WANT to know what true happiness feels like? You’ll need to ditch crowded European beaches for mud-covered, chill out sessions and freezing cold lakes.
Earlier this year, Finland was named the happiest country in the world for the ninth year running.
According to the World Population Review, Finland scored 7.74 out of 10 overall in the most recent index – compared to the world average which is 5.57.
The happiness score factors are calculated across six categories including social support, life expectancy and freedom to make choices.
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The report also mentions that top-ranked countries tend to have a combination of a higher income average, longer life expectancy and great freedom.
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So on a recent trip to Finland, I really put those stats to the test exploring different parts of Finnish life and culture to find out just why they are so cheerful.
Saunas
If the Finns are known for one thing, it is their saunas.
With a staggering 3.2million saunas compared to 5.2million people, there is nearly a sauna per 1.6 people.
And until experiencing the sauna culture in the country for myself, I didn’t get the hype.
But being in a sauna is the ultimate relaxation.
And they aren’t all the same kind – you get saunas of different temperatures, wood-fired saunas, smoke saunas and so on.
My favourite was the peat sauna, where I covered myself in mud and let it harden before scrubbing it off in the shower.
It is meant to do wonders for your skin and I did feel very refreshed and clean afterwards.
Saunas are also proven to be good for your health, with benefits for your heart, circulation and stress levels – promoting relaxation, better well-being and a decent night’s sleep.
Free foraging
In Finland, there are Everyman’s Rights – a traditional legal principle that allows everyone to freely explore nature without the landowner’s permission or having to pay a fee.
Whether it be swimming, walking, cycling or even riding a horse, you are allowed to do it all – even on privately owned land.
As part of the rights, you are allowed to pick wild berries, mushrooms and flowers as long as they are not protected species.
And Finland is abundant with tasty berries such as blueberries and lingonberries and mushrooms, such as chanterelles and porcini.
I love UK forests and it is always fun to see different mushrooms, but having such a variety that are safe to eat is something a little more special.
Forests & lakes
Seventy per cent of Finland is covered in forest and 10 per cent of the land area is lakes.
With that in mind, there are a lot of lush green places to walk and open calm waters to swim in.
In total, Finland has around 188,000 lakes with the largest being Lake Saimaa, which is where I visited.
Despite the water being a chilly 17C, thanks to the Everyman’s Rights you can dip in and out as much as you like.
The refreshing dips truly are invigorating and very relaxing if paired with a session in a sauna.
Most of the lakes are surrounded by dense forest with towering trees that look like they have been ripped out of a fairytale.
You can spend even longer enjoying it as you are allowed to pitch a tent for a night or two freely.
Kota culture
Across the parks, forests and at the edge of lakes you will find these cosy-looking indoor-outdoor cabins.
These are actually nicknamed ‘kota’ or ‘Grillikota’ and are shelters invented by the indigenous Sami people of Lapland around 4,000 years ago.
Over the years, the huts have been modernised relevant to today’s uses and now they are usually hexagonal or octagonal wooden cabins along hiking trails used to grill sausages and make food while enjoying outdoor adventures.
Public huts, such as those I found on one of the many islands on Lake Saimaa, are unlocked and free to use and are usually managed by the Finnish Forest Administration.
There only tends to be one rule and that is that the space must always be made for the newest, most exhausted hiker who arrives.
Firewood is also provided for free at public kotas and you must leave no trace.
Less people
Finland is about 1.4 times bigger than the UK, yet the country’s population (5.2million) is just over half the population of the UK’s capital, London (9.1million).
While initially I felt a little uncomfortable when walking around Imatra and seeing no people, it means that everywhere is so peaceful and constantly clean.
The entire time I was in Finland I didn’t see a single piece of rubbish – but with an incentive of around 20 cents per bottle you recycle, it’s easy to see why.