Imagine seeing the sky going from pitch black to all shades of pink, orange, and yellow as you arrive at the ferry terminal – just in time to start one of the most unique experiences in Finland.
About an hour before the sun rises (around 9:45 am), you’ll board the icebreaker from Kemi’s harbour. Shortly after, you’ll be out on the frozen Bothnian Sea, breaking the thick layer of ice in front of you.
The Icebreaker Cruise is one of the activities you simply can’t miss if you’re visiting Northern Finland and Kemi in the winter! We recently tried this for the first time, and it was honestly one of the most unique experiences we’ve ever had!
In this post, we’ll share our personal experience of being out on the icebreaker in Kemi. We go over everything you need to know about this trip – from which of the different cruises you should join (there are multiple companies and tours) to what you can expect once you’re out there on the frozen sea.
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What to expect on the Arktis Icebreaker Cruise
The first thing you need to know about this experience is the fact that there are a few different companies that run the tours from different locations.
The most iconic one is the Sampo Icebreaker from Kemi as that is the original one, but we went on the recently refurbished Arktis Cruise to test it out! This is the newest member of the icebreaker fleet and also the most modern ship.
During this experience, you’ll get the chance to cruise on the Bothnian Sea, which freezes completely over in the winter months (due to its shallow depth and low salt concentration) which is really cool.
Not only will you cruise on the Arktis but you’ll also get a chance to float on the sea in the funniest wetsuits imaginable.
These yellow and orange wetsuits keep you warm while floating around on the sea next to the ship and broken ice. We know it might sound crazy but it is SO much fun!
The icebreaker cruise from Kemi is one of the coolest experiences you can do up in Finland during the winter months and definitely worth it if you’re in Kemi – or even in Rovaniemi.
If you’re staying in Rovaniemi, there are tours that run from Rovaniemi to the Icebreaker and back with a different company (you can book that experience here).
Cruising on the Arktis Icebreaker from Kemi
We’d recommend getting on the first ship in the morning because going out to sea while the sun is rising is absolutely magical!
There are so many viewpoints onboard the ship that you’ll get plenty of time to enjoy the beautiful sunrise that lasts for hours and lights up the whole sea.
You can walk out on one of the different viewing decks where you can enjoy the trip out to sea (it does get windy and cold so dress up warm).
You might also have the chance to talk to the captain and the staff of the ship and learn more about why the sea freezes and how exactly the icebreakers work.
The ride out is absolutely stunning as you can see Kemi in the rear and then all the broken ice in front of you. It really is one of those experiences where you are just in awe of the sheer beauty of this place.
Even growing up in a country that is known for winter (Canada) with a ton of frozen lakes, this was an experience in itself!
Floating in the Bothnian Sea in the brightest wetsuits
This is a once-in-a-lifetime activity! We had seen a few videos of it before we tried it – and we knew if we had the chance to go on the Arktis Icebreaker we had to float out at sea (as scary as it may sound, haha. But don’t worry, it’s completely safe).
You’ll get dressed up in one of the funniest wetsuits you’ll ever see. You’re either going to look like Spongebob or an orange crab depending on the colour you get.
Once you’re in your funny suit you’ll have 10-15 minutes to float around in the water where the Icebreaker has cleared a path through the ice. We actually got to stay in the water for longer since not too many people went in that day – so that was awesome!
You won’t be able to maneuver too much since you’ll be floating on your back, so you’ll just have to lean back and enjoy floating around surrounded by all the ice.
You’ll have a little area where the ice is broken to explore and maneuver around all the other people in the funny-looking yellow and orange wetsuits.
The photos don’t do it justice – you just have to experience it for yourself. You can book the Arktis Icebreaker experience here.
One thing to note is that it’s good to book in advance since the experience does tend to sell out as it’s very popular! Just something to keep in mind.
So if you already know when you’re going, we suggest you book now. (The standard cancellation policy is that you can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund)
Finish with a delicious lunch back in Kemi
There’s no better way to finish off the trip than by having a delicious, traditional Finish lunch buffet back in town after the cruise.
Kemi is a small town of less than 20.000 people, so there aren’t many places to eat out in town – but you can eat at Seaview Restaurant Lumihiutale which has an incredible view over the sea (we got to catch the sunset here too after the experience since the days are so short during winter here).
You can also go on their original boat, Sampo, and book the lunch tour if you want everything included. Check it out here.
Whether you book Sampo with lunch included or hop on the Arktis experience like we did, you must try a typical Finish lunch at least once while you’re there!
If there’s one thing Finnish people love more than coffee and black licorice it’s their lunchtime buffet. We’ve been to a few in Finland and they are usually really good!
Our thoughts on the Arktis Icebreaker Cruise from Kemi
Other than floating around in the frozen sea, we weren’t really sure what to expect from this experience. We were wondering if it would be a bit boring to just sit on the boat for 3 hours – but we’re so glad we decided to do it!
I still remember looking out from the ship out into the sea while the sun was rising – and it was one of the coolest experiences.
From watching the sunrise over the frozen sea while the boat was breaking the ice to getting to walk on the ice pretending to pull the boat, we loved every minute of it.
If you’re travelling around Finland and the Bothnian Coast area, this is a tour you can’t miss!
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Recap of the Icebreaker Cruise in Finland
We hope you get the chance to go on one of these famous icebreakers. Exploring the Bothnian Sea by boat and then getting a chance to float on the sea in the heart of winter is awesome!
As we mentioned earlier, it’s good to book in advance – and we suggest going on one of the morning tours if you can. It’s amazing seeing the sunrise from the boat and then floating out in the water right after sunrise.
If you have any questions about the icebreaker or the different tours that run from Kemi, you’re more than welcome to leave a comment on this post. You can also message us directly on Instagram @redwhiteadventures.
Enjoy Finland, Kemi, and exploring the Bothnian Sea on one of the Icebreakers. It’s such a cool experience and we hope you have just as much fun as we did!
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