Genuine experiences in different seasons
Happiness can be found surprisingly close – in the warmth of a sauna, the taste of forest berries, chopping firewood, a fishing catch, or coffee brewed in a coffee pot over an open fire. In Uhkuas, life is lived in the rhythm of the seasons and according to old traditions.
These experiences allow you to peek into the authentic Saimaa way of life. Join us and experience what local happiness feels like.
Forest walk and open-fire cooking on Lake Saimaa
STEP INTO THE FOREST, GATHER SEASONAL INGREDIENTS AND COOK A BLUEBERRY DESSERT TOGETHER OVER AN OPEN FIRE.
Join your host for a relaxed walk in the forest, where you’ll discover what the season has to offer and feel the simple joy of being in nature. Along the way, we gather what the forest offers – typically berries in late summer – while learning about local nature and everyday life in rural Finland.
Back at the fire, we cook together outdoors using what we have gathered. You’ll take part in preparing a traditional Finnish blueberry dessert, cooked over an open fire and shared together straight fom the pan. This delicacy is served with vanilla cream and freshly brewed Finnish campfire coffee and seasonal homemade drink.
This is a hands-on, easygoing experience – no rush, just time spent in nature, cooking and sharing a meal together.
Seasonal option: During mushroom season, the experience can alternatively include a foraging and cooking session with wild mushrooms – for example chanterelles prepared over the fire and enjoyed on bread with coffee.
AVAILABLE: July – September (mushroom option later in the season)
GUIDING LANGUAGES: Finnish, English
GROUP SIZE: 6 – 12 people
DURATION: approx. 2,5 hours, flexible starting time
WALKING DISTANCE: approx. 2 km (easy terrain)
PRICE: 75 € / person (incl. VAT), minimum charge equivalent to 6 people
The experience takes place near our house (Suurlahdentie 3189, 52360 Someenjärvi) in Ristiina. Alternative locations nearby are possible on request (additional fee will be applied).
This experience can be booked as described, but we are also happy to tailor it to your needs. We believe the best experiences are created through dialogue, so feel free to contact us to plan your visit.
Reservations and more detailed information on request:
Asta Aalto / +358 40 744 7631 / asta@uhkua.fi
Forest walk and mushroom foraging in Lake Saimaa
EXPERIENCE THE FINNISH FOREST AND DISCOVER THE JOY OF MUSHROOM FORAGING!
Join your host for a relaxed walk in the forest, where we explore the seasonal world of mushrooms. This easy and enjoyable outing is suitable for both beginners and those with some experience – or anyone simply curious about Finnish nature.
Along the way, we learn to recognise a few common edible mushrooms and gather them together, while moving at an unhurried pace and taking in the beauty of the forest. The focus is on experiencing, observing and enjoying – with practical tips and ideas you can take home with you.
For an added treat, you can order hand crafted lunch made of local ingredients to enjoy during the trip. We will provide baskets and knives if needed – just bring weather-appropriate clothing, good footwear and a curious mind.
The experience takes place in our nearby forests in Ristiina. A light rain will not prevent the trip, but in case of severe weather, we will reschedule.
AVAILABLE: July – October
GUIDING LANGUAGES: Finnish, English
OPTIMAL GROUP SIZE: 4 – 12 people
DURATION: 2 h, flexibe starting time
DEPARTURE: Suurlahdentie 3189, 52360 Someenjärvi (Uhkua)
PRICE: 65€/person (incl. vat), minimum charge equivalent to 4 people
PACKED LUNCH (OPTIONAL) : 20€/person (incl. vat)
This experience can be booked as described, but we are also happy to tailor it to your needs. We believe the best experiences are created through dialogue, so feel free to contact us to plan your visit.
Reservations and more detailed information on request:
Asta Aalto / +358 40 744 7631 / asta@uhkua.fi
Winter fishing and burbot soup on Lake Saimaa
DISCOVER WINTER FISHING ON LAKE SAIMAA AND ENJOY A TRADITIONAL MEAL INSPIRED BY THE SEASON.
Step onto the frozen lake with us and take part in winter fishing as it is still practiced by people living by the lake. During a guided walk on the ice, we explore the winter landscape and learn how fishing continues even in the coldest months.
You will drill your own hole in the ice and try traditional ice fishing yourself. During burbot spawning season, also fish traps are traditionally set under the ice — and if we have traps in place, we will check them together and see what the lake has offered.
While fishing we pause on the ice for a warming hot drink and a Finnish cinnamon bun — a small but essential part of any winter outing.
Winter fishing requires patience, but it also connects you directly to the meal that follows. After our time on the ice, we return to our atmospheric old log house to warm up and enjoy a hearty burbot soup — a traditional seasonal delicacy. The soup is prepared by Ilkka, our chef and fisherman, using locally caught fish and ingredients from nearby producers.
This experience brings together shared moments, winter landscape, hands-on fishing and a meal that reflects the season.
AVAILABLE: February–March, depending on weather and ice conditions
GUIDING LANGUAGES: Finnish, English
OPTIMAL GROUP SIZE: 6 – 12 people
DURATION: 3 hrs, flexible starting time
DEPARTURE: Suurlahdentie 3189, 52360 Someenjärvi (Uhkua)
PRICE: 135 € / person (incl. vat), minimum billing equivalent to 6 people
This experience can be booked as described, but we are also happy to tailor it to your needs. We believe the best experiences are created through dialogue, so feel free to contact us to plan your visit.
Reservations and more detailed information on request:
Asta Aalto / +358 40 7447631 / asta@uhkua.fi
Pieni sieniretki Saimaalla
Experience Finnish forest and join us for a relaxed mushroom foraging adventure! Whether you’re a beginner, a seasoned forager, or simply curious about mushrooms and Finnish nature, we warmly welcome you on this easy-access and enjoyable outing. This adventure takes place in the forests near us, where we are familiar with good mushroom spots.
During the trip, we will focus on identifying and collecting a few common edible mushrooms while immersing ourselves in the beauty of nature. The goal is to fill our baskets while learning about the distinguishing features of these mushrooms and discovering delicious recipes you can make at home. As a takeaway, you’ll receive a selection of mushroom recipes via email.
For an added treat, you can order hand crafted local food lunch to enjoy during the trip. All you need to bring is a good mood and ‘mushroom-eyeglasses’ (don’t worry if you don’t have them yet, we will find them during the trip), something to drink, weather-appropriate clothing, and footwear suitable for walking in the forest. We will provide you a mushroom basket and knife if you don’t have your own.
A light rain won’t stop us, but if the weather turns bad, the trip will be canceled or rescheduled.
- AVAILABLE: (July) August – October
- OPTIMAL GROUP SIZE: 4 – 12 persons
- DURATION: 2 h
- DEPARTURE: Suurlahdentie 3189, Someenjärvi (Uhkua, about 55 km from Mikkeli city center)
- PRICE: 65 € per person (including VAT 25,5 %), minimum billing 4 people
- PACKED LUNCH (OPTIONAL) : 20 € per person (including VAT 14%)
Asta Aalto / +358 40 744 7631 / asta@uhkua.f
Perinteinen suomalainen sauna ja paikallisopas
Onnellisuus voi löytyä yllättävän läheltä – saunan lämmöstä, metsämarjan mausta, halkojen hakkuusta, kalansaaliista tai nokipannukahveista. Uhkuassa eletään vuodenaikojen rytmissä ja vanhojen tapojen mukaan.
Nämä elämykset antavat sinun kurkistaa aitoon saimaalaiseen elämänmenoon. Tule mukaan ja koe, miltä paikallinen onnellisuus tuntuu.
Opastettu talvikalastus ja ...
Learn the secrets of winter fishing and how to use a traditional wire fish trap to catch your very own turbot or two with our knowledgeable resident fisherman and chef Ilkka. During the c. 1 hr snowshoe walk on ice you will be able to admire the stunning winter scenery of Lake Saimaa and learn about the fishing trade in the region. You will get to witness how fresh and local the fish we eat and serve is and how we finns catch it.
After returning from our fishing adventure, we will enjoy a delicious burbot soup meal in our charming log cabin. Fish is caught by us of course and the rest of the ingredients come from local producers or from our own garden. In addition we use the best seasonal ingredients from the surrounding nature, pick mushrooms and berries from the local forests, use them fresh in the season and preserve the rest for the winter. Sustainability is at the heart of everything we do, and food made from local and homegrown ingredients is our passion.
- Duration of the experience is c. 3 hrs
- Optimal size of the group: 4 -12 people
- Experience is available depending on the weather and ice conditions and can be done in February and March when it’s burbot spawning season.
- PRICE: 135 € / person, minimum billing 4 persons
- Food 45 € (inc. VAT 14%), rest of the experience 90 € (inc. VAT 25,5%)
Asta Aalto / +358 40 744 7631 / asta@uhkua.f