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Offered languages
- German
- English
Explore the heart of Finnish sauna culture with this immersive guesthouse-to-guesthouse tour in Karelia. Enjoy four unique sauna experiences, including a traditional smoke sauna, river bank sauna, and a summer cottage sauna. Savor locally sourced culinary delights through engaging workshops and themed sauna menus that celebrate Finnish cuisine, which features rustic flavors and organic ingredients. Cycle through picturesque landscapes as your luggage is seamlessly transported between accommodations, allowing you to focus on relaxation and cultural connection. This tour is perfect for small groups of 2 to 12, providing an intimate experience with the beauty of Karelia.
What's Included
Breakfast
Meeting and pickup
We have an information sign with the name of the tour
Itinerary
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1
Arrival at Guesthouse Pihlajapuu. The sauna trail begins with a greeting from hostess Minna. - Tour information - Dinner - Overnight stay at Guesthouse Pihlajapuu
1 day • Admission ticket free -
2
We learn how to cook, bake or preserve wild vegetables. Depending on the season we have herbs, blueberries, lingonberries, mushrooms, apples... We prepare lunch together from the local groceries - Evening sauna: Wood-heated traditional Finnish basic sauna at Guesthouse Pihlajapuu - Dinner - Overnight stay at Pihlajapuu
1 day • Admission ticket free -
3
In the afternoon guests move to the forest for relaxation. We bring hammocks with us and enjoy taking forest baths. The sauna experience: The sauna is on the banks of the Karhujoki River, it is a peaceful experience to take a swim off the pier. In the sauna, our hostess Henna tells us tricks and tips on how to heat the sauna properly for a magical experience. At the same time, we prepare the sauna ready together for the sauna session. After receiving a sauna spell from Henna, guests enter the smooth steams of the sauna. We wash ourselves in the sauna with local handmade natural soaps. Possibility to go swimming. The sauna evening is highlighted by a hut dinner, which is enjoyed by the open fire in an atmospheric hut of Laitala.
1 day • Admission ticket free -
4
The hostess of Laitala, Henna bakes with you Finnish sweet buns called pulla, sweet, cardamom-flavored bread eaten with coffee or as dessert and cinnamon rolls (korvapuustit) – pulla made into a roll with cinnamon and sugar. Or we can make cheese cake with local berries. - In the afternoon a canoeing tour on the river. with picnic lunch - Evening sauna and dinner - Overnight stay at Laitalan Lomat
1 day • Admission ticket free -
5
After breakfast tour to the Traditional Karelian village Bomba. Biking of 25 km to Nurmes. Picnic snack at the harbor of Nurmes Afternoon a lovely summer evening boat trip to Nurmesniemi sauna The boat trip starts at about 5 pm from the Bomba harbor. We’ll take the evening sauna at Nurmesniemi summer cottage sauna. There is a possibility to go swimming. With sauna experience we’ll also enjoy sauna basket delicacies. We’ll be back at about 9 pm.
3 hours • Admission ticket free -
6
morning swim in the lake Pielinen. Guided walk in the area of Bomba. Visit to the orthodox chapel of Bomba. Biking tour via Nurmes to Guesthouse Pihlajapuu, 25 km. - Lunch at the cafeteria Thure in the old railway station of Nurmes - Shopping and sightseeing in Nurmes.
3 hours • Admission ticket free -
7
Smoke sauna The smoke sauna experience starts at about 4 pm: Before the sauna session, guests prepare different whisks for example of birch, juniper and aspen. The sauna experience includes OleHyvä ecological washing detergents, a sauna cap, bathrobes, towels, and sauna seat covers. You can paddle by canoe from guesthouse Pihlajapuu over the lake to Minna's smokesauna (about 1 km distance from the guesthouse). If the weather is not good, you go to the smoke sauna by car, 6.5 km. There is a possibility to go swimming.
1 day • Admission ticket free -
8
Departure
4 hours • Admission ticket free
Arrival at Guesthouse Pihlajapuu
Herbs, berries and wild vegetables workshop at Pihlajapuu
Laitala Riverside Sauna
Sweet buns and cakes workshop at Laitalan Lomat
Nurmesniemi summer cottage sauna
Bomba village and city of Nurmes
Karelian pasty workshop and smoke sauna
Time to say hei, hei! Good-bye!
Additional info
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Tags
Cancellation Policy
If you cancel at least 6 full day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a full refund.
If you cancel between 2 and 6 day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a 50% refund.
If you cancel within 2 day(s) of the scheduled departure, you will receive a 0% refund.
Cancellation Policy
- For a full refund, you must cancel at least 6 full days before the experience’s start time.
- For a 50% refund, you must cancel 2–6 full days before the experience’s start time.
- If you cancel less than 2 full days before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
- This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.
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