Lake Time for Two

Day 1:  Welcome to serenity!

Your host welcomes you with a refreshing welcome drink before guiding you to the row boat that will be your mode of transport during your stay. Slowly row your boat to the floating cabin, your home for the next three nights. This raft and cabin were built  by your hosts from recycled materials. 

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Your host shows you how everything works in your cabin. There is a 120 cm wide bed in the cabin and an extra bed can be added (extra charge). There is no electricity but the cabin has LED lights with batteries, candles and an oil lamp for lighting. There is a wood stove should the nights get cooler and a gas stove and a BBQ for cooking which you probably don't need to use much. The cabin also has a gas fridge. There is no running water but drinking water is provided by the hosts and there is a composting toilet onboard. There is also a large deck surrounding the cabin where you can sit and enjoy the beautiful lake scenery.

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After settling in, it's time for your first Finnish sauna ritual. Hop on your boat and row to the sauna raft where your host is waiting for you. If you have no experience with traditional wood heated saunas, your host will guide you through the process. The great Finnish sauna ritual starts with heating the wood burning stove and carrying in the water from the lake. While you are waiting for the sauna to heat up, you can enjoy a drink on the large deck. After the sauna room has reached the optimum temperature, sit on the wooden benches, pour water on the stones and relax in the gentle steam. You can cool down on the deck or by swimming in the cooling waters of the lake. Repeat as many times as you wish - sauna is soothing for your body, mind and soul.

 

After the relaxing sauna experience, row back to your cabin where your dinner basket with a meal made of local produce awaits. Enjoy your dinner on the deck or by candle light in your cabin. When it's sleep time retreat to your comfortable bed, listen to the night calls of birds near-by and drift to sleep.

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Day 2: Visit prehistoric Astuvansalmi rock paintings

Wake up slowly to the sounds of nature. Step outside onto the deck - stretch, breath in the clean air and welcome a new day!   Savour the delicious contents of your breakfast basket while enjoying peaceful serenity of the lake surrounding you. 

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Today your host takes you for a guided walk to the 6000 year old prehistoric Astuvansalmi rock paintings that are part of the European Prehistoric Rock Art Trail.  There are around 80 pictures painted on the rock depicting elk, people, boats, etc.. Located around 4-9 metres above Lake Saimaa’s current water level, the pictures were painted either from a boat or from top of the frozen lake using red ochre mixed with blood or fat.  Your host tells you about the history of the paintings and about life along these lake shores. Enjoy a warm drink and light lunch during the outing before returning back to your cabin. Duration about 3.5-4 hours.

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Later on the day row your boat to the sauna raft. After yesterday's introduction, we are sure you can master the whole ritual on your own! After a relaxing sauna bath row back to your cabin where a dinner basket with local delicacies awaits. Enjoy your dinner on the deck admiring the beautiful light of the white nights or, later in the autumn, in your cabin in candle light.

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Day 3: Island picnic

Another day in paradise! Your breakfast basket and its delicious contents are waiting for you. Instead of a shower to wake up, how about a refreshing dip into the clean waters surrounding your raft?

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In the late morning your hostess brings over a picnic basket and gives you instructions how to reach the near-by island in your row boat. This is a lovely small uninhabited island where you can explore freely.  This location also happens be one of the favourites of the rare Saimaa Ringed Seal so keep your eyes peeled on the rocks near-by and you might spot one. In July and August you might also find some wild blueberries in the forest to pick for dessert. Row back to your cabin and enjoy your daily sauna ritual. Afterwards savour the contents of your dinner basket.

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Alternatively if you have some paddling experience, you could hire a canoe (extra charge) and explore the surrounds a bit further. Your host can give you information about paddling routes and provide you with a picnic to be enjoyed along the way.

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Day 4: Departure

Enjoy a leisurely morning eating your breakfast on the deck taking in the beauty of the lake scenery for the last time. Maybe dive in for a refreshing dip prior to rowing back to the mainland for good byes. We look forward to welcoming you again to Lake Saimaa as we are confident that your heart will guide you back.

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Book a Private Dinner Experience with the resident chef (extra charge):

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Wild food dinner 1 (June-August)

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Climb on board of a charming fishing boat and enjoy beautiful lake views on your way to an island where the dinner is served. A table is set by the lake for a delicious 4 course dinner prepared on open fire by your resident chef. He is using the best seasonal ingredients from the surrounding nature for your dinner. Mushrooms and berries from the local forests complement home grown produce and fish from the lake. Other ingredients like meat and cheese are sourced from local producers. Sustainability is at heart of everything your hosts do and food made from local and homegrown ingredients is their biggest passion. If the weather conditions do not allow the boat ride, the dinner is served at the hosts' log house. Non-alcoholic drinks are included and wine to match the dishes can be ordered in advance (extra charge).  Duration of the experience about 4 hours.

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Wild food dinner 2 (August-September)

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Join your host on a foraging tour in the near-by forest. Enjoy the beauty and earthy smells of Finnish forest while discovering the joys of mushroom 'hunting'.  The ones you pick will be part of your dinner. Your 4 course casual dinner tonight is prepared by your resident chef and  served at the hosts' traditional cosy log house. Sustainability is at the heart of everything your hosts do, and food made from local and homegrown ingredients is their passion. Mushrooms and berries from the local forests complement  home grown produce and fish from the lake.  Other ingredients like meat and cheese are sourced from local producers. Your dinner includes non-alcoholic drinks and wine to match the dishes can be ordered in advance (extra charge).

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