 SAIMAA
LAKE TOUR
2006
Finland’s Lake District
3 DAYS
FROM HELSINKI BACK TO HELSINKI
2006
Jun 03, 10, 17, 23, 30
Jul 06, 12, 18, 24, 30
Aug 03, 07, 11, 15, 19
TOUR DESCRIPTION:
A short tour to the heart of the Finnish Lake District with its
beautiful scenery the country is famous for. Visit historical landmarks
and learn about Eastern Orthodox traditions on a monastery visit.
 DAY
1 HELSINKI - PORVOO - IMATRA
(TRACING THE CZAR'S FOOTSTEPS)
Meet 8:15 am at Hotel Radisson SAS Plaza entrance or 9:00 am at
Scandic Continental Hotel. Your journey through the
Finnish Lakeland starts as you depart by coach for Porvoo, the second
oldest town in Finland. Situated on the banks of a river, the old part of
the town is famous for its charming red warehouses, cobblestone lanes and
handicraft shops. It was in the medieval cathedral of Porvoo that Czar
Alexander I declared Finland an autonomous Grand Duchy of Russia in 1809,
the first step on the way to independence. Lunch will be enjoyed in the
old Ruotsinpyhtää ironworks village, dotted with red 18th-century workers’
dwellings.
On the way to Imatra you will stop to admire the Langinkoski rapids. Czar
Alexander III had an imperial fishing lodge built on the shore of the
roaring rapids, and the court in St. Petersburg was provided with salmon
caught by the czar’s fishermen.
Dinner and overnight at Rantasipi Hotel
Valtionhotelli in Imatra.
DAY 2 IMATRA -
SAVONLINNA - KOLI
(THE LAND OF THOUSANDS OF LAKES)
We approach the Retretti Art Exhibition via the Punkaharju esker ridge, an
isthmus between two large lakes. The sub- and superterranean exhibition
halls of Retretti house an exhibition of classical as well as contemporary
visual arts.
After lunch in Punkaharju
you head to Savonlinna. On a small island in the center of the town stands
the best-preserved medieval fortress in the Nordic countries, Olavinlinna
Castle. Founded in 1475, the castle and its three magnificent towers have
seen the Swedes rowing through the straits, the Russians skiing across the
ice and the Finns building a bridge over the troubled water. Every summer
it turns into the scene of one of the oldest music festivals in Europe,
the Savonlinna Opera Festival.
The eastern orthodox
monastery of Valamo still bears the name of the island in Lake Ladoga from
where it was transferred to Heinävesi in 1940. In the Valamo Monastery,
tea is brewed in the traditional style in a massive silver samovar,
sweetened with raspberry jam, and served in tea glasses. The tea is
accompanied by old-Russian delicacies.
Continue to Koli Hills, one of Finland’s best-known places of natural
beauty. Form the highest hilltop there is a spectacular view over forests
and lakes. Dinner and overnight at Hotel Koli in Lieksa.
DAY 3 KOLI -
JOENSUU - HELSINKI
(RETURN TO THE CAPITAL)
After breakfast transfer to Joensuu Airport for a flight back to
Helsinki. The tour ends upon arrival at Helsinki Airport.
Prices from:
$ 830 per person double
$ 160 single supplement
INCLUDES:
-2 nights at First Class Hotels
-Daily Breakfast, 2 Lunches, 2 Dinners
-Air Joensuu - Helsinki
-Transportation by Deluxe Touring Coach
-Sightseeing per itinerary
-Tour Escort
-Tax and Service Charges
TOUR
ITINERARY SUBJECT TO CHANGE BASED ON OPERATIONAL NEEDS
PLEASE NOTE: This is a multilingual
tour and is organized and operated by our Associate Office in Helsinki.
Pre and post tour hotel nights in Helsinki available.
FTB 102805 |
