PRIVATE Traditional Finnish Soup Workshop by the Forest

The trip to the country side hut takes about 90 minutes. While it seems long, the time flew as we talked to Russ, the tour guide and cook teacher. He is Russian by birth but is a permanent reside of Finland. Since Russ's girlfriend is Ukrainian, we had a lot of questions to ask and Russ did not hesitate to give us his personal views on a multitude of topics. Once we arrived at the hut that has no electricity or running water, Russ started a fire which was blazing in just a few minutes. We proceeded to cut the vegetables as Russ prepared the rest of the meal. Considering how cold it was, the hot salmon soup tasted as good as any I remember. It was just a very interesting experience - from seeing the Finnish countryside to talking with Russ to eating self made salmon soup.

We were picked up at our hotel by a guide in his personal car ( which was very comfortable) and drove to a traditional hut out in a beautiful pasture. We enjoyed the making of the soup and it was delicious.

Great guide! Fun project. Yummy meal! Ross was entertaining , knowledgeable and very responsive to our needs.

Everything we planned, and even a wildlife scare, so there was even more. Our driver/chef Egor picked us up at our location and took us on the 90 minute ride to the cabin. When we arrived he set everything up, leaving us time to take pictures and hike around the forest. I split off and traveled a different path when I heard rustling in the bushes. FYI, IF YOU GO REMEMBER YOU ARE BACK ON THE FOOD CHAIN WHEN YOU WONDER THROUGH THE WOODS. I turned and looked and a huge animal went into full sprint towards me. No, it wasn't a bear, which they do have in the woods, it was a full grown buck. I yelled and it fortunately broke left and continued through the woods out of sight. So, that was the scarry part. Food part... it was a wonderful, relaxing, and educational experience. The whole family enjoyed it and we could not have asked for more from the experience. ONLY words of warning/recommendation would be to have an empty bladder when you depart for the cabin. The porta potty is... also educational. Long story short, you have a full view of everyone who has relieved themselves there before you.

Great service . I went with Guidance on the salmon soup (traditional Finnish) Private Workshop . The atmosphere and soup was amazing. Thank you 🙏

The soup was amazing, but what really made it special was cooking it outdoors over a fire. You could really feel the Finnish vibe. Simple, warm, unforgettable.

Great guide, great soup, great time. Would do it again for sure and recommend to my friends. I also love the timing and organization.

We had such a lovely time on this experience! You get picked up in Helsinki and driven to a beautiful, peaceful spot in nature — a cozy little Finnish kota surrounded by forest. The drive isn’t super short, but the transfer is really comfortable, so you can just relax and enjoy the scenery. Once we arrived, everything was already prepared - I didn’t have to worry about a thing. Our host was incredibly kind and welcoming, explained everything clearly, and made the whole experience feel effortless and enjoyable. We learned how to make lohikeitto, the traditional Finnish salmon soup, over an open fire. The atmosphere was so calm and magical - the fire crackling, the smell of the smoke and soup, and the quiet nature all around. The host also shared a bit of background about the dish and gave us a detailed recipe, which I really appreciated. Even though I’ve been living in Helsinki for five years now, I still found it genuinely interesting and fun. I definitely feel confident enough to make the soup at home now. Highly recommend this experience - whether you’re just visiting or have lived here for a while, it’s a beautiful way to connect with Finnish culture and nature.

Highly recommend. We enjoyed getting out of the city for our own private tour. We will make this soup again at home with fond memories

My husband and I (it was just the two of us) did this excursion late-April 2025, and canNOT recommend a more amazing experience. The communication and coordination with the owners was fantastic! We were picked up directly in front of our hotel in a very comfortable and clean car, and enjoyed the ~50 minute drive to outside of the city. The hosts were easy and comfortable to talk with, the location of the actual class was so picturesque, and we really enjoyed all of our time and experiences. Learning the secret to making a delicious traditional salmon soup, walking around the lake area, and enjoying the Glögi!