Hietasaari sauna

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).

THIS IS HOW TO WORK IN THE SAUNA

The sauna is used on a self‑service basis.
If you are the first user of the day or the stove has cooled down, start heating the sauna in good time.
Heating the sauna takes about 1–1.5 hours, depending for example on the outdoor temperature.
Before lighting the stove, empty the the ash box in the stove. Use the ash container located nearby. Never dispose of hot ashes in nature!
Please chop firewood for your own use and also for the next sauna user.
Carry the sauna water from the lake using buckets.
If you are the last user, please leave the door or hatch open so the sauna can dry.

WASHING

The washing area is behind the sauna.
Fill the water boiler at least halfway before lighting the fire.
After washing, rinse off all soap before going into the lake.
This helps keep the lake clean.

BEFORE YOU LEAVE

Please tidy up the sauna and dressing room.
Add a couple of logs to the stove.

General

Further information

HIETASAARI SAUNA BOOKING AND TERMS OF USE

A sauna booking is binding, and unused bookings are non‑refundable.
You can check the sauna booking status through the booking system.

The sauna building has a changing room, a washing area behind the sauna with a water‑heating cauldron, and the sauna has its own jetty. This area is for the use of the customer during the booked time slot. Sauna users commit to following these instructions as well as the usage and safety instructions displayed at the sauna.

Sauna booking:
The sauna can be booked for private use for 1–3 hours daily between 8 am and 6 pm, with the last one‑hour booking slot starting at 5 pm. Bookings are made online, allowing advance reservation. The sauna fee is paid at the time of booking, and you will receive a booking confirmation at the email address you provided.

The sauna booking is binding, and transferring the booking or refunding the payment is not possible if the booking is not used for any reason.

NOTE! Daily sauna use is also possible without booking during shared sessions:
women from 6 pm to 8 pm and men from 8 pm to 10 pm.

Arrival and departure:

The private sauna session begins and ends at the times stated in the booking confirmation. The sauna door is not locked. Sauna use and heating are self‑service.

Before your session, you may prepare by chopping firewood in advance. When you finish, place the water bucket and the firewood carrier on the porch for the next user. If there are no bookings after your session, add a couple of logs to the stove, clean the sauna, and leave the door slightly open to ensure drying.

Use of the wood-burning stove:

When heating the stove, the flue damper must always be opened. Only dry firewood may be used for heating the sauna. The first user of the day must empty the cooled ashes into the designated container. The fire must be completely extinguished before leaving. Do not empty ashes accumulated during your sauna session, as they may cause a fire hazard.

Cleanliness:

Users are responsible for the cleanliness of the sauna, washing area, and changing room. Each sauna user must take care to remove their own equipment and rubbish and, if necessary, dry the floors so that it is pleasant for the next user to arrive for their session.

Smoking and open fire:

Smoking is prohibited inside the sauna building and on the porch. The use of outdoor fires and candles is prohibited in the sauna and on the terraces.

Damages:

The customer is responsible for any damage caused to the sauna, the building, or the movable property, and such damage must be reported to EKVAS. Compensation may be charged for any damages caused.

Enquiries

Etelä-Karjalan virkistysaluesäätiö sr
virkistysaluesaatio@ekvas.fi
0408235105
Company id: 0835048-6