Arctic adventure: Escape to a sauna in Finnish Lapland
Recently, I decided to leave the buzz of city life and took a trip to Kuusamo, in East Finland, to immerse myself in the wilderness. The town can be reached via a flight from the capital Helsinki in less than two hours. On arrival, I was greeted by a spectacle of autumn leaves, one degree celsius temperatures and reindeer running all around town, setting the scene for a magical three-day vacay! My mission was to take a break from all the digital distractions, and of course, to catch a glimpse of the stunning aurora borealis (northern lights).
Close to the Russian border, Kuusamo is renowned for its natural beauty, and is dotted with untouched forests and adorned with lovely lakes and rivers. December to May is an especially busy period for the town and people flock there to enjoy winter activities such as skiing as well as husky and reindeer safaris. The Rukatunturi ski resort is a popular spot in town. With as many as 32 slopes criss-crossed by 21 ski lifts, the resort hosts a number of international competitions such as ski jumping, cross-country skiing, and freestyle skiing, among other activities. The ski season lasts over 200 days, making it one of the longest in Europe.
The resort gets traction even during summer when the town receives the midnight sun between mid-May and end of July. Adventure-seeking tourists can participate in white-water rafting — there are nine scenic bridges hanging above turbulent waters. Or if that doesn’t grab you, you could hike in the enormous Oulanka national park that has rocks dating back to the Ice Age. The northern lights are usually visible between August and April.
To be completely surrounded by nature, I stayed at the Rukan Salonki chalet that is situated by Lake Salonkijärvi in the middle of a well-preserved forest. The closest restaurant was a short five-minute trek in the woods, allowing me to soak in the natural air and take in the sight of rows upon rows of fir trees turning into mesmerising shades of orange. The chalet came with its own sauna and my guide explained that this feature is an integral part of Finnish culture. Apparently, there are almost as many saunas as there are people in Finland! For the Finns, the sauna is a haven for physical and mental relaxation. It is a popular social recreation spot and they even host business meetings in the sauna!
There are different types such as the traditional smoke sauna, the electric saunas, an ice sauna and even a sauna bus. The ice sauna is a popular tourist attraction and is built from large blocks of ice, and offers a great combination of hot and cold. The thick steam apparently has a number of health benefits. The slushinsulated hut is made of ice cubes from nearby lakes, and the temperature inside can reach 60 degrees celsius.
Some of the saunas also offer SaunaYoga or SaunaPilates. This reportedly Finnish invention combines the serenity of a sauna and six yoga postures that relax the body.
After a hearty meal of reindeer meat (when in Rome, and all that! It was a bit like lamb in texture, btw) and mashed potatoes, and an afternoon of trekking through the national park, I decided to pamper myself. To experience the authentic Finn lifestyle, I headed for the Pyhäpiilo sauna, situated only a short distance out of the city centre.
Opting for a Finnish smoke sauna tour, my therapist Marjo explained a few Finnish words to me such as löyly, which refers to the hot steam that envelopes the air when water is thrown on the stove, and vasta, the aromatic birch whisks that can be used over the skin. A bathing suit has to be worn inside and an elf hat was handed to me to cover my head. The experience is suitable for everyone from children to grandparents. I was also given a scrub of rosemary oil and Himalayan salt to apply for 20 minutes, in order to get a smoother skin. Marjo explained that after spending some time in the sauna I could make my way to the outdoors in zero degrees to the warm jacuzzi and repeat the process a couple of times. The jacuzzi was situated in the backyard of the property surrounded by a serene lakeside environment.
It is common practice to cool off between sauna sessions by swimming in the lakes nearby or jumping into a hole cut in the ice, during winters. Marjo pointed out that dipping in icy waters is good for blood circulation.
As I lay in the jacuzzi, admiring the mountain in the distance engulfed by clouds and listening to nothing but the slow rustling of the leaves, I felt truly at one with nature. The session was the ultimate pampering experience and left my whole body feeling tranquil. My only regret was that due to the cloudy skies, it was hard to spot the northern lights. Oh well, maybe next time!