Wellness & wilderness escape at Kuru Resort

Day by day itinerary

• Day 1 » UK to Helsinki

  Begin your journey with a flight to the Finnish capital Helsinki. Take a short transfer to the heart of the city where you'll check in to your unique hotel located right in the centre. The boutique Lilla Roberts is contemporary and stylish and offers a casual restaurant with local cuisine. Alternatively, enjoy the glitz and glamour of The Hotel Maria Enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure, perhaps taking some time to explore Helsinki and the surrounds of the hotel.

  Stay: Lilla Roberts, Helsinki , The Hotel Maria

  Meals: Breakfast

• Day 2 » Explore Helsinki

  Today, you'll have a free day in Helsinki to explore. No matter the season, there is always plenty to do in and around the city. Head to Market Square for bustling local food markets, or take a ferry across to Suomenlinna for a taste of life outside the city. A Unesco World Heritage Site, the island's eighteenth-century fort spreads across six islands and was created by the Swedish to protect Finland from the Russians in 1748 at a time when Finland was part of Sweden. The city is also notable for its architecture, which contributed to Helsinki earning the title of Design Capital of the World back in 2012. In fact, so creative is the city that it has its own Design District in the centre, covering over 25 streets, offering plenty of intrigue and interest for the culture hungry.

  Stay: Lilla Roberts, Helsinki , The Hotel Maria

  Meals: Breakfast

• Day 3 » Arrive at Kuru Resort

  After breakfast, you'll depart Helsinki as you head to the train station for your scenic 2.5 hour journey north to the heart of Finland's lake region. Arrive in Mikkeli – a small town on the banks of the fourth largest lake in Europe, Lake Saimaa – where you'll be met for a further transfer to Kuru Resort, a unique luxury adults only retreat hidden among a beautiful pine forest. On arrival, you'll be shown to your modern and luxurious Lake Villa accommodation, located on the edge of a steep hill, offering enchanting and unoccupied views towards the pristine lake and immersing you into the surrounding nature. Each Villa is designed with natural elements and comes with breathtaking floor to ceiling windows as well as an outdoor patio, maximising the serene lake views. You'll also find a private spa, with a bathtub, bathroom with shower & private sauna. Spend the afternoon taking in the peaceful surroundings before dinner. Pick from a number of restaurants including Piikatytto, Kota or fine dining at Solitary.

  Stay: Kuru Resort
  

  Meals: Breakfast

• Days 4-5 » Activities at Kuru Resort

  Start the day with a hearty seasonal breakfast delivered directly to your villa. The following two days are dedicated to relaxation and taking advantage of the multitude of included facilities and excursions on offer. The resort hosts daily wellness classes, focussed on meditation, gentle yoga and breathing exercises. One relaxation lesson for each day is included in your stay. For your first full day at Kuru, we have included an unforgettable boat trip through Linnansaari National Park and the Saimaa Archipelago, including time to hike on either Kaarnetsaari or Linnansaari island. The following day, we have included a Ringed Seal Safari, as you navigate through the calm lake in search of the endangered species which lives only in Lake Saimaa. Throughout both days there will be a chance to rent kayaks, canoes, e-fat bikes and SUP boards for your own adventure. The evenings will present the opportunity to enjoy the lakeside sauna and perhaps a dip in the clear lake, traditionally part of a relaxing holiday in Finland. For your final evening, we have included a 6-course chef's menu dinner at Restaurant Solitary. This dinner experience is based around high quality handwork and seasonal ingredients with the utmost respect to the surround nature from which it is sourced.

  Stay: Kuru Resort
  

  Meals: Breakfast

• Day 6 » Return to the UK

  Enjoy a final breakfast from the comfort of your villa before departing by car transfer to Mikkeli. Depending on the time of your departure flight, it may be possible to include a final wellness class before departure. Your train from Mikkeli will take you to Helsinki airport in time for your flight back to the UK.

  Meals: Breakfast