SHANTI Home, a little paradise few steps from Saint PETERSBURG

Shanti is the must-do glamour experience that everyone has ever dreamed of.

Most tourists (and even locals) believe that the pearls of Saint Petersburg are located only in the center. But Saint Petersburg is not only a city, it’s the center of Leningrad Oblast, from which you can quickly go on adventures and enjoy the beauty of the typical Russian landscape.

A simple but comfortable wood triangle house in the middle of the woods, neither cheap nor too fancy, where you can disappear for a few days (or even a few hours) and simply be yourself—this is the famous place called Shanti Home.

After a heavy week of work, this little paradise is my favorite escape. I know that after this quick parenthesis, I will come back to town with a peaceful mind, a cleaner body, and positive vibes.

You can come alone, but it’s a wonderful experience to share as a couple or with friends. Actually, each house has the capacity to welcome four guests.

So, why would I recommend this place as a must-do (at least once in your life) ?

Two cool locations, near Saint Petersburg, all-year working, friendly atmosphere, and complete services

Only 1 hour and 30 minutes (approximately) from Saint Petersburg, you found Shanti. Shanti is a project divided around two locations: Shanti Lec (forest) and Shanti Ozero (lake).

We have been to both of them, and the concept is the same, but I will not hide my preference for Shanti Lec. Even though it’s a little further than Ozero, I found the place more pleasant, the space more open and dry (not feeling like in the swamp), and the area offering larger roads of exploration for outside activities (many roads in the woods where you can endlessly bike, walk, or go mushroom picking).

I have been there in the autumn, winter, spring, and summer, and it’s a completely different experience. Of course, when the weather is great, it’s wonderful to live half inside and half outside. But despite the fact that the winter (especially January) was freezing, it was the most romantic and cute weekend together. There is a special charm in sitting inside under cute plaid, surrounded by sleeping trees, drinking hot tea, eating something sweet, watching snow silently falling, cuddling, resting, playing or watching a movie…

Everything was very smooth, the staff is always very friendly, and in a finger snap, you get your house and live your life as you wish, as if it were your own countryside house (dacha). It feels like an aparthotel experience in the woods.

You have your own kitchen, so if you plan to eat, it's important to come with ready-made groceries.

A short trip that feels like a real holiday.

Sometimes you don’t realize the benefits of a shortcut in the forest until you do it ! You just need to arrive in Shanti and you will immediately feel calmer.

The air is full of oxygen, your sense of smell will be delighted by the scents of plants and trees and simply by breathing, you will start feeling alive again. The birds sing everywhere, and there is not a slice of noise except the soft bustle of nature. You immediately feel lighter, and, in contrast with the city, of course, you realize that life is about taking and enjoying time. 

You are surrounded by kilometers of landscape without a single person, but in a safe place. It gives the impression that you are so small in comparison to this immensity and, by extension, your problems too. I naturally want to meditate and be detached from my daily worries.

Just by being there, you will feel different. Nature helps to bring you back to your essence, to realize what is essential to you and what you really need to be truly happy.

I guess there are no better holidays than the ones that help you feel better and closer to your true self. It’s a priceless experience that any luxury resort cannot give you : the simple pleasure of living in a small country house.

The best way to relax, recharge, and clean yourself

Apart from the incredible surroundings with nature that offer you the possibility of walking, swimming (in the warm summer), and biking (there are bikes for the ones that like biking), you can simply chill on your terrace and make your own barbecue (each house has its own).

I will definitely advise you to book a two-hour séance in their sauna. It's a peaceful place where you can enjoy a Finnish sauna with a Russian bath broom (Банный веник), cold water bath, and tea.

If you want nature and need simplicity for once, but you are more of a concrete jungle city person, this is the place for you.

For these reasons, I love the glamping concept : it is made for people who really want to enjoy nature’s beauty without the inconvenience of outside living, like camping.

I highly recommend this place, it's one of my favorite hidden wonderlands.

I hope you will try it one day, and if you do, please let me know !