Hietasaari is a recreation destination maintained by the South Karelia Recreation Area Foundation, located on the southern part of Lake Saimaa along the deep-water channel, slightly north of Rastinvirta. The sheltered excursion harbour and beautiful sandy beach make the island a pleasant stopping place for boaters and other people travelling on the water.
A new sauna for boaters and paddlers was built at the excursion harbour in summer 2025. The sauna offers an opportunity to relax and enjoy traditional sauna bathing in the middle of the Saimaa archipelago nature – peacefully but in a communal spirit.
The Hietasaari excursion harbour has mooring berths, a campfire site, toilets and waste management facilities. The destination is intended for short-term recreation and independent outdoor activities. The Hietasaari excursion harbour has long traditions as a communal recreation place for boaters.
ONLINE SAUNA BOOKING
The sauna can be booked in advance by boaters, allowing a sauna shift to be reserved as part of a paddling trip or a boating route. The sauna fee is paid at the time of booking.
If you are already at Hietasaari, you can check the sauna availability through the booking system.
BOOK AND/OR CHECK AVAILABLE TIME SLOTS
Select the correct date from the calendar at the top of this page.
Private sauna shifts can be booked between 8 am and 5 pm (the last shift ends at 6 pm).
Select the time and then the number of hours; the price is always €20 per hour.
After payment, you will receive a booking confirmation—keep it as proof of your reservation.
By making a booking and payment, you agree to the booking and terms of use (see also the section “Basic Information” below).
INSTRUCTIONS FOR SAUNA USERS
The sauna is used independently, as with the old sauna:
The sauna door is not locked.
The sauna is wood-heated.
The person who has booked the first sauna shift lights the fire in the stove; heating may be started well in advance of the booked shift.
Even if there is no following booking after your shift, remember to leave a couple of logs in the stove to allow the sauna to dry.
In the followings shifts each user takes care of adding firewood.
Each user is responsible for chopping firewood for their own shift – and at least kindling for the next user.
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