Bengtsår camping areas
The Bengtsår camping island is north of Hankoniemi, about 120 kilometres from Helsinki. The camping activities are mainly concentrated on the southern side of the Bengtsår island, but almost the entire island is available for camping and hiking activities, with the exception of a few privately owned plots of land.
The facilities of the City of Helsinki are spaces where no smoking, alcohol or drugs are allowed, and where the principles of smoke-free Helsinki must be followed.
Parts and features of the camping island
The Bengtsår camping island has seven separate camping areas, which all include a pier, a cooking shelter, a dry toilet, a campfire spot and a tent area. The island also has two wood-heated saunas.
Four of the island’s camping areas, called Rantaniitty, Niemennokka, Sofianlehto and Lahdenpohja, are on the main island. The other three, namely Barnholmen, Aspholm 1 (northern side) and Aspholm 2 (south side,) are on nearby islands.
Camping area equipment starting from 1 June
The motorboats available to camps are kept at the main pier of the island and can be borrowed at the island’s information point (like other pieces of equipment). The boats are equipped with an electric outboard motor, and campers are always provided with guidance before the boat is handed over to them.
- Dining shelter
- Dry toilet
- Pier
- Grilling spot
- 6/9 Niger tents + groundsheets + base grille
- Field camp tent and equipment
- Gas cooker + gas bottle
- Basic kitchen equipment for 30 people
- Pot for heating water
- Drinking water canisters, 30 and 50 litres
- Cleaning equipment
- Firewood
- Boat with an electric outboard motor (for loan)
Peaceful camping and tidiness of camping areas
On the camping island, everyone is allowed to camp in peace: every camp in the camping area must respect the other camps’ area and the quiet hours, which start at 23:00. Every camp must clean up after themselves when leaving the camping area and leave it tidy for the next camps.
Saunas
The island has two wood-heated saunas, which are available to camps during the summer.
The saunas are heated every day. Every camp will have at least two sauna slots per week reserved for the camp.
- The sauna slots are 13:00–15:00, 15:00–17:00, 18:00–20:00 and 20:00–22:00. When your camp starts on the island, you can ask about free slots by contacting the information point manager.
- Campers must heat the saunas themselves. You should allow a couple of hours for heating the sauna. Try to make sure that the sauna stays warm for the those coming after you and note that hot water is limited.
- Large camps should ensure that they have enough hot water by heating the cauldrons as well.
- The saunas are cleaned and therefore unavailable during morning hours.
- The Seaside Sauna has a washing machine and detergent for camps. You can use the washing machine freely during the day as long as you don’t disturb people bathing in the sauna. For example, mornings are good for using the washing machine.
From autumn to spring: Seaside Sauna
The sauna building includes a wood-heated sauna room, two shower rooms and two changing rooms. In addition to the sauna, the building has a large sitting room with a fireplace, a combined kitchen and living room, and six bedrooms accommodating a total of 19 people. The bedrooms include beds, duvets and pillows. The camping island does not provide campers with bed linen, and they must bring their own.
The kitchen recess is equipped with tableware and cookware for about 30 people, a dishwasher, an electric stove, a microwave oven, a refrigerator, a freezer and a coffee machine. The building also contains a washing machine.
From autumn to spring: Beach Sauna
The sauna building includes a wood-heated sauna room and two shower rooms. It has two bedrooms, which also serve as changing rooms. One of the rooms has two bunk beds, and the other has one bunk bed, a fireplace and a kitchen recess.
Bunk beds easily fit 2 or 3 people per bed and are furnished with mattresses, pillows, and duvets. The camping island does not provide campers with bed linen, and they must bring their own.
The kitchen recess has tableware for about 10 people, a dishwasher, an electric stove, a microwave oven, a refrigerator-freezer and a coffee maker. The building accommodates around 9 people.
Camp organizer’s guide for the camping season 1 June to 30 August 2023 (in Finnish)
