In order to try and understand the Slavic culture, it is essential to visit the banya. Yes you have been to Turkish, or Finnish saunas, or maybe even some fancy spa resorts, but you have not experienced anything like this. Unlike the usual dry Finnish sauna that you find in wellness and fitness clubs, where Western Europeans tend to sweat in silence, the Russian banya is a communicative meeting point: it is a place for laughing, gossiping, discussing, even drinking! It is here where dubious business deals are made in the fog of the steam just as much as everyday sorrows vanish into air (well, steam). For an all encompassing cleansing Veniki - soaked birch branches, with which one beats oneself or others in the moist steam -are necessary. This ritual not only increases blood circulation and the production of sweat, but also is known to prevent against a cold. After the stint in the steam room, one douses him- or herself with ice cold water to balance the body temperature, which does not only build character but also the resistance. Our guide will take you to this chamber of the Slavic heart and will introduce you to this important and healthy Russian tradition. This definitely is the best way to renew your spirit and refresh your body. If you are planning to start a new life, you should do it by first going to Banya.

Price: £50 / €65 per person (minimum number - 6)