Overview:
This self-guided cycling tour leads cyclists along peaceful, well-maintained roads through forests, cultivated areas and woodland-covered hills of eastern Finland. On the route you will spot plenty of shimmering lakes offering refreshing swimming spots on a hot summer day. After a cycling day you will enjoy light summer nights that will probably make you want to stay awake until the next morning. At the end of the tour you will join an extraordinary bear watching excursion which gives you an opportunity to observe and photograph brown bears safely from small wilderness hides.
Package price is £1,475 per person based on availability and two people sharing a twin or double room. Single supplement £350 pp.
Min. 2 persons are needed for the tour to operate.
2022 Departure Dates: please enquire
Tour Itinerary:
Day 1: Welcome to Finland
Arrival at Kajaani airport and transportation to the hotel situated along the river shore, a stone’s throw from the town centre. After arrival there is a welcome meeting with a local guide.
Day 2: Day Tour in Kajaani ~ 45 km/27 miles
On the first cycling day you will cycle amidst country settings along quiet tarmac roads and well-maintained gravel roads in the surroundings of Kajaani. In the village of Paltaniemi you can visit the church famous for its ceiling and wall paintings and enjoy great views to the sea-like Lake Oulujärvi, the 4th biggest lake in Finland. In Kajaani, it is worth a visit to the castle ruins from the 17th century situated on the river shore.
Day 3: Kajaani – Vuokatti ~ 45 km/27 miles
A nice rolling route takes you out of Kajaani and towards the holiday resort of Vuokatti. There is a longish climb on the route and another one if you choose the recommended side trip through the Naapurinvaara hill, but views from the top are surely worth some struggling. Today’s destination Vuokatti is one of the most popular all-year-round holiday resorts in Finland, however it's at its most crowded during the winter, not in summer. For the next two nights you’ll stay in a cozy cabin situated in a tranquil spot in the forest next to a hotel Vuokatinhovi.
Day 4: Day Tour in Vuokatti ~ 40 km/24 miles
Today you can have a leisurely day in Vuokatti or make a day tour in the surrounding countryside. Enjoy the peace of nature and the ease of cycling on tranquil roads. Take a picnic in a picturesque lake-side spot and have a swim on a hot summer day. Don’t forget to climb to the top of Vuokatinvaara hill to admire the view over the lakes and hills! If you decide to stay in Vuokatti instead of cycling there are some nice walking routes suitable for a day tour as well as an endless list of other activities available.
Day 5: Vuokatti – Kuhmo ~ 72 km/44 miles
The longest day of the tour takes you east, first through the municipality center of Sotkamo and then through the tiny villages of Sumsa and Katerma. The route offers some more beautiful lake, forest and hill landspaces and rolling roads. If you are cycling after mid-July you can easily have a healthy snack straight from the forest, picking up some bilberries which grow everywhere. A bit later there are also raspberries and lingonberries that are ripe to be picked up. In the afternoon you will arrive at the small town of Kuhmo, world-famous for the Chamber Music Festival which is held annually in July. Accommodation for the next two nights will be in the charming Hotel Kalevala, situated on the shores of beautiful Lake Lammasjärvi.
Day 6: Day Tour in Kuhmo ~ 40 km/24 miles
Today’s cycling takes you to Lentua, where you can visit the famous Lentuankoski rapid and Lentua Nature Information Hut. The hut is also the starting point for a 6,5 km nature trail which introduces visitors to the restoration of forests and mires. If you prefer to skip today’s cycling you have the opportunity to visit places such as Petola, an information centre on Finland’s large carnivores – bear, wolf, lynx and wolverine – or Juminkeko, where you can learn more about Finnish national epic Kalevala and Karelian culture, both of which are still strongly present in Kuhmo.
Day 7: Cycling Kuhmo – Lentiira & Bear Watching ~ 40 km/24 miles
Today you cycle in the middle of the forest to the tiny village of Lentiira, situated near the Finnish eastern border. In Lentiira you will be welcomed by Sabrina who hosts a B&B and runs wildlife watching tours. The wilderness of the border area is inhabited by large carnivores such as bears and wolverines, and in the evening you set off on an overnight safari to observe and photograph them from small purpose-built log cabins.
Day 8: Farewell Finland
Return from the hides in the morning, breakfast and transfer to Kajaani airport.
Package Includes:
- Return flights from London to Kajaani via Helsinki on Finnair. Other UK airports available upon request. Please contact our team.
- 1 piece of check-in luggage per traveler (up to 23 kg)
- Airport transfers in Kajaani
- Bicycle hire
- Accommodation days 1 - 2 and 5 - 6 in a hotel, days 3 -4 in a cabin
- Full board
- Bed linen for each night
- Sauna on days 1 - 6
- Information package including cycling maps, route notes and tourist information
- Briefing on first night
- Overnight bear watching excursion
- 24 hour emergency service
- ATOL protection
- All taxes
Not included in the price:
- Guide services
- Luggage transfers. It is possible to request luggage transportation for an extra charge of £ 160 in total (eg. for 2 persons the cost is £ 80 per person, for 4 persons its £40 per person)
Enquire now »