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From the sauna window, your gaze stretches out over a boundless white kingdom, the snow-covered fells of Kuusamo. Every now and then a skier whooshes past and steals a curious glance inside. The contrast between steam-soaked bodies and the frozen wilderness beyond must be mesmerising.
Perched atop the Saarua peak at Ruka, BASE – Eat & Heat serves up one of the most stylish sauna experiences you can dream of. Alongside the sauna there are two outdoor pools: a steamy 33°C warm pool that’s perfect for unwinding in the crisp air, and an icy plunge pool for testing your mettle – ironically warmer than the bitter winter air, though. A set of steps nearby leads straight out into the snowy slope if you fancy carving snow angels.
And to lean fully into that après-ski vibe, the sauna’s cool-down lounge area opens toward the neighbouring restaurant, so you can order drinks – from beer to cocktails – to the sauna and poolside.
The only thing that threatens your zen is your own excitement: you want to film and photograph every angle of this panoramic sauna.
The experience doesn’t stop when you towel off. The on-site restaurant, in our opinion the best on Ruka, keeps the good vibes going delivering seriously good food with modern twists on familiar dishes, from rich soups to creative mains from local ingredients.
It’s fair to say: this is a sauna worth travelling for.
Practical info: Public sessions run daily 12:00–22:00. A two-hour sauna slot costs €25. Booking ahead is recommended, but if there’s space you can just turn up; BASE even rents towels and swimwear on site. Each session accommodates up to 24 people. Men and women have separate changing rooms, but the sauna and pools are shared.
You reach the sauna via the Ruka gondola, departing from the centre of Ruka Village beside Scandic Rukahovi — or from the other side of the fell at the hotel Ski-Inn RukaValley. If you’re not skiing, you can buy a single gondola ticket (€10) just for the ride up – it’s valid for the return too as you don’t need to scan out at the top. Note: there’s no road access to Saari’s summit.
Time Out tip: The sauna gets busiest around sunset, so consider booking a daytime slot – ideally right when doors open.