Silence & Nature – A Week in Koli National Park
Reconnect in Nature: A Mindful Week in Finland’s Most Iconic National Landscape
Immerse yourself in the serene beauty of Koli National Park, one of Finland’s most celebrated natural landscapes. This unique week-long experience combines mindful nature walks, quiet moments in the forest, breathtaking views over Lake Pielinen, and the timeless tranquillity of North Karelia.
Koli National Park offers dramatic hills, lush forests and the magnificent panorama from Ukko-Koli that has inspired artists, writers and nature lovers for generations. Here, silence isn’t just an absence of sound — it’s a path to deeper presence, mental renewal, and a fresh perspective
What Makes This Week Special
- Mindful Silence Hikes
Guided walks in Koli National Park with moments of silence, gentle reflection and time to truly connect with the surrounding nature.
- Sauna Experiences – The Finnish Way
Experience traditional Finnish sauna culture during the week, including relaxing evening saunas that calm both body and mind.
- Traditional Smoke Sauna Evening
A highlight of the week: an authentic smoke sauna evening, offering deep relaxation, soft heat and a timeless Finnish atmosphere — often followed by a refreshing dip in nature.
- Sailing on Lake Pielinen
A peaceful sailing experience on Lake Pielinen, allowing you to enjoy the vast lake scenery, fresh air and quiet movement across the water.
- Daily Nature Exploration
Time to explore forests, hills and lakeshores at an unhurried pace, with space for personal reflection and rest.
- Iconic Koli Landscapes
Sunrise and sunset moments at legendary viewpoints such as Ukko-Koli, overlooking the endless lake and forest scenery.
- Silence as a Luxury
This week is not about doing more — it’s about slowing down, being present and letting nature set the rhythm.
Group size: min 2, max 5.
Valid: 20.5. - 20.6.2026 | 19.8. - 20.9.2026 | 20.5. - 27.6.2027 | 7.8. - 25.9.2027
Program
Day 1 – Arrival in Koli
• Transfers from Joensuu railway station or Joensuu airport are included in the price. Driving time is approximately one hour.
• Accommodation at Kolin Runo Guesthouse
• Home-cooked welcome dinner at Kolin Runo
After arriving in Koli, the first evening is dedicated to slowing down.
You are welcomed by your local host and enjoy relaxed, home-cooked dinner at the accommodation. With the forest close by and no rush to be anywhere, the journey into Finnishness begins.
Day 2 – Guided hike in Koli National Park
• Guided walking tour to the Koli peaks, half-day hike, approx. 5 – 10 km
• Route adjusted to the group’s wishes and fitness level
• Packed lunch included
• Private sauna at the accommodation in the evening
• Dinner at your own leisure in the village restaurants
We start this with week by exploring the heart of Koli National Park on a private, guided walk to Finland’s most iconic landscapes. Along the way, your local guide shares stories about Koli’s cultural history, everyday life now and then and the surrounding nature. The focus is not only on walking, but on understanding the place. A packed lunch made from local ingredients is enjoyed outdoors. Throughout the week, the outdoor meals vary, and when conditions allow, it may be prepared over an open fire, with campfire sausages and coffee.
In the evening, you can relax in a private sauna at your accommodation before heading out to enjoy dinner at one of the village restaurants at your own pace.
Day 3 – E-bike adventure
• Full-day guided e-bike tour to Räsävaara viewpoint tower and Pirunkirkko Devil’s Cave along gravel roads
• Stops at scenic viewpoints, old settlement sites and a lakeside beach
• Private sauna at the accommodation in the evening
• Dinner at your own leisure in the village restaurants
Today is spent moving gently through the landscapes surrounding Koli. Cycling along peaceful gravel roads, you reach Räsävaara, where the observation tower offers breathtaking views over forests and Lake Pielinen. The journey continues to Pirunkirkko, a dramatic fissure cave carved into quartzite rock. Long regarded as a place of power, the cave carries layers of folklore, history and natural force. Along the way, there is time to pause wherever the landscape invites – old settlement sites, a lakeside beach or a quiet spot worth lingering in.
Day 4 – Sailing on Lake Pielinen
• Half-day sailing trip on Lake Pielinen
• Packed lunch with salad included
• Private sauna at the accommodation in the evening
• Dinner at your own leisure in the village restaurants
See Koli from the water – the traditional route by which people once arrived here. Guided by your host, a certified sailing instructor, you head out onto Lake Pielinen in a small sailing boat. When the wind allows, the boat moves quietly under sail; otherwise, you glide across the open water, taking in the vast lake and the hills rising from the shore. Time is left simply to be on the lake, enjoy lunch on board and, if conditions allow, try some light fishing along the the in an informal manner. In the evening, you can unwind in the private sauna at the accommodation, followed by dinner at your own leisure in one of the village restaurants.
Day 5 – Forest experience
• Half-day guided seasonal forest excursion, depending on the time of year:
• mushroom or berry-picking, foraging, picking of wild herbs or making your own ”vasta”
• Home-cooked dinner at Kolin Runo with treasures from the forest
• Private sauna at the accommodation in the evening
Today you step into the forest – not as a visitor, but as a guest. Guided by your local host, you’ll spend a half day experiencing the forest through the season itself. Depending on the time of year, this may mean mushroom or berry picking, gathering wild herbs, or learning to make your own vasta (traditional birch whisk). Along the way, you’ll hear about local forest traditions and the intimate relationship people here have always had with the land. In the evening, you’ll return to Kolin Runo for a home-cooked dinner inspired by the day’s discoveries. When possible, treasures gathered from the forest are woven into the meal, bringing the experience full circle. The day ends as many others on this journey: with a private sauna, warmth, and time to reflect on the days spent close to nature.
Day 6 – Sculpture garden visit & smoke sauna
• Visit to Koli Sculpture garden before the sauna experience
• Traditional smoke sauna excursion to Tarina-aho, including dinner
Day 7 – Departure Departure and journey home
Price: 1900€/person | 6 night, 7 days
Inc. Accommodation at Guesthouse Kolin Runo (twin room)
-Half board: Daily breakfast, Daily lunch (packed lunch during excursions), Dinner on days 1 and 5
-Private sauna sessions
-Guided activities and excursions on days 2–5
-Entrance fee to the Sculpture Garden
-Traditional smoke sauna experience and dinner at Tarina-aho Resort
-E-bike rental
-Transfers from/to Joensuu
