Blueberry Villa at Saimaa Lakeside

A modern picturesque wooden villa in an exclusive safe location by Lake Saimaa awaits you only 2 hours from Helsinki. Master bedroom and another bedroom turning into a double and a baby cod accommodate a family of 4 on your holiday. A year-round livable villa with a beautiful garden is hidden by birches and pines. There is an indoor sauna, a gorgeous barbeque patio, games room, and a wood-burning lakeside summer sauna with a pier. A rowing boat, 2 mountain bicycles, a SUP board can be reserved. The space This gorgeous roomy villa downstairs has a fully-equipped kitchen, designer living room, sauna and shower room, toilet, flat-screen TV, fast WIFI, game console, fireplace, washing machine, outdoor gas barbeque and garden room and a separate wood-burning lakeside sauna and a rowing boat, stand up paddling board, outdoor games and 2 mountain bikes with helmets to use. Bed linen and towels are provided to the guests. There is also a baby bed if needed. The upstairs is closed from the guest's use. Rhubarb, chanterelles and blueberries grow in the yard. There is a gorgeous view from a covered terrace to crystal clear Saimaa and a white sand lakeshore to enjoy. Besides relaxing you can swim, row, fish, pick blueberries or mushrooms, hike or spot birds, or go horseback riding at the next door stables if you like. In the winter you can go skiing or walk on the frozen lake from the yard. Guest access The whole downstairs of the house and the large yard with the beach are yours when staying at the Blueberry Villa. The upstairs rooms are closed from visitors. We will be in touch and have the doors opened for you before your arrival. The lakeside sauna is used in the summer season. It is closed in the winter time. Other things to note Additional services Hostess is an author and cross-cultural trainer who also works in tourism sector. She likes to write her books at the villa. Upon request she provides culturally insightful sessions into Finnish traditions, Karelian characteristics and lifestyle by the lakeside. Session can include chosen activities such as teatime, warming the lakeside sauna, picking berries or mushrooms or preparing a local dish together, taking a rowing trip or going for a walk in the neighborhood. A simple session with a tour of the yard and house and tea and coffee moment with a readymade local dish (blueberry, strawberry, rhubarb etc.), strawberry cake, Finnish cinnamon rolls or Christmas cookies can be arranged in any season upon your arrival. HANDS ON CULTURE SESSIONS DURING THE CHANGING SEASONS - Summer: Introduction to Finnish Mid-Summer traditions and picking of wild flowers and turning them into a head band or lucky charm to be slept under a pillow with during the mid-summer night. Wild strawberry picking nearby into hey-straw option for the children. - Summer and early autumn: Introduction to Finnish gathering culture by blueberry picking in the nearby forest followed by blueberry pie preparation and eating with tea / coffee. (There are already some ready blueberries for the activity regardless of the amount of blueberries picked) - Autumn: Introduction to Finnish gathering culture by linconberry picking in the nearby forest followed by linconberry pie preparation and eating with tea / coffee (There are already some ready linconberries for the activity regardless of the amount of linconberries picked.) - Summer / autumn: Introduction to Finnish gathering culture by chanterelle mushroom picking on the yard or in the nearby forest followed by quiche preparation and eating with tea / coffee (There are already some ready chanterelles for the activity regardless of the amount of mushrooms picked.) - Summer / autumn: Introduction to Finnish sauna culture by warming the wood-burning sauna together and preparing the birch whisks for the bathers. - Summer: Rowing trip including fishing option. You will learn to row and find the fishing worms the traditional Finnish way. - October – December: An introduction to Finnish traditions with Finnish Christmas cookies – gingerbread men – baking with a wide variety of shapes and enjoying them with tea / coffee. - Winter: An introduction to Finnish traditions trying out some snow shoveling and making a snowman and a snow lantern from snowballs and putting a candle burning inside it or a readymade ice lantern on the yard. - March – April: An introduction to Finnish Easter traditions with the making of good luck whisk of willow branches, which you can take home. All participants will get a surprise chocolade egg. - Year around: walk around the neighborhood and discussion of surroundings, traditions, plants and lifestyle. PRICE PER PERSON - Simple session 20 € per person. Simple session lasts 1 hour. - Activity session 30 € per person. Activity visit lasts around 2 hours. If activities are combined the program will be co-created with the customer and priced accordingly.