Immerse yourself in the Finnish lake district: Europe’s largest lake district promises luxurious log cabins, sunny beaches and saunas with breathtaking views

Each week our holiday hero, Neil Simpson, delves into a great holiday theme and does all the legwork so you don’t have to. This week: the Finnish Lake District.

The Finnish Lake District promises chic Scandinavian hotel suites, luxurious log cabins, sunny beaches and saunas with breathtaking views.

You’re in good company there, even on vacation.

“Finns have been named the happiest people in the world for the fifth year in a row, and the Finnish Lake District is where they recharge their batteries and reconnect with nature,” said Saija Kokkonen from the specialist travel agency Best Served Scandinavia.

Nicknamed the ‘land of a thousand lakes’, Finland’s lake district is the largest in Europe, making it easy to escape the crowds, even in summer.

Then temperatures can hit the mid-twenties, long days are followed by ‘white nights’ when the sun barely dips below the horizon – and holidaymakers find themselves doing things they’d never think of doing at home.

“The extra hours of daylight are so energizing that you won’t think twice about walking in a national park at midnight or doing an early morning yoga session on the shore of a lake,” says Kokkonen.

Outdoor activities such as hiking, biking, horseback riding, swimming, canoeing, rowing, fishing, foraging and more are popular. For details on equipment hire, instructors and tours, see Lakeland on visitfinland.com.

Too strenuous? Relaxing is easy here, as Finland is said to have more saunas than anywhere else in the world (last count around one in three residents), and in Lakeland they are perfectly positioned in hotels, campsites, etc., on beaches and even on lakes next to wooden rafts – and swimming diving platforms.

Tickets for public saunas cost around £15 on average, and the best advice is to follow the locals about wearing bathing suits or just towels.

Two very different examples can be found in the city of Tampere.

Rajaportti, Finland’s oldest public sauna, is still heated by wood fires, with a courtyard cafe selling coffee and freshly baked cinnamon rolls.

Nearby is the modern Kuuma complex, with innovative architecture, large windows in saunas, a two-story lake terrace and an elegant restaurant.

Culture also comes to life at the lakes. In July, a month-long opera festival takes place in the fortress-like Castle of St Olaf in Savonlinna.

Tickets for public saunas cost around £15 on average, and the best advice is to follow the locals about wearing bathing suits or just towels. Above is the Kuuma sauna complex in the city of Tampere

The modern Kuuma complex features modern architecture, large windows in the saunas, a two-story lake terrace and an elegant restaurant. In the photo on the right, a bather takes a dip in the water of the complex

Bird’s-eye view of Savonlinna, home to the fortress-like Castle of St. Olaf (foreground).

This summer’s major productions include The Magic Flute and The Barber of Sevilla (operafestival.fi).

There are stylish accommodation options throughout the lake area.

At Hotel & Spa Resort Jarvisydan, you will notice that the low buildings of wood and stone seem to disappear into the pine forest.

A month-long opera festival is held in July at St. Olaf’s Castle held

This summer’s major opera productions at Castle St. Olaf (above) includes The Magic Flute and The Barber of Seville.

Choose between hotel suites or cottages, all decorated with warm colors and fabrics.

Guests can relax in smoke and steam saunas and an expansive, cavernous spa.

Log cabins are another option with plenty to choose from on sites like rockandlake.com – where dozens of rentals have their own docks and boats – finlandcottarentals.com and Airbnb.

Best Served offers The Best Of Finish Lakeland, an eight-night self-drive holiday that starts with a stay in Helsinki, followed by nights in cottages, country houses, spa hotels and waterfront working farms. Costs from £1,620 per person, including flights (best-served.co.uk).

The low wooden and stone buildings of Hotel & Spa Resort Jarvisydan (above) seem to disappear into the surrounding pine forest

Pictured is the “huge, cavernous spa” at Hotel & Spa Resort Jarvisydan