenon, so clouds and other conditions may prevent a sighting.

What is included in the price?

The price includes the Arctic rescue suit, the floating activity, hot drinks, and an English-speaking guide.

Are children allowed to join?

Children must be at least 120 centimeters tall, or about 3 feet 9 inches. You should also consider the late timing and outdoor cold for young children.

Can I cancel the booking?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. The reserve-now, pay-later option lets you book without paying immediately.