The Sampo Arctic icebreaker is reputedly the only Arctic icebreaker on the globe that accepts passengers. It cleared passageways through the chilly waters for 30 years, and now takes visitors on trips through a frigid seascape, from December to April. The crew is trained and equipped to handle any conditions the vessel may encounter, such as a sudden snowstorm, thus making a tour safe for passengers.
Where to Take a Trip on an Icebreaker
Sampo Arctic icebreaker trips are four hours in duration, from noon to 4 p.m., at a cost of around a couple of hundred euro. Passengers climb aboard at Ajos Harbour, situated about 15 kilometres south of Kemi, in the Oulu region of Finland, before setting off for the northern Gulf of Bothnia.
When to Take a Trip on an Icebreaker
Sampo operates throughout the winter, but to maximize the ice-breaking experience, the Finland Lonely Planet Country Guide points out that March is an ideal month for the tour, as that is when the ice is thickest. During the summer, Sampo operates as a restaurant.
What Happens on an Icebreaker Cruise
Sampo’s northerly location means the outdoors is cold, and its passengers are permitted to venture out on deck. They are advised to dress warmly, in layers, with hats, gloves and scarves included. Tourists may also want to bring along sunglasses — the glare of the sun off snow-covered ice can be harsh — and pocket along some chapstick.
A trip on an icebreaker is at times bumpy and noisy. To break the ice, the icebreaker rides up on top of it, and then bears down to break the ice apart with its weight. The broken chunks of ice, as a result, crash and scrape along the steel hull as the vessel cruises past the pieces.
Walking on the Frozen Sea
The highlight of a trip on Sampo comes when the ship stops to let passengers disembark on the ice. Passengers can experience walking on the frozen sea in the middle of nowhere, with thousands of metres of water below the layer of ice under their feet. They can also don a drysuit, which resembles a big, puffy snowsuit, and slip into the frigid waters to float among the ice and snow.
A cruise on the Sampo Arctic icebreaker from Kemi, Finland, is a unique trip in that it is reportedly the only icebreaker that allows passengers to come along for the ride. For passengers, being out on the open Gulf of Bothnia, walking on its frozen surface and slipping into its dark and frigid water for leisure is bound to make for an unforgettable journey.
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