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5 Places for a Finnish-Style Team Day in North Karelia

Five places in North Karelia for a Finnish-style virkistyspäivä or team day - from Vekarus and Lykynlampi to Koli, Ruunaa and Bomba.

1 October 2026 Team by Nature

Group of people with a white dog on a forest path by a lake

If you work in Finland, you have probably heard the words virkistyspäivä or tyhy-päivä (työhyvinvointipäivä).

There is no perfect English translation for virkistyspäivä. It is something like a day for refreshment or recreation. The main idea is to support the atmosphere in the workplace, wellbeing and team spirit.

This is quite a familiar part of working culture in Finland. The idea is connected to the Finnish welfare state and its long-standing principles of equality, social security and solidarity. Over the years, a whole infrastructure has developed around it, both indoors and outdoors.

For a company, a virkistyspäivä can mean many things: spending time in nature, sitting around a campfire, doing an activity, sharing food or simply having time to talk somewhere outside the usual work environment.

It is not necessarily about building a team through forced games.

And it doesn't have to be a full-day corporate programme either.

Sometimes, the Finnish way is much simpler: go outside, do something together, eat something warm and give people time to actually talk.

Here in North Karelia, we are lucky to have some great places for exactly this.

Here are five places we like.

1. Vekarus, Joensuu

About an hour's drive from Joensuu, Vekarus is one of those places that is especially popular with locals.

Forest river with a suspension footbridge at Vekarus — The trail runs across a beautiful wooden bridge

There is a forest trail, a river, rapids, bridges and a kota - a traditional Finnish shelter where you can gather around a fire.

And the rapids are really worth seeing. If you are looking for something impressive without having to spend a whole day hiking, this is a good option. The route is relatively short and easy to combine with coffee or food around the fire.

Calm forest pond reflecting trees and blue sky at Vekarus — The path follows the riverbank, where you will come across three small waterfalls

There are several places where you can stop and make a fire, and the trail is well suited for a small group. A good option if you want a proper getaway without spending most of the day travelling.

2. Lykynlampi, Joensuu

Another easy option close to Joensuu.

Wooden pier on a forest lake at Lykynlampi — Lykynlampi

Visitor sitting on a bench in a wooden room with paintings at Lykynlampi — Incredibly cozy interior with a fireplace - fully equipped for big groups. Probably the best Karelian pies are served here

Outdoor hot tub next to a log sauna at Lykynlampi — Plus two spacious saunas, including one that is incredibly traditional

Group standing outdoors beside long wooden stairs at Lykynlampi

Lykynlampi has become a very popular place for locals, and there is quite a lot happening there now.

There is a sauna, a café and good facilities for indoor events. But there is also plenty to do outdoors: forest, a lake, trails and a kota.

And have you heard about the Maisemakeinu - the scenic swing? Some visitors now come specifically to try it. It is also something you can arrange for your own group.

Lykynlampi is a good example of a place where you don't need to travel far from Joensuu to have a proper change of scenery.

3. Koli Freetime

If you want more infrastructure, Koli Freetime is a good base. You can combine outdoor activities with accommodation, food, sauna and facilities for groups.

There is also something we particularly like about the place: the buildings have a history.

Lakeshore with a pier and pine trees at Koli Freetime — Host events here all year round - there’s always plenty to do!

Blue wooden building with a red roof at Koli Freetime — Historic buildings are pure delight - a true culture of care and respect

Wooden building with a sauna sign and people walking toward the lake at Koli Freetime

Koli Freetime has renovated the old village school into accommodation. The old classrooms have been given a new life, with modern facilities but plenty of the atmosphere of the original building.

It doesn't feel like a generic conference centre that could be anywhere. For a team coming from outside North Karelia, it is an easy way to combine nature and the Koli experience.

4. Ruunaa, Lieksa

Ruunaa is for a team that wants a little more adventure.

River view through pine trees from a wooden railing at Ruunaa — Evening, saunas, stepping out to cool off - and this is your view. Feels like a well-kept secret in North Karelia

Wooden boardwalk through the forest at Ruunaa

There are accommodation and cafe services, and all the basic infrastructure you need for a group.

White-water rafting? Yes.

But Ruunaa is actually much more than that. It is a real tourism centre with many different activities for groups, both in summer and winter - from rafting and hiking to snowmobile safaris and snowshoeing.

You don't necessarily have to go all the way to Lapland to experience real wilderness and try something different together.

And somehow Ruunaa doesn't seem to advertise itself very loudly.

You just arrive - and realise how much there actually is. For us, it is a surprisingly luxurious place in a very Finnish way. It is also very popular with locals, especially people who come for fishing and outdoor activities.

Imagine staying in a cottage where you can hear the rapids from the terrace. Walk for three minutes across beautiful little bridges and you are standing next to Neitikoski.

You can simply look around and enjoy being there. That, for us, is also a very Finnish kind of relaxation.

5. Bomba, Nurmes

Bomba is an interesting option if you want to add Karelian culture to the day.

A lot has been invested in tourism in the area in recent years. There is a beautiful hotel, a spa, restaurants and plenty of activities that you can book directly.

You can combine nature with food, sauna, accommodation, meetings and cultural activities.

It is a more expensive option, but the level of comfort is definitely there.

And again, you don't necessarily have to choose between nature and culture. Here, you can have both.

Karelian-style log building among pine trees at Bomba

Log building with decorated balconies at Bomba

Large log building and courtyard at Bomba — Pure parental love. The history behind Bomba House is incredibly captivating and absolutely worth learning about

Path toward a lakeside hotel under a cloudy sky at Bomba

For an international team, this can also be a nice way to get a glimpse of the Karelian side of Finland, rather than simply spending another day in a conference room.

What could you actually do during a Finnish team day?

The place is only part of the experience.

Sometimes a team day is simply about walking, eating, talking and spending a few hours somewhere different. But you can also add a small activity that helps people explore the place together.

This is something we are experimenting with at Team by Nature.

We are a student cooperative, and we are looking for ways to put our skills into practice — in tourism, guiding, facilitation, storytelling and event planning.

One of the ideas we are developing is a simple adventure game connected to the history and culture of North Karelia.

Instead of bringing a ready-made team-building game into the forest, we are trying to build the activity around the place itself - its landscape, stories, old objects and local history.

Our current game, for example, follows a forest trail and uses stories about hunting, oral traditions and people who travelled through Karelia.

We are still testing and developing the idea, but that's exactly what we enjoy about it: trying things out and seeing what works.

And, of course, coffee, pancakes or something traditional cooked over the fire can be part of the day too.

This is what we are exploring

North Karelia already has many great places for company days.

We are interested in what happens when you add a little activity, a local story or a game to the place — and let the group experience it together.

If you have a place in mind and would like to try something together, get in touch with us.