1 / 10About this activity
Experience the raw Arctic landscape just 30 minutes from Helsinki's city centre on this immersive 3-hour ice adventure. Depending on conditions, you'll either glide across frozen waters by hovercraft or ride an icebreaker vessel, then float in a specially designed suit before exploring an island nature trail and enjoying a picnic lunch on the ice.
Lapland is great, but with Redrib you can explore the Arctic Helsinki directly from the comfort of your Helsinki city hotel. Conditions depending, we drive either with an hovercraft in solid ice conditions and/or with an ice breaking steel boat in times when the ocean just starts to freeze.
Watching the ice breaking under the steel boat is as great of a thrill as flying low over the ocean in a hovercraft.
Once parked on the ice or on an island, the silence of the archipelago is breathtaking, remembering being only 30 min away from the city center. This is best experienced floating around on top of ice cold water! An island nature trail walk and a picnic lunch is enjoyed after the float, either on an island or directly on the ice edge!
Highlights
- ✓Hovercraft or icebreaker experience across the frozen archipelago
- ✓Floating in Arctic waters in a protective suit—unique sensation of weightlessness on ice-cold seas
- ✓Serene island nature walk surrounded by silent, frozen landscape
- ✓Picnic lunch served either on an island or at the ice edge
- ✓Accessible Arctic wilderness without the long drive to Lapland
Insider tips
- ★Wear thermal layers under the provided suit; the water is genuinely cold, and layering makes a huge difference in comfort
- ★Go on a clear day if possible—the contrast between ice, dark water, and sky is most dramatic in good light
- ★Arrive early to your Helsinki hotel pickup point; the schedule is tight and timing is essential for safe ice conditions
Good to know
- •All protective gear (dry suit, life jacket, thermal protection) is provided; bring warm, waterproof socks and a swimsuit or thermal base layer underneath
- •Activity runs year-round but ice conditions vary; winter (December–February) offers the most stable ice, while spring and autumn may feature active icebreaker conditions instead
- •Minimum fitness level required: moderate mobility for boarding vessels and walking on uneven ice surfaces; not suitable for severe mobility restrictions
- •Hotel pickup and drop-off included from central Helsinki; meeting point confirmed 24 hours before departure
Who it's for
Best time to visit
Winter months (December–February) offer the most reliable thick ice and hovercraft conditions, creating a dramatic Arctic experience. Late autumn (November) and early spring (March–April) deliver active icebreaker voyages with the spectacular sight of ice fracturing—equally thrilling but with different appeal.