The Sun & Light | 31 July-2 August
Three days shaped by the long Finnish summer light.
The Sun & Light brought together forest walks, kantele music, foraging, sun printing, herbal sauna traditions, cold lake plunges, shared meals, and time simply noticing what was around us.
Through each experience, participants explored Finnish nature and culture through the five senses, with enough space between activities to slow down, connect, and let the experience unfold.
Explore the retreat below and follow the rhythm of the experience as it unfolded for our guests.
Day 1 — Arrival & Entry
Morning
Arrive the night before if you can. The retreat begins gently: a self-guided reflection walk with one prompt — permission to slow down. If you wish, you can participate in an optional early morning stillness practice. Then we move into a delightful time of a traditional kantele workshop accompanied by a short breath and sound awareness meditation.
Afternoon
After a group meal, venture out into the woods for a fun tactile and visual experience. Take part in a guided nature walk and cyanotype photography workshop — using summer flora to make blueprints to take home with you. This session will be accompanied by a brief breath and sight awareness meditation.
Day 2 — Ritual, Rhythm & Renewal
Morning
After a grounding meditation time centered on bringing awareness to touch, sight, smell, and sound, embark on a self-guided forest bathing (metsäkylpy) exercise in the stillness of the woods.
Afternoon
Step into the enchanting Finnish wilderness for a sensory journey into forest secrets and folklore. Guided by an expert, you will learn to identify wild berries, hear tales of ancient traditions, and enjoy the serenity of moss-covered paths, leaving with a deeper nature connection and a basket of gathered treasures. This session will be accompanied by a brief meditative exercise centered on mindfulness of food.
Evening
The evening leads into one of Finland’s most treasured rituals: a guided sauna experience with hands-on herbal sauna whisks, foot baths, and cosmetics. Optional cold plunge in the lake. Premium dinner at Haltia Lake Lodge.
Day 3 — Closure & Return
Morning
Take a self-guided walk focused on closure and memory. Keep your phone on airplane mode. Soak in the sun through the canopy one last time. Join the group reflection circle to process the weekend together before departure.
Afternoon
Before departing, we gather one last time for a traditional pancake feast in the woods. Simple, warm, grounding. The retreat closes at 12:30. You leave with calm continuity, not a crash.
The Sun & Light Was Created For
Running on empty
Those who have been high-functioning for too long and need space to rest — without planning it, justifying it, or turning it into a productivity hack.
Made things, lost the thread
Artists, builders, and makers who want to reconnect with inspiration through nature, quiet, and working with their hands.
In between chapters
Individuals in a season of transition and need time and sensory space to hear themselves think.
Included in the Retreat
All meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner – including special bonfire dinner in a traditional kota)
Kantele workshop with Arja Kastinen (Doctor of Music and instructor at Sibelius Academy)
Guided berry picking and nature walk with Anny Nyman (featured in Condé Nast Traveller)
Cyanotype photography workshop
Herbal sauna experience with hand-made sauna whisks and cosmetics
Group reflection circle and printed reflection guide
Not included
Transportation to and from retreat
Travel and accident insurance (highly recommended)
Additional activities and purchases onsite
Alcoholic beverages
Extra sauna sessions
Pricing for The Sun & Light
€899 for retreat programming paid to Five Senses Retreats
€328 (single) or €358 (double) for accommodation paid to Haltia Lake Lodge via preferred rate link
Total from €1,227 (single) + travel
Retreat programming included all meals, workshops, and activities. Flights and transfers were not included.
31 July – 2 August 2026
The Sun & Light
The Sun & Light explored the Finnish summer through wild berries, warm forest air, herbal sauna steam (löyly), kantele, and creative practice.
From the resonance of the kantele to the season’s light captured through cyanotype art, the retreat invited guests to slow down, engage their senses, and experience Finnish nature and culture in a more participatory way.
Your Hosts for The Sun & Light
A curated group of specialists—music, sauna, herbs, movement, photography—holding one shared arc.
Ana Marques
Somatic Mindfulness Practitioner. Host of Movement Is My Constant podcast.
Arja Kastinen
Doctor of Music. Instructor at Sibelius Academy and expert Karelian kantele traditions.
Anna Nyman
Herbalist & Biologist. Nordic wild food and sauna rituals expert. Featured in Condé Nast.
Jonathan Lee
Curator and Host of Five Senses Retreats.
You can read more about the hosts on our homepage.
