What does it mean to be truly happy – and how does one achieve true happiness? These are questions that thinkers, philosophers and academics have pondered over for centuries. But the answer may not be as complicated as one might think.
Each year, the United Nations puts together a list of the happiest countries in the world, comparing a wide variety of criteria, from average incomes and healthcare standards to levels of generosity and absence of corruption. For the eighth year in a row, Finland has topped the list, winning on behalf of its people’s notable friendliness, freedom of choice, and high life expectancy.
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And now, the country is hoping to share its secret to happiness with the rest of the world. Visit Finland is offering a select number of people the chance to immerse themselves in Finnish culture – to delve into the why and the how behind this country’s innate happiness. The tourist board is inviting a small group of travellers to spend a week in the Finnish Lakeland. Here, breathtaking landscapes stretch as far as the eye can see, freckled with twinkling lagoons and clusters of thick forests, framed by gentle slopes and hills beyond.
“An increasing number of international tourists come to Finland searching for the secret to happiness, yet Lakeland is still an undiscovered gem for many,” says Heli Jimenez, senior director of international marketing at Business Finland. “It’s the region Finns themselves return to when they want to relax truly, and the perfect destination for anyone looking to step away from the noise of everyday life.”
To show travellers the best ways to achieve true happiness, Visit Finland will demonstrate how to relax and unwind as the Finns do. Six duos will be selected to enjoy a seven-day, all-expenses-paid trip, with the sole aim of uncovering and understanding exactly how to be as happy as a Finn. The initiative, titled Chill Like a Finn, asks these lucky winners to fully embrace the way of life in the Finnish Lakeland. Mornings here start outdoors, soaking up the first rays of sunlight by hiking across the Kolovesi National Park or going wild swimming in the tranquil lakes. Afternoons are for sweating it out in saunas, reading a good book or having a nap in a gentle swinging hammock,while evenings are for cosying up, a candlelit dinner and a crackling fire.
