Traditional Lappish Wilderness Sauna, Swim & Dinner in Rovaniemi

Traditional Lappish Wilderness Sauna, Swim & Dinner in Rovaniemi

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Wilderness Warmth, Arctic Chill, Lappish Feast.

Overview

Immerse yourself in Finnish culture near Rovaniemi: traditional sauna, invigorating ice dip at an arctic lake, and a tasty dinner cooked over open fire. A 4-hour small-group tour in Lapland's nature.

Highlights

✔️ Enjoy a delicious smoked salmon for lunch or dinner

✔️ Finnish woodburned sauna

✔️ Arctic lake swimming

✔️ Enjoy the beauty of Lappish nature

✔️ No special skills required

✔️ Small group experience

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Availability

Year round

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Duration

4.5 hours

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DepartureS

11:30, 14:00, 16:30

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Pickup & Drop off

Yes

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Minimum age

10 years

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Price from

143.00

 EUR

ABOUT THIS TOUR

Lappish Wilderness Sauna, Swim & Dinner - Rovaniemi: An Authentic Finnish Evening

This Lappish Wilderness Sauna, Swim & Dinner tour is an immersive cultural evening that combines a traditional Finnish wood-fired sauna, invigorating ice swimming, and a delicious wilderness dinner by the fire. Set at a private lakeside property in Sonka, just 30km from Rovaniemi, this 4.5-hour experience invites you to slow down, reconnect with nature, and enjoy Lapland like a local.Whether you come for the sauna, the Arctic challenge, the food, or the possibility of seeing the Northern Lights — this is Finnish wellness at its finest.

What to Expect on Your Authentic Lappish Experience:

Your tour begins with a convenient hotel pick-up in Rovaniemi. You will be transported to our private lakeside venue in Sonka, approximately 30km from Rovaniemi.

Part 1: Traditional Finnish Sauna & Arctic Lake Swimming

Don’t worry if it’s your first time — your guide will walk you through the steps and you can enjoy the experience at your own pace.

  • Authentic Sauna: Enjoy the soothing heat and birch scent of a traditional wood-burning sauna, the heart of Finnish culture.
  • Ice Swimming or Snow Roll: Cool down with a dip in a frozen Arctic lake's ice hole in winter, or a refreshing swim in summer. This invigorating plunge offers an extreme yet unforgettable sensation that many consider a true bucket-list challenge. The powerful contrast with the sauna's heat is designed to awaken your senses and provide a unique Arctic thrill. Snow rolling is also an option in deep winter — invigorating and unforgettable!

Part 2: Delicious Dinner by Open Fire

After your sauna, gather inside a cozy wilderness cottage or around the outdoor fireplace.

  • Dinner by the fire features local Lappish delicacies, typically including smoked salmon, root vegetables, and other seasonal treats (vegetarian options available upon request).
  • Warm drinks and traditional touches complete this rustic Arctic meal.

Part 3: Potential Northern Lights Observation

The remote location offers ideal Aurora viewing conditions.

  • If the sky is clear and solar activity is right, you may be treated to Northern Lights dancing over the lake.
  • Your guide will help you spot and photograph the Aurora if it appears (not guaranteed, of course — it’s Mother Nature!).

Key Features of This Rovaniemi Authentic Tour:

  • Authentic Wood-Fired Sauna: Experience a traditional wood-burned sauna for relaxation and cultural immersion.
  • Ice Swimming / Snow Rolling: Invigorating Arctic experience with a cold plunge into an ice hole in an Arctic lake or a refreshing roll in snow – a true bucket-list challenge.
  • Private Lakeside Venue: Tour takes place at a secluded location in Sonka, 30km from Rovaniemi, ensuring a private and intimate atmosphere.
  • Delicious Open-Fire Dinner: Savor a tasty Lappish dinner (e.g., smoked salmon) cooked over an open fire in the wilderness.
  • Small Group Experience: Ensures a comfortable and personalized tour.
  • Northern Lights Opportunity: Offers a chance to see the Northern Lights under favorable conditions.
  • Inclusive Package: Includes hotel pick-up/drop-off, professional guidance, and all activities.

Practical Information for Your Lappish Cultural Evening:

  • Duration: Approximately 4.5 hours (total program duration).
  • Location: Rovaniemi, Lapland. Tour takes place in Sonka, a private lakeside property located approximately 30km from Rovaniemi. Includes hotel pick-up and drop-off in Rovaniemi.
  • Availability: Operates year-round.
  • Departure Times: Multiple daily departures available: 11:30, 14:00 and 16:30.
    • Northern Lights Opportunity: For the 16:30 evening departure during the winter season, there is a possibility to witness the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) at the end of the program, if weather conditions and solar activity are favorable. Please note, Northern Lights are a natural phenomenon and cannot be guaranteed.
  • Included: Hotel pick-up and drop-off from listed hotels in Rovaniemi and Santa Claus Village, professional English-speaking guide, traditional Finnish wood-burned sauna experience, ice swimming (or snow roll), snacks, and hot drinks by the fireplace, towels and slippers.
  • What to Bring: Swimsuit (for sauna/swimming).

Experience the true warmth and magic of Lapland. Book your Lappish Wilderness Sauna, Swim & Dinner - Rovaniemi tour today!

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Included

✔️ Main dish for lunch or dinner is a delicious smoked salmon fillet

✔️ Professional English speaking guide

✔️ Hot drinks and cookies

✔️ *Northern Lights (October - mid March), if lucky and weather is right, evening departure ONLY

✔️ Dinner cooked on the open fire

✔️ Towels, slippers for the sauna

✔️ Arctic Lake swimming (ice-swimming in Winter time)

✔️ Firewood sauna experience 2 hours

✔️ Hotel pickup & drop off

What to bring

⚡ Swimming suit

⚡ Camera and drinking water

Not included

❌ Swimming suit

Please Note

  • All tours listed are for a minimum of 2 persons paying a full (adult) price, unless mentioned otherwise
  • For lunch or dinner, our main dish today is a delicious smoked salmon fillet. Let us know if you have any questions or dietary restrictions, and we'll be happy to accommodate you
  • Northern Lights season October - March
  • Northern Lights are a natural occurrence and we are unable to guarantee activity, vibrancy or colour on the evening of the safari
  • Not recommended for kids under 10 years old
  • Tours include a pickup & drop off from listed hotels. The time for meeting point and place will be confirmed upon the reservation by email and/or text message.
  • Missing the pick-up does not entitle you to a refund of the price paid for the services. You are responsible to be ready for pick up at the assigned pick up point from the start of the pick up time in order to not miss our guides when they arrive to pick you up
  • Nordic Adventures reserves the right to make alterations to the programs, price, duration or form of transportation without prior warning. This is also applied  to changes in programs due to weather conditions

Cancellation terms 

(See all terms here)
  • More than 3 days notice – 90% refund. 10% is non-refundable, as this represents our direct cost of booking and preparing your tour.
  • Less than 3 days or no show notice – no refund.

Frequently asked questions 

(See all questions and answers here)
A:

Please be on time! Our tours follow a strict schedule, and if you miss the hotel pick-up, you will not be able to join later. Arriving separately by taxi or private car is usually not possible, as it may disrupt the program and group safety. Plan ahead — we appreciate your understanding.

A:

This small-group tour is primarily designed for adults (minimum age: 14 years). In some cases, children aged 10+ may join if accompanied and supervised by parents. The tour is not recommended for pregnant individuals or those with heart conditions. Always consult your doctor if unsure. Otherwise, this experience is accessible to most guests and involves only light activity.

A:

No, ice swimming is completely optional - but definitely a bucket list Arctic adventure for the bold! Many guests prefer to simply relax in the warm sauna and watch others take the plunge. You’re welcome to enjoy the experience at your own pace and comfort level.

And if you're not ready to dip in the icy lake, rolling in fresh snow is another exhilarating and traditional Finnish way to cool off - just as thrilling and unforgettable!

It’s all about embracing Lapland your way - no pressure, just pure Arctic magic.

A:

Absolutely! This experience is designed for beginners — no prior experience with saunas or ice swimming is needed. Our guides will walk you through everything and make sure you feel safe, comfortable, and welcome.

A:

Please bring your swimsuit and a positive attitude! We provide towels and slippers, as well as safety instructions. We recommend wearing warm layered clothing for time spent outdoors. No special skills are required. However, if you have any health conditions (especially heart-related issues or if you're pregnant), please consult your doctor before participating in the ice swimming.

A:

The Northern Lights can only be seen on the 16:30 (evening) departure, and only from October to the end of March, when the nights are dark. The tour takes place in a secluded location away from light pollution, giving you a great chance to see them — but as a natural phenomenon, sightings are never guaranteed.

A:

Yes, a delicious Lappish-style salmon dinner or lunch is included. The main dish is usually smoked salmon, prepared over an open fire in the traditional Finnish way. If you have dietary restrictions or allergies, just let us know when booking — we’ll gladly accommodate you.

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See what people are saying about us

Based on 1 customer reviews

Tripadvisor reviews

Tout pour plaire

March 14, 2019

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Superbe premier jour et découverte de la Laponie en compagnie d’Alex! Quelle expérience ! La formule est exactement celle détaillée avec sauna, bain dans le lac gelé et repas collectif.
Propriété charmante et dépaysante a 25 km de Rovaniemi (bien isolée dans la forêt). Alex est un guide formidable avec un excellent accent anglais , il explique parfaitement les coutumes, les habitudes de vie, la faune et la flore Lapones (photos a l’appui).
Moment délicieux et surtout sensations garanties dans le lac gelé ! Repas typique, délicieux et copieux.

chens24

March 6, 2019

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This tour is amazing! Alex and his wife are very friendly. He explained everything clearly about Sauna and wildlife in Rovaniemi. Their house is very warm and lovely. We had fresh Salmon for dinner.

A Finnish couple's actual house with a wood burning sauna and a pond to jump into!

February 17, 2019

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We had a wonderful experience visiting Alex Rudyuk. Along with an incredible sauna, he gave us much information about his world. We appreciate the knowledge, and really feel that we got an actual taste of what living in northern Finland is like. Thank you so much!

Traditional Finnish Sauna and Ice Swimming

February 10, 2019

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We booked the traditional Finnish sauna and ice swimming with Alex and his wife.
They very kindly picked us up and dropped us off at our AirBnB, and provided us with a lot of interesting facts and information about Finnish culture and traditions on the ride there and back.
The sauna was very cosy and well equipped with everything that we needed, including coffee, tea, water and lollies. Slippers and towel was also provided.
The sauna experience followed by ice swimming was amazing and unforgettable!
It was such a pleasant surprise to have a meal of sausages, biscuits and glogi at the end of the day too!
This was definitely one of the highlights of our trip to Rovaniemi, and I would highly recommend it to everyone!

Amazing experience

February 9, 2019

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We booked the traditional Finnish sauna last minute and were so glad we did it!! Alex and his wife were very accommodating and even picked us up from our Airbnb. The ride to their wonderful retreat was informative and we learned a lot of interesting facts about the Finnish culture. When we arrived we got taught how to use their traditional woodfire sauna and then had great fun running to the ice lake and snow rolling!! So refreshing!! Even though we booked the sauna without dinner (because we had booked last minute) Alex and his wife still prepared a surprise delicious Finnish feast with glogi, sausages, flatbread and biscuits. This experience was a true highlight for us :) highly recommend! Love Jo and Nicki

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