'Sampo' Icebreaker Boat Cruise and Ice Floating Excursion in Kemi from Haparanda and Tornio
Immerse yourself in the frozen seascapes of the Bothnian Bay on a 'Sampo' icebreaker boat cruise and ice floating excursion in Kemi from Haparanda and Tornio!
Practical information
Embark on a fun and family-friendly experience on the breathtaking Bothnian Bay on this 8.5-hour 'Sampo' icebreaker boat cruise and ice floating excursion in Kemi from Haparanda and Tornio!
- Seeing an icebreaker in action from its own deck
- Ice floating and walking on ice (if the weather allows)
- An experience for adventurers of all ages
Course of events
You should plan to spend around 10 hours on this activity:
Morning Cruise:
- Pick-up from Haparanda and Tornio
- Approximately 30-minute scenic drive to Kemi
- Arrival at the Kemi SnowCastle area
- Check in for the boat tour
- 15-minute shuttle ride to the Veitsiluoto harbour
- Board the 'Sampo' icebreaker boat
- 3-hour Icebreaker cruise around the Bothnian Bay
- Ice floating
- Guided tour of the ship
- Sail back to Kemi
- 1-hour free time to explore the SnowCastle exhibition (included)
- Return to Haparanda and Tornio
- Drop-off at the original meeting point and end of the activity
Afternoon Cruise:
- Pick-up from Haparanda and Tornio
- Approximately 30-minute scenic drive to Kemi
- Arrival at the Kemi SnowCastle area
- Check in for the boat tour
- Approximately 1.5 hours of free time to visit the SnowCastle exhibition
- 15-minute shuttle ride to the Veitsiluoto harbour
- Board the 'Sampo' icebreaker boat
- 4-hour Icebreaker cruise around the Bothnian Bay
- Ice floating
- Guided tour of the ship
- Lunch on board
- Sail back to Kemi
- Return to Haparanda and Tornio
- Drop-off at the original meeting point and end of the activity
Activity requirements
All minors must be accompanied by an adult.
The minimum height for the ice floating activity is 140 cm (4'6'').
Special terms
Your instructor offers a free transportation service from the following locations and back for this experience. Please get in touch with them once your reservation is confirmed to set up a meeting point and time.
- 06:35/10:20 Cape East (Sundholmen 1, Haparanda)
- 06:45/10:30 Haparanda Stadshotel (Torget 7, Haparanda)
- 06:55/10:40 Tornio Hotel Olof (Hallituskatu 16, Tornio)
Please wait outside the meeting point for the Kemi Tourism bus to pick you up.
The cruise is not suitable for guests with reduced mobility.
Please note that the duration and itinerary of the activity depend on weather conditions. Due to unforeseen meteorological occurrences, your itinerary might be shorter or take a different path than usual for your safety.
Included
- Experienced and certified guide
- Roundtrip transportation from Oulu to Kemi (check special terms)
- Non-alcoholic welcome drink
- 'Sampo' icebreaker boat cruise
- Guided tour of the ship
- Insulated suit
- Ice floating
- Certificate of participation
- Lunch on board (only afternoon cruise)
Excluded
- Personal expenses
Do not forget to bring
- Warm winter clothing (Thermal layers, wind and waterproof outerwear)
- Snow boots or comfortable winter shoes
- Hat
- Gloves
- Scarf
- Sunglasses (spring tours)
- Water bottle
| Mo | Tu | We | Th | Fr | Sa | Su | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Loading… | |||||||

Is this a gift?
Practical information
About the activity
Discover an iconic and unique winter activity in the frozen waters of the Bothnian Bay on this 'Sampo' icebreaker boat cruise and ice floating excursion in Kemi from Haparanda and Tornio! Operating since 1961 as a state-run ship and since 1988 as a tourist attraction, the 'Sampo' is a Bear-class icebreaker, made to navigate the frozen waters of northern Finland. With beautiful winter landscapes and the iconic SnowCastle, which is rebuilt every single year from snow and ice from the region, Kemi is the perfect place to set off on a fun sea-based adventure.
On the day of your icebreaker boat cruise and ice floating excursion from Haparanda and Tornio, you will be picked up from one of 3 convenient locations around the cities on a shuttle. From there, you will be driven to Kemi's SnowCastle area. Now, you'll have 2 options for the tour: a morning, and an afternoon one. During the morning experience, you'll have time to explore the SnowCastle area after the boat tour, while in the afternoon experience, you'll have time to explore the iconic landmark before you board the boat, and you'll also get lunch included in the price of the ticket.
You'll use a shuttle to arrive at the exclusive Vestiluoto Port and once you embark on the icebreaker, you'll set off! You'll sail along the Bothnian Bay, observing the boat making a path through the ice. Your instructor will give you a tour of the icebreaker, and, midway through the experience, you'll make a stop, change into your insulated suit, and experience ice floating. You'll wade along with the ice behind the boat and enjoy the peaceful atmosphere. And if the sea is frozen enough, you might even get to walk on it. Finally, you'll make your way back to Kemi with a delicious on-board lunch (only on the afternoon tour) and be driven back to Haparanda and Tornio with incredible memories of this wonderful experience.
Keep in mind that temperatures in northern Finland can range from 5 to -30 degrees Celsius, so it is absolutely crucial to come prepared for the elements. Wool or thermal base layers, fleece middle layers, and wind and waterproof outerwear are recommended. You should also bring a thermal hat, gloves, a scarf, and anything else you might need (medication, snacks, etc.) to spend a safe and fun 10 hours on this Icebreaker boat cruise in Kemi from Haparanda and Tornio.
Don't miss out on a fun and family-friendly adventure that will let you experience a few of winter's best and most unique activities. Book your 'Sampo' icebreaker boat cruise and ice floating excursion in Kemi from Haparanda and Tornio today!