Ecological sustainability
The surrounding nature is an attraction that we want to take good care of.
We aim to consider biodiversity in our operations and minimize our environmental impact by acting resource-efficiently and reducing the amount of energy, water, and waste.
We operate year-round, striving to avoid underutilization of cottages. We lower the temperatures of vacant buildings to minimize unnecessary energy consumption.
Quality and Sustainability
We invest in durable, high-quality products, both in construction and everyday use. Our kitchens are equipped with reusable tableware to minimize disposable waste.
We favor wooden furniture in our cottages, maintaining and restoring them as needed.
Our cottages are built from trees harvested from our own nearby forests. Wood is a sustainable, renewable material that stores carbon throughout its lifecycle.
Recycling and Reuse
We aim to use materials as efficiently as possible. Wood chips generated during construction have been repurposed to surface a local fitness trail.
To reduce energy consumption, several of our cottages are equipped with air-source heat pumps, and we plan to install more in the future.
We properly sort and recycle all waste and provide guests with facilities to separate their recyclables as well.
Eco-Friendly Transportation and Cleaning
We use an electric car for all cottage cleaning and maintenance tasks.
We strive to use environmentally friendly cleaning products whenever possible.
To avoid unnecessary transportation, we wash bed linen and towels at home, only 5 km from the cottages, and dry laundry outdoors in fresh air.
Nature-Friendly Activities
While arriving at our cottages often requires a private car, we strive to offer guests eco-friendly activities on-site.
We rent out a variety of equipment — SUP boards, kayaks, canoes, bicycles in summer, and skis, sleds, and skates in winter — so guests can enjoy activities without needing to bring their own gear.
Rowing boats are freely available to our guests, and we maintain all equipment regularly to extend its lifespan.
Environmentally Friendly Practices
To avoid unnecessary chemicals, we fill our hot tubs exclusively with lake water.
All our forests are FSC-certified, ensuring that we protect biodiversity and minimize the environmental impact of forest management.
The cottages are designed and built to blend harmoniously with the surrounding nature.
The environment around the cottages has been preserved in as natural a state as possible.
Cultural Responsibility
We operate on ancestral lands where Ilpo’s family lived for over 150 years.
Ilpo had a deep knowledge of the local forests, waters, and stories of the region.
We are committed to preserving our cultural heritage and the traditional Finnish relationship with nature for future generations.
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We proudly maintain Finnish cottage and sauna culture. All our rental cottages are built from wood — Finland’s traditional building material. Through active maintenance and restoration, we ensure our buildings last for generations.
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As a UNESCO Saimaa Geopark partner, we value local history and aim to showcase the rich cultural heritage of the region.
We organize guided tours where we share insights about the area’s nature, history, and culture.
Some of our tours are conducted using a traditional church boat, a historic means of transportation in the region.
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At our cottages, guests can independently enjoy traditional activities such as sauna bathing, swimming, fishing, skiing, berry picking, and mushroom foraging.
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We are creating a nature trail in the nearby forest, featuring signs about local history and nature — accessible also via QR codes for digital exploration.
Social Responsibility
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The natural surroundings of our cottages offer guests the chance to experience the wellness benefits of nature.
We have built a traditional hut (kota) and an 8-kilometer fitness trail in the nearby forest. In winter, we create ski tracks on the trail. Both facilities are freely available to locals as well.
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We prioritize using local businesses and services whenever possible.
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We also recommend other local services to our guests, supporting a holistic experience while strengthening the vitality of our region.
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We work collaboratively with other local tourism businesses and stakeholders. We are shareholders in Savonlinna Region Tourism Ltd and participate in projects that enhance the area’s appeal.
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We participated in the “Saimaa Visible” project, aimed at improving cooperation and networking among rural tourism businesses.
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High chairs and travel cots are available upon request. We are also happy to lend strollers and toys, once used by our own children, for indoor and outdoor play.
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Our beaches are shallow and child-friendly, and in winter, there is a sledding hill for children.
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Guests of all ages can enjoy our hand-built forest carousel.
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We serve our guests in Finnish, English, German, and Russian, welcoming visitors from all backgrounds.
Economic Responsibility
Our investments focus on long-lasting, sustainable products that can be maintained and repaired over time.
We actively develop our operations to increase cottage occupancy and encourage longer guest stays.
We recommend local businesses to our guests, aiming to provide a complete service experience while supporting the vitality of the rural community.
We are committed to sustainable tourism principles and have joined Visit Finland’s Sustainable Travel Finland (STF) program to systematically improve our sustainability practices.
To further demonstrate our commitment to sustainable development, we aim to achieve the Good Travel Seal certification by the end of 2023.