Finnair operates daily flights to Kemi, the flight times range from 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours 30 minutes.

The Kemi-Tornio Airport is located about 6 km from the city centre of Kemi, a 10-15 minute taxi ride away. On call taxis are available only occasionally, we recommend booking a taxi in advance. Our sales office is happy to help you with booking a taxi.

Book your flighst online: www.finnair.com

There are daily train routes from Helsinki, Rovaniemi and Oulu to Kemi.

Travel times:

• Helsinki-Kemi about 6 hours 30 minutes on morning and day routes and 10-11 hours on a night train
• Oulu-Kemi about 1 hour
• Rovaniemi-Kemi about 1 hour 20 minutes

The Kemi train station is located right in the city centre, just a walking distance from the SnowCastle area and the Inner Harbour with shuttle buses available straight from the train station to the Icebreaker Sampo.

Book your train tickets online: www.vr.fi

There are daily bus routes from Helsinki, Rovaniemi and Oulu to Kemi.

Travel times:

• Helsinki-Kemi from 10-13 hours
• Oulu-Kemi about 1 hour 30 minutes
• Rovaniemi-Kemi from about 1 hour 30 minutes to about 2 hours 30 minutes

The Kemi bus station is located right in the city centre, just a walking distance from the SnowCastle area and the Inner Harbour.

Book your bus tickets online: www.matkahuolto.fi

You can also book direct bus transfer from Rovaniemi to the Icebreaker Sampo straight through our sales office or online store.

There is no public transportation to the SnowCastle area. The SnowCastle area is a short walking distance away from the Kemi city centre; hotels, bus and train station. There is a taxi stand at the bus station, a short walking distance away from the train station. On call taxis are available only occasionally at the airport, we recommend booking a taxi in advance if you are flying to Kemi. Our sales office is happy to help you arrange taxi transportation for your arrival/departure.

Yes. We arrange shuttle bus transportation from Rovaniemi and the city centre of Kemi to the Ajos Harbour that Sampo resides in. Transportation needs to be booked in advance.

There are no public transportation routes to the harbour.

We recommend that you make your booking preferably 2 working days in advance to guarantee availability.

Most of our activities and accommodations are available online 48 hours until their beginning time. Last chance bookings can be made through our sales office on +358 16 258 878 or at sales@experience365.fi, or on-the-spot at the SnowCastle Service Point.

Note that Icebreaker Sampo cannot be booked from the harbour at the check-in house, cruises need to be booked through our sales office or the SnowCastle Service Point.

Please refer to our Terms & Conditions to learn about our cancellation policies.

We accept most major credit and debit cards and PayPal in our online store and for advance reservations through our sales office.

In all of our locations, we accept cash (€), Visa and Mastercard credit and debit cards, UnionPay and the Alipay mobile application.

The Sampo is docked at the Port of Ajos, about 11 km south from the centre of Kemi. Set your navigator to address: Sampotie 137, 94900 Kemi and follow the Icebreaker Sampo signs. Download printable driving instructions by clicking here. There is no public transportation from Kemi to the Port of Ajos. We arrange bus transportation for every cruise, Kemi-Ajos-Kemi, and you must make reservations for this transfer at the same time as you reserve your cruise.

You can check availability from our Sales office. Webshop show cruise if there are seats left.

Yes, ice floating is included in cruise, and it is volunteer.

Yes, children can participate in cruise. In ice floating minimum height is 145 cm.

You can go to eat anytime you want between the other programmes.

Icebreaker Sampo is 4 hour cruise. Price includes buffet meal, guided tour, ice floating and Sampo diploma.

It’s recommend at least 30 minutes before departure. Check in is done at the Sampo Check In-house. If you are booked transport, please check from the confirmation letter pick up place and time. There are several pick up places in city center of Kemi and also there are transport from Rovaniemi.

You can check price, availability and product description from our web shop.

You can check cruise calendar from the product description.

There are several products where you can choose the cruise or package which is best suitable for you.

Yes you can. There are free parking area.

Depending on the amount of the clients on the particular cruise, there will be 15-20 personnel members: the crew, the tour guides and the Restaurant personnel. At best, the Sampo tour guides, in all and all, have spoken 12 different languages. The most common languages during any of the cruises have been Finnish, English, Italian, Dutch, French and German.

Yes. On the days when the Sampo is on a cruise as listed on the timetable, the icebreaker can be reserved for private occasions both in the morning and in the evening. Outside the days of the timetable the ship can be reserved also during the daytime.

Because of the shape of the ship (there is no keel in the bottom of the ship, the shape of the bottom is rather like an egg) the Sampo floats like a bottle on open seas. During the summer we arrange guided tours and possibility for floating for groups. Please note: reservations must be made in advance.

Yes. When the icebreaker, outside its cruising season, is docked at the port, we arrange various kinds of private occasions, as well as events and meetings for business enterprises. During the cruising season many of our clients celebrate their birthday on the regular cruises together with the rest of the clients on that particular day of the cruise. The Sampo, however, has been the place of private birthday parties on many occasions, as well.

Yes, moving from the first deck to the second deck can be managed well when two persons carry the wheelchair. However, please note that the door openings to the level below the first deck and to the decks above the second deck are 64 cm (if the door is removed, 70 cm).

Building consist warm customer area and cold hall where is located SnowRestaurant. In cold hall temperature is -5 degrees.

All-year-round SnowCastle consist restaurant and sauna room, cold hall, where will be SnowRestaurant. Also reception of Seaside Glass Villas and SnowHotel.

SnowCastle is still build annually. SnowRestaurant will be work only at the All-year-round SnowCastle building. In the annually SnowCastle will be Icebar.

SnowHotel inside temperature is -5 degrees, sleeping in that temperature needs right attitude. We recommend to consider is SnowHotel right place for children. You will sleep in sleeping bags. We highly recommend that child has slept in sleeping bags earlier.

Temperature is -5 degrees. We highly recommend appropriate dressing, stuffed clothes, cloves, hat and winter shoes.

No, there are not. We use molds in building. Snow is cannonned on the molds. When the snow is freezed, the molds are taken off.

Structures of SnowCastle are last longer than most of people think. When we close Castle, structures are smashed that those melts faster.

Ice which is used building and sculptures are from Bothnian Bay.

Villas’ temperature is set by Finnish weather condition. Average temperature is round 22-25 Celcius. In summertime the heater works air conditioner. Also windows and glass roof has blackout curtains.

Breakfast, entrance to the All-year-round SnowCastle and annually build SnowCastle. Please read specific product description here.

Yes, children are welcome on our safaris unless stated otherwise in the product description. Children will travel in a sledge pulled by the guide on their snowmobile on snowmobile safaris.

By paying the adult price children taller than 140cm can sit on the back of their parent’s snowmobile as a passenger if they can get a hold around their parent’s waist and their feet reach the running board. The safari guides will always get to make the final call if it is safe for the child to be on a snowmobile.

Our safaris have a child rate of roughly 40% from the adult price for children between 4-11-years-old and are free of charge for 3-year-olds and younger. Child rates do not apply to products in which you book a vehicle etc. at a set price for the whole group.

Yes. You have to be at least 18 years old to drive a snowmobile.

The length of the programme is always specified in the product description. We have everything from hour-long introductions to several hour long safaris!

The person driving the snowmobile is held liable for any damages. The self-liability amount will depend on the safari provider. Some providers offer an extra self-liability waiver to lower these fees in case of an accident.

Please refer to our Terms & Conditions for more information on our insurance policies.

December-March
The temperature can range from 0 to -30°Celsius. You should wear layered clothing to accommodate for the cold and changes in weather.

Thermal underwear with warm socks and an additional layer of fleece on top with ski pants, a winter jacket and sturdy winter boots. Don’t forget to also bring a warm winter hat, thermal gloves or mittens and a neck warmer. Make sure that your outer layers and water and windproof. If you are going to be spending lots of times outdoors, we recommend a balaclava or multipurpose tube scarf to cover your face with.

Most of our winter activities include warm safari clothing. If you are staying in the SnowHotel or Seaside Glass Villas you will be able to rent out a safari outfit for the duration of your stay.

April-May
The temperature may range from -10 to +15°Celsius with snow & rainfall. You should wear layered clothing during outdoor activities to accommodate for changes in weather.

Thermal underwear with warm socks and an additional layer of fleece on top if it’s cold with water and windproof pants, jacket and boots. Don’t forget to also bring a warm hat, gloves and a neck warmer. We recommend boots with ice & snow grips or additional grips for your shoes. The snow will be melting during the day and freezing overnight, so the streets and pathways will be slippery with ice.

Most of our winter activities include warm safari clothing. If you are staying in the SnowHotel or Seaside Glass Villas you will be able to rent out a safari outfit for the duration of your stay.

June-August
The temperature may range from 0 to +30°Celsius with an average of about +15 to +25 during the day.

Prepare for the cold with a pair of long underwear and water and windproof pants, jacket and shoes if you’re going to do lots of outdoor activities.

Most of our summer activities include a water and windproof jacket.

September-November
The temperature may range from +10 to -15°Celsius. You should wear layered clothing during outdoor activities to accommodate for changes in weather.

Thermal underwear with warm socks and an additional layer of fleece on top if it’s cold with water and windproof pants, jacket and boots. Don’t forget to also bring a warm hat, gloves and a neck warmer. We recommend boots with ice & snow grips or additional grips for your shoes in the later months of fall as the rain starts to freeze during the night.

Most of our autumn activities include a water and windproof jacket. If you are staying in the Seaside Glass Villas you will be able to rent out a warm safari outfit for the duration of your stay.