7 Days / 6 Nights - from £895 pp
The
Turku archipelago is one of Finland’s most stunning natural phenomena. It is a series of
20,000 islands stretching out into the sea from the city of Turku in south-west Finland. Driving a circular route around the main islands is made easy, and exciting, by a system of local
ferry services, constantly going back and forth acting like bridges. As well as the fun of the ferries, there are also
picturesque harbour villages to visit, and the true peace of the nature.
The tour starts and ends in Helsinki, the trendy capital of Finland, where you stay your first and last nights and pick up your car.
Package price is £895 per person sharing twin/double room when 2 persons travelling together. £160 single supplement.
Package includes:
- Direct flights to Helsinki from London Heathrow with Finnair or British Airways or London Gatwick with Easy Jet (Flights from other UK airports can be arranged upon request.)
- 6 night accommodation in a centrally located 3* hotels
- 7 days car hite - B class (Ford Mondeo, Volvo S40 or equivalent)
- 2 dinners
- All necessary island ferry fees
- Cycling road map (1 for up to 2 persons)
- Detailed route notes indicating suggested route and ferry timings
- 24 hour emergency phone service
Island Hopping by Car Itinerary DAY 1 Arrive in Helsinki and pick up your car at the airport and drive to your centrally located 3* hotel. Enjoy an afternoon of leisure in Finland's trendy capital city. (parking not included in package price)
DAY 2 - Helsinki- Turku via Fiskars and Tammisaari approx. 180 km Depart from your hotel in Helsinki towards west cost of Finland. On the
way you can visit the town of Tammisaari with its lovely old town and the former iron works of Fiskars with many handicraft shops. Turku is a bustling summer town, on the south-west coast of Finland, with the River Aura cutting right through the heart of the town (see picture). There is plenty to see, including medieval castle and cathedral, and a wide
selection of excellent cars, cafes, and restaurants
Overnight in Turku centre BB basis – lots of nearby restaurants to choose from for dinner
DAY 3 Turku- Heponiemi (in Kustavi municipality) approx. 65km Free time in Turku. Note: today’s one ferry ride departs at 15:00,
approximately 45km from Turku (around 3 hours riding time) so you need to leave early enough from Turku in order to catch this ferry. Continue from Turku via nearby Naantali. Soon after Naantali the islandhopping begins, first with a stunning ride across the bridge to Merimasku and then take a break from driving with a relaxing 45 minute ferry
journey. Continue to your overnight hostel by the sea. Overnight in Kustavi region in a guest house. Dinner at nearby restaurant.
DAY 4 Heponiemi (Kustavi)-Iniö-Houtskär-Korpoo-Nauvo approx. 60km Today is the main island-hopping day with seven ferry journeys reaching the very heart of the archipelago region. The tiny peaceful island of Iniö is the remotest spot of the trip. From Houtskär take a half hour ferry ride
to Korpoo! From Korpoo it’s a short ferry hop to Nauvo, where you overnight in a wonderful B&B, a former barn converted to a guest house located amongst beautiful nature. Overnight with dinner on Nauvo island
DAY 5 Nauvo-Rymättylä-Naantali approx. 45 km Take the ferry north from Nauvo back to the mainland and continue via Rymättylä to Naantali, an idyllic seaside village with cobbled streets and
old wooden houses around a bustling harbour.
Overnight in a spa hotel in Naantali, with plenty of local restaurants to choose from for dinner
DAY 6 Naantali-Helsinki (via Tampere)
Free time in Naantali, or in Turku according to your preference. Naantal is located only 13km from Turku. Drive back to Helsinki. Possibility to drive also via Tampere (2 hours from Turku) and visit e.g. the Amusement Park of Särkänniemi in Tampere. Tampere is the third largest city in Finland, located beautifully by a lake area.
Driving distance from Tampere to Helsinki is 176 km /around 2 hours) Overnight in Helsinki centre BB basis
DAY 7 Drop off the car at the airport for your departure flight.