Rajalansaari
The Rajalansaari Rope ferry
The island can be reached by rope ferry from Rajalanniemi.
Take a look at the attached map for detailed directions and the precise location of Rajalansaari. This should help you navigate the path to the shore and to the rope ferry.
The ferry operates all year round except in winter, when the strait is covered in ice. It is permitted to take four people on board at the same time.
Please pull the ferry right back to the pier after use so that the ferry and the ferry cable do not endanger water traffic in the strait.
Rope ferry, summer and Rajalansaari
Using rope ferry adds a wonderfully nostalgic and serene element to the Rajalansaari experience.
The ferry is an exciting experience and a new means of transport, especially for the youngest members of the family.
Crossing the Vähäsalmi Strait is one of the highlights of Rajalansaari nature trail.
Rajalansaari Smoke Sauna
The Rajalansaari public sauna
Wednesdays from June to August, 6 PM to 9 PM
Bring your own snacks, swimsuits, and sauna supplies.
And of course, bring your friends!
Sauna fee: 5 – 10 €/person.
Spend a summer evening bathing in the sauna, dipping in Lake Kukkia, roasting sausages on a campfire, enjoying coffee brewed over a campfire while talking with others.
Smoke Sauna Bathing
Smoke sauna, or ”savusauna,” is a traditional Finnish experience that combines the therapeutic effects of heat with the unique ambiance created by the smoke.
The process involves heating a pile of rocks in a wood-fired stove for several hours without a chimney, filling the sauna with smoke. Once the desired temperature is reached, the smoke is vented out, leaving behind the warm, aromatic atmosphere of the sauna.
The soot from long time usage has painted the walls black and given its characteristic smell.
It has been said about smoke sauna bathing in Rajalansaari:
”You can’t get closer to heaven on earth.”
This beautiful sentiment truly captures the transcendent experience of a smoke sauna.
A Smoke Sauna is more than just a sauna
Imagine a warm summer evening spent on the beautiful island of Rajalansaari, enveloped by the soothing heat of a traditional Finnish smoke sauna.
The air is filled with the rich, woody scent of the sauna, and the gentle sounds of nature create a serene backdrop. You take a dip in the clear waters of Lake Kukkia, feeling refreshed and rejuvenated.
Afterwards, you gather around a cozy campfire with friends, enjoying the simple pleasure of roasted sausages and campfire coffee.
This combination of tradition, nature, and community makes for an unforgettable experience, perfectly capturing the essence of Finnish culture.
The bright summer evenings of Finland
There’s something truly magical about the long, light-filled evenings of a Finnish summer.
As the sun lingers on the horizon, the golden hour seems to stretch forever, bathing the landscape in a warm, soft glow.
It’s the perfect time for outdoor activities, gatherings with friends, or simply soaking in the serene beauty of nature.
The Island of Sauna Elves
The story of the sauna elves (in Finnish: saunatontut) indeed adds an enchanting layer to the experience of Rajalansaari.
The island is said to have long been favored by these mythical beings,
earning it the unofficial title of the home of Finland’s sauna elves.
The sauna elves, known for their discretion, rarely make themselves known, but they add a whimsical charm to the island.
In Rajalansaari, the sauna elves also take on human form as the village volunteers who heat the smoke sauna and care for the island.
These dedicated individuals embody the spirit of the sauna elves, blending folklore with the community’s commitment to maintaining tradition and natural beauty. Their efforts ensure that the enchanting experience of the smoke sauna continues to be a cherished part of the island’s heritage.
Rajalansaari nature trail
Rajalansaari is largely a nature reserve. It features a beautiful nature trail that stretches for 2,5 kilometers through the fern grove in Rajalanniemi, passing rop ferry in Vähäsalmi to the shores of the island.
This trail offers a wonderful opportunity to explore the island’s natural beauty, with its diverse flora and the tranquil environment.
The island’s nature protection is significantly based on the presence of the forest lime tree (Tilia cordata ).
The forest lime tree indeed adorns the Rajalansaari nature trail with its delicate, lace-like branches that gently and gracefully bend. The heart-shaped leaves are a defining feature, referenced in the Latin name ”cordata,” which signifies ”heart-shaped.”
Fern grove
Along the Vähäsalmenranta stream, there is a rich fern forest dominated by the eagle’s wing, one of the most spectacular ferns in our country.
Ferns provide an idea of what the world’s forests looked like during the Carboniferous period, 300 million years ago. Their remains have formed the world’s coal reserves.
Coastal landscapes
The Rajalansaari nature trail goes around the island nature reserves and follows the shores, sometimes right at the water’s edge, and sometimes on hills and cliffs.
Boulders
Boulders are typical of Kukkia’s nature and also on Rajalansaari. They are a memory of the Ice Age.
One boulder along the nature trail is named Hiidenkivi because of its large size and impressive shape.
Hiidenkivi easily brings to mind Obelix from the Asterix stories. Obelix is a stone delivery man by profession and has his own open quarry on the edge of the village. One can easily imagine something like this also being found in the coastal quarries of Rajalansaari.
Badger kingdom
Rajalansaari hides a badger kingdom,
which can be seen as paths and nest openings. The island’s rocky and rocky forest nature is ideal for badgers.
A lucky hiker may come across badger cubs scurrying along the path in early summer.
The badger has become the namesake animal of Rajalansaari.
See the game camera photo taken by Petri Valtanen of a badger nest on Rajalansaari.
Turnip pits
On Rajalansaari, right near the smoke sauna area, there are signs of turnip pits.
In ancient Finland, a turnip pit was a place for stewing turnips cooked in a pit. A campfire was lit on the edge of the pit dug for the turnip pit to heat up fist-sized stones. The turnip pits that were lifted from the ground were lined up and stacked in a layer in the pit. Hot stones were lifted on top of the turnips and a new layer of turnips was placed on top of them. When the pit was filled, it was usually covered with turnip pits and hot water could be poured on top.
The turnips were stewed for at least half a day, but more commonly for more than two days. The turnips ripened in the turnip pit and were very well preserved, so that the turnips could be stored in the turnip pit over the winter and gradually retrieved from there as needed.
The widespread use of potatoes displaced the turnip pit.
The Hideaway of Sauna Elves
In the midst of the grove, hidden among the large spruce and glacial boulders, just off the nature trail, is the hideaway or perhaps the home base of the sauna elves.
This spot, located just off the nature trail, is thought to be where the sauna elves spend their time when the sauna is not in use.
What a magical place to discover! This hidden gem adds an enchanting element to the forest, making your adventure even more special. Imagine stumbling upon such a whimsical spot, tucked away from the main path
Geocaching is one way to explore the nature of Rajalansaari, and the sauna gnomes probably won’t mind it.
