The Land of a Thousand Lakes

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Helsinki

Arrival in Helsinki Vantaa airport. Pick up hire car at the airport and drive to Helsinki. Enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure exploring Helsinki.
Overnight stay in Helsinki city centre.

Day 2: Helsinki – Porvoo – Lappeenranta – Imatra (~ 260 km)

Depart from Helsinki towards Imatra; the distance between Helsinki and Imatra is about 260 km. On the way to Imatra take a stop in Porvoo, Finland’s 2nd oldest town. Stroll through the medieval quarter, along old cobbled streets of historic painted wooden houses, cafes, and antique stores. The town is famous for its ochre-painted shore houses along the riverside. The 13th century cathedral, although damaged by fire in 2006, is still the town’s major historic landmark. Before arriving in Imatra, make a second stop in Lappeenranta. Visit The Old Town, also called the Fortification, in the centre of the city and the harbour area. Imatra is famous for the beautiful hotel Imatran Valtionhotelli as well as the Imatra Rapids. Arrive in Imatra on time to see the magnificent
Imatrankoski Rapid show at 18.00 (every day during period 25 Jun – 26 Aug).
Overnight stay in Imatra.

Day 3: Imatra – Punkaharju – Kerimäki – Savonlinna – Rantasalmi (~ 180 km)

Drive to Rantasalmi via Punkaharju, Kerimäki and Savonlinna. Have your first stop in Punkaharju, one of the most famous nature sights in Finland- a 7 km long pine-covered sand ridge, formed in the ice age. Remember to also visit Retretti Art Centre, an unusual art exhibition inside a cave going down as far as 30 metres below ground including waterfalls and sound effects. From Punkahaaru, there is the possibility to drive straight to Savonlinna or via Kerimäki and visit the largest wooden church in the world. Savonlinna is a beautiful small town, famous for the castle of Olavinlinna and the Savonlinna Opera festivals. Olavinlinna Castle is the best-preserved medieval fortress in the Nordic countries.
Overnight stay in Rantasalmi.

Day 4: Rantasalmi – Koli (~ 217 km)

Depart from Rantasalmi towards Koli. On the way make a stop at Valamo Monastary at Heinävesi. Koli is one of Finland’s most famous beauty spots. The landscapes of Koli have become known as a Finnish national landmark due to the influences of such Finnish artists as Juhani Aho, Eero Järnefelt and Pekka Halonen. The landscape of Koli is grand and unique, and will remain so even for future generations due to its status as a National Park.
Overnight stay in Koli.

Day 5: Free day for hiking and other activities in Koli

Koli National Park is a popular hiking destination and the most well-known vantage point in the park is Ukko-Koli, with a grand view to the East, over the lake Pielinen.
Overnight stay in Koli.

Day 6: Koli – Kuopio (~ 160 km)

Depart from Koli to Kuopio. There is the possibility to drive via Nurmes and visit the traditional Karelian House, Bomba, in Nurmes. The distance from Koli to Kuopio directly is about 160 km, or via Nurmes it's 210 km. Kuopio is known for its beautiful Lakeland setting as well as for its Puijo Tower and lively Marketplace.
Overnight stay in Kuopio.

Day 7: Kuopio – Tampere (~ 300 km)

Departure from Kuopio to Tampere. On the way from Kuopio to Tampere, stop at Jyväskylä, where the famous Finnish architect and designer Alvar Aalto was at school and in early employment. Jyväskylä has the highest density of his work outside of Helsinki. In the Jyväskylä region there are also two Unesco world heritage sites: Petäjävesi Old Church on the western side of Jyväskylä, and Oravivuori triangulation tower on the way from Jyväskylä to Tampere.
Tampere is a bustling city, the largest inland city in the Nordic countries, with river rapids and industrial heritage sites right in the heart of the city. Enjoy a cruise on the lake, visit Särkäniemi Amusement park with rides, visit the Dolphinarium and Planetarium, ideal for families, or explore some of the city’s museums, galleries or exhibitions.
Overnight stay in Tampere.

Day 8: Tampere – Helsinki (~ 185 km)

Depart Tampere and drive south to Helsinki. Stop half way and visit the market town of Hämeenlinna, birth place of composer Jean Sibelius.
Overnight stayin Helsinki city centre.

Day 9: Departure from Helsinki

Drop off the car at the airport. Return flight.

This map uses Google Maps, so you can zoom and interact with it as we hope it is familiar to you.

For a larger version of this map which opens in a new window, click here

The lines shown give you an indication of our destinations and are not the exact route used.

You'll see...

• Finnish Sauna »
• Helsinki »
• Helsinki Design District »
• Lake District in Finland »
• Why you should visit Finland »
• Weather In Helsinki »
• Kiasma Museum of Contemporary Art »

Will I see the Northern Lights?

Please scroll down to see the specifics for the country you wish to visit:

Iceland:
The Northern Lights are in the Northern sky from September through April but are only visible when the sky is clear and free of clouds. Like many of natures wonders, it’s ephemeral – they may be visible, they may appear for a bit and then be gone. But it’s worth it to be patient. Because they’re a winter event, you need to be prepared to wait outside, while looking for them. It’s best to dress very warmly, in layers, with good footwear, gloves, hats and whatever else will make you comfortable while you await this truly amazing event. The Northern Lights can be pretty spectacular, and for the best photos we recommend using a tripod. Much of Iceland offers a very a good chance to see the Northern Lights when conditions are right. Remember – the Northern Lights are natural phenomena, not guaranteed, but appreciated all the more for their elusive qualities.

Norway:
Northern Norway is one of the world's best places to experience the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis). In Northern Norway, Northern Lights occur in up to 90% of every clear night in the period from late September to late March. Most Northern Lights occur in the time span from 6pm to slightly after midnight, with an absolute peak at around 10-11pm. 

In Norway, the area north of the Arctic Circle is prime aurora territory. The various destinations in the High North have a distinct personality, and are well worth exploring. Major places in Northern Norway are Tromsø, Kirkenes, Alta, Bodø, Lofoten and Vesterålen Islands and Svalbard.

Finland:
The best place to see the Northern Lights in Finland is in the Northern Lapland region, which is almost entirely located within the realm of the Arctic Circle. During the dark winter months here, when the sun rarely peaks its head over the horizon, you can expect to see the Finland Northern Lights with regularity, and other peak seasons include February through March and September through October. The most common colours of the Northern Lights are greenish-yellow and red.

The Finnish term for the Northern Lights, Revontulet, meaning fox fire, comes from an old tale where the fox was believed to swish its bushy tail on the snowy fell landscapes, throwing sparks into the air.

As mentioned, Lapland is the best place to see the Finland Aurora Borealis, with the Kilpisjarvi area offering the most abundant opportunities. The best time of the day to see the Finland Northern Lights is between 9 pm and 11:30 pm, though they are certainly not restricted to this time frame.

Sweden:
In Northern Sweden, the Northern Lights usually occur during the winter months through late March or early April, but they can be spotted as early as September in the Northernmost parts. Your best chance of catching a glimpse of the Northern Lights is on cold winter nights when the sky is clear and cloudless. You need to be away from city lights, which dilute the effects of these natural phenomena, so head out into the countryside. On clear nights, the Northern Lights can be visible from most locations in Swedish Lapland, occurring between 6 pm to and 2 am, with the strongest shows happening between 10 pm and 11 pm. For those willing to brave the cold on winter nights, here are some of the best locations in Swedish Lapland for viewing these phenomena:

Abisko National Park
Abisko National Park, a couple of kilometers north of Kiruna, is a prime location for viewing the Northen Lights. The scientifically proven “blue hole” — a patch of sky over the Torneträsk lake that usually remains clear despite overcast weather in surrounding areas — gives Abisko its own micro-climate, which is suitable for catching the lights.

Jukkasjärvi and the Torne Valley
Not only does the village of Jukkasjärvi (population roughly 541) boast the world’s first ice hotel (rebuilt ever year from Torne River ice), it’s also one of the best regions to view the Northern Lights. ICEHOTEL organizes guided tours for guests which takes the to the Esrange Space Center located 30 minutes from Kiruna. You can dine at a wilderness camp and get the chance to scan the Arctic winter sky for aurora borealis.

Other regions in Swedish Lapland
As mentioned earlier, if weather conditions are just right (clear, dark, cold, and cloudless), you might catch a glimpse of the Northern Lights from any location within subarctic and arctic Sweden — even close to larger towns such as Luleå, Jokkmokk, Arvidsjaur, and Gällivare.

Greenland:
The northern lights - or Aurora Borealis as it is officially known - actually occur all year round, but cannot be seen during the summer months in Greenland due to the midnight sun. The phenomenon is often seen around midnight and is best experienced on a dark, clear night in the period from September to the beginning of April. If you are travelling during this period, you can see the Northern Lights from anywhere in the country, whilst in South Greenland the northern lights can be seen from as early as the end of August.

Car Rental

You can rent a car, as long as you have a valid EU or international driver's license. Most cars will have manual transmission.

Transportation

Railway mostly serves domestic routes and is used as an easy and quick way to get from the capital to major cities of the country. There are some international routes, like to Moscow and St. Petersburg, but time spent on the way will be quite long.

Buses are one of the most convenient ways to travel between the Baltic States. Eurolines will get you between Riga, Vilnius and Tallinn. One way tickets will cost £ 15 - £ 20 and approximate travel time is 5 hours between the cities. Ticket reservations in advance are recommended.

Taxis are the quickest and most convenient way of travelling round the city. You'll find them located close to the main hotels. Usually it's quite easy to catch a taxi on the street, however, it's much better and safer to order one by phone. Taxi costs in all of the Baltic countries and Poland are approximately the same and a ride in the centre of the city will cost you approx £ 5 - £ 7.  Taxis in Finland and Russia are considerably more expensive.  It is always a good idea to get your hotel to book a taxi for you and ask approximately how much the trip will cost before you get in.

We would not recommend you to take public transportation within the city, as it's usually crowded and it may cause you unnecessary anxiety about where to stop.