Culture and music in Finland, Kuhmo

Kuhmo, a town on the eastern border of Finland, 600 km north of Helsinki, is widely known for its world-class chamber music festival, the Finnish national epic Kalevala and wild brown bears. On this trip you can experience all of those along with enjoying interesting works of visual arts, history and culinary treats. The daily programme will contain one to three Kuhmo Chamber Music Festival concerts, a visit to a cultural site and a nature excursion.

Our cosy hotel is located by the shore of Lake Lammasjärvi, three kilometres from the centre of Kuhmo. The distance between town centre and the hotel will be covered daily by bicycles or by prearranged transport. The hotel has 50 individually decorated rooms, a restaurant, and terrace and sauna department.

During your staying in Kuhmo at a hotel you will be able to enjoy the beauty and delights of the Finnish summer. That will call for not only attending scheduled programme, but also spontaneous plunges into the fresh lake, sauna bathing and marvelling the white nights.

Day 1 − Arrival

Arrival at the Kajaani airport, transfer to the Hotel Kalevala (appr. 1.5 hours).
Check in, dinner at hotel’s terrace. Time for independent exploring of the hotel surroundings.

Day 2 − Concerts, history, art exhibition(s), saunas and culinary delicacies

Breakfast
09.00− Bike ride to the centre of Kuhmo (3 km)
11.00−12.00 Kuhmo Chamber Music concert at the Kuhmo Church
12.00−13.00 Guided tour at the Kuhmo Arts Centre. You will learn about the history of the Arts Centre, the Kuhmo Chamber Music Festival and events around the year. The festival’s art exhibition is in the lobby.
Return to the hotel
14.00− Free time to explore the city centre. There are plenty of other art exhibitions in the centre. Maybe you would like to enjoy a cup of coffee or tea with local delicacies in one of the cafés? Festival shop is full of different kinds of festival products. Would like to buy a festival T-shirt or a cd?
Return to the hotel, saunas with indoor and outdoor Jacuzzis.
18.00−20.00 Evening concert at the Kuhmo Arts Centre
20.30− After the concert, a three course dinner in the pop-up restaurant Salakamari. Salakamari is the place where audience and artists meet after the concerts. This festival restaurant is renowned for its gourmet menu and festival wines.

Day 3 – Concerts, Kalevala, saunas (& bears)

Breakfast, bike ride to the centre of Kuhmo
11.00−12.00 Kuhmo Chamber Music concert in the Church
12.15−13.00 Visit to Juminkeko, the Information Centre of Kalevala. Exhibitions and a multimedia programme on Finland’s national epic, the Kalevala. Juminkeko also owns one of the largest collections of various editions of the Kalevala in the world.
15.00−16.00 Afternoon concert of the Kuhmo Chamber Music Festival
Return to the hotel
16.15 Optional: Transfer to the bear-watching evening (with extra charge 135 €/person). Return back to the hotel before midnight.
Sauna and Dinner à la Kalevala for those who stay at the hotel. Enjoy an authentic Dinner à la Kalevala, taste local delicacies in the old times atmosphere.
21.00−22.00 Evening concert of the Kuhmo Chamber Music Festival

Day 4 – Concerts, Finnish predators, church boat tour, saunas

Breakfast
9.00−10.00 Visit to the Petola Visitor Centre. Guided tour to the exhibition of large carnivores – brown bear, wolf, lynx and wolverine. Film show on Kuhmo nature and wildlife in the auditorium.
Bike ride from Petola to the centre.
11.00−12.00 Kuhmo Chamber Music concert
Free time. Buy a festival T-shirt, relax on the bench next to Lake Lammasjärvi or do whatever else you like.
15.00−16.00 Kuhmo Chamber Music concert at the Tuupala School
Optional: Guided church boat tour. The tour will start from the Kuhmo Arts Centre and the group will row their way back to the hotel along the lake. Bonfire picnic at the Kota teepee by the lakeside right next to the hotel.
Sauna bathing.
19.15 Dinner at the hotel
21.00−22.00 Evening concert of the Kuhmo Chamber Music Festival

Day 5 – Bye, bye

Breakfast, free time
11.00− Transfer back to the Kajaani airport

Festival programme: www.kuhmofestival.fi

Reservations, more information – please contact:

Hotel Kalevala
tel. +358 8 655 4100
sales@hotellikalevala.fi
www.hotellikalevala.fi