The Sisterhood - Winter Edition

A winter journey through Finland designed for women to share. Experience sauna, nature and good food while travelling from the forests and coastline of Kotka to the vibrant streets of Helsinki. Expect authentic sauna experiences, snowy walks, long conversations and moments of calm, all at an unhurried pace.

The Essentials

Duration:

5 days of authentic sauna culture and Finnish nature

Saunas to visit:
5 – Kuusijärvi, Santalahti Glass Sauna, Marina Laituri Sauna, Tykkimäen Sauna, Löyly, Kotiharjun Sauna and Furuvik seaside sauna

Accommodation:

4 nights in cozy, locally selected hotels and cottages

Food:

Breakfast always included, plus handpicked dining experiences along the way

Group Size:

Small and personal — travel solo or bring a friend. Up to 15 women

Getting There:

Fly to Helsinki Airport (HEL) — all transport in Finland is arranged

Experience Level:

No prior sauna skills required — just curiosity and a love for warmth

Dates:

10th-14th February 2027

Journey Overview

Day 1 - Your first sauna and dinner together

Meet your fellow travellers at Helsinki Airport before beginning the journey together with a visit to the traditional smoke sauna at Kuusijärvi. Afterwards, continue east to Santalahti Resort, where modern seaside cabins provide a peaceful base for the days ahead. As evening falls, unwind in the Glass Sauna before gathering for dinner in a traditional Lappish kota, the first of many shared moments throughout the week.

Day 2 - National park and harbor sauna

The morning brings a winter hike in Valkmusa National Park at an unhurried pace, with lunch and coffee made by the fire, and in the afternoon we turn to city of Kotka’s waterfront for Marina Laituri Sauna, a straightforward public spot where locals drift in and out, and the ice hole sits close to the door so the switch between water and heat feels direct and simple. Hot drinks are available next door and the harbor setting gives a sense of everyday life, and back at the cabins we eat dinner together and let the evening stay low-key.

Day 3 - Lake sauna and move to the city

Start the day with a gentle morning activity and brunch before visiting Tykkimäki Sauna for an authentic Finnish sauna experience. In the afternoon, continue to Helsinki and check in at Hotel F6. We'll spend the evening at Löyly, one of the world's most renowned public saunas, with the option to enjoy dinner.

Day 4 - Helsinki on foot and a sauna icon

After breakfast, explore Helsinki through its food, architecture and independent boutiques at a relaxed pace. In the afternoon, experience Kotiharjun Sauna, where women and men sauna separately. End the day with an optional dinner at one of Helsinki's handpicked restaurants, celebrating the city's vibrant food scene.

Day 5 - Sea, smoke, and farewell

Spend your final morning together at Furuvik Seaside Sauna, hosted by a local female sauna entrepreneur who welcomes you into her corner of Finnish sauna culture. Between gentle heat, refreshing sea plunges and a light lunch, there's time to reflect on the journey before returning to Helsinki Airport.

The Guide

The greatest joy of creating The Sisterhood has been watching strangers leave as friends. That’s the heart of this journey, and something I look forward to building again and again – a space where meaningful connections can grow as naturally as the conversations shared in the sauna.

– Ida, Northern Star

Ida Kaijalainen

• 32 years old
• 221 years of family sauna legacy

• Sauna expert

This trip will be guided by Finnish Ida Kaijalainen, founder and owner of Northern Star. Ida Kaijalainen grew up with sauna as a constant. Even when she lived and travelled far from Finland, sauna was her link back, a ritual that always brought her home again.

Today Ida is involved in promoting finnish sauna culture not only via sauna trips, but also at sauna festivals, fairs and presentations.

At Northern Star, sauna isn’t just part of the plan. It is the plan. Each journey is designed with care, in places you might never find alone, with people who live this culture every day.

Practical details

Price: 10,800 DKK / 15,900 SEK / 1,450 EUR per person
Group Size: All women – up to 15 in one group
Sauna experience: Beginner friendly
Duration: 5 days / 4 nights

Included:

Four nights accommodation
Two lunches, two dinners & all breakfasts
Private transportation
All sauna experiences – seven in total
Activities according to the program
Local guide
All taxes

Not included:

Flights
Travel insurance
Meals and alcohol not listed
Single room supplement: 500 DKK / 740 SEK / 65 EUR night

Accommodation

Santalahti Resort, Kotka
At Santalahti Resort, the Luxury Villas offer a warm and social base for the group, set right by the sea and surrounded by nature. Spacious bedrooms with single beds make it easy to share comfortably, while large living rooms and open kitchens invite gathering, cooking and unwinding together. Each villa has its own sauna, where the day naturally slows into evenings of warmth and conversation. Modern design blends with views of forest and coastline, creating a private and practical home to return to after days spent outdoors.

Hotel F6, Helsinki

In the city, you check into Hotel F6, an elegant boutique hotel tucked away in the heart of Helsinki, just steps from the Esplanade and the waterfront. Comfortable rooms and a relaxed atmosphere offer a welcome contrast to days spent outdoors.

Mornings begin with one of Helsinki’s most celebrated hotel breakfasts, featuring fresh, seasonal ingredients and local flavours. From the front door, the city’s best restaurants, design boutiques and landmarks are all within easy walking distance, making Hotel F6 the perfect base for exploring the capital.