Ice swimming in Finland: the hot-and-cold ritual
Ice swimming in Finland is usually less about distance and more about a brief, deliberate dip. An avanto is a hole kept open in lake or sea ice for winter swimming. After warming in the sauna, bathers walk carefully to the water, descend using secure steps, immerse themselves for a few seconds and return to warmth. For many Finns, the appeal is the sharp contrast and the calm, alert feeling that follows.
What does an avanto feel like?
The first contact is intense. Breathing may become quick and the skin can sting, but the initial shock passes after you leave the water and warm up gradually. A beginner does not need to swim, submerge the head or stay in for a set time. One controlled dip is enough. Cold tolerance varies greatly, and copying an experienced swimmer is not a sensible goal.
How to combine sauna and cold water
Start with a comfortable sauna round, but do not make yourself excessively hot. Cool briefly in the air, put on sandals or water shoes and walk slowly to the plunge. Keep your hands free for the rail. Enter calmly, focus on a slow exhale and come out before the cold becomes overwhelming. Dry off, add a robe and return to the sauna only when you feel steady. One to three gentle rounds are plenty; stopping after one is also completely fine.
Ice-swimming safety
Use only a maintained ice hole, cold-plunge basin or guided facility. Never break through unknown ice or enter natural winter water alone. Check that the steps, rail, lighting and route back to warmth are safe. Avoid cold immersion after alcohol and do not dive or jump head-first. Keep the head above water, particularly on the first attempt.
People with heart or circulatory conditions, uncontrolled blood pressure, respiratory illness or other medical concerns should seek professional advice before combining strong heat and cold. Skip the plunge if you feel unwell, unusually tired or pressured to participate. Children require close supervision and a facility appropriate for their age.
A gentler alternative at Kelo Resort
A controlled cold-plunge basin offers the contrast of winter water without walking onto natural ice. Kelo Resort’s Arctic Wellness Escape combines a private electric sauna, cold plunge and warm bath. Staff prepare the space and explain its use, allowing first-time guests to set their own pace. The best avanto experience is not the longest or bravest one – it is the one after which you feel refreshed, safe and eager to enjoy the quiet of Lapland.