Luxury wellness retreat in Finnish Lakeland

Your trip begins with included airport lounge access before your flight from the UK to Helsinki, Finland’s elegant seaside capital. On arrival, make your way to The Hotel Maria in the laid-back Kruununhaka neighbourhood. Combining a sense of historical grandeur with cutting-edge, contemporary Finnish design, this is a truly luxurious and glamorous base from which to explore the delights of Helsinki. After settling into your stylish accommodation, the rest of the day is yours to spend at leisure, whether you fancy exploring the surrounding area or making the most of the hotel’s top-class amenities, which include a state-of-the-art spa with a sauna, a steam room and plunge pools. While Helsinki boasts a superb array of restaurants, you may be tempted to dine in later on at the hotel’s signature restaurant, Lilja, which specialises in quality Finnish ingredients paired with French-inspired techniques to create a truly exquisite dining experience, complemented by a superb wine selection and a classy, intimate setting.

Get your day off to the perfect start with a delicious breakfast, whether you fancy taking your pick from the hotel’s lavish buffet or ordering from the à la carte menu. You then have the whole day free to explore Helsinki as you please. Senate Square, which hosts the gleaming white, Neoclassical-style Helsinki Cathedral, is an ideal place to start, and it’s just a 5-10 minute stroll away from the hotel. Continue a little further and you’ll soon arrive at the harbour, where you’ll find the bustling Market Square and the Old Market Hall, as well as the Allas Sea Pool swimming and sauna complex. Ferries depart from here to Suomenlinna, a UNESCO World Heritage-listed former military fortress split across several islands – a thoroughly worthwhile inclusion in your Helsinki sightseeing agenda. Later on, there’s the option to enjoy a gin tasting session at the Helsinki Distilling Company, or you might indulge in a Michelin-starred meal at Finnjävel Salonki. The more casual partner restaurant, Sali, is also highly recommended.

After breakfast, pick up your hire car and begin the drive up north to Kuru Resort. It’s around a three-and-a-half to four-hour journey in total, so to break it up, we recommend stopping just outside Mikkeli at Tertti Manor, a 17th-century country estate with an award-winning restaurant and a delightful garden cafe. From here, it’s just another hour or so to Kuru Resort, passing through a mellow landscape of forests, lakes and gently rolling hills along the way. On arrival at Kuru Resort, you’ll be shown to your accommodation – a sleek and secluded, timber-clad villa tucked away in a pine forest overlooking a lake. Each villa comes with an outdoor patio with floating chairs, a fireplace and a private sauna. Staying at Kuru Resort is all about slowing down, escaping the rigours of everyday life and reconnecting with nature. Indeed, you’ll instantly feel a sense of calm wash over you from the moment you arrive at this tranquil hideaway. You have a choice of three restaurants tonight, showcasing the best of authentic and sustainable Finnish cuisine. The fine dining venue, Solitary, is part of Kuru Resort, while Piikatytto and Savonian Kota are found in the wider Järvisydän resort complex.

Enjoy breakfast from the comfort of your villa this morning before taking part in a wellness class, hosted in Kuru Resort’s ‘Lazy Space’, with a focus on meditation, breathing techniques and yoga. It’s then time to hop on a boat for a scenic trip out into the stunning Saimaa Archipelago, where you can choose to stop at the islands of Kaarnetsaari or Linnansaari – the perfect introduction to the region’s idyllic nature. Breathe in that crisp, clean air, embrace the silence of your surroundings and take in the picturesque scenery as you go. On returning to Kuru Resort, enjoy a soothing session in the sauna followed by a refreshing dip in the lake; a quintessentially Finnish formula for relaxation. 

Today, you’ll set off in search of the elusive Saimaa Ringed Seal on a boat safari. These seals are among the rarest species of seals in the world, and are unique to the Lake Saimaa region, having lived here in isolation since the end of the last Ice Age. Your skipper will take you to Linnansaari island for the best possible chance of seeing one of these beautiful creatures. In the afternoon, enjoy two hours of equipment rental at the resort, whether you fancy kayaking, cycling or paddle boarding. Your final evening is sure to be a special one, as you’ll be treated to a six-course gourmet Chef’s Menu experience at Restaurant Solitary, which is ranked among the top 30 restaurants in Finland. The menu here places a strong emphasis on seasonal, local produce sourced from the forests and lakes of the Lake Saimaa region. What better way to round off your Finnish adventure? 

Enjoy one last breakfast at your villa and, if you have time, squeeze in a final wellness class before departing Kuru Resort and driving back to Helsinki Airport to drop off your hire car and catch your flight home.