This is the story of Sebastian’s journey to Finland and our wonderful culture where nature and spending time in summer cottages are essential .

Straight after arriving in Helsinki we got our rental car and drove north. Ahead of us was a 10 day journey through the southern part of Finland. My expectations of this beautiful country were fulfilled immediately after leaving the city and entering the remote nature of Finland. We drove for around 3 hours north, one hour was driving on a gravel road straight into the forest until we reached our cottage directly at lake.

A Finnish BBQ in the forest.

After a day of hiking and exploring the area we finished the day by making a campfire on a hill with views over the lake. To be honest, I couldn’t imagine a better place for a fire. The nature and the remoteness of that place even made it more beautiful. A cold beer and some sausages on the stick really made a perfect evening.

Amazing view on the National Park of Repovesi

After leaving the remote cottage behind, we made our way to explore Repovesi National Park. In the park there are a lot of hiking trails and some great views over lakes and forests. There are also some campgrounds, where families spent the night. Unfortunately we didn’t bring our own tent, so we had to leave the park at dawn to sleep in our B&B.

Roadtripping in Finland

After another night at a campfire at the B&B Pinus in Mäntyharju, we made our way more north to Koli National Park where we stayed on a farm for 2 nights. The view from the top of Koli National Park was even more breathtaking than the views we saw before. After a good day of hiking, we had one of the best burgers ever at Kolin Ryynanen, close to the park.

Scenic sunset in Finland.

On our way to the West Coast we stopped at another cottage directly at a lake. As many times before in Finland we were all by ourself. We took out the paddle boat for a sunset cruise before sitting at the warm campfire again.

Lovely view from pier. Time to jump in!

The west coast was a bit disappointing. There was no road directly at the sea and we missed our days at the lakes so much, that we headed back inwards on our way back down south to Helsinki.

Helsinki City overview.

Our last couple of nights we spent on an organic farm with an awesome breakfast. Holidays in Finland is pure nature and relaxation. If you want a lot of action, this is the wrong place. But if you are looking for untouched nature and wilderness, this is one of the best places I have visited so far.

Helsinki is a charming capital, with lots of good bars, restaurants and great cultural activities. I liked Finland so much, that I came back a couple of months later to see it in autumn. The weather was more moody but definitely as beautiful as in summer.

Sebastian made a short video while exploring Finland. In the video Sebastian experiences the Finnish nature and cottage culture at the fullest.  It’s worth checking out. Sebastian creates fantastic short films about traveling in different locations and takes quite spectacular photos while traveling!

You can follow Sebastian in Instagram: sebpic_

Text: Pekka Krook, photographs: Sauna From Finland / Hanna Söderström

Meik Wiking, the Danish happiness researcher, is known for the term “Hygge” because of his bestseller book “Hygge – the book of good life“. The book contains the ten-point Hygge Manifesto, which highlights the importance of gratitude. The writer sums up gratitude with an expression, “maybe there’s nothing better than this”. Do we remember to be grateful for everything we have in our lives?

As a sauna specialist and the Chairman of the Board of Sauna from Finland, my aim is to develop as relaxing sauna experience as possible. Sauna has always been almost a sacred place in Finland – a place where you can clean your body and mind after a hard day’s work. Genuine Finnish sauna experience is based on well-being and relaxation that is complemented by the purity and safety of the saunas.

We are happy to see that so many foreign travellers want to experience an authentic Finnish sauna during their holiday. To have a sauna is a multi-faceted experience: the visual sensations, for example a view to the sea or a lake from the sauna window, play an important role. The water evaporating over the heater breaks the silence and makes it a soulful experience.

The wooden sauna bench is pleasant for the skin and can be supplemented with a linen cloth for extra comfort. You can also use a birch whisk or a sauna aroma to make you feel even more comfortable. Peeling sauna honey can be applied to the skin and beautiful lights complement the mood.

For me, a daily sauna ritual is the best way to relax in the middle of the hustle. While having a sauna, I often note how grateful I am for my life. A lot of tricky problems are being solved while I am resting in the heat. After the sauna, I use to wear a bathrobe and have a healthy meal or a refreshing drink. My daily ritual culminates in a quiet, deep sleep of eight hours. The long sleep guarantees the strength and energy for the next day.

As Henry Thoreau once said, “we live but a fraction of our lives”. Let’s grab a hold of as many fractions as we can!

Pekka Krook, Chairman of the Board of Sauna from Finland Association. For more information, check http://saunafromfinland.fi/