Tarina-Aho

Bed & Breakfast Hotel in front of Koli national park

ABOUT

Tarina-Aho is a unique bed & breakfast destination on an island in Lake Pielinen, in the middle of the Koli national landscape. Our yard consists of three traditional log buildings, which were originally made by hand in North Karelia and were later moved to Kelvänsaari. Tarina-Aho dates back to the 90s, when the previous owner started here. After 2009 the place has been empty from customers - therefore we decided to start offering accommodation after a long break last summer in 2021.

For us, Tarina-Aho is a place that combines nature, Lake Pielinen, peace of mind, the simplicity of things and the North Karelian tradition. Arriving at Tarina-Aho is like a trip back in time - busy everyday life and worries remain on the mainland as you board the boat.

<3 Siiri & Oskari, the new owners of Tarina-Aho

OUR SERVICES

We want to offer our guests the most unhurried experience in the middle of nature, which is why we have tried to make every visit as uncomplicated as possible. Among other things, we offer homemade gourmet dinner baskets, which can be prepared in the summer kitchen or in the barbecue hut. In our main building, Kuusela’s Tupa, we also sell light snacks, delicacies and drinks. Our wood-heated beach sauna is also heated every evening and breakfast is served every morning in the Kuusela’s Tupa well before returning to the mainland.

GARDEN BREAKFAST

All our accommodation options include a complimentary garden breakfast, which can be enjoyed in the Kuusela living room or in the courtyard, enjoying the open air and (hopefully) nice weather. Our light breakfast includes oven-fresh oatmeal rolls, a serving of yoghourt with home-made cinnamon roll-granola and seasonal berries, as well as juice, coffee and tea.
Also available in gluten-free and vegan, but please let us know in advance if possible :)

SAUNAS

Tarina-Aho has two traditional wood-heated beach saunas that are warm every night throughout the summer. You can directly cool off in Lake Pielinen. You can book a sauna shift for your own group for 30 € / h.
On Fridays we also host a public smoke sauna, which you can book for 15€/person (no time limit)
We are happy to provide you with more information of the beauties of sauna tradition, the löyly (which means throwing water on the hot stones) and other aspects of this traditional finnish experience!

Our meals

You can buy delicious and effortless dinner baskets from Kuusela’s Tupa, in which we have prepared everything for grilling. As in all our other services, we strive to prepare everything ourselves from the outset, as well as to make the most of local production.
In addition to dinner baskets, our customers have access to an equipped summer kitchen and a barbecue hut where they can prepare their own snacks.

Arrival to tarina-aho

We are located on an island in front of Koli, about 15 minute boat ride from Koli harbour. Tarina-Aho can be reached by a tidal boat that runs from the Koli harbour (address: Rantatie 12) a few times a day for an additional fee. Our route passes through the magnificent Lake Pielinen, admiring the Koli hills from the lake. Alternatively, you can also reach us by your own boat or canoe, please contact us for more information.

Boat trip prices:
Adult 26€ / return ticket
Child (under 13 years) 15 € / return ticket
Family ticket (2 adults + 2 children) 60 € / return ticket

Children under the age of two travel for free

The boat trip is paid at the time of accommodation.

Please reserve your seat from below!

Our rooms

Our yard includes three traditional log buildings that accommodate a total of about thirty people. In addition to traditional accommodation, we also offer affordable barn accommodation. Pets are more than welcome, but please let us know in advance. In the courtyard you will find clean outdoor toilets, our own well and a barbecue hut for our guests to use. Kuusela's Tupa has shared refrigerators for customers to use. Washing and bathing takes place in the traditional way in our beach saunas.

If you wish, you can rent sheets from us for 10 € / set (includes towel, sheet, duvet cover and pillowcase)

Family rooms

Tarina-Aho has three family rooms, as well as one room in our authentic barn. All of the rooms accommodate four or five people and if needed, there is space for an extra bed (+20€/person/night including breakfast)
You can either bring your own or rent bed linen from us for +10€/set

barns

Enjoy the authentic experience in one of Tarina-Aho’s two barn rooms that can both accommodate two people. We have reserved warm blankets, mosquito nets and an electric fan for both rooms.
Due to lack of space, there is no possibility of an extra bed in the barn rooms. Linen rental +10 € / set.

rooms in kasino

Our other main building, Kasino, comfortably accommodates one- and two-person groups. In the upstairs of a traditional log building you will find several double rooms, some of which have the possibility of an extra bed (+ € 20 / person / night).
Linen rental + 10 € / set

friday’s smoke sauna- evenings

Want to enjoy the authentic and traditional smoke sauna on the island in front of Koli? It is possible with us! We offer public smoke sauna shifts every Friday in July. The sauna is warm from early evening until night - welcome to enjoy the soft smoky steam and the freshness of Pielinen!

Price for our guests 15 € / person, for others 45 € / person (incl. Boat trips).

* More information and booking available coming soon

We reserve the right to make changes.