Ice floating in Lapland sounds unreal.

That is exactly what makes this tour interesting: you’ll float weightless in open arctic water while looking up at a starry night sky. The big drawback is simple and honest: the northern lights are never guaranteed.

You’re in the cold, but not helpless. You get a thick arctic rescue suit, a safety briefing, hot drinks, and an English guide. If you hate waiting in the cold for weather to cooperate, this might test your patience.

Key highlights that make this tour worth it

• Weightless floating in open arctic water, with a rescue suit to keep you on the surface
• Northern lights chances plus mirror-like reflections on the water when visibility is good
• A 3-hour format that packs the float and the night-sky hunt into one evening block
• Warm-up time with hot drinks after the water, often by an outdoor fire
• Organized guide support and clear instructions before you step in
• Large groups can split for the float, so you may not all enter the water at once

Ice Floating With a Rescue Suit in Levi: The Big Idea

This is not a gimmick float. It’s a full-body reset in a place where night feels quiet in your bones.

You start on dry ground, then get into a thick arctic rescue suit designed for cold water. Once you’re in, the effect is immediate: you stop fighting gravity. You’re lying or floating with your attention pointed upward, watching stars and (if the night cooperates) the northern lights above and sometimes reflected on the lake surface.

What I like most is the contrast. You’re in freezing water, yet the suit gives you stability so you can focus on calm breathing and looking up. The second standout is the mood: in Levi, the nightlife is busy, but out there, it’s pure stillness. That silence is part of the “wow,” even if the lights don’t show.

Getting There: Safartica Office, Pickup, and the Cold Drive

The tour is based out of the Safartica office in Levi’s city center. Plan to arrive early. You’ll want to be there about 10 minutes before the activity starts, and you should check the meeting time in the email you receive from Safartica. If you miss the meeting point or time, you risk showing up late to the safari and not getting a refund.

Then comes the part people forget: there’s about a one-hour drive each way to reach the floating location. That long transfer matters because it sets your expectations for the evening. You’re not just doing a quick activity out back of the office. You’re going to the kind of quiet, dark place where stargazing works.

Because the event is late in the day, build in time for standing around outside. If you’re traveling with kids, you’ll want to be realistic about how long they can handle chilly air before the suits go on.

Before You Step In: Suit Fit, Safety Briefing, and Comfort

The tour is built around safety and simplicity. Each person gets instructed before stepping into the water. And you do not need swimming skills. The whole point of the rescue suit is buoyancy, so you can stay afloat.

Here’s the practical part you’ll thank yourself for: dress for warmth, not just for looks in the photo. The tour asks you to bring warm clothing, and that’s not optional advice. Layers help you get through the pre-water and post-water time outside, even if the suit does a lot once you’re in the water.

Also, the height restriction is clear: it’s not suitable for people under 120 cm. If you’re planning this for a smaller child, check that they fit the requirement before booking.

The Float Itself: Weightless Calm, Stars, and Reflections on the Lake

Now for the moment. You enter the open arctic water in the rescue suit and then float freely. No paddling marathon. No frantic swimming. Just you, still water, and the night overhead.

This is where the tour earns its reputation. Floating in that cold water gives you a surreal feeling of being detached from the surface of the world. It’s calm in a way that’s hard to describe until you’re there: your body is cold, but your mind shifts into quiet focus.

You’ll look up at the starry sky, and the water can turn into a mirror. When the conditions line up, the lights (if you see them) can show up as both sky glow and a reflection on the lake surface. Even when clouds block the northern lights, the “lying there and watching the stars” experience can still feel magical because you’re slowing down in a way that almost never happens in everyday travel.

A useful reality check from the experience itself: the group may be large. There’s at least one case of a group around 23 people, and they split into smaller groups for the floating portion. That doesn’t ruin anything, but it does mean you might not float at the exact same time as everyone you came with.

Northern Lights Chances During the Trip, Not a Promise

This is the part to keep grounded. The tour is designed to give you a chance to see the northern lights, but they’re a natural phenomenon, so visibility can fail. Clouds happen. Weather happens. Even the best night can come up empty.

What you will get, no matter what, is the focus. This tour is built around the night-sky experience, not a rushed “maybe” stop. You’re out for the evening, which gives the sky time to cooperate.

And you should know that the timing can work in different ways. If you’re lucky, the lights can show during the floating time. If not, they can show up on the return drive, with the group taking breaks so people can get a better look and photos. That stop-and-go flexibility is a big deal because it turns a single lookout into multiple chances.

If your main goal is guaranteed auroras, this isn’t that. If your goal is a really memorable arctic night that includes aurora hunting as a bonus, you’ll probably feel satisfied even when the clouds win.

Warm-Up Time: Hot Drinks, Fireside Cabin Comfort

Cold water is only half the story. The other half is what happens right after.

Hot drinks are included, and you’ll have a chance to warm up after the float. One clear pattern shows up in the experience: there’s usually a cozy setup—cabin or shelter feel, warm refreshments, and an outdoor fire atmosphere. Some people specifically mention hot chocolate and marshmallows enjoyed above the fire, with little lights around the area that make the whole night feel more inviting.

This matters because you’re not just braving water for the sake of it. The tour gives you a way to recover. That warm-up time is also when the group energy shifts from “is this cold suit real?” to “okay, we’re actually doing this.”

It’s also a good moment to get your photos without rushing. The guides keep the pace controlled so you can focus on your own viewing and not feel pushed through.

Price and Value: Why $155 Includes More Than a Float

At $155 per person, this isn’t a budget add-on. But it’s also not just you buying “access” to a lake.

You’re paying for:

• A full arctic rescue suit
• A guided experience in English
• Hot drinks
• The time and effort of traveling about an hour to the floating location
• The safety instruction and support that make floating beginner-friendly

You’re also paying for the structure. People don’t just throw themselves into freezing water without help. The value here is that you’re set up for success: the suit handles buoyancy, the guide handles timing and instructions, and the tour handles the route so you’re not trying to solve a complicated winter outing alone.

Think of it as a guided arctic night event, where the float is the centerpiece and the aurora search is the hopeful add-on. If you love nature, night skies, and quiet experiences, you’ll feel the money was used well.

If you hate cold weather or get stressed easily, you might feel the price more than the value. The tour is designed for people who can enjoy the waiting and the warmth-break rhythm.

Who This Tour Suits Best (and Who Should Skip It)

This tour fits best if you want a calm, nature-first evening in Lapland.

You’ll likely love it if:

• You enjoy stargazing and want a unique way to experience the night sky
• You’re curious about arctic water but don’t want to be an expert swimmer
• You like guided activities where everything is clear and organized
• You want the “quiet night” feeling more than a fast checklist of sights

You may want to skip if:

• You’re extremely sensitive to cold or don’t handle waiting well outside
• You’re looking for guaranteed northern lights
• You fall outside the height suitability (under 120 cm)
• You need a fully predictable itinerary minute-by-minute. Weather can change plans, because it has to.

One more practical note: this kind of evening is late enough and outdoors enough that if you bring young kids, it can work best when you plan for comfort breaks and warmth time.

Should You Book Levi Ice Floating Now?

If you’re torn, here’s the decision rule I’d use.

Book it if your dream version includes floating in quiet arctic water and staring up at stars, with the northern lights as a bonus you hope for. Even when the lights don’t appear due to clouds, the core experience can still feel surreal: weightless floating, freezing-over water around you, and a night that slows your brain down.

Skip it if your only acceptable outcome is seeing the northern lights. This tour is honest about that uncertainty. It’s an arctic night experience with aurora hunting, not an aurora guarantee.

If you do book, your biggest win is simple preparation. Dress warm. Show up on time. Then let the night do what it does.

FAQ

How long is the Levi Ice Floating and Northern Lights Tour?

The tour lasts 3 hours.

What’s included in the tour price?

It includes an arctic rescue suit, floating, hot drinks, and an English guide.

Where do I meet the group in Levi?

You meet at the Safartica Levi office in the city center. You should be there about 10 minutes before the activity starts, and you should confirm your exact meeting time in the email you receive from Safartica.

Do I need swimming skills?

No. You will be instructed before stepping into the water, and the suit is designed to keep you on the surface, so swimming skills are not required.

Is seeing the northern lights guaranteed?

No. The northern lights are unpredictable, and the evening safari is designed to give you a chance, but you cannot guarantee that you will see them.

What should I bring?

Bring warm clothing. You’ll also be dealing with cold air outside before and after you float.

Is this tour suitable for children?

It’s not suitable for people under 120 cm. Also consider that there is an outdoor stay and the tour runs late, which may be challenging for younger children.