Smoke sauna
Our rebuilt BYA sauna is now Sweden's largest smoke sauna, offering an authentic and atmospheric experience.
Sauna bathing
Sauna culture at Kukkolaforsen
By the swirling border river in Kukkolaforsen – the academy's home – you can enjoy many kinds of sauna in a natural setting. Throw a ladle of water on the hot stones, listen to the hiss, and let the hot steam envelop you.
Löylyä – a sensory experience
Feel the tingle on your skin as the pores open, and how the whole body thanks you for a moment of rest and recovery in total harmony. In Finland, the sauna's homeland, there is even a word for the bath, the steam and the wonderful feeling: löylyä.
Kukkolaforsen has a long sauna tradition with roots in Finnish sauna culture. Through the partnership with the Swedish Sauna Academy, a range of sauna types is offered close to the beautiful rapids.
Types of sauna
Types of sauna
From an old smoke sauna to a sweat lodge – and in between, warm baths and a wood-fired BYA sauna.
Wood-fired BYA sauna
A classic wood-fired sauna by the rapids — home to Sweden's largest sauna heater: 2.6 tonnes of stone, fired with birch wood.
The sauna village
A whole village of saunas in a scenic setting, overlooking the rapids with a chance for a refreshing dip.
The people of Tornedalen and the sauna
For the people of Tornedalen the sauna is something special and an important part of daily life. It is said that when a new farm was once established, building the sauna always came first — so one could stay clean, have time to plan and enjoy the steam.
The history of the sauna reaches far back. One of the earliest known forms comes from Finland, where finds point to similar structures around 2000 BC. Here in Tornedalen the sauna has for centuries been a central place for cleansing, socialising and relaxation.
“In Tornedalen the sauna has always held a special place. It was the home's cleanest, most sacred space. Here women gave birth, here one washed for the holy day, here the dead were prepared for their final rest. In the sauna the four elements meet, and the connection to health and well-being is self-evident.”
Want to experience the real sauna?
Sauna adventures and weekends are arranged at Kukkolaforsen. Read more at our partner.