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Winter wonderland and wellbeing in Hotel Kalevala

The beautiful winter view from the hotel terrace

Travel period 10.01.2012 – 15.04.2012
6 days (5 nights)

Hotel Kalevala in Kuhmo, Finland, is a unique attraction offering relaxation and wellbeing as well as culture and heritage. This is both relaxing and romantic winter break for two in winter wonderland!

The hotel building mirrors the nature that surrounds it, and nestles on the shores of Lake Lammasjärvi in Eastern Finland close to the Russian border. This is a region of great tradition and folklore. This is a place where Finland’s great epic Kalevala still survives.

The hotel restaurant overlooks the lake, and offers meals made with local ingredients from the Kainuu region. On the menu are many local delicacies like fish soup, wild boar filet and smoked reindeer, and also a good selection of vegetarian dishes. There is a special wellbeing-menu for those aiming to eat healthily.

The hotel works closely with local companies and guides promoting responsible travel in the taiga region.

Day to day

Day 1: Arrival to Taiga
Arrival to Kajaani airport is followed by about 1.5 hour transfer to the Hotel Kalevala. Settle in your Kalevala accommodation, and enjoy a dinner in the hotel restaurant.

Day 2: Husky safari
After the breakfast a transfer even closer to the Russian border for a full day husky safari. You will get proper outdoor clothing for the trip so you don’t have to worry about getting cold. The day starts with a visit to a husky farm where you will learn the basics of driving the dog teams. This is followed by a 15 mile drive in the wilderness with two persons in a sleigh. Lunch will be served by an open fire. The evening closes with sauna and half board dinner.

Day 3: Snowmobiling
After breakfast it is time to get your thermal overalls and get ready for a 4-5 hour snowmobile safari along the Taiga forest. Ride about 30 miles in a beautiful snow covered forest with professional guides. Stop for a lunch and tea break by an open fire. Couples can either ride together or hire an extra snowmobile for riding solo. Evening sauna with jacuzzi warms you up for the half board dinner.

Day 4: Relaxing and romancing
This is a day for pampering and wellbeing. First you will try the traditional Finnish bone setting. This method is based on very old tradition of Finnish folk medicine and is very efficient in treating various forms of physical problems. In the afternoon you will enjoy Romance (Rose-Geranium) bath for two. You can also book little extra luxuries like peat or infra red sauna or a salt room treatment. Finish the relaxing day with a Wellness Dinner: Radish in a honey sauce, nettle pancakes, grilled white fish with berry sauce and lingonberry mousse.

Day 5: Day for you two
This is a day for optional activities. You can pamper yourself with wellbeing treatments, book extra activities or explore local attractions. Click here to see a list of extra activities.

The Winter War Museum reminds of the closeness to the Russian border. Many battles took place on Kuhmo soil during the war, and the village was bombed several times. The Petola nature centre tells of local predators brown bear, wolf, lynx and wolverine. The centre provides an insight to the life of these species. The Kalevala information centre Juminkeko is a masterpiece of modern wood architecture, and presents Finnish history and folklore with multimedia shows and exhibitions. It also has one of the largest collections of editions of Kalevala.

Kuhmo is world famous for its chamber music festival, and there are concerts and other events around the year at the local arts centre Kuhmo-talo. It promotes the spiritual development of people through arts and science.

Relax with an evening sauna with jacuzzi before the half board dinner. You could order another wellness menu: green salad with herb oil a la Kalevala, grilled salmon with artichoke potatoes and morel sauce, chocolate beetroot cake with vanilla ice cream (extra charge £11/person).

Day 6: Back home
After breakfast transfer back to the airport and a flight back home refreshed and relaxed.

Seasons:

Season I 10.01.-31.01.2012 & 01.04.-15.04.2012
Season II 01.02.-31.03.2012

Prices:

10.01.-31.01.2012 & 01.04.-15.04.2012
From London Heathrow: £1299/adult (two sharing)
From Manchester: £1369/adult (two sharing)

01.02.-31.03.2012
From London Heathrow: £1354/adult (two sharing)
From Manchester: £1419/adult (two sharing)

What is included in the price?

Scheduled return flights from London Heathrow or Manchester to Kajaani airport
Transfer from/to airport Kajaani
5 overnights in Hotel Kalevala (double rooms), with own toilet and shower
Half board
Evening sauna with jacuzzi
Full day husky safari with picnic
4-5 hours snowmobile safari with outdoor lunch
Day for wellbeing (traditional Finnish bonesetting, Romance bath for 2, wellbeing dinner)
Free use of kick-sledges, Playstation and Nintendo Wii games, DVD movies, wireless internet, library, 2 fireplaces, board games and karaoke