How Arctic floating works
A suit that keeps the sea out and holds you up, your own warm layers underneath, and a guide who stays with you.
See which floating tours still have space on your dates
Arctic floating is simple: you wear a one-piece survival or rescue suit over warm clothes, walk into the sea and lie on your back. The suit keeps the water out and keeps you on the surface, so you do not swim. What differs between the tours is what the operator provides, what you bring yourself and how long you stay in. That is the table below.
What each tour provides, and what you bring
| Photo | Tour | Suit provided | Under the suit | Bring yourself | Briefing | In the water | Reviews ↕ | Price ↕ | Book |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Arctic Floating, Ramfjordbotn camp Authentic North | Rescue suit | Your warm clothes; guests mention a cotton suit from the operator | Warm clothes | Not stated | 100-min block for guided tour and floating | ★ 4.9 (813) | €171 per person | Book now |
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Arctic Fjord Floating, Kaldfjord 10XNorth | Neoprene survival suit, towels | Your own warm clothes (not included) | Warm clothes, a change of dry clothes | About 20 min | About 45 min | ★ 4.9 (549) | €209 per person | Book now |
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Urban Floating in the harbour Authentic North | Immersion rescue suit | Several layers, wool preferred; insulating overalls on very cold days | Warm layers in winter | About 15 min | Up to 1.5 h | ★ 4.8 (273) | €104 per person | Book now |
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Floating and Sauna, Kaldfjord Jeshua As | Flotation suit, towel | Not stated | Not stated | Included, length not stated | Not stated | New tour, no reviews yet | €120 per person | Book now |
Floating tour prices come live from GetYourGuide and include taxes and fees; whether the drive out to the fjord is part of the price differs from tour to tour.
What the suit does and what it does not
The suits go by different names on the product pages: rescue suit at the Ramfjordbotn camp, immersion rescue suit in the harbour, survival suit made of neoprene at 10XNorth, flotation suit at the Kaldfjord sauna. They all do two jobs. They keep you afloat without effort, which is why 10XNorth and the harbour float state that no swimming skills are needed, and they keep most of the sea away from your body. They do not keep you warm on their own. The warmth comes from what you wear underneath.
Layers under the suit
Every operator expects you to bring warm clothes. For the harbour float Authentic North recommends several layers, wool if possible, and hands out insulating overalls on very cold days. 10XNorth lists warm clothing for under the suit as not included. At the Ramfjordbotn camp a guest writes that the operator provides a cotton suit to wear underneath. Visit Tromsø gives the same general advice for any winter outing: wool next to the skin, then warm, dry layers on top.
Getting in and lying back
At the Ramfjordbotn camp you walk in from the shore, in the ice season at a hole cut by the shore; in the harbour you enter at the quayside; at 10XNorth guests also describe a jump at the end. Then you lean back and let the suit carry you. One guest at the camp describes how you slowly enter the water and simply float up. This is also the position the Norwegian sea rescue society Redningsselskapet recommends after an accidental fall into cold water: lie back and keep your nose and mouth above the surface until the cold shock passes. One harbour guest got a sore neck from holding the position, so ask the guide how to rest your head.
Time in the water
The operators state it differently. 10XNorth lists about 45 minutes after a briefing of about 20 minutes. The harbour float lists up to 1.5 hours after a 15-minute briefing; guests there report between about 40 minutes and an hour. The Ramfjordbotn camp lists 100 minutes for the guided tour and floating together. The Kaldfjord sauna does not give a floating time. On every tour the drive, changing and warming up take a good part of the outing.
10XNorth says openly that some water can get into the suit and asks guests to bring dry clothes. Guests at the camp and in the harbour report the same, others stayed completely dry, and one guest writes that some suits leaked while others were new. A full change of clothes in a bag costs nothing and saves the ride back.
Safety on the tours
Every tour here starts with a safety briefing and keeps staff with the group: the Kaldfjord sauna lists staff supervision for the floating part, the other product pages a guide. Several operators have health limits, which are on the who can join page. Floating is not a swim in open water on your own; the suit and the guide are what make it possible in Arctic sea water.
What to pack
- Warm layers to wear under the suit, wool next to the skin if you have it.
- A complete change of dry clothes, including socks and underwear.
- Comfortable clothes that are easy to pull a suit over, as 10XNorth asks.
- A towel for the camp and the harbour; 10XNorth and the Kaldfjord sauna include one.
- For the Kaldfjord sauna session: directions to Ropnesvegen 82 and enough time to arrive for your slot.
Guests on the suit, the cold and getting wet
Most guests stayed warm, some got wet, and one 3-star review from Kaldfjord asks for clearer instructions and a reminder to bring spare clothes. That advice is on this page now.
“It was really great. We had so much fun. We wouldn't have expected that beforehand. The location is awesome. You get a cotton suit to wear underneath, so it's not cold at all! It's really fun with the ice floes and definitely has an "Arctic" feel. Plenty of pictures and videos were taken of us, which we received immediately afterwards. The transport also worked out without any problems. There were cookies and tea afterwards. Some water can get into the suit, but that's not a big deal. We would definitely do it again because the fun factor is very high :)”
“We did this activity in March 2026. It was an incredible experience! […] we felt safety, even though not everyone in our group knew how to swim. We did the activity in the evening, in the dark, and it was very very funny, we laughed a lot. They took lots of pictures and videos for us […] and at the end we also received diplomas. The waffles with brunost and hot chocolate were super delicious! It is recommended to have extra clothes with you in case you get wet.”
“The guide was very attentive and handsome. He explained the details of the movements very clearly and took a lot of photos. We floated for about an hour in total, and no water got into our clothes. At the end, I jumped in and got a little wet. It was a great experience!”
“The experience can be more organised: 1. There should be suggestion to bring extra clothing or towel as some people do get wet slightly and may like to change up before the place. 2. Before getting into the water, instructions on how to stand on water should be given. […] as it was late at night, I cant find my partner so it wasn’t so fun when you are floating alone. […] I like that waffles were served at the end of the whole session”
Reviews written by guests after their float, from GetYourGuide.
FAQ
Do I need to know how to swim?
Not on the tours that state it: 10XNorth and the harbour float say that no swimming skills are needed. The suit keeps you on the surface.
Is Arctic floating cold?
Less than you might think if you wear warm layers under the suit. Guests at the camp write that they were not cold at all; one harbour guest was cold because water got into the suit.
What should I wear under the suit?
Warm layers, wool if possible. Authentic North hands out insulating overalls on very cold days in the harbour, and guests at the Ramfjordbotn camp mention a cotton suit provided by the operator.
Will my hair or face get wet?
The product pages do not say. Plan for some splashes, and bring dry clothes as 10XNorth recommends.
Is floating the same as winter swimming?
No. Winter swimmers go into the water without a suit for a short dip. On a floating tour you stay in a survival suit for much longer and do not swim.
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Every floating tour from Tromsø with time in the water and transport.
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