Here, you can experience some of the world’s finest saunas, including Finland’s first UNIQUE-certified ice sauna and immerse yourself in the rich sauna culture of Ruka-Kuusamo. On December 13th, a new sauna will open at the summit of Ruka, accessible by gondola. From its windows, visitors can admire breathtaking fell landscapes.
Soon you can enjoy sauna at the peak of Ruka
The 10-hour SaunaTour, developed by female entrepreneurs from Kuusamo, sparked a sauna boom in the Ruka-Kuusamo area over a decade ago.
A holiday isn’t complete without a good sauna – a sentiment shared by many travelers heading north. Alongside downhill skiing and cross-country trails, visitors now seek open sauna sessions and ice swimming. The popularity of saunas has risen in all seasons, not just winter.
Kuusamo’s latest sauna destination opens at the top of Saarua Hill. The BASE Eat & Heat panoramic restaurant and sauna serve as a fell top retreat where delicious food, soothing steam, and outdoor hot tubs come together with the most stunning views of the fells. Behind its wooden walls, you’ll find a mixed-gender sauna offering expansive views of the protected Valtavaara area.
– We’re delighted about this new addition, offering the first-ever opportunity to sauna atop the fells. Now guests can enjoy a relaxing sauna experience surrounded by breathtaking fell scenery, says Janne-Juhani Haarma, CEO of Ruka-Kuusamo Tourist Association.
Spell poems and politics
Kuusamo’s vibrant sauna culture has attracted worldwide attention in Central Europe, North America, and Asia. A few years ago, Japan published a sauna manga book featuring local saunas. In Ruka-Kuusamo, every sauna has its unique specialty.
The Seven Star Smoke Sauna at Isokenkäisten Klubi has been the venue for significant decisions over the decades. While it’s still perfect for meetings, its gentle heat is now more often enjoyed for relaxation, along with peat treatments and icy dips.
– Our father named the business 'Isokenkäisten Klubi' (The Big Shoes Club) because he hosted and saunated several high-ranking Finnish politicians, says Katja Vira, entrepreneur at Isokenkäisten Klubi.
At Pohjolan Pirtti & Kievari, sauna hostess and entrepreneur Tanja Pohjola introduces visitors to sauna mythology, singing spell poems familiar from the Kalevala. For the winter season, she has prepared by freezing over 100 birch whisks.
– During Swedish rule, sauna traditions were carefully protected in Finland, and now there’s renewed interest in sauna history. Treatments with juniper whisks have been warmly received – one guest loved the spell poems so much they asked if they were on Spotify, Tanja laughs.
Sauna Tourism: As Popular as Snowmobiling?
Marjo Määttä has developed sauna services in the area with seven other female entrepreneurs from Kuusamo. One of their innovations is the award-winning SaunaTour KuusamoLapland – Wellbeing in the Wilderness, where guests embark on a 10-hour sauna circuit. Sauna experiences have the potential to become as popular as snowmobile safaris.
– The tour features nine different saunas and includes guided services, traditional treatments, and wild food. Guests can also choose a single sauna destination, which is currently the most popular option, Määttä explains.
Määttä manages the saunas at Rukan Salonki Chalets and Pyhäpiilo, located by Lake Pyhäjärvi near an old Sámi sacrificial site. A unique ice sauna, Finland’s first to receive the UNIQUE certification, will be constructed on-site by mid-December. This recognition is awarded to saunas offering distinctive experiences beyond the typical Finnish sauna.
Five saunas in the region hold the Authentic Finnish Sauna Experience label, indicating world-class quality: Isokenkäisten Klubi, Pohjolan Pirtti & Kievari, Rukan Salonki, Pyhäpiilo, and Iisakki Village by Ruka Safaris.
It’s recommended to book a seat in advance for the new BASE Eat & Heat.
The sauna and ice dip at Hotel RukaTonttu is open for walk-ins from Tuesday to Saturday.
Isokenkäisten Klubi offers open smoke sauna sessions starting from December 7th, nearly every week until the end of March. Make sure to book your spot in advance.
Pyhäpiilo’s ice sauna opens on December 19th and can be reserved for Thursdays until the end of March. The smoke sauna is heated several times a week. Advance reservations are required for both.
Sauna Highlights in Kuusamo
BASE Eat & Heat
Ruka’s newest sauna opens on Saarua’s peak on December 13th. BASE Eat & Heat features a shared mixed-gender sauna where you can relax in swimsuits. The outdoor pool offers Kuusamo’s most stunning bathing views over the fells, and the breathtaking scenery can also be admired from the restaurant after your sauna session. BASE Eat & Heat is easily accessible by gondola directly from Ruka Village.
Isokenkäisten Klubi
The seven-star smoke sauna at Isokenkäisten Klubi has been the site of significant decisions over the decades. Renowned Finnish politicians have sat on its benches. While it remains a great spot for meetings, the sauna primarily offers a place to unwind and enjoy peat treatments. Swimming is available in Lake Heikinjärvi year-round, both in summer and winter.
Pyhäpiilo
This sauna and nature spa is located by Lake Pyhäjärvi, near an ancient Sámi sacrificial site. According to legend, the shores of Lake Pyhäjärvi are dotted with Sámi sacred stones, which now work their magic in the smoke sauna’s stove. For the winter season, an ice sauna is also constructed at Pyhäpiilo. You can take a refreshing dip in Lake Pyhäjärvi or enjoy a soak in the warm outdoor hot tub. Special highlights include a herbal body scrub and Vodka Socks that boost metabolism.
Pohjolan Pirtti & Kievari
These saunas, built in an old barn on a historic family estate, take you on a journey through time. Learn sauna mythology and enjoy spell poems, followed by a wild food dinner prepared by the host and entrepreneur Matti Pohjola.
Rukan Salonki
This hi-tech sauna combines the aroma and ambiance of a smoke sauna without the soot. Swimmers enjoy Lake Salonkijärvi, while others can soak in the hot tub. Located just a five-minute drive from Ruka village.
Saunas in Iisakki Village
Situated by Lake Rukajärvi, these saunas offer electric heating, hot tubs, and opportunities for sauna yoga. Iisakki’s sauna is open daily in summer, with bookings available for other seasons.
Hotel RukaTonttu's sauna and ice dip
Conveniently located near the slopes, this sauna offers public sessions and access to an ice swimming hole in Lake Talvijärvi. Walk-in sessions available from Tuesday to Saturday.