Nukula is a small, family-run ‘Finnish Silence Shelter’ nestled on the shores of Lake Päijänne, Finland’s deepest and second-largest lake. This unique guesthouse offers wellness and accommodation in historic log buildings dating from 1800-1850, far from traffic noise and city lights.
Nukula has earned international recognition with Green Key Environmental Certificate and Sustainable Travel Finland certification for its commitment to responsible tourism and creating a ‘sustainable paradise’ around the lake’s natural beauty.
Their story
Nukula is a family-run guesthouse that follows ‘maan etiikkaa’ (ethics of the land), a sustainable, nature-respecting way of life similar to indigenous peoples. The current owners renovated historic 19th-century log buildings in the early 2000s, transforming old grain storage into year-round accommodation while preserving the building’s heritage and historical elements like wall markings and empty liquor bottles.
Their vision is to create a Finnish Silence Shelter that offers wellness experiences while maintaining deep respect for history and connection with nature. Read more about them.
Sustainability actions
Lowest impact construction and operation
- Nukula operates in historic log buildings constructed between 1800 and 1850 from hand-crafted logs.
- The Historic Log House Charm, originally used for grain storage, was carefully renovated by the current owners in the early 2000s while preserving its cultural value and historical elements.
- The use of existing 1800-century log structures conserves resources and maintains the building’s heritage character.
Highest level of energy efficiency
- Nukula uses geothermal heating (maalämpö) for energy supply and has motion-sensor outdoor lighting to reduce electricity consumption.
- The property draws water from their own well and operates water-saving dry toilets.
- The accommodation has earned the international Green Key Environmental Certificate in 2019 for its extensive environmental work and climate efforts.
Pioneer in waste management
- The accommodation operates ecological dry toilets that do not consume water and produce compost.
- Waste is composted and used as fertilizer for their fields and gardens.
- They emphasize recycling and follow a circular economy approach that minimizes food waste.
Using organic and chemical-free products
- Nukula produces tasty raw ingredients from their own garden and sources food through foraging for berries, mushrooms, herbs, and wild fish from Lake Päijänne.
- They use composted waste and natural fertilizers, suggesting a chemical-free gardening approach with minimal chemical inputs.
Actively protects nature and community
- Forest management follows a continuous-growth principle that enhances biodiversity, with 15% of their forests protected under the Finnish METSO programme.
- The property maintains silence and respect for nature, discouraging motorised vehicles and encouraging human-powered activities like walking and rowing.
- They promote car-pooling to reduce traffic impact and protect local wildlife through noise-free activities.
Most Popular Activities Near Nukula
- Silence Trail walking.
- Forest and nature immersion.
- Traditional Finnish sauna experience.
- Sauna treatments (Peat, Rose, Whisk, Mesilöylyn terveyttä).
- Guided wilderness experiences.
- Foraging tours.
- Fishing.
- Meditation and mindfulness practices.
- Campfire evenings.
- Stargazing.
Best Time To Visit Nukula
- All year round, with summer ideal for lake activities and outdoor sleeping experiences, while winter offers peaceful forest immersion and cozy sauna sessions.