Ice Floating in Lapland with Drysuit and Optional Sauna

What to Expect during your Ice Floating Experience

Ice floating in Lapland lets you step into cold water wearing an insulated rescue suit that keeps you dry, buoyant, and warm enough to relax on the surface. The experience can take place on a frozen lake, in calmer river conditions earlier in the winter season, or as part of a broader Arctic water experience depending on the location and time of year. It is one of the most unusual winter activities in Lapland, and a very different way to experience the season than the region’s snow-based tours.

The experience usually begins with a safety briefing and an introduction to how the drysuit works before you enter the water with guide support. Once you are suited up, the focus is simply on floating and letting the suit support your body while you get used to the sensation. In many Lapland experiences, a sauna can be added afterward, which gives the outing a natural warm finish and fits well with the Finnish contrast between cold water and heat.

Some outings take place in daylight, while others can be arranged in the evening or at night. In darker conditions, the setting feels very different, and if the sky is clear there may even be a chance to see the Northern Lights above while floating. A similar floating element can also appear as part of an icebreaker excursion, where the experience takes place in a survival suit on the frozen sea rather than in an inland lake or river.

Adventure and Flexibility

Ice floating is generally suitable for a wide range of participants, provided the minimum height requirement (120cm) is met for the suit being used. No swimming skills are needed, because the floating suit is designed to keep you safely on the surface. That makes the activity approachable even for travelers who would not normally choose a cold-water experience.

Depending on the provider, the experience can stay very simple or be combined with other elements such as sauna, dinner, or an icebreaker cruise. This flexibility makes it easy to include in different kinds of Lapland itineraries, whether you want a quiet wellness-style activity or something more unusual to pair with other winter experiences.