The 15 Best Sauna & Ice Swimming Experiences in Finland

1.Ice Floating in Forest Lake with Aurora Borealis

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 614 reviews · from $142Our pick

Float on a forest lake outside Rovaniemi in a fully insulated survival suit while your English-speaking guide handles safety and photos. The 2.5-hour outing includes hotel pickup within 10 km, hot drinks, and gingerbread. Aurora sightings depend on cloud and solar activity, but the peaceful lake setting makes the trip worthwhile even when the sky stays dark.

“I took this activity with my wife and we really enjoyed ourselves. When we reached we were the only ones to be there before other tourists arrived. It was very calming and was great experience considering it was snowing. Our guide Lia ensured that we were briefed properly at every stage and was by our side throughout the duration we were floating in the icy lake. She also shared a lot of stories, patiently helped us with all our queries and also clicked pictures for us”

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2.Traditional Sauna and Ice Swimming Experience

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 431 reviews · 1.5 hours · from $88Best value

Spend 1.5 hours at Pajasauna, a private sauna near the Kemijoki River in Rovaniemi. Your host explains Finnish sauna customs, helps you manage the wood stove and steam, and shows you the ice hole or cold plunge. Towels, clogs, drinking water, and a hairdryer are provided, but there is no shower or included transport.

“We thoroughly enjoyed this trip and would recommend it for others. The host was great and the experience is something we will never forget.”

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3.Daytime Ice Floating Rovaniemi, Frozen Lake Experience

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 252 reviews · 3 hours · from $134

Nordic Adventures takes you from Rovaniemi to a remote lake for a three-hour ice-floating session. You wear a thermal rescue suit, float without special skills, and warm up afterward with hot drinks and cookies. Guides such as Victor, Brandon, Alex, and Santiago are praised for calm safety briefings, helpful photos, and friendly local stories.

“Guide was very friendly & welcoming. Location was very beautiful and the activity was worth the experience.”

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4.National Park Hike & Finnish Smoke Sauna Experience with Campfire Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 182 reviews · 6 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $199Top rated

Leave central Helsinki with a guide such as Alex, Jeff, or Didi for a 6-kilometer forest walk near Kuusijärvi, a Finnish lunch cooked over a campfire, and a one-hour smoke sauna with lake swims. The group is capped at eight, transport and towels are included, and winter boots or raincoats are supplied when needed.

“Alex was very informative and a great tour guide. He made you feel welcome and love what Finland has to offer”

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5.Best Of Lapland: Sauna, Ice swimming, Dinner & Northern Lights

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 158 reviews · 4 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $189

Spend about 4.5 hours at a traditional lakeside Finnish sauna near Rovaniemi. Your English-speaking guide explains the sauna and ice swim, provides towels and slippers, and serves open-fire smoked salmon afterward. Evening departures from late October to mid-March also include a chance to see the Northern Lights, though nature makes no promises.

“Please please please go try this it was an amazing experience. My friend and I were so nervous for the cold plunge but it's no where as bad as you would think. The cabin was cozy and clean, the guides were all friendly and chill, and the dinner was lovely.”

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6.Sauna & Ice Swimming Tour with Dinner and Aurora

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 150 reviews · 4 hours · from $184

Travel from Rovaniemi to a remote Arctic lake for a wood-fired Finnish sauna and optional ice swim. Guides such as Mattia, Pedro, Victor, and Tania have hosted warm, well-organized evenings, followed by smoked salmon in a fire-warmed cottage. Evening trips from late October to mid-March include a chance to see the Northern Lights, but nature makes no promises.

“We have enjoyed both the hot sauna and the cold lake! Plenty of time was allowed for the activity. The meal at the end was tasty as well!”

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7.Aurora Arctic Ice Floating in Rovaniemi, Small-group

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 109 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $151

This three-hour evening outing takes you 25 minutes from Rovaniemi to an icy lake, where you float in a waterproof thermal rescue suit while watching the sky. Guides such as Victor, Alex, Pedro, and Brandan lead the safety briefing, then warm you with hot drinks, cookies, a campfire, and a wooden cabin. Aurora sightings depend on weather.

“⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I recently did the Aurora Arctic Ice Floating in Rovaniemi and it was truly unforgettable. Floating in a thermal suit in an icy lake under the dark Lapland sky was both peaceful and surreal. The staff were professional, friendly, and made sure we were safe and comfortable at all times. Unfortunately, we didn’t get to see the Northern Lights due to cloud cover, which is why I’m giving 4 instead of 5 stars — but that’s just nature. The overall experience was still magical, and the sensation of weightlessness in the cold water was something I’ll never forget. Highly recommended for anyone looking to do something out of the…”

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8.Private Sauna, Jacuzzi and Dinner

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 102 reviews · 3.5 hours · from $229

Travel from Rovaniemi to a private lakeside setting with an English-speaking host, then enjoy a wood-heated sauna, outdoor jacuzzi, lake views, and a traditional dinner in an old Lapland cottage. Andreas, Andrei, Dimitri, or another host may handle your transfer and evening. Towels, slippers, robe, hot drinks, and non-alcoholic beverages are included.

“A must do when in lapland, such a nice evening and experience. Staff is very nice and the location is stunning ☺️”

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9.Hike and Sauna in Sipoonkorpi National Park

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 85 reviews · 6.5 hours · from $194

Join a small group of up to eight for a guided 6-kilometer hike in Sipoonkorpi National Park, a campfire barbecue lunch, and a traditional smoke sauna at Kuusijärvi Lake. Guides such as Jeff, Alex, and Ronja share Finnish nature and culture along the way. Round-trip van transport, towels, sandals, and sauna entry are included.

“Really wonderful day spent at Sipoonkorpi National Park - the hike is super relaxed, the forest is beautiful, and the sauna and lake are the perfect way to finish off. Jeff has so much knowledge and passion to share about foraging, nature and life in Finland. Highly recommend!”

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10.Northern Lights Trip with Arctic Sauna & Jacuzzi

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 83 reviews · 3 hours · from $101

Spend about three hours in an Arctic forest setting with an English-speaking guide, traditional Finnish sauna, ice-lake swimming, jacuzzi time, hot drinks, and gingerbread. The sauna and jacuzzi portion lasts about one hour. Northern Lights sightings depend on weather and solar activity, and swimwear is required or available to rent for €15.

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11.Lakeside Private Sauna with Aurora Borealis

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 83 reviews · from $180

Spend three hours in a private lakeside setting near Rovaniemi, with hotel pickup, an English-speaking guide, one hour in a traditional Finnish sauna, towels, slippers, and hot drinks. Guides such as Mara, Maria, and Edgar have helped make the evening personal. Aurora sightings depend on weather and solar activity.

“This experience is going to stand out for us as incredibly memorable for years to come! We arrived in the forest complex to the twinkle of fairy lights and floor candles lighting the pathway into the visitor centre, and as if by devine intervention the sky opened up with a fine show of Aurora for us as we were shown to our lakeside Finnish sauna. Our guide Mara gave us a good rundown of what to expect and how to keep the sauna going- though we confess the Northern lights specacle kept us distracted for a good portion of our time! That said, we found this trip a perfect amount…”

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12.Snow Sauna Experience, Jacuzzi and Dinner in Kota

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 79 reviews · from $289

Spend seven hours at Rovaniemi’s Arctic SnowHotel with an English-speaking guide, a snow sauna, Finnish sauna, outdoor jacuzzi, ice rooms and a three-course dinner in a warm Kota restaurant. Round-trip transfers are included, along with an alcohol-free sauna drink and time for kick sledding and tobogganing.

“A new experience for the books. Worth every penny and the food was amazing!”

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13.Arctic Snow Hotel Tour and Snow Sauna Experience

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 75 reviews · from $207

Spend five hours at Rovaniemi’s Arctic SnowHotel with return transfers, a guided visit to snow rooms, ice sculptures, the Ice Bar, and Ice Chapel, then enjoy private use of a snow sauna, Finnish sauna, and outdoor jacuzzi. English and Finnish guides lead the experience. Bring swimwear and warm layers.

“Amazing tour. The snow hotel is fantastic. The Saunas and hot tub are very relaxing and private. The only issue we had is its not enough time to enjoy the saunas/hot tubs and feels rushed. Would be good value for money if duration was longer.”

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14.Daytime Arctic Ice-Floating in Rovaniemi, Small-Group

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 75 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $138

Slip into a buoyant thermal suit and float in a lake outside Rovaniemi, surrounded by forest and, in winter, snow and ice. Your guide helps you gear up, handles safety, and takes photos while you relax in the water. Warm drinks and cookies by a fire follow, with hotel pickup and drop-off included.

“A great experience and so much fun. The guide provided all the information needed and made everyone feel safe.”

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15.Bike or E-Bike Tour, BBQ, Sauna, Parks, and Forest

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 71 reviews · 5 hours · from $233

Ride through Huopalahti, Meilahti, Seurasaari, and Keskuspuisto with guides such as Luca and Robert. The five-hour outing combines easy cycling, a historic island walk, vegetarian or vegan Finnish BBQ food, and a traditional sauna. Bikes, towels, equipment, and an optional e-bike are included. Ask for an e-bike when booking.

“Robert was a great guide! We had some trouble with the train route and he was very helpful and waited for us to arrive. The experience was really fun and interesting! Highly recommend this tour!!”

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