Saimaa Wild Crew\u2019s Head of Development, Markus \u201cForest Emperor\u201d Luukkonen, leans against a massive spruce next to the kota of the upcoming Nuotio Pub at Unelmariutta Base Camp, looks out over Lake Saimaa, and lets out a quiet chuckle.<\/p>\n\n
\u2013 Right now, many people only see a yard, a lakeside sauna, a campfire spot, and a forest. We see something completely different here.<\/p>\n\n
And there seems to be plenty of that \u201csomething else\u201d.<\/p>\n\n
Saimaa Wild Crew envisions and dreams of a year-round experience, excursion, and nature center on Viljakansaari in the long term, around which an entire service ecosystem will gradually form.<\/p>\n\n
\u2013 This is not a standalone excursion company or a single rental cabin. The goal is to build a place where everything supports everything else. Excursions, cruises, events, accommodation, rentals, camps, sauna evenings, corporate days… everything connects into one cohesive whole.<\/p>\n\n
One word keeps recurring in Forest Emperor’s speech: Base Camp.<\/p>\n\n
\u2013 Unelmariutta Base Camp will become a place from which you set out onto the water, into the forest, onto the ice, or on a weekend-long adventure. But just as important is that you also return there. To the campfire. To the sauna. To eat. To sit through the evening.<\/p>\n\n
The plans don’t stop at summer.<\/p>\n\n
SWC’s plans include winter dips, dry suit floating, ice skating routes, powder snowshoe excursions, and even a beanie hockey rink on the ice of Lake Saimaa.<\/p>\n\n
\u2013 Sure, we have some pretty crazy ideas sometimes. But that’s exactly what this needs. People don’t come here to experience some generic tourism package. They come here to experience Saimaa for real.<\/p>\n\n
In summer, the core of operations consists of Polaris 1 adventure cruises, kayaking, SUP and mountain biking excursions, as well as various corporate and group packages.<\/p>\n\n
But according to Forest Emperor, the most important thing is not any single activity.<\/p>\n\n
\u2013 The most important thing is the atmosphere. That people are left with the feeling that they were part of something. Not just that they purchased a program service.<\/p>\n\n
In the future, the goal is to build a year-round nature hub in the Viljakansaari area, combining excursions, events, corporate activities, international camps, and low-threshold nature tourism.<\/p>\n\n
\u2013 Honestly? This is just the beginning. We’re only just opening the doors now.<\/p>\n\n
After a moment of silence, Forest Emperor glances once more at Lake Saimaa.<\/p>\n\n
\u2013 And if everything goes completely according to plan, this will become one of the most unique places in Finland.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
\u201cThis is no longer just a cabin.\u201d \u2013 Forest Emperor Luukkonen reveals SWC\u2019s future plans Saimaa Wild Crew\u2019s Head of Development, Markus \u201cForest Emperor\u201d Luukkonen, leans against a massive spruce next to the kota of the upcoming Nuotio Pub at Unelmariutta Base Camp, looks out over Lake Saimaa, and lets out a quiet chuckle. \u2013 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1838,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[12],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1837","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\n