Arctic Ice Cruise & Snow Castle

What a place, a town that boasts a Snow Castle and the world’s only icebreaker that accepts tourists on the Northern Gulf of Bothnia in the Lappish town of Kemi approximately 230kms south of Luosto.

We offer you the chance to visit Kemi on a day trip and experience the very special and unique attractions.

Please note: Snowcastle operates from 29 Jan. For January trips the morning will be free to look around the town of Kemi

"This is one trip that should not be missed"

In the morning you will explore the many rooms and crevasses of the beautiful Snow Castle built right on the edge of the sea each winter. The castle’s shape and design alters each year, and consists of several areas and rooms radiating from the central courtyard.

There is a Snow Hotel with its beds made of snow and a giant ice sculpture at the entrance. The bar is made completely of ice and the restaurant is furnished with ice tables and reindeer skin covered seats. There is a lovely chapel and an art gallery using lighting and sound to enhance the magnificent ice sculptures. There is also a childrens area complete with snowball park and snow tunnels.

Adults and children alike will be mesmerised by this enchanting castle, almost created like magic out of filtered sea water.

Leaving the castle your adventure has only just begun as you board the Sampo, a retired arctic ice breaker which cleared the shipping ways of the Gulf of Bothnia and the Baltic Sea for thirty years. In the afternoon you will spend 4 hours on this vessel where you will be met by one of the specialist crew and given a guided tour, and an explanation of the role of an arctic ice breaker and that of the fleet.

As you enjoy your lunch of salmon soup or reindeer sauté (vegetarian option available by prior arrangement) in the ships dining room, you will feel and hear the grinding of the massive sheets of ice below as the ship glides over them crushing it with its weight. It is incredible to watch this happening from above deck, you approach a solid mass of ice and slowly but very deliberately a tiny crack appears, this crack runs up the sheet of ice growing rapidly and parting the ice leaving the deep sea below exposed. Once a path has been cleared the ship will dock on a bed of ice and, if you are bold enough you will be able to try ice swimming in the large hole the ship has just made. You will be wearing very odd looking, but completely water tight thermal suits, so, although you will feel the coolness of the water you will not be cold.

Never the less it is an exhilarating experience that takes a certain amount of courage and one you are unlikely to forget. You return to Luosto in the evening having had a true arctic adventure.