Full Itinerary and Tour details for
Lake Saimaa Finland 8-day Guided Cycling Tour Level Moderate
Prices starting from. Trip Duration. Max Passengers. 999 € 8 days 22
Start and Finish. Activity Level. Lappeenranta to Oravi 2
Experience. Tour Code. Cycling Tours Europe #B1/2549
Lake Saimaa Finland 8-day Guided Cycling Tour Level Moderate
Waters, islands and isthmuses of Lake Saimaa Boreal forests and birch groves Lappeenranta and its fortress and Sandcastle Punkaharju esker ridge - National Landscape and Nature Reserve Savonlinna and its Olavinlinna castle Kerimäki church - world’s biggest wooden church Hytermä Nature Reserve and Museum Islands Linnansaari National Park Nightless night (midsummer) Delicious fish speciality Puruvesi vendace (registered Tour Details and Description as PDO and PGI by EU) Finnish sauna Finland is often called the land of thousand lakes and with a good reason: there are actually near 188 000 Included in the Lake Saimaa lakes in Finland. Finland’s Lakeland is a beautiful mosaic of vast clear waters and islands, spits and Cycing Tour: isthmuses covered with green boreal forests and Accommodation (Lappeenranta (2 nights): middle birch groves. There are kilometers of shoreline class hotel / toilet and shower in the room cycling routes and many scenic spots along the way! Punkaharju (3 nights): apartment hotel or cottage / On this cycling tour you will cycle along the shores of toilet, shower, sauna and a small kitchen in the room Finland’s largest lake, Saimaa, and visit some of its Savonlinna (1 night): middle class hotel / toilet and best places; historical towns of Lappeenranta and shower in the room: Oravi (1 night): apartment hotel Savonlinna, nature reserves and the famous or cottage / toilet, shower and a small kitchen in the Punkaharju esker ridge, one of the nominated room national landscapes of Finland. Breakfast Luggage transfer (from Punkaharju to Savonlinna and This tour offers a lot for nature lovers and outdoor from Savonlinna to Oravi) people! Besides cycling there are many trails for Service-hotline (Finnish / English / Italian) walking and hiking, many waterways for paddling and Route description-maps (one per each room, rowing and of course many occasions for sauna, available in English / German / Italian / French / swimming and fishing. Finnish) Destination information Tour character: Level 2 Not included in the tour: The tour is most suitable for adults and youngsters, but probably not suitable for children under age of 12 Outward and return journey years. Terrain is undulating. The route is mostly on Bike rental secondary roads and cycle paths. Daily distances Train ticket Lappeenranta – Punkaharju (ca. 14 € - 20 from 23 km to 43 km / 49 km. Cycling paths 19 % € adults) Side roads 78 % Main roads 3 % Steamship from Punkaharju to Savonlinna (ca. 35 € adults, 17 € 7 – 17 year-olds) Tour highlights:
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Saunas by lakeshore that have to be booked and Departure Sundays - minimum 10 people (max 22). paid separately on spot (in Punkaharju and Oravi) Solo travellers by request (with 100 Euro surcharge) Rowing boat rent to visit the Hytermä Islands (ca. 15 € / boat) 3rd person in room 680 Euros | child (under 14) 595 Any rental equipment for paddling, rowing, fishing, Euros etc. (prices vary) Everything not specified on Included in the price
Arrival / departure:
Flight to Helsinki, train to Lappeenranta (Helsinki-Vantaa airport – Lappeenranta: 2 h – 2 h 15 min, one change), from Lappeenranta railway station local bus, walk or taxi to hotel
We recommend to book a transfer from Oravi to Savonlinna, ca. 40 min, price 15 € / person. Otherwise there is public transport (bus), but with restricted timetable in summer. From Savonlinna take a train to Helsinki. There is also an airport in Savonlinna (flights via Helsinki). At the moment there is no public transport to / from Savonlinna airport.
Transfer booking recommended when booking the tour.
Bike rental:
If you would like to rent a bike (90 Euros) please contact our office when booking: Itinerary [email protected]
Included in the bicycle rental in Lappeenranta: Per each room: 1 x repair kit Day 1 Per each person: 1 x waterproof pannier or pannier with rain cover Arrival in Lappeenranta Independent arrival to Included in the bicycle rental from Punkaharju: Lappeenranta. Lappeenranta is the capital of South Per each room: 1 x repair kit, 1 x pump, 1 x map Karelia, a small town by Lake Saimaa near the holder Russian border. Lappeenranta is known as the Per each person: 1 x waterproof pannier, 1 x bottle friendliest town in Finland and for its green holder, 1 x odometer, 1 x spare inner tube technology development. It has a historical old town Separate bicycles in Lappeenranta and from and fortress with a great view to Lake Saimaa and Punkaharju onwards. also Finland’s oldest wooden Town Hall. Worth visiting is the Sandcastle exhibition with sand
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sculptures with annually changing theme. You can also go paddling, rowing or horse riding. In Lappeenranta has a lively harbour with a square and other words, it’s an outdoor paradise! Worth visiting steamships that come and go from their cruises on are the Finnish Forest Museum Lusto and art Lake Saimaa. If you have enough time you may want exhibition Johanna Oras. For families there’s a water to take one around Lake Saimaa or to the famous and fun park. And, not to forget are relaxing, sauna Saimaa Canal. and swimming of course!
Day 2 Day 4
Lappeenranta – Taipalsaari – Lappeenranta | 43 km Punkaharju esker ridge route | 23 km Today you Your first cycling trip is a circular route from cycle along the beautiful and unique Punkaharju Lappeenranta. You cycle along the shores of Lake esker ridge route. You cycle almost all the time along Saimaa and past calm forests and countryside. In the the ridges with old pines and lake on both sides. You small village of Taipalsaari you can visit the church pass also Punkaharju church and on a sunny day you and a Horse-Drawn Vehicle Museum. You may not can take a swim at the turning point before heading be lucky enough to see a real Saimaa Ringed Seal back to the esker ridge area again. Reserve time for during your tour as in summertime they tend to stay many scenic stops and photographing! under water for most of the time, but at the municipal hall of Taipalsaari you have a chance to see a Day 5 mounted Saimaa Ringed Seal puppy. On a sunny day you may want to take a swim in the lake before Punkaharju – Kerimäki – (Hytermä Islands) – heading back to Lappeenranta. Punkaharju | 34 km / 49 km Today you cycle to the small village of Kerimäki where you can visit the Day 3 world’s biggest wooden church. As you arrive at the village, a line of red wooden boat shelters by the Lappeenranta – Punkaharju | train + optional cycling lakeshore appear in the view. Worth visiting are the Today you take a train to Punkaharju. You can Hytermä Nature Reserve and Museum Islands, admire the beautiful lakescapes even from the train. reachable by a rowing boat a short distance from The train stop is near to your accommodation, in the land. A trip to this hidden pearl in Lake Saimaa is a middle of nature! Punkaharju is known internationally unique experience. Then you cycle back to for the beautiful esker ridge formed by Ice Age, and Punkaharju. has therefore been a popular tourist destination for the past two hundred years. Punkaharju esker ridge Day 6 is one of Finland's nominated national landscapes. Punkaharju esker ridge Nature Reserve, is one of the Punkaharju – Savonlinna | 38 km + 11 km or world's oldest reserves, as the area was named a steamship + 11 km Today you travel to the lively town crown-owned park in 1843. There are also cultural of Savonlinna, known for its medieval Olavinlinna and historical sites to explore in the esker ridge area. castle and for the annual international Opera Festival. Depending on your arrival time in Punkaharju, you If you prefer to have more time in Punkaharju or have may want to discover the esker ridge area and some a break with cycling, it is possible to travel to of the surrounding attractions by bike today. There Savonlinna in the afternoon with your bike on board a are many trails also for walking or nordic walking. traditional steamship (possible from 27.6. on).
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Savonlinna is built on islands, so water is always present. There are some wonderful cycling routes in Savonlinna along the lakeshore you don’t want to miss! Experience the laid-back atmosphere at the Market square by the harbour with nostalgic steamships. If you haven’t tasted the famous Puruvesi vendace fish yet, now it’s high time! Get your portion directly from the Savonlinna Market square or from almost any restaurant. If you wish to have an opera evening in Olavinlinna castle we suggest you get your tickets well in advance as the Opera Festival is very popular.
Day 7
Savonlinna – Oravi | 42 km Today you cycle to a small canal village Oravi situated between two national parks on a narrow isthmus. Worth experiencing is a boat trip to the biodiverse Linnansaari Island in Linnansaari National Park. The landscape in the national park alternates between a labyrinth of sheltered islands and clear open waters. Linnansaari is one of the best habitats for the adorable Saimaa Ringed Seal, one of the world's most endangered and rare seals, endemic to Lake Saimaa. If you are lucky, you can see one or also an Osprey flying above the lake. On the Linnansaari Island you can do a short hike and get acquainted with the traditional slash-and-burn agriculture method. Oravi is a perfect spot for paddling trips, sauna and swimming! How does a good meal, perhaps elk meat, chanterelles and cranberries sound after an active day?
Day 8
Departure or extension of your holiday You may want to spend another day in Oravi for paddling, Savonlinna for opera or Punkaharju for any outdoor activity. Extra nights are available also in Lappeenranta and Helsinki before or after the tour. Transfer to Savonlinna (if booked).
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