REVIEW · LEVI & KITTILä TOURS
Levi: Ice Floating and Northern Lights Tour
Floating in Arctic silence changes your rhythm. This Levi tour turns a cold-night gamble into a calm, hands-on experience, with you floating freely in open water while you stare up at the sky. I like that it pairs a practical arctic rescue suit with real time on the water, plus hot drinks afterward, so it feels like more than a quick photo stop. The main catch is simple, Northern Lights are never guaranteed, and the water can still feel very chilly in spite of the suit.
The whole thing runs about 3 hours, including an approximately 1-hour drive each way from Levi to the floating location. That means you get a proper night out, not just a short activity. Just keep in mind the evening timing and outdoor wait, especially if you’re traveling with kids, and that each person steps in with instructions, no swimming skills needed.
In This Review
- Key Things to Know Before You Go
- The 3-Hour Plan in Levi, from Safartica Office to the Lake
- Arctic Rescue Suit Floating, and Why It Feels So Different
- Northern Lights Odds While You’re Floating Over the Water
- What Happens Before and After the Float, Hot Drinks Included
- Timing, Group Size, and Why Your Float May Be in Batches
- Price and Value: Is 155 USD Worth It?
- Who Should Book Ice Floating in Levi?
- Packing Tips That Actually Help in the Arctic Night
- Is This Tour Your Kind of Arctic Night?
- Quick decision checklist
- FAQ
- Where do I meet for the Levi ice floating tour?
- How long is the experience?
- Is pickup included, and do I choose a meeting point based on where I’m staying?
- What should I bring to stay comfortable?
- Do I need swimming skills?
- Are the Northern Lights guaranteed?
Key Things to Know Before You Go
- Rescue suit floating in open arctic water, designed to keep you on the surface
- Night-sky time on the water, with Northern Lights possible overhead and reflected below
- Hot drinks included, so you can warm up after you’re done floating
- About a 1-hour drive each way from Levi, so plan to be in transit for part of the experience
- No swimming skills required, but you do get brief instructions before stepping in
- Northern Lights are unpredictable, so the goal is the experience as much as the aurora
Chasing the same sky? Compare these aurora nights
The 3-Hour Plan in Levi, from Safartica Office to the Lake
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This tour is built around a simple idea: you ride out from Levi, get suited up, spend time on the water, then warm back up and enjoy the sky.
You meet at the Safartica Levi office in the city center, and you should arrive about 10 minutes early. Safartica sends the exact meeting time in your email, so use that message as your anchor. If you miss the meeting time or the meeting point, you could lose the whole safari with no refund, so set a reminder and give yourself buffer time.
From there, you’ll drive out to the floating location. The drive is roughly 1 hour one way. Since the total duration is listed as 3 hours, you’re moving efficiently: there’s limited slack, and most of that time is carefully portioned between travel, instructions, and your time in the water.
Arctic Rescue Suit Floating, and Why It Feels So Different
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The centerpiece is the flotation. You wear a special rescue suit, and you’re guided before you go into the water. The suit is the reason this works even if you’re not a swimmer. You’re not trying to fight the elements. You’re letting the cold water do what cold water does best, and you just float.
What I love about the setup is that it turns fear into procedure. Instead of thinking, Can I handle this?, you follow the steps and focus on the sensation: weightlessness, calm breathing, and the strange stillness you only get at night in the Arctic.
You’ll be in open water, not a staged kiddie pool. That matters. Even when you’re warm enough, you can feel that your world has changed, because the water is truly cold and the sky is truly dark. One review described ice starting to form on the water surface while they floated, which gives you that surreal, almost-glittering look when snowfall or ice crystals mix in.
Plan for a real chill. Even with the suit, you may find the water itself feels pretty fresh. The good news is that the tour includes warm drinks and a cozy place to reset afterward.
Northern Lights Odds While You’re Floating Over the Water
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This is an aurora tour in the honest sense. Northern Lights can happen, but you don’t get a promise.
You’ll be looking for the lights while you float, and the sky can also look incredible even without aurora. You get time to see the starry night, and the lights, when they appear, can reflect on the water, creating a second version of the sky.
A few important realities to keep your expectations grounded:
- The Northern Lights are an unpredictable natural phenomenon.
- The tour is scheduled for evening observation time, so your odds are about being in the right place at the right night, not control.
- If the sky is cloudy, the experience still works. A five-star review put it best by saying the lack of aurora due to clouds didn’t spoil the night, because floating in quiet and staring at stars was still unforgettable.
Also, don’t treat the tour like one single stop. One review said they spotted the Northern Lights during the return and even got time to stop again for photos. That’s not something you should count on, but it shows how flexible the night can be if aurora shows up.
What Happens Before and After the Float, Hot Drinks Included
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The flow of the experience is designed to keep you comfortable enough to enjoy the water time. After you arrive, there’s suit time and instructions. Then you go out, float, and return for warming up.
Hot drinks are included, and you’ll likely get more than just a sip. Reviews mention hot chocolate and marshmallows, sometimes made part of the fireside vibe. There are also cozy touches like lighting around the site and a warm setting with a fire to gather around.
This part matters more than it sounds. When you’re cold, your body burns energy just trying to stay steady. Warming up afterward is what lets you enjoy the memories instead of feeling like you survived an ordeal.
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Timing, Group Size, and Why Your Float May Be in Batches
Group size can affect your pace. One review mentioned a group of 23, and that they had to split into two smaller groups for floating. You should assume similar batching is possible.
That’s not a problem so much as a planning factor. A smaller group can mean more personal attention as you get into and out of the water. It can also mean your time on the lake feels a little more focused instead of rushed.
Timing-wise, remember this is an evening activity with a late-night Arctic feel. If you’re bringing kids, plan for outdoor waiting and late timing. The tour is built for adults too, but family comfort depends on how well your group tolerates cold and waiting.
Price and Value: Is 155 USD Worth It?
At around $155 per person for a 3-hour outing, this is not a bargain. But it also isn’t a simple add-on with no extras. What you’re paying for is the whole system: transportation from Levi, a rescue suit sized and used for safety, a guided experience in English, and the time allocation that lets you actually float instead of just step in for a second.
Here’s how I’d measure value if I were choosing:
- If you want an Arctic experience with a clear activity, not just a viewing, this can justify the price.
- The included suit and guidance save you from figuring out cold-water gear and safety on your own.
- Hot drinks and warmth help keep the experience positive, especially in winter conditions.
If you mainly want the cheapest way to see Northern Lights, this may be pricier than broad aurora-viewing options. But if you want the rare combo of weightless floating plus sky time, then it often feels like the cost matches what makes it memorable.
Who Should Book Ice Floating in Levi?
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This tour fits best if you want to try something physical but low-skill. You don’t need swimming skills, and instructions come before you step in. That makes it appealing to travelers who are curious but not confident in the water.
It’s also ideal for:
- Couples and friends who want an intimate-feeling, quiet nighttime activity
- Travelers who love stargazing and want to see the sky in a dramatic setting
- People who enjoy guided safety and a structured experience
- Anyone who wants a story more vivid than another photo stop
It may not fit if:
- You’re very uncomfortable with cold water, even with a suit
- You’re traveling with very young children who struggle with late timing and outdoor waiting
- You’re under the height requirement, since it’s not suitable for people under 120 cm
And there’s one more basic requirement: at least two adults are required for the activity to take place. If you’re booking solo or with only one adult, check the availability rules.
Packing Tips That Actually Help in the Arctic Night
This one is all about warm clothing. The tour provides a rescue suit, but you still need to dress for cold air, wind exposure, and time spent outside.
Bring:
- Warm layers you can move in
- Items that protect extremities, since cold often hits hands and feet first
- Anything you’d wear for a long winter night outdoors
If you want extra comfort, consider adding small warmth helpers like hand and foot warmers, since cold can sneak in even with insulation. One piece of advice from a review suggested it would help with staying comfortable inside the suit.
Also, wear clothing that you can handle getting wet or near-melted snow conditions. You’re in open arctic water, after all, so build your outfit around practicality, not just comfort.
Is This Tour Your Kind of Arctic Night?
Here’s my take if you’re sitting on the fence. Book it if you want a winter experience that’s physical, visual, and genuinely different from the usual aurora routine. The most praised part of the experience is the calm, floating silence, where you’re not racing for photos, you’re just there in the dark sky and cold water.
Skip it or rethink if you need guaranteed Northern Lights. The aurora is a bonus, not a promise, and clouds can shut it down. But if you’re okay treating the Northern Lights as a lucky extra, you’ll still get something meaningful from the night sky and the weightless floating.
Quick decision checklist
- If you’d enjoy stargazing from a uniquely still spot, you’ll likely love this.
- If you’re hoping for aurora at any cost, you might feel let down.
- If your group tolerates cold winter evenings well, you’re set.
FAQ
Where do I meet for the Levi ice floating tour?
You meet at the Safartica Levi office in the city center. The main meeting place is the Safartica office, and you should arrive about 10 minutes before the activity starts. Your exact meeting time is sent by email from Safartica.
How long is the experience?
The duration is listed as 3 hours. It also includes travel time to the floating location.
Is pickup included, and do I choose a meeting point based on where I’m staying?
Pickup is included. If you are staying in Levi city, select Safartica Levi as the meeting point.
What should I bring to stay comfortable?
Bring warm clothing. The tour provides an arctic rescue suit, but you still need to dress for the cold air and outdoor timing.
Do I need swimming skills?
No. You are instructed before stepping into the water, and the rescue suit is designed to keep you on the surface.
Are the Northern Lights guaranteed?
No. The Northern Lights are unpredictable, and seeing them cannot be guaranteed even though the evening safari is planned to give you a chance to observe them.
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