9 Days / 8 Nights - from £975 pp

Your cycling tour take you to the Turku archipelago, a series of 20 000 islands stretching out into the sea from the city of Turku in  south-west Finland. Cycling 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 Turku – the formal capital of Finland, and a bustling, attractive market town.

2008 Departures, starting and ending on Saturdays:

Starting dates :
JUNE 9th and 30th
JULY 7th , 14th , 21st and 28th
AUGUST 4th and 11th

Package price is £975 per person sharing twin/double room when 2 persons travelling together. £245 single supplement.

Package includes:

• Direct flights from London to Helsinki (Flights from other departure cities can be arranged)
• Airport transfers in Helsinki
• 1 night accommodation in a centrally located 4* hotel in Helsinki
• Return coach transfers from Helsinki to Turku
• 7 nights accommodation with breakfast
• 2 dinners
• 21-speed hybrid bicycle with panniers, repair kit, pump, and helmet for 6 days
• 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
• luggage transportation between hotels (maximum 1 piece of luggage per person)

Important Notes:

• Dates and route subject to change depending on ferry schedules that will not be published until January 2007. Usually ferry timings will not change, but there is a small possibility.
• Average cycling 45km per day
• Maximum day 65km
• Difficulty rating Easy-medium: generally easy, but with occasional rolling sections
• This is a self-guided cycling tour. Each guest will receive full details on the route, ferry timings, etc, but there is no guide included. 
• We reserve the right to change the route and overnight accommodations.

Island Hopping Itinerary

DAY 1 Arrival in Helsinki and transfer to centrally located 4* hotel.  Enjoy an afternoon of leisure in Finland's trendy capital city.

DAY 2 - Transfer by coach to Turku, Finland’s oldest city.  Overnight in Turku BB basis – lots of nearby restaurants to choose from for dinner

DAY 3 Turku-Kustavi approx. 65km  In the morning pick up the bicycles at 9:00 and enjoy a ride around the historic city with its medieval castle, cathedral, and riverside cycle paths. Note : today’s one ferry ride departs at 15:00, approximately 45km from Turku (around 3 hours riding time). Continue by bike via nearby Naantali. Soon after Naantali the island-hopping begins, first with a stunning ride across the bridge to Merimasku and then take a break from peddling with a relaxing 45 minute ferry journey. Continue on by bike to your overnight hotel.   Overnight in Kustavi region. Dinner at nearby restaurant.

DAY 4 Kustavi region – cycling distance depends on your own ambition.  Spending a second night in Kustavi, today gives the chance for a circular ride around the area with some spectacular coastal scenery.   Overnight as above

DAY 5 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. Houtskär island has some of the region’s most challenging cycling, but you can rest on the 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 6 Nauvo island – cycling distance depends on your own ambition.  Spending a second night on Nauvo island there are several choices of circular cycling routes, plus the possibility to go canoeing or take a traditional seaside sauna.  Overnight on Nauvo island

DAY 7 Nauvo-Rymättylä-Naantali approx. 45 km.  Take the ferry north from Nauvo back to the mainland and continue by bike 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 8 Naantali-Turku 14 km.  Free time in Naantali, or in Turku according to your preference. Short ride back to Turku. Return your bicycle by 5pm. Overnight in Turku centre BB basis

DAY 8 Return transfer to Helsinki airport by coach or train for your return flight.