This is Nordic happiness at its simplest: a lakeside sauna, a quiet cabin, fresh air and the feeling that there is nowhere else you need to be.
The sauna is the Finns’ pride and joy. The traditional Finnish summer cottage has an entire culture built around it, and almost all of them come with a sauna as standard. In fact, Finland has more than two million saunas for a population of just five million – roughly one per household.
But Lake Saimaa is something else entirely. The sauna is only half the experience; the other half is the lake itself, and the remarkable health and wellbeing benefits the two offer together.
After all, what good is the heat of the sauna without your own private beach and a lake to cool off in? The sauna and Lake Saimaa go hand in hand together. To experience one without the other is to miss something special!
Whether you’ve been swimming under blue skies in summer or walking on a frozen lake in winter, the sauna is the perfect remedy. Following any number of adventures in the Finnish countryside, the sauna is relaxing and health-boosting, refreshing body and soul.
The combination of a hot sauna and a refreshing swim in Lake Saimaa naturally boosts circulation, relaxes muscles and helps the body recover while calming the mind. This simple contrast of heat and cold is at the heart of Finnish wellbeing – leaving you both energised and deeply relaxed. Just remember to cool off a little before plunging into lake.
Traditional relaxing peat sauna treatment
Experience deep relaxation with a traditional peat sauna treatment in the atmospheric wood-fired sauna at Landhaus Kekkola.
Product pageExciting sauna experiences at Sahanlahti Resort
Enjoy unique sauna experiences at Sahanlahti Resort, where traditional Finnish heat, lakeside views, and year-round relaxation come together in the stunning surroundings of Lake Saimaa.
Product pageWe love the lakeside cabins with wood-heated saunas. Try Uhkua raft sauna in Ristiina or the panoramic sauna at Pistohiekka Resort and saunas at Sahanlahti Resort in Puumala. To Puumala, you can also take a bus. Enjoy perfect sauna moments with spectacular views accompanied by good local food!
Floating raft accommodation on Lake Saimaa
Experience eco-friendly accommodation with Uhkua on Lake Saimaa.
Product pageRental cottages and villas at Okkola Holiday Cottages
Authentic Finnish cottages and villas on beautiful Niinisaari Island.
Product pageModern lakeside villas on the shores of Lake Saimaa: Saimaanranta Resort by Anttolanhovi
Saimaanranta Resort by Anttolanhovi offers a peaceful retreat on the shores of Lake Saimaa.
Product pageVillas with unobstructed lake views: Sahanlahti Resort and Elsanranta Villas
At Elsanranta Villas, modern design meets the calm beauty of Lake Saimaa.
Product pageFor something truly special, the traditional smoke sauna offers an even deeper, more atmospheric experience. In Saimaa, sauna isn’t just an activity – it’s part of the landscape and the way of life. Try the smoke sauna at Sahanlahti Resort ín Puumala and naturally, combined with a refreshing plunge in a lake.
In winter, when the lake freezes over, Sahanlahti Resort takes sauna bathing to another level with a sauna built from blocks of ice – a striking and unforgettable way to experience the contrast of heat and frozen lake.
Exciting sauna experiences at Sahanlahti Resort
Enjoy unique sauna experiences at Sahanlahti Resort, where traditional Finnish heat, lakeside views, and year-round relaxation come together in the stunning surroundings of Lake Saimaa.
Product pageBesides your own pier and beach of your rental cabin, you can swim just about anywhere in the region. If you want a break from the midsummer sun or find a hidden inlet and fancy dip, chances are you can jump right in. Saimaa’s water is clean and, being a freshwater lake, even typically safe to drink although it is, of course, always safest to purify it first. Public beaches are found everywhere; they’re marked with signs, appear on maps and are often available at campsites.
Just remember, wherever you go swimming, consider your safety and have a companion swim with you.
If you visit in the winter, you might even try ice swimming; the lakes will have frozen over but if you’re brave enough, you can experience the exhilarating, chilly dip of jumping into the swimming holes cut into the ice by the shore. Believe it or not, research even shows that this is a really healthy activity! If swimming after sauna, cool yourself a bit first before the dip.
