Finnish HappinessCamp – back to the nature at Lake Saimaa
Experience Finnish happiness where it begins: in nature, silence and connection with yourself.
Finland has been named the Happiest Country in the World eight years in a row.
Not because life is perfect, but because we know where to return when things feel too heavy: back to nature, back to ourselves.
Finland Happiness Camp is your chosen Luontopolku Back to Your Senses® slow travel experience in Lappeenranta and wellness retreat at Lake Saimaa, only 2 hours from Helsinki. It is designed for travelers seeking clarity, emotional renewal and a genuine taste of Finnish wellbeing. Chill like a Finn in Finland.
Time hangs in the air at the Blueberry Villa. Take a day in nature, far from everything. Visit us for a rowing trip to 5000 year old stone age rock paintings at the Castle Rock (Linnavuori), join a trail ride across the woods at Vitsai village of Taipalsaari or spend the whole afternoon at day retreat.
Watch the video story of Roya Fox’s visit at The Finnish Happiness Camp at The Journey Studio YouTube Channel.
Read the Finnish Happiness Camp: What Can Happen in Two Days? blog.
Afternoon Experiences at Blueberry Villa
You can book an afternoon visit to Blueberry Villa in Vitsai village, Taipalsaari, and choose between two distinctive Lake Saimaa experiences.
Explore the Linnavuori Stone Age rock paintings, reached through the surrounding nature and lakeside landscape, or join a horseback trail ride through peaceful forests with beautiful views over Lake Saimaa.
Each experience is thoughtfully adapted to the interests and intentions of your group, allowing time not only to explore the landscape, but also to pause, connect with nature and experience the place more deeply.
Rowing to the Ancient Rock Paintings – Lake Saimaa
Step into the layers of Lake Saimaa’s history on a private rowing journey from Blueberry Villa to the ancient rock paintings at Linnavuori, Castle Rock.
We row across the lake and approach the paintings from the water, much as people would have moved through this landscape thousands of years ago. Along the way, we slow down to observe the lake, surrounding forest and traces left by those who lived here before us.
The experience is adapted to the interests and intentions of your group and combines local cultural heritage with the reflective Journey Studio approach.
After returning to Blueberry Villa, we enjoy traditional Karelian pies with coffee or tea and time to reflect on the experience.
private rowing experience on Lake Saimaa
visit to the ancient Linnavuori / Castle Rock paintings from 5000 years back
stories of the landscape, its history and connection to place
reflective Luontopolku® elements adapted to your group
traditional Karelian pie snack with coffee or tea at Blueberry Villa
transfers to and from Lappeenranta center
Duration: approximately 2.5–3 hours
Price:
1 person: €175
2 people: €275 total
3 people: €375 total
Includes: Journey Studio hosting, rowing excursion and boat, visit to the rock paintings, reflective elements, transfers and refreshments at Blueberry Villa.
Horseback Trail Experience – Lake Saimaa
Experience the forests and landscapes of Lake Saimaa on horseback. We travel from Blueberry Villa to a local stable for a guided 1.5-hour trail ride through peaceful woodland and changing Saimaa scenery.
The riding experience is adapted to the riders’ experience level and, as with all Journey Studio experiences, to the intention of your visit. After the ride, we return to Blueberry Villa to slow down, reflect and enjoy traditional Karelian pies with coffee or tea.
guided 1.5-hour horseback trail ride
peaceful Finnish forest and Lake Saimaa scenery
experience adapted to the riders and their intentions
Journey Studio hosting and local transfers from Lappeenranta center
Karelian pie snack with coffee or tea at Blueberry Villa
Duration: approximately 3–3.5 hours
Price:
1 person: €195
2 people: €350 total
3 people: €495 total
Includes: horseback trail ride, transfers between Blueberry Villa and the stable, Journey Studio hosting and refreshments at Blueberry Villa.
To book your desired experience fill the form below
A Curated, Sensory-Opening Journey in Finland
Finland Happiness Camp is a complete wellbeing experience designed to guide you back to clarity, inner balance and the Finnish way of happiness. Rooted in the Luontopolku Back to Your Senses® method, the program blends nature, reflection and intentional travel coaching across three meaningful steps:
Your Three-Step Journey you can book separately or in a package
Pre-Travel Coaching – “Finland Calling” (online, 60 min)
Prepare your senses, intentions and inner landscape before arriving in Finland.Luontopolku® Reflective Saimaa UNESCO Global Geopark Walk (1.5 h)
Slow, sensory nature walk through the historic fortress, the Old Town of Lappeenranta and Saimaa UNESCO Geopark environment.Day Retreat at Lake Saimaa (8 hours)
A full-day wellness retreat at Blueberry Villa with guided activities, sauna and a seasonal dinner where you chill like a Finn.
Each step opens a deeper connection to nature, your inner voice and the Nordic sense of calm.
What’s included
60 min Finland Calling pre-travel online coaching preparing you to chill
1.5 h Luontopolku® UNESCO Geopark Reflective Walk in the Old Town of Lappeenranta
8-hour Day Immersive Retreat at Lake Saimaa at Blueberry Villa, Taipalsaari
Finnish sauna ritual at 19th century woodburning lakeside sauna
Seasonal dinner after sauna, with local flavours
Guided Luontopolku® moments, reflective exercises, gentle journaling prompts for your consideration
Optional lakeside activities (rowing boat, sup board, fishing) and light refreshments during the retreat
Practical guidance and preparation notes before and memento after your journey
Price: €670 / person or €995 / 2 persons
Choose Your Experience
You can book each part of Finland Happiness Camp separately, depending on what you need most right now. You are welcome to bring a partner, friend, family member or colleague. The expriences are then adapted to your shared intention.
Finland Calling – Pre-Travel Coaching (Online)
Arrive in Finland already connected to your inner compass.
In this 60-minute online session we clarify:
what is calling you in Finland
what you wish from this journey
what you want to leave behind
which themes you want to explore on your Luontopolku Back to Your Senses® path
You’ll receive simple reflection prompts to use during your trip and a gentle introduction to the method. You will be prepared to experience Finland and travel further within as well as in the country while visiting this unique Nordic destination.
Duration: 60 minutes (online)
Price:
1 person: €150
2 people together: €225 total
Luontopolku® Reflective Walk – Old Town Saimaa UNESCO Global Geopark
A guided 1.5-hour Luontopolku® walk through the historic fortress, Old Town of Lappeenranta and the Saimaa UNESCO Global Geopark environment.
We move slowly, pause often and listen to surrounding layers of history and ourselves. Through gentle questions and sensory attention, nature starts mirroring back what you need to see.
reflective nature trail with Luontopolku® prompts
embodied, sensory presence
time to breathe and reorient yourself
breathtaking Lake Saimaa scenery and viewpoints
Duration: 1.5 hours (on site in Lappeenranta)
Price:
1 person: €165
2 people: €250 total
3 people: €300 total
Day Wellbeing Retreat at Lake Saimaa – Blueberry Villa
Spend a full, slow day by the waters of Lake Saimaa chilling like a Finn at Blueberry Villa, surrounded by forest and Nordic calm.
The retreat weaves together:
guided Luontopolku® nature moments
quiet time by the lake; lake activities
Finnish wood-burning lakeside sauna ritual with prepations
seasonal dinner after sauna with local ingredients and reflections
This is a day to reset your nervous system, reconnect with your inner landscape and experience Finnish happiness & Southern Karelian culture in its most natural form.
Duration: 8 hours (on site at Blueberry Villa): pickup between 12-15 in Lappeenranta center.
Price:
1 person: €380
2 people: €570 total
3 people: €675
Note: Ideal for couples, close friends or colleagues wishing to share a meaningful, private wellbeing experience, and just chill.
Why this method?
Finnish and global research show that:
10 minutes in nature calm the nervous system
nature walks lower cortisol and support burnout recovery
forest environments help prevent depression and deepen mindfulness
Luontopolku Back to Your Senses® combines:
Finnish nature wisdom and ancestral knowing
scientific insight into nature’s impact on wellbeing
Japanese forest bathing principles
intentional travel coaching and reflective guidance
Meaningful change happens when we slow down, listen and let nature support our inner journey.
Your Guide in Finland
I’m Mirka Kristiina Bruun, Transformative Travel Coach, author and founder of The Journey Studio.
After a sabbatical through seven countries; from Machu Picchu to driving alone across Spain, I realised that my real recovery came from returning to Finnish nature and to my own nature. From that understanding I created Luontopolku Back to Your Senses®, a method guiding people back to clarity, connection and inner balance through nature-based, intentional travel.
I now design retreats and coaching journeys that help individuals and organizations slow down, listen and gently realign their lives.
Experiences of Finnish Happiness
“I spent the weekend with Mirka for her Happiness Camp experience. I don’t say this lightly that I think it was a life changing experience and a weekend I will be thinking about for a long time. Mirka has a gift for speaking with people and asking the right questions and while she guides the experience, it is completely custom to each person. I want to bring back all of my friends and family so they can experience it for themselves! “ . — Roya Fox
Read more customer experiences on our Google page.
Ready to Experience Happiness the Finnish Way?
Whether you join the full Finland Happiness Camp or choose just one of the slow travel experiences, each step is an invitation to pause, breathe and return to your senses.