Levi: Ice Floating and Northern Lights Tour

The cold makes the silence feel louder. This Levi night tour lets you float in open Arctic water beneath a starry sky, with the Northern Lights possibly glowing above and reflecting below. I like the weightless calm of the float and the practical rescue suit, which keeps you on the surface without swimming skills. The main drawback is the long transfer, about one hour each way, so only about an hour at the lake may feel like a short payoff for a three-hour outing.

I also like the way the evening ends with hot drinks by a fire, rather than sending you straight back into the cold. The Northern Lights are never promised, though, and clouds can easily turn this into a starry-sky and ice-floating tour instead of an aurora tour.

Key points to know before booking

• The rescue suit keeps you afloat: You do not need swimming skills, but you still need to follow the guide’s instructions carefully.
• Expect two hours of driving: The floating site is about one hour from Levi in each direction.
• The Northern Lights are a bonus, not a guarantee: Clouds and weather can block them.
• Hot drinks and fire help you warm up: The lakeside setup includes refreshments and a cozy cabin area.
• Large groups may be split: One group of 23 had to separate into two groups for the floating session.
• Bring serious winter clothing: Warm clothes are required, and hand and foot warmers may make the suit more comfortable.

From Safartica Levi to the Arctic lake

Your evening begins at the Safartica office in Levi city center. Plan to arrive 10 minutes before the scheduled start, and check your email for the exact meeting time and pickup instructions. This detail matters. A missed meeting time or meeting point means a missed safari, with no refund.

The first part of the tour is the drive into the night. The floating location is about one hour from Levi, so transport takes up a large share of the three-hour activity. That can feel like a lot for a short time in the water, but it also takes you away from the lights and activity of the resort.

That distance helps create the quiet setting this tour needs. The point is not a quick roadside stop. You are heading out to a dark Arctic lake, where the night sky has a better chance to show itself.

Pickup is included, and if you are staying in central Levi, you can select the Safartica Levi office as your meeting point. The tour is conducted in English by a live guide.

Getting ready in the special rescue suit

At the lake, the guide explains how the activity works before you step into the water. The rescue suit is the key piece of equipment. It is designed to keep you on the surface, so swimming ability is not required.

That does not mean you should treat the water casually. You will still need to listen to the instructions, move as directed, and take care when getting in and out. The suit allows you to float, but it does not remove the cold or the need for sensible winter clothing.

The changeover from arrival to floating can move quickly. You may have only a short time to listen to the briefing and get into the suit before stepping into the lake. I would keep your personal items organized and wear clothing that is easy to manage beneath the rescue suit.

Warm clothing remains important. One useful tip is to consider putting hand warmers and foot warmers in your gloves and boots. The suit protects you from the cold water, but your hands, feet, and face can still feel the Arctic air.

The activity is not suitable for anyone under 120 centimeters, or about 3 feet 9 inches. At least two adults are also required for the tour to operate.

Floating beneath the stars

The float itself is simple. You lie back in the water, supported by the suit, and let the lake hold you. There is no complicated technique to learn and no swimming route to follow.

That simplicity is the whole point. You are not racing across the lake or trying to master a sport. You are floating in open Arctic water, breathing cold, clean air and listening to the night around you.

The sensation can be strange at first. Your body is in freezing water, yet the suit keeps you safely on the surface. Ice may form around you as you float, adding to the odd, otherworldly feeling. In light snowfall, the flakes can look like glitter as they fall toward you.

I would not book this expecting constant action. The reward is stillness. If you enjoy quiet outdoor moments, the float can feel surprisingly restful. If you need activity every minute, the slow pace may test your patience.

The water can also feel cold despite the suit. One person found the floating itself a bit chilly, while others described the calm and silence as the best part of the night. Your comfort will depend on your clothing, the weather, and how long you are in the water.

A chance to see the Northern Lights from the water

The Northern Lights give this tour its biggest promise, but also its biggest uncertainty. The evening is planned to give you a chance to see auroras, yet no operator can control clouds or solar activity.

You might look up from the lake and see green light moving across the sky. You might also see only stars, darkness, or cloud. That does not make the float pointless, but it changes the value of the tour.

The water can add a special angle when the conditions cooperate. You may see the lights above and a reflection on the surface below. Even without auroras, the stars and quiet surroundings create a memorable setting.

Auroras can also appear during the drive back. On one evening, the group spotted the Northern Lights on the return journey and stopped twice to take photographs. That is a useful reminder to keep watching after leaving the lake. The sky may put on its show at an unexpected moment.

For the best chance of seeing auroras, I would treat this as one part of a wider Levi plan rather than your only Northern Lights outing. Book it because you want the Arctic float first, then enjoy any lights as a bonus.

Warming up by the fire

After the water, the hot drinks matter. A warm drink, cabin, fire, and marshmallows give you time to thaw before the drive back to Levi.

This part helps balance the exposure to the cold. You are not left standing around in a wet swimsuit. The refreshments and fire create a comfortable pause, and the lights around the site add to the evening mood.

The cabin and fire area also make the tour more workable for families, though parents should think carefully about the late hour and time outside. Young children may find the cold and waiting periods harder than the actual float.

You should still arrive prepared. Hot chocolate cannot replace warm gloves, socks, and winter layers. The practical approach is to dress for the full evening, not just the water portion.

Group size, pace, and personal space

The quality of the float depends partly on group size. A group of 23 had to be split into two floating groups, which kept the activity manageable but also meant not everyone entered the water at once.

A larger group can make the start feel less personal. You may wait while others receive instructions or take their turn. On the other hand, splitting the group can prevent the water session from becoming crowded.

The guides have been described as friendly, caring, and clear when explaining the process. That matters here because the rescue suit and cold water can feel unfamiliar. Good instructions help you relax instead of worrying about each step.

The pace is fairly quick around the water. Arrival, briefing, changing, and entering the lake happen within a limited window. If you prefer a slow, private ritual, this may feel organized rather than leisurely. If you want a straightforward activity with staff nearby, that structure is reassuring.

The English-language guiding makes the tour accessible to English-speaking visitors. You should expect instructions and support in English throughout the activity.

Is $155 a fair price?

At $155 per person, this is not a cheap add-on. You are paying for transport from Levi, the guide, the specialist rescue suit, access to the floating site, and hot drinks. The long drive also forms part of the price, even though it is not time spent floating.

The value depends on what you want from a Lapland evening. If you only want a Northern Lights sighting, this price carries risk because auroras cannot be guaranteed. A cloudy night could leave you with no lights at all.

If you want a distinctive Arctic activity that remains worthwhile without auroras, the calculation looks better. Floating in an open lake in a rescue suit, surrounded by silence and stars, is not a standard sightseeing stop. It gives you a physical memory of Lapland, not just a view from a bus or a camera screen.

The hot drinks, fire, and return transport also make the price easier to accept. You do not need to arrange a rental car or find the lake yourself. For a once-only Arctic trip, I think the tour can be worth the cost if you value unusual experiences and accept the weather risk.

Budget-minded visitors may prefer to compare it with other evening activities in Levi. The key question is simple: would you still be happy with the booking if the sky stayed cloudy? If the answer is yes, the price is easier to justify.

Who will enjoy this most?

I would recommend the tour to adults, couples, friends, and older children who like quiet outdoor activities and are comfortable with cold weather. It suits people who want to slow down and try something unusual, rather than collect several fast attractions in one night.

It also works well for anyone nervous about swimming. The rescue suit keeps you on the surface, and the guide gives instructions before you enter the water. You still need to be comfortable stepping into an outdoor lake and spending time in the cold.

Families should consider the full schedule. The trip includes a two-hour round-trip drive, late-night timing, outdoor exposure, changing, and waiting around a group activity. The minimum height is 120 centimeters, and the information specifically advises caution when bringing young children.

Photographers should keep expectations sensible. The tour may provide beautiful moments, especially with stars, snowfall, or auroras reflected on the water, but this is not presented as a dedicated photography session. You will have opportunities to take photographs, including during possible aurora stops, but weather and timing control what you get.

This is less suitable for anyone who dislikes cold water, group tours, long transfers, or uncertain results. The activity is calm, not thrilling. Its magic depends on your willingness to lie still and let the setting do the work.

Practical tips for a smoother evening

Arrive at the Safartica Levi office 10 minutes early and confirm the meeting details in your email. Do not rely only on a general departure time, since the exact meeting point and time control whether you make the tour.

Wear warm clothing for the whole evening. Add hand and foot warmers if you have them, especially if you tend to feel cold. Keep your belongings simple and easy to manage while changing into the rescue suit.

Do not assume that seeing the Northern Lights is part of the guaranteed service. The tour gives you a chance to see them, and the guides may stop when lights appear, but clouds can block the sky.

Plan around the return time. The experience lasts three hours, but the exact start time varies according to availability. The late timing may not suit very young children or anyone with a tight evening schedule.

The activity has free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure, and you can reserve now and pay later. Those terms help if your plans are still changing, but they do not protect you from missing the meeting time.

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

I would book it if the float itself sounds exciting, even without an aurora. The quiet lake, rescue suit, stars, snowfall, fire, and hot drinks create a strong Arctic evening, and the guides help make an unfamiliar activity feel manageable.

I would not book it solely as a Northern Lights hunt. The sky may be cloudy, and the one-hour drive in each direction is a serious time commitment if your only goal is aurora photography.

At $155, this is a special-occasion activity, not a casual budget stop. Book it when you want a memorable, peaceful taste of Lapland and can accept the cold, group setting, and uncertain sky. If you do, pack warmly, arrive early, and keep looking up on the ride home.

FAQ

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

The activity lasts three hours. This includes transport, preparation, the floating session, warm drinks, and the return journey.

How far is the floating location from Levi?

The floating location is about one hour from Levi in each direction. The drive takes up a substantial part of the three-hour activity.

Do I need to know how to swim?

No swimming skills are required. The Arctic rescue suit keeps you on the surface, but you must still follow the guide’s instructions before entering the water.

Is the Northern Lights display guaranteed?

No. The Northern Lights are a natural phenomenon, and clouds or other conditions may prevent you from seeing them. The tour provides an opportunity to look for them but cannot guarantee a sighting.

What should I bring?

Bring warm clothing for the entire evening. Hand and foot warmers may also help you stay comfortable inside the rescue suit.

Where is the meeting point?

The main meeting place is the Safartica office in Levi city center. Arrive 10 minutes before the activity starts and check the email from Safartica for your exact meeting time and point.

Is the tour suitable for children?

The activity is not suitable for anyone under 120 centimeters tall. You should also consider the cold, outdoor conditions, late timing, and long transfer before bringing young children.

Can I cancel the booking?

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