Pre-tour to North Karelia and Midnight Sun Workshop 06.-12.06.2026

Located in Finnish Lakeland, in  North Karelia you can immerse yourself in an authentic Karelian experience – whether it’s the stillness of a lakeside cottage, swimming in the Great Lakes or enjoying the untouched beauty of the wilderness. This land, the birthplace of the Finns, is steeped in history and tradition. Hospitality here is a way of life, with warm welcomes and traditional meals like karjalanpiirakka. It is home to 4 national parks and Finland's most loved view - Koli national park. You will also find one of the two UNESCO's Biosphere Reserves in Finland in North Karelia.

Come and experience North Karelia, the Soul of Finland!

Flights to Helsinki

15:55 Flight from Helsinki to Kuopio

16:55 Arrival in Kuopio

17.15 Departure to Valamo

18.30 Guided tour in  Valamo Monastery
The Valamo Monastery is a vibrant center of Orthodox religious life and culture and a unique place to visit. The Valamo Monastery belongs to the Orthodox Church of Finland, which is an autonomous church under the Patriarchate of Constantinople.
Located in the beautiful Heinävesi, the monastery welcomes guests all year round. For today's people, the peaceful atmosphere of the monastery and the surrounding nature offer a unique opportunity to relax, far from all the hustle and bustle.

19.45 Dinner in restaurant Trapesa in Valamo

21.00 Departure to Outokumpu

21.45 Arrival to Hotel-Restaurant Kumpu

Breakfast

10.00 Guided tour in Outokumpu Old Mine
The Old Mine (Vanha Kaivos) in Outokumpu is a unique industrial heritage site that offers visitors a fascinating journey into Finland’s mining history. Located in the former copper mining area, the site combines impressive underground tunnels, historic mining buildings, and the Mining Museum, where guests can learn about the development of Finnish mining and the life of the mining community. Today, the Old Mine is a popular visitor attraction featuring guided tours, exhibitions and family-friendly activities.

11.30 Departure to Kolmikanta

12.00 Site inspection, light lunch and outdoor activity (hiking or kayaking) in Kolmikanta Camping and Wilderness & Nature Center of Outokumpu

Wild Karelia (Wild Karelian Outdoor Café & Camping Oy) is a nature tourism company located in Outokumpu, North Karelia, Finland. The company offers accommodation, camping services and outdoor experiences in a lakeside environment. Its main site, Kolmikanta Camping, provides cottages, caravan and tent sites, as well as guesthouse accommodation and facilities such as sauna, beach and meeting spaces. In addition, the company operates the Kaunisniemi Café and organizes nature-based activities such as canoeing, hiking and cycling routes, equipment rental and events that allow visitors to explore the surrounding forests and lakes.

14.30 Departure to Bomba

16.30 Check in to Break Sokos Hotel Bomba and site inspection (+ snacks in room)

Break Sokos Hotel Bomba is a lakeside spa hotel located in Nurmes, Finland, on the shore of Lake Pielinen. The hotel offers modern accommodation with lake-view rooms and facilities designed for both leisure and wellness stays. Its services include the Spa Bomba wellness area with pools, outdoor jacuzzis and themed saunas, as well as several restaurants serving Karelian and international cuisine. Guests can also enjoy a breakfast buffet, meeting and event facilities, and a variety of activities such as hiking, cycling and other outdoor experiences in the surrounding nature.

17.15 Free time, for instance time to visit Spa Bomba

19.30 Dinner in Bomba House

Overnight in Bomba

Breakfast and check out

8.30 Site inspection to Kalevala movie set up

Did you know that Son of Revenge: The Story of Kalevala was filmed largely at Bomba? Step into the world of Kalevala and explore the atmospheric buildings of Untamola, Ilmarila, Ilmarinen’s Forge, and Wäinölä. Along the way, you’ll hear fascinating stories from the making of the film as well as legends from the Kalevala itself. The experience is crowned by a unique museum room, designed directly from the original movie set, bringing the epic world of Kalevala to life before your eyes.

9.30 Guided coopop-safari to Wooden-Nurmes

Experience the thrill of speed on a trendy Coopop electric vehicle! Led by our guide, we will travel along a shore path to the Puu-Nurmes, an idyllic residential area in the heart of Nurmes and one of the best preserved wooden house areas in Finland. During the tour, you will hear stories about the history of Nurmes as told by the guide.

11.00 Check out

11.30 Departure to Koli

12.45 Lunch in Restaurant Kolin Satamatupa

Taste the local delicacies. On the menu crispy fried vendace served with mashed potatoes.

14.00 Cruise on Lake Pielinen with Elektra boat

Lake Pielinen is the fourth largest lake in Finland, located in the eastern part of the country in North Karelia. Known for its clear waters, scenic islands and surrounding forests, it is a popular destination for nature tourism, boating and fishing. The lake also borders Koli National Park, where visitors can enjoy some of Finland’s most famous lake landscapes.

16.00 Departure to Koli village

16.15 Beer tasting and site inspection in Restaurant Kolin Ryynänen 

Kolin Ryynänen is a gastropub and experiential venue located in the centre of Koli village, offering a restaurant with locally inspired dishes and a wide selection of beers from its own Koli Brewery.

16.45 Check in to Break Sokos Hotel Koli and site inspection

Break Sokos Hotel Koli is a hotel located in the heart of Koli National Park, offering accommodation with panoramic views over Lake Pielinen and the surrounding hills. The hotel provides a range of services including restaurants and cafés, meeting facilities, and the Koli Relax Spa, which features pools, outdoor hot tubs and saunas. Guests also have direct access to outdoor activities such as hiking, skiing and other nature experiences starting from the hotel’s doorstep.

17.15 Guided visit in Nature Center Ukko

Koli Nature Center Ukko introduces you to Finland's most famous national landscape, as well as the wilderness and traditional environments of Eastern Finland. With a focus on the national landscape, the basic exhibition allows you to explore the geology, nature, and culture of Koli National Park in depth. In the free hiking exhibition, you can safely learn the essentials of hiking and hiking etiquette. At the Nature Center, you can also receive advice and tips for hiking in Koli National Park and the broader North Karelia biosphere area.

17.45 Guided walking tour in Koli

A guided walking tour on the Koli peaks offers visitors the chance to explore the iconic landscapes of Koli National Park together with a local guide. During the walk, participants visit famous viewpoints such as Ukko-Koli and learn about the area’s nature, geology, culture and history. The tour provides an easy way to experience Koli’s most famous scenery while gaining deeper insight into the region.

19.15 Some time to freshen up and get ready for dinner

19.30 Dinner in Grill it! Koli

Overnight in Koli

Breakfast

9.00 Site inspection in Break Sokos Hotel Koli

9.45 Departure from Koli

10.00 Relaxing moment in hammocks in Kolin Mattila  

Kolin Mattila is a place for silence and tranquillity in the middle of Koli National Park. It offers accommodation in a traditional farm setting, including rooms in the main house and a historic barn. Guests can enjoy services such as breakfast, a summer café, sauna facilities and nature-based wellness or outdoor activities, with easy access to hiking and other outdoor experiences in the surrounding national park.

11.15 Departure to Joensuu

12.15 Lunch in Restaurant Filipof

13.15 Visit in Taitokortteli Arts and Crafts Centre and Museum Eliel

Taitokortteli is a charming craft and cultural quarter located in the centre of Joensuu. Set in a historic wooden courtyard, it features artisan boutiques, a café and the Taito craft centre, where visitors can explore Finnish handicrafts and design. The area also hosts exhibitions, workshops and events, making it a lively meeting place for both locals and visitors. 

Museo Eliel is a new museum in Joensuu that presents the history, culture and everyday life of the North Karelia region. It is located in the historic Joensuu City Hall building designed by the famous Finnish architect Eliel Saarinen and opened in its new form in 2025. The museum features several exhibition floors and digital experiences that explore regional heritage, architecture and local stories.

15.15 Karelian pie workshop and coffee break with the Marthas in market square

The North Karelia Martta Association’s Karelian pie workshop allows visitors to learn how to bake traditional Karelian pies with local instructors. Participants shape and bake the pies while learning about their cultural background.

A Karelian pie is a traditional Finnish pastry with a thin rye crust and a rice porridge filling, usually served warm with egg butter.

16.15 Departure to the airport

17:30 Flight to Helsinki

18:35 Arriving in Helsinki

Transfer to Helsinki

Check in to hotels

Dinner start time at your hotel, hosted by the hotel, depending on your arrival time in Helsinki:

Hotel Grand Hansa: 20:30
Lapland Hotels Bulevardi: 20:30
Hotel Mestari: 20:30
Hotel Torni: 20:30 

Breakfast

08.00 -17:00 Helsinki – Espoo Destination Day 
Details sent via email by Helsinki Partners and Visit Espoo (sent on 2nd of June)

Program organized by Visit Espoo and Helsinki Partners

17:00-20:00 Get-together event in Temppeliaukio Church (Lutherinkatu 3, Helsinki)
and dinner at Restaurant Töölö (Runeberginkatu 14–16, Helsinki)

Evening hosted by Visit Finland, Finnair, Visit Espoo, and Helsinki Partners

Breakfast

9:00-17:00 Workshop day - see program here

18:30-00:30 Party Like a Finn - see program here

Breakfast

Optional Helsinki Day

Helsinki Day is an annual celebration in Finland, held on 12 June, to celebrate the city of Helsinki. 

Helsinki Partners offers the opportunity to participate in various events held in Helsinki: Explore and unwind the day after. This optional day offers a light, flexible program with a focus on summer vibes and memorable city experience during the birthday of Helsinki. Dip into depths of local sauna culture and enjoy a dinner experience under the open sky.

Expect:
• Slow morning & free time with tickets to Allas Sea Pool
• Casual lunch with Helsinki hosts and fellow guests
• Recreation and city experience in laid-back setting
• Relaxed dinner (under the sky if weather permits) to close the week

Flights back to home.

Thank you for visiting Finland!