Guesthouse to Guesthouse Karelia à la carte Sauna Tour
Step into a world of authentic relaxation with a true Finnish sauna escape.
This unforgettable sauna adventure offers four unique sauna experiences, each with its own special löyly – the soothing, invigorating sensation of steam that defines Finnish sauna culture. Feel the gentle heat on your skin, breathe in the pure air, and let go of stress as you enjoy not only the saunas themselves but also delicious themed sauna menus and engaging workshops that change daily. Every moment is designed to awaken your senses and connect you with the soul of Finland.
Discover the taste of Finland through its rich culinary traditions
Finnish cuisine is a delightful blend of rustic country flavors and modern elegance. Fish plays a central role in many traditional dishes, while the eastern regions – like here in Karelia – are known for comforting recipes that emphasize mushrooms, root vegetables, and slow-cooked goodness, and a variety of Karelian pastries.
Our food often includes whole grains like rye, barley, and oats, as well as plenty of wild berries – including blueberries, lingonberries and sea buckthorn. Dairy products like milk and buttermilk are commonly enjoyed both as beverages and as ingredients in various recipes.Root vegetables like swedes, beetroots, turnips and potatoes are also staples of traditional Finnish cooking, bringing richness and depth to many dishes.
Highlights
✅During this tour, you'll get to know more about Finnish cuisine, as well as experience Finnish culture and meet the locals. The delicious food is locally sourced, and we also use plenty of organic ingredients!
✅You enjoy a guided bike ride between the guesthouses. We’ll take care of transporting your luggage for you.
✅Because we are responsible and care about nature, your bed linen will be transported with your luggage from one guesthouse to another. You will receive a new towel every day.
During this sauna adventure, you will get to know:
✅Wood-heated traditional Finnish basic sauna at Guesthouse
✅River bank sauna
✅Traditional summer cottage sauna
✅Traditional smoke sauna
For groups: 2-12 people
Guided tours 2026: 6.-13.6.2026 | 29.8.-5.9.2026
Program
Day 1. Arrival at Guesthouse Pihlajapuu.
The sauna trail begins with a greeting from hostess Minna.
- Tour information
- Dinner
- Overnight stay at Guesthouse Pihlajapuu
Day 2. Herbs, berries and wild vegetables workshop at Pihlajapuu
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
Day 3. Laitala River bank sauna
After delicious breakfast we bike to Guesthouse Laitalan Lomat (25 km). Guests may also drive between guesthouses with their own car if preferred.
Laitala sauna trail to the River bank sauna
The trip begins with a greeting from the hostess Henna at about 14:00. We go through the program together and hear stories about Laitala's history and saunas.
For lunch, we enjoy "an experience lunch" that Henna has prepared for us. This includes handmade karjalanpiirakka and egg butter, leipäjuusto (Finnish squeaky cheese), salad, lingonberry jam, sea buckthorn jam, glazed egg halves, rice rolls, chanterelle-filled rye buttons, whipped cream with berries, coffee, tea, homemade cheesecake.
Later in the afternoon guests move to the forest for relaxation. We bring hammocks with us and enjoy taking forest baths. Our guests choose their own place for hanging the hammock and we relax by listening to the sounds of the forest and the singing birds. After relaxation, we collect ingredients for the sauna hair rinse and prepare our own rinse.
The sauna experience:
The sauna program begins with a tarry welcome snaps drink (non-alcoholic), which is enjoyed in the terrace of the Main House. Next, we move along the path across the field to the sauna. 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. Guests may choose their favourite soap to keep, perhaps it would be Hillan hurma or Pakurin mahti. These charming ecological Sola soaps are organic and natural soaps, the raw materials are collected from pure Finnish nature. While cooling off, we enjoy the delicacies of the sauna basket and refreshing drinks. There is a 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.
Laitala sauna trail hut dinner menu
Laitala perunarieska (potato rieska), rye bread from a local bakery, butter
Organic cheese salad and root salad
Vegetable-potato dumplings by the campfire, meatballs made of local ranch meat.
Dessert includes nokipannukahvi (soot pot coffee), herbal tea, campfire crepes, whipped cream, berry jam
Homemade beer, berry juice, water.
-Overnight stay at Laitalan Lomat
Day 4. Sweet buns and cakes workshop at Laitalan Lomat
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
Day 5. Nurmesniemi summer cottage sauna
After breakfast tour to the Traditional Karelian village Bomba.
Biking of 25 km to Nurmes. Picnic snack at the harbor of Nurmes (or lunch in the restaurant of Supikas in Porokylä, the new centre of Nurmes).
The Bomba House is the heart and main attraction of the Karelian village of Bomba, and its architecture reflects the region’s rich and diverse history. The building was opened in August 1978 and is a replica of the original house built by Jegor Bombin in 1855 in Suojärvi.
Where the original barn once stood in the old Bomba House, visitors can now enjoy the Bomba Restaurant, known for its grand halls and warm hospitality. Surrounding the Bomba House is a Karelian village, built to enhance the area’s tourism services and to give visitors an authentic experience of Karelian culture and tradition. Overnight at the Karelian village of Bomba in the log buildings.
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.
Sauna basket of Nurmesniemi:
Various Karelian pies and egg butter.
Salads
Berry pie and biscuits
Berry juice
- Overnight at the Karelian village of Bomba
Day 6. Bomba village and city of Nurmes
Breakfast and 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.
- Overnight at the guesthouse Pihlajapuu
Day 7. Karelian pasty workshop and smoke sauna
Sauna lunch delicacies:
Karelian pasties
Vegetable soup
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.
Pihlajapuu smoke sauna trail menu by the campfire at hut
Glow-fried salmon
Seasonal salad with salad dressing of the house
Potato salad with wild vegetable pesto
Sour cream dressing for salmon
Beverages of berries or foliage
Crêpes with berry jam
- Overnight stay at Pihlajapuu
Day 8. Time to say hei, hei! Good-bye!
Total price: 1495€/person, 7 nights, 8 days
The price includes:
- Full-service sauna trail from Guesthouse to Guesthouse: overnight stays in double/twin rooms, bed linen, full board (breakfast, lunch, sauna trail menu, dinner), guesthouses have rooms with shared bathroom and toilet. Services according to the programme, bikes, guidance, group transfers from/to Kuopio airport.
Arrival by plane:
On the arrival day one group transfer from Kuopio airport (flight at around 17:00 in Kuopio) or Siilinjärvi railway station (train at around 16:00 in Siilinjärvi).
On the return day one group transfer to Kuopio airport (flight at around 14:00) or Siilinjärvi railway station (train at around 13:00). Departure from the guesthouse at 11:00 am. All extra transfers from/to Kuopio airport or Siilinjärvi railway station 400€ /taxi
Arrival by train:
- Pickup from the Nurmes railway station at 14:00 or 20:00.
- On the day of departure, trains leave at 6:35 in the morning or 15:40 in the afternoon. Check the timetable from your tour operator.
!Note:
The contents of the menus and sauna bag may change depending on the availability of raw materials and the season.
Travel insurance:
Travel insurance is highly recommended for overseas travel. A comprehensive plan should include coverage for trip interruption, delay and cancellation, medical expenses, emergency medical transportation, loss and damage to baggage.
Presentation of the Guesthouses:
www.laitalanlomat.com
www.aksytammat.fi
https://visitbomba.fi/en/all-places/bomba-house/
