A winter sauna and an ice hole in Lahemaa
In winter, one of the three houses at Oanduaia stays open — the Sauna House. The sauna is heated with wood, a hole is cut in the ice of the pond ten steps away, and the rest of the property is quiet until spring. Here is what a winter stay actually involves, from the drive in to the long table.
What winter at Oanduaia is like
From 1 December to 31 March the Pond House and the Forest House are closed, and the Sauna House is the only one open. In practice that means you have the place to yourselves: no other guests in the next house, no strangers’ voices across the pond. The first night of the new season in the other two houses is 1 April.
Winter in Lahemaa means forest, frost and an early dark. When snow has fallen, the trails, the village and the pond look nothing like the summer photographs; when it has not, the forest is grey, quiet and empty. We cannot promise snow — nobody here can — but the sauna is lit either way.
The sauna and the ice hole
The sauna is in the Sauna House and is included in its price. It is wood-fired: nobody presses a button, the stove is fed with logs, and it heats up in its own time. There is exactly as much steam as there is water thrown on the stones.
The pond is ten steps away. In winter a hole is cut in the ice beside the sauna, with a handrail leading in, so the cold plunge is part of the evening rather than an expedition: sauna, a few seconds in the ice hole, back into the heat. Go in at your own pace, never alone and never after drinking.
The Sauna House in winter
It is a log house under a thatched reed roof, on two floors, with open rooms, a flagstone floor and a fireplace. The kitchen is fully equipped. It sleeps four, in three beds across the two floors. The whole house is yours: €200 a night for one or two guests, €300 for three or four.
In winter it suits a couple who want a house and a sauna to themselves, two couples, or a small group of friends. Christmas and New Year are a good time for it — the fireplace, the sauna and the dark outside the window do most of the work. Rates can differ over holidays and for longer stays; ask for an offer.
Food in winter
Breakfast is cooked by the host: eggs, bacon, porridge and coffee, €20 per person per morning. Lunch, dinner and the festive long table are ordered in advance. In winter and in poor weather the long table is laid indoors, in the house. If you would like a festive meal over Christmas or New Year, ask early and we will tell you what is possible.
If you would rather cook yourselves, the kitchen in the house is fully equipped. Palmse, Sagadi and Vihula manors and the inn at Altja are a short drive away; in winter it is worth checking their opening times before you set out.
The trails and the park in winter
Lahemaa, founded in 1971, is Estonia’s oldest and largest national park. Most of the marked trails start at the RMK Oandu visitor centre, within walking distance of the house: the 4.7 km Oandu old-growth forest nature trail, the 1 km beaver trail, the 3.4 km Oandu heritage trail, the 9.5 km Oandu–Võsu hiking trail to the coast and the 370 km RMK Oandu–Aegviidu–Ikla hiking route. The 3 km Altja trail starts in the fishing village of Altja, a short drive north.
In winter the visitor centre building is open Monday to Friday; at weekends it opens only from 15 May to 15 September. Snow and ice make a walk slower, so in winter the shorter trails are a good place to start — and at the end of the trail the sauna is already warm.
Getting here in winter
Oandu is about 90 km from Tallinn, a little over an hour by car: towards Narva, then north into Lahemaa at Viitna. Public transport is awkward, and most guests come by car. In winter, winter tyres are standard on Estonian cars, and rental companies provide them with the car.
Check-in is from 2 pm and check-out at 12 noon; the minimum stay is one night. Parking is free. There is no WiFi in the house, though mobile coverage is good. Pets are welcome for €20 per stay. Cancellation is free up to 7 days before arrival; after that there is no refund.
The three houses side by side
| — | Sauna House | Pond House | Forest House |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sleeps | 2–4 | 2 | 2–4 |
| Sleeping | 2 floors, open rooms | 1 bedroom | 2 bedrooms |
| Sauna | Sauna House | Not included · ask us | Not included · ask us |
| Kitchen | Fully equipped | Kitchenette | Mini kitchen |
| In winter | Open | Closed Dec–Mar | Closed Dec–Mar |
| Price | 200/300 € | 150 € | 100/150 € |
| Best for | A group, a small celebration | A couple | A family or two couples |
| Extra | A bed for a child if needed | A bed for a child if needed | A bed for a child if needed |
a night, whole house
Common questions
Where can I find a winter sauna with an ice hole in Estonia?
At Oanduaia, in Oandu village inside Lahemaa National Park, about 90 km from Tallinn. The Sauna House is open all year; its sauna is wood-fired and included in the price, and in winter a hole is cut in the ice of the pond beside it.
Is Oanduaia open in winter?
Yes — the Sauna House is open all year and is the only house open in winter. The Pond House and the Forest House are closed from 1 December to 31 March; their first night of the new season is 1 April.
How much does a winter stay in the Sauna House cost?
The whole house is €200 a night for one or two guests and €300 for three or four, with the sauna included. Rates can differ over holidays and for longer stays — ask for an offer. Breakfast is €20 per person per morning.
Can we spend Christmas or New Year at Oanduaia?
Yes, the Sauna House is open over Christmas and New Year; it sleeps four. Holiday rates can differ from the usual ones, so write to info@oanduaia.ee with your dates and we will send an offer — we reply within 24 hours.
Can you walk the Lahemaa trails in winter?
Yes. Most of the marked trails start at the RMK Oandu visitor centre, within walking distance of the house, among them the 4.7 km Oandu old-growth forest nature trail and the 1 km beaver trail. In winter the visitor centre building is open Monday to Friday. Snow and ice make walking slower, so start with the shorter trails.
Do I need winter tyres to drive to Lahemaa?
Winter tyres are standard on Estonian cars in winter, and rental companies provide them with the car. Oandu is about 90 km from Tallinn, a little over an hour by car; public transport is awkward, so most guests come by car.
Is the sauna included in the price?
In the Sauna House, yes — the wood-fired sauna is part of the house and included in its price. The pond is ten steps away, and in winter a hole is cut in the ice beside the sauna.