Finland is famously one of the happiest countries in the world. What’s her secret, one might ask? A great work-life balance, liberal politics, a laid-back philosophy? All are no doubt solid contributors, but having some of Mother Nature’s finest handiwork on your doorstep sure helps too. Heading into the countryside with the one, or ones, you love, turning off your phone, disappearing into the forest, swimming in a mist-coated lake and getting sweaty in a very hot wooden room are all part of the Finnish reset. And thankfully, these joys aren’t reserved for the Finns.

Set on the shores of Lake Näsijärvi near Tampere, roughly two hours from Helsinki, Tahlo Ventures is a family-owned lakeside retreat where LGBTQ+ travelers can get a taste of that lifestyle for themselves. Winner of the 2025 Trailblazer Award for pioneering LGBTQ+ communications and inclusive tourism, Tahlo sits on a 500-year-old family farm, combining beautiful accommodations, private lakeside saunas, glamping and outdoor activities with plenty of opportunities to reconnect with yourself, your partner or chosen family, and the very first diva herself: Mother Nature.

Here’s what awaits at this little slice of lakeside paradise.

Tahlo Hillhouse Serves Rural Luxury 

Tahlo Ventures is everything you imagine when you think of the Finnish countryside. Think early-morning mist drifting across the lake, dense forest reflected in the water and a palpable serenity born from silence. Utter bliss!

The centerpiece of this idyllic setting is Tahlo Hillhouse, a private lakeside villa surrounded by sprawling lawns, birch forest and stunning views across Lake Näsijärvi. There’s no better place to literally shack up with your partner or friends.

The villa serves rural luxury with Scandinavian and Finnish design, quality Finnish beds, a fireplace, large living areas and a fully equipped kitchen. There are four bedrooms, including king-size rooms and flexible sleeping arrangements, while Hillhouse and the nearby Underhill lakeside sauna can accommodate groups of up to 18. For something much more intimate, private romantic stays for two are also available during parts of the year.

You’ll spot Finnish design names throughout the property, including Marimekko, Iittala, Artek and Tapio Anttila. There’s also Wi-Fi and a 65-inch TV, should your reconnection with nature require a brief Netflix intermission.

There’s history here too. Tahlo is one of the oldest farms in the Tampere region, with the family tracing its history on the land back to 1585. It remains a working farm today, growing crops alongside its tourism business, while the Tahlo family is still actively involved in running the property. And, as is usually the case, “family-run” here is an indicator of quality and personalized service.

Glamp It Up a Notch!

Take things even closer to nature with Tahlo’s 100% electricity-free glamping experience. During the warmer months, luxury tents put you right among the trees and close to the lake, with proper made-up beds, quality linens, towels and Nordic-inspired interiors. In other words, you get the romance of sleeping outdoors without waking up on a deflated air mattress.

And don’t worry – with only two tents in the area (and neither visible from the other) and no neighbors close by, all the silence is yours – You can also rent the whole glamping area for the ultimate privacy of up to 8 people!

There’s also a wonderfully Finnish solution for anyone who thinks regular glamping isn’t adventurous enough: a sauna on wheels. The private handmade sauna wagon sits in a secluded lakeside location near Tahlo’s traditional lean-to shelter and campfire area and can even accommodate two overnight guests during the warmer months.

Even if you won’t try out the sauna during your luxury tent stay, it always includes a private forest shower next to the tent to refresh yourself by showering with pure lake water. Either use the camping shower or traditional Finnish scoop-and bucket style to wash yourself while enjoying the lakeview.

It’s camping stripped of electricity, but not necessarily comfort, which might be exactly the point. With fewer screens and distractions around, your entertainment becomes the lake, the forest, a campfire and, with any luck, the person you came with.

Beaches, Saunas and Lakes

Saunas are fundamental to the Finnish experience, and at Tahlo Hillhouse, you get two traditional wood-heated ones. The first in the main building and another down by the lake. The private Underhill lakeside sauna comes with a pier, campfire area, beach volleyball court and around 60 meters of shallow, sandy beach. Its sauna benches are even hand made from wood sourced from the Tahlo farm.

The shimmering waters of Lake Näsijärvi are there for swimming year-round. Yes, even in winter, when Tahlo maintains access for avanto, the Finnish tradition of dipping into icy water between sauna sessions. It sounds mildly unhinged until you actually experience the out-of-body rush caused by the cold, followed by the bliss of returning to the heat.

In warmer weather, the swimming pier provides easy access to Lake Näsijärvi, and its rainbow-painted railing adds a small but very visible reminder of exactly who is welcome here. Guests arriving by water can even dock their boats at the property.

For further pampering, you can add a palju, a traditional Finnish-style outdoor hot tub. Sunset, lake views, hot water, cool Finnish air and somebody who gets your blood pumping beside you make for a pretty irresistible combination. 

An Historical Escape Room, Silence Challenge, paddling, hiking… 

As romantic and peaceful a setting as Tahlo is, there’s still plenty to do there too for active types. Tahlo’s location makes it easy to get outside for hiking, paddling, rowing, fishing and other activities around the farm and lake. Guests staying at Hillhouse receive recreational fishing rights across the 1,200-hectare Tahlo and Kulju water area, with boats also available to rent.

Meanwhile, groups feeling the competitive spirit can take on the Tahlo Challenge, an easygoing team competition that can involve everything from kayaking and wilderness skills to the heavy tire-rolling and dive into Finnish agriculture with grain identification. 

Or the truly brave can take on the Silence Challenge. For 60 minutes, you leave the smartphone alone and walk through the Finnish countryside in complete silence, guided through relaxation exercises and encouraged to pay attention to the forest around you. Sounds horrifying, right?

If silence with your friends sounds a little too ambitious, lock them in an escape room instead. Forgotten in the Mist takes place inside Tahlo’s historic farm buildings, including old grain storage spaces and a vaulted cellar. The mystery draws inspiration from the farm’s real history, combining puzzles and technology with a story about the unexplained disappearance of a Tahlo farmer in the early 20th century.

Feeling Peckish?

All that swimming, sauna-ing and frolicking through the Finnish countryside is bound to work up an appetite. Tahlo can arrange locally focused food experiences during your stay, including breakfasts and catered meals, with an emphasis on ingredients sourced from the surrounding region whenever possible.

During summer, Villa Vino is a nearby café option just a few kilometers from Tahlo, while those looking to seriously elevate dinner can bring in private chef Sami Hakamäki. Having worked in top restaurants in Finland and abroad, Hakamäki creates dining experiences using Finnish ingredients, including multi-course meals.

Meals can even be arranged at Tahlo’s lakeside lean-to, taking dinner considerably further into nature than any Uber Eats driver is likely to venture. The nearby summer cafe, Villa Vino is a must.

Tampere & Helsinki: Close, But Not Too Close 

One of Tahlo’s biggest advantages is that feeling completely removed from city life doesn’t mean being particularly far from it. Tampere is only around 40 minutes drive away and makes an excellent addition before or after your retreat. Known as the Sauna Capital of the World, Tampere also offers restaurants, museums, shared sauna experiences, and a taste of urban Finnish culture before you retreat back to the lake.

Helsinki is roughly two hours away by car, making Tahlo easy to include as part of a wider Finland trip. Spend a few days exploring the capital’s design scene, waterfront, architecture and restaurants, then swap city streets for forest paths and lake views. That contrast is part of Tahlo’s appeal: close enough to reach easily, but remote enough to feel like you’ve properly escaped.

Maybe Finland’s happiness secret isn’t such a mystery after all. Less screen time, more nature, cold water, hot saunas and quality time with the people you love. If that sounds like your kind of reset, it might be time to book yourself a little Finnish happiness with Tahlo Ventures.

You can find out more about Tahlo Ventures and book yourself a perfect getaway with them here.

Photos: Laura Vanzo / Visit Tampere (except drone-photo)