Lakeland – Culture and Culinary

DAY 2 Lappeenranta – Pulsa – Lemi – Imatra 111 km

Find yourself exploring also the surrounding areas of Lappeenranta, the idyllic municipalities full of culture and sites. Your holiday would not be complete without tasting “Särä” made in Lemi – it truly is one of Finland’s seven wonders.

Bucket list today:
Visiting Pulsa Station boutique cafe is a hop to the rural culture. Pulsa station ages till 1867 and it is an idyllic old railway station, offering hospitality and relaxation only 20 kilometres from Lappeenranta.
Pulsa station 

The first tourism destination of Finland and one of the biggest rapids in Europe is Imatrankoski. The main sight of Imatra is located in the city center. While watching the rapid show, enjoy the music accompanied by the fresh steam. Imatrankoski Rapids  

The fascinating history and interesting periods get more interesting with a guide. Guided tours in Imatra

Accommodation options:
Holiday Club Saimaa
Imatran Kylpylä Spa Resort

Restaurant option:
Lunch at Säräpirtti Kippurasarvi in Lemi is a must – Särä is a unique experience, prepared using a thousand-year-old recipe, this traditional lamb roast is cooked over 9 hours and there are no limits on portions – just enjoy. Säräpirtti Kippurasarvi

DAY 4 Punkaharju – Savonlinna – Punkaharju 70 km

Savonlinna region at the heart of Lake Saimaa is Finland’s oldest tourist destination. Its diverse and dazzling scenery has drawn in visitors since the 19th century. Finns have voted Savonlinna as the best summer city in the country.

Bucket list today:
Olavinlinna Castle, the world’s northernmost medieval castle in the world, is the crown jewel of Savonlinna. It is located in the city centre in the midst of beautiful lake scenery. It is best known as the stage of the world-famous Savonlinna Opera Festival. Olavinlinna Castle

A steamship cruise in the Savonlinna archipelago is a wonderful way to spend a summer’s day. Alternatively, you can take a mushroom cruise in the end of the summer and enjoy the disches made of mushrooms. Savonlinna Cruises 

Restaurant options:
Taste the local fish speciality, muikku, at Muikkuterassi, the roof terrace of Original Sokos Hotel Seurahuone Savonlinna while enjoying the spectacular views over the city. Muikkuterassi Savonlinna – Restaurant 

Get a taste of the delicious regional cuisine and the award-winning beers of Waahto Brewery at Brewery Restaurant Huvila. Try also the beers of the other two local breweries Olaf Brewing and Karvila Brewery.
Waahto Brewhouse Savonlinna

During the Opera Festival in July, Hotel Hospitz serves a Dinner Buffet before the performance, and a light Night Buffet after the opera. Enjoy variety of local fishes, tasty meat and fresh salads served from the big wooden boat. Restaurant – Hotel Hospitz 

DAY 7 Nurmes – Koli – Nurmes 153 km

Koli hill & national park are the most photographed scenes in North Karelia. From the top opens so-called Finnish national scenery over the lake Pielinen. It has inspired artists and painters for decades. The viewing point is easy to reach from the parking place on the top.

Bucket list today:
Karelian pasty workshop in Nurmes in Guesthouse Männikkölän Pirtti is a great way to meet local people and get familiar with the Karelian lifestyle. The owner, Mrs Ritva Ryttyläinen, is known for her pasties around the world. 

Picturesque Nurmes wooden old town “ Vanha Kauppala” is a lovely place for a guided walk or just to go fora walk by yourself. Pop in to a small cafe and sit down to enjoy your day.

Koli national park and Koli hills can be explored on your own or with a local guide. On guided tours around three tops of Koli, you hear the stories and find the best locations for photographing. On the top there is a restaurant, cafe, spa, hotel and nature center Ukko

Restaurant options:
Gastropub Kolin Ryynänen serves tasty food in Koli Village. They brew their own beer so give it a try too.

Restaurant Kolin satamaravintola Small restaurant in Koli harbour serves fresh fish dishes from lake Pielinen. Also nice terrasse for the warm summer days and local beer is available. 

DAY 8 Koli – Kuhmo 153 km

Kuhmo, UNESCO City of Literature and one of the best places to see carnivores in their natural habitat, is located near the Russian border. The natural surroundings, magnificent fauna and cultural heritage are an essential part of the image of this wilderness town. 

Bucket list today:
Juminkeko, Information Centre for the national epic of Kalevala and Karelian Culture. This Cultural Centre is also an exquisite example of the Finnish wooden architecture. Juminkeko Information Centre

Visitor Centre Petola, get to know the Finnish large carnivores: brown bear, wolf, lynx and wolverine. Learn how they look and sound like, what their tracks look like and how they move. Kuhmo Visitor Centre Petola  

Kaesas café and bakery offers homemade delicacies. Speciality of Kainuu region is “rönttönen” – a sweet barley or rye dough pie is the one of few in the world protected by an EU geographical indication.
Kaesan Kotileipomo, Kuhmo Finland 

Accommodation options:
Hotel Kalevala
Hotel Kainuu

Restaurant option:
Hotel Kalevala restaurant serves traditional and international specialities in amazing place by the lake Lammasjärvi. The cuisine is designed for international taste while using local
ingredients and techniques. Hotel Kalevala, restaurant Kanteletar 

DAY 9 Kuhmo – Kajaani – Kuopio 272 km

For a start, visit the 370-year-old Kajaani city along river Kajaaninjoki and lake Oulujärvi. It is known for its diverse cultural, music and literature offerings. Kuopio and its surroundings are full of restaurants and cafes, which cater to any and all desires of the hungry and thirsty. 

Bucket list today:
Kajaani Castle Ruins is the northernmost stone castle in the world located in the island of city centre and the park along the river.
Kajaani Castle Ruins 

Explore the only tar channel in operation in Finland. During the summer, tar rowing events are held on the canal, using narrow and long wooden boats in the original style. Tar Canal

Decorate your own memento with local artist Jenni Linnove in Kuopio; In the workshop, each participant will decorate a mug from the studio’s collection by hand. Jenni Linnove Ceramic Studio 

Visiting the Orthodox Church museum Riisa, one of the most notable Orthodoxe Church museums in Europe. RIISA

Accommodation options:
Original Sokos Hotel Puijonsarvi  
Scandic Hotel Kuopio 
Lapland Hotel Kuopio
Hotel Sawohouse 

Restaurant options:
Jätkänkämppä (Lumberjack’s Lodge), Kuopio. Experience a traditional lumberjack atmosphere of the 1950s in an authentic setting. Bath in the smoke sauna, enjoy traditional dinner buffet menus and live Finnish folklore music. Dinner and sauna at Jätkänkämppä

DAY 10 Kuopio

In Kuopio, the capital of European Gastronomy (2020-21),  you can enjoy the local ingredients for example during the sightseeing tour. You can also  participate in some of the several cruises organized by the local ship companies.

Bucket list today:
Kuopio Market hall was nominated as the most beautiful market hall in Finland in 2020. The story of Hanna Partanen’s “kalakukko” (fish rooster) goes back more than 100 years. You can taste and buy it in the market hall. Kuopio Market Hall 

Tasting Kuopio – tour; Enjoy local tastes at three different restaurants, guided by a professional local guide. Kuopio city guides      

Lignell & Piispanen is an alcohol producer founded in 1852. Visitor Center offers customers Factory Tours, Tastings, and factory store Kauppahuone and Arctic Bar, where you can enjoy our products and signature cocktails. Lignell & Piispanen 

Restaurant option:
Restaurant Isä Camillo in Kuopio, Their kitchen mixes  fresh local ingredients with Mediterranean cooking. Each portion is made and served with a big heart, passion and skill.
Welcome to Isä Camillo – Kuopio 

DAY 12 Mikkeli – Puumala – Ruokolahti – Lappeenranta 172 km

Experience Saimaa Geopark and Puumala archipelago. Even if you are not renting a cottage with us this time, Puumala makes a great day-trip for visitors of all ages. Halfway between Puumala and Lappeenranta is located Ruokolahti with lively cultural sites.  

Bucket list today:
Explore the cultural sites of Ruokolahti with an expert guide of Creative Kaiku. Discover Ruokolahti and its church hill, one of the most beautiful in Finland, or pop to the ‘odd stone’ (Kummakivi). Creative Kaiku 

Get a cup of hot coffee in Finland’s best cafeteria Satamatie 6 in Lappeenranta harbor and hop on to a cruise to Lake Saimaa scenery to wine and dine. Satamatie 6 & Karelia Lines 

Accommodation option:
Original Sokos Hotel Lappee
Hotel Rakuuna  
Salpalinjan Hovi

Restaurant option:
Wanha Makasiini Bistro is an atmospheric restaurant with delicious dishes prepared from the freshest ingredients available. The strawberry on the cake is the gorgeous red bricked milieu in Lappeenranta harbour. Restaurant Wanha Makasiini Bistro