Finland » Rail Tours » Lakeland Tour in Finland
Lakeland Tour in Finland– Finland –9 days / 8 nights, Helsinki - Porvoo - Savonlinna - Joensuu - Koli - Nurmes - Lieksa - Joensuu - Kuopio - Tampere - Hämeenlinna - HelsinkiOn this self-drive Lakeland Tour in Finland you follow the King's Road, the most significant travel route in the Nordic countries. Visit historic Porvoo, its Old Town with well-preserved wooden houses, and medieval church. Drive the panoramic road along the Punkaharju Ridge. Visit Savonlinna, host of the Opera Festival held at the Olavinlinna Castle. Tour around Finland's biggest lakes, enjoy nature walks, lake cruises, spas, saunas, art and castles.
| Operation | May - September 2012 |
| Departure | Daily |
| Price | $1,545 based on double room $2,055 single room |
| Included | 8 nights accommodation Breakfast daily Car rental class 'B' (type Ford Focus or similar) 9 days (216 hours) Pickl-up/drop-off Helsinki Vantaa airport Unlimited mileage, Collision Damage Waiver, Theft protection and tax |
| Not Included | International airfare & Airport taxes Car rental, entrance fees or any other services Fuel charges Personal insurance / personal items $25 Service fee |
| Please Note | The minimum age to rent a vehicle is 25 years and drivers must have held a driving licence for at least 12 months prior to hiring the car. Payment by voucher, but the client must guarantee with own credit card when picking up car. Please note all rates and services remain subject to availability. |
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Day 1 ARRIVAL HELSINKI - PORVOO (70 km) Arrival to the Helsinki-Vantaa airport and pick-up your rental car. If time allows, possibility to drive to Helsinki and explore the city. We recommend a visit to some important sights such as the Senate Square, the Uspenskij Cathedral, Parliament House, Finlandia Hall, Sibelius Park & Monument and the Temppeliaukio church. Drive to Porvoo, the second oldest town of Finland. The route follows the King’s Road, which is the most significant travel route in the Nordic countries, following an old postal route. The road has been traveled by kings and their couriers, bishops and townsmen, artists and armies ever since the 1300s. Mansions, farms, taverns, alehouses and inns that housed and accommodated travelers arose all along the King's Road, with a total length of 253 km. On the way to Porvoo, it is possible to visit Haikko Manor, home of the famous painter Albert Edelfelt, and the old church of Sipoo, built in the 15th century. Arrival to Porvoo and start with a walking tour in the Old Town with its well-preserved wooden houses, the medieval church, and the Town Hall Square. Drive to Tukkila Farm, 15 km from the centre of Porvoo, and enjoy the hospitality of the locals. This farm has since 1830 been located next to the beautiful river scenery of Porvoo. Tukkila is known for the breeding of horses, sheep and llamas. Possibility to try a traditional Finnish smoked sauna.
Accommodation at the Tukkila Farm or similar.
Day 2 PORVOO - PUNKAHARJU (295 km) Breakfast at the hotel. En route towards the Finnish Lakeland you pass Kouvola and Lappeenranta, and arrive to Punkaharju. Drive the panoramic road along the Punkaharju Ridge. Possibility to visit the Retretti art centre, one of the most important art centres of Finland. In Punkaharju area, there are also important nature reserves, holiday resorts, and one of the most interesting museums of Finland: the Lusto Forest Museum. We recommend a visit to the Lusto Forest Museum.
Accommodation at Punkaharjun Valtionhotelli. (The oldest tourist hotel of Finland, a beautiful romantic building next to a lake) or similar.
Day 3 PUNNKAHARJU - SAVONLINNA - HEINAVESI - JOENSUU (244 km) After breakfast a short drive to Savonlinna, a dynamic little town famous for its Opera Festivals. We recommend a visit to Olavinlinna Castle. Continue to Heinävesi, and drive to New Valamo Monastery, the only Orthodox monastery in Finland, located in calm, beautiful environments. Continue to Joensuu, the capital of North Karelia region.
Accommodation at Sokos Hotel Kimmel or similar.
Day 4 JOENSUU - KOLI - NURMES (132 km) Breakfast at the hotel. Continue for a tour around Lake Pielinen, one of the biggest lakes of Finland. Departure to Koli National Park, about 1 hr drive from Joensuu. Short panoramic walking tour in the park, and views to one of "the national landscapes of Finland". We recommend a visit to Ukko Nature Center and lunch at the restaurant of Sokos hotel Koli. Possibility also to discover "Pirun kirkko" (the Church of the Devil), an old 34 meters long cave within a short hike along a marked trail. Drive to Nurmes, a small town in the Northern shore of Lake Pielinen. Optional activities possible at Nurmes, such as lake fishing.
Accommodation at Hotel Bomba in Nurmes or similar.
Day 5 NURMES - LIEKSA - JOENSUU (132 km) Breakfast at the hotel. Continue to Lieksa. We recommend a visit to the open-air museum in Lieksa called Pielisen museo. Recommended is to drive from Lieksa to Ruunaa Nature Reserve, and enjoy the lake view with rapids (also a good location for fishing). Possibility to have nature walks. Tour continues to Vuonislahti, where visit to the ateljée of famous Finnish sculptor Eva Ryynänen, and the church carved from wood. Return to Joensuu.
Accommodation at Sokos Hotel Kimmel in Joensuu or similar.
Day 6 JOENSUU - KUOPIO (120 km) Breakfast at the hotel. We recommend a visit to Carelicum Museum, before departuring from Joensuu. Drive to Kuopio, the capital of the Savo region. We recommend a visit to the Puijo Tower for panoramic view. A possibility to reserve a lake cruise to Lake Kallavesi (supplement).
Accommodation at the Sokos Hotel Puijonsarvi (Possible to request accommodation at private wooden cabin next to a lake at additional charge) or similar.
Day 7 KUOPIO - TAMPERE (295 km) Breakfast at the hotel. Continue a drive through the central Finland towards Tampere. On the route is possible to stop at Jyväskylä, a town famous by its architecture by Alvar Aalto. Both Jyväskylä and Tampere are located at the connection point of different lakes. Continue until Tampere. Arrival to the spa hotel, and possibility to enjoy swimming and different spa relaxations.
Accommodation at Sokos Hotel Tammer or similar.
Day 8 TAMPERE - HÄMEENLINNA - TUUSULA (175 km) Breakfast at the hotel. We recommend to spend the morning in Tampere, and enjoy this lively summer town. Perhaps visit Näsinneula tower for panoramic view, or one of the most popular amusement parks of Finland, Särkänniemi. For art lovers, a must to see is Sara Hildén Art Museum.
Continue to Hämeenlinna, and visit Hämeenlinna Castle or the birth place of the most famous composer of Finland, Jean Sibelius. At the end of the day, drive to Tuusula, located a convenient distance away from the Helsinki-Vantaa airport for next day's departure. Arrival to Krapi estate, located amid a nationally prestigious cultural environment in Tuusula and comprises a hotel, restaurants, traditional Finish smoked sauna and a large park area, offering a wide variety of activities. Krapi is located right at the start of the first Finnish museum road (Tuusula Rantatie).
Accommodation at Krapi Hotel in Tuusula or similar.
Day 9 TUUSULA - HELSINKI - VANTAA AIRP0RT (15 km) Breakfast at the hotel. Possibility to enjoy the peace of the Krapi area. If there is enough time before the flight, it is possible to visit some of the interesting cultural sights and museums along the museum road Tuusulan Rantatie. Drive to Helsinki Vantaa airport and return the car. End of services.