Nine things to pack for a Rovaniemi ice swim
An ice swim near Rovaniemi needs less gear than people expect, because every trip supplies the heat and most supply the towels. What matters is the walk between the sauna and the ice hole, and keeping your dry clothes dry. These nine things cover all four tours on this site.
Start with what the tour already gives you
The list depends on which trip you book. Pajasauna's private river sauna supplies drinking water and a hairdryer as well as towels and clogs. Nordic Adventures' dinner evening and NordicUnique's frozen-lake night both hand out a towel and slippers.
That means flip-flops can stay at home for three of the four trips. The fourth, Nordic Adventures' lakeside home sauna on Viator, does not list towels in the details we have seen. Ask the host, or bring your own.
Everything below assumes a winter evening with the ice hole open. Our guide to the ice season covers when that is, and how the same saunas work with a lake swim in summer.
For the water itself
1. A swimsuit, depending on the tour
The rules differ more than you would think. Nordic Adventures' dinner evening asks you to bring your own swimsuit, and NordicUnique rents one for about 15 euros if you forget. At Pajasauna, where your group has the sauna to itself, a swimsuit is optional.
Pack one anyway, even for the private sauna. A dark, simple suit dries faster on the bus home than a patterned one with padding, and it saves an awkward moment if your group turns out less relaxed than planned.
2. Glasses, or a case for your contact lenses
Taking contact lenses into open water is general advice to avoid, and an ice hole is no exception. Take them out before the first round and put on glasses for the walk, or keep a lens case and a spare pair in your bag.
Glasses fog the moment you step from the cold into the sauna. Leave them on the changing-room bench and walk the few metres to the water carefully, or ask a friend to guide you.
For the walk between sauna and ice
3. A warm hat, plus a hair tie
The coldest part of the evening is not the water but the pause on the terrace afterward. A wool beanie keeps your head warm while your body steams, and many Finns wear a felt sauna hat inside too.
Long hair freezes into stiff strands at -20 °C (-4 °F) if it gets wet. Tie it up high before you go down the ladder and keep your head above the surface, which is the safer habit anyway.
4. Wool socks and warm boots
You walk to the hole in clogs or slippers. Arriving and leaving still happen on snow. Waterproof winter boots over thick wool socks make the wait for the van or the bus far easier after a hot sauna.
If you travel to Pajasauna by bus, the last stretch is a 5-minute walk from the stop in the dark. Our guide to getting there has the details for each tour.
Towels and clogs wait by the river
Pajasauna's 1.5-hour private session supplies the towels and clogs, so you only bring a swimsuit and warm boots. It is also the best-reviewed of the four trips.
For the wet things afterward
5. A dry bag or a plastic bag
A wet swimsuit soaks everything else in a backpack within minutes. A roll-top dry bag works best, but a sturdy plastic bag from the supermarket does the job for one evening.
Put your dry clothes in a separate bag before you change. Pulling a dry sweater over damp skin after the last round feels warmer than anything else in the night.
6. A towel, only if your trip lacks one
Three of the four tours list towels, so most travelers can skip this item. Bring a small travel towel only for the lakeside home sauna, or if you like a second one for the ride home.
Our price comparison shows what else each listing includes, from snacks to a full salmon dinner. The included extras often matter more than the price gap.
For your pockets and the bag
7. A water bottle
A sauna at around 70–100 °C (158–212 °F) dries you out quickly over several rounds. Pajasauna lists drinking water, and the other trips serve drinks, but a bottle of your own lets you sip between every round.
Skip alcohol before and during the swim, whatever the evening offers. Our safety guide explains why, and who should ask a doctor before booking an ice swim at all.
8. Cash or a card for the extras
Small costs appear on most trips. NordicUnique charges about 15 euros for swimsuit rental, and the bus to the river sauna is paid on board; Pajasauna's listing also mentions a beer.
Tips are not expected in Finland, but some guests leave one after a long evening with a guide. Carry a little cash in case a card reader fails out in the forest.
9. A phone with night mode
A clear evening can bring the northern lights over the lake or the river, though nothing guarantees it. Phone night mode handles a faint aurora better than you might expect, and our northern lights guide covers the odds.
Cold drains a battery fast, and a phone left outside can shut down within minutes. Keep it in an inside pocket between rounds rather than on the snowy terrace railing.
What to leave at the hotel
Jewelry gets hot in the sauna and slips off fingers that shrink in icy water. Leave rings and chains in the hotel safe, and keep your watch only if it is rated for water.
Skip body creams and oils before the trip, especially on NordicUnique's tier with the outdoor jacuzzi. Keeping oils out of a shared hot tub is a common rule, and the sauna works best on clean skin anyway.
A first-timer's short list fits in one tote bag. Pack a swimsuit and a hat, warm boots over wool socks, a plastic bag for wet things plus a water bottle, and almost everyone is covered.
If this is your first time, read our step-by-step first ice swim before you go. Knowing the order of the evening makes packing simpler too.