Saimaa Harvesting Season FAM Visit 24.-28.08.2026

Lake Saimaa, a labyrinthine lake with its 15,000 km of shoreline and 15,000 islands, is unique. It is the jewel of Finnish Lakeland with rich heritage and culture. Created by ice age, its pure waters are inhabited by the endangered Saimaa Ringed Seal, and its shores by people culturally at the intersection of Eastern and Western Europe. The Lake Saimaa’s stunning nature, exciting cuisine, cultural attractions, and great opportunities for outdoor activities in every season have led to it emerging as one of the best places in Europe to visit for a holiday.

Flight to Helsinki

12.30-13.30 Transfer from Helsinki Airport to Kotka

13.30-15.00 Lunch at Restaurant Laakonki & meeting with local entrepreneurs

15.00-16.00 Guided tour at Maritime Centre Vellamo, home to Maritime Museum of Finland and local exhibitions

16.00-16.30 Driving by the Kotka city parks & Sapokka Water Garden

16.30-17.30 17.30-19.00 Transfer to Lappeenranta

19.00 Arrival to Lappeenranta. Dinner at Prinsessa Armaada -restaurant (STF) in the heart of Lappeenranta, in the harbour. Meet your goSaimaa host.

Ship restaurant Prinsessa Armaada is a lovely old tar ship transformed into a cozy restaurant serving delicious portions done using local ingredients. 

20.30 Transfer 30 min to Holiday Club Saimaan Rauha

Overnight

8.00 Breakfast

9.00 Site inspection Holiday Club Saimaan Rauha

Holiday Club Saimaan Rauha is a beautiful lakeside hotel with 229 rooms, a unique spa, an event arena and restaurants. You may choose to stay in the family-friendly and spacious Club rooms in the main building, in the mansion-like Pavilion suites or in the Castle wing, which is an old, renovated hospital building from the 1920s with individually unique rooms.

10.00 Cycling in the stunning landscapes of Lake Saimaa in Ukonrauha area with Tuplakasi- Action.

Tuplakasi-Action offers multiple different activities in the shores and waves of Lake Saimaa. 

11.30 Transfer to Imatrankoski Rapids

Imatrankoski rapids were formed 5,000 years ago when the land rose after the Ice Age and Lake Saimaa waters tore the Salpauselkä ridge apart. Imatrankoski was a famous tourist attraction already 300 years ago, and at the end of the 19th century, it was considered one of Europe’s most popular attractions. Many famous people visited Imatrankoski in the history to admire this magnificent play of the water in the narrow waterway. 

12.30 Lunch and site inspection at Vuoksi Fishing Park

An oasis in the middle of the town of Imatra on the shore of river Vuoksi, Vuoksi Fishing Park, offers versatile services from camping site to sauna relaxation, cottages and of course mouth-watering tastes of salmon dishes. 

13.30 Transfer to Parikkala

14.15 Parikkala sculpture park

Voted as one of the scariest places in the world, the park area consist of around 560 concrete statues in a magnificent garden.

14.45 Transfer to Hotel Kägöne

15.00 Coffee break at Hotel Kägöne

Hotel-restaurant Kägöne is a unique accommodation place in Parikkala. Built in the late 1980s, the Karelian-style log cabin on the shores of a small pond is a nice stop-over for different gatherings, lunch or dinner. 

16.00 Arrival in Punkaharju and driving via Finland national landscapes, Punkaharju ridge area, to Hotel Kruunupuisto
Kruunupuisto is a beautiful hotel & well-being resort surrounded by picturesque forests and lake views. Our unique location ensures peace and quiet for everyone visiting our centre for rehabilitation, well-being and relaxation. The reviving effects of clean nature characterised by pine forests, and ridges shaped by the Ice Age, were known in Punkaharju as long as a century ago. Located in the Punkaharju Nature Reserve by Lake Saimaa, Kruunupuisto is a perfect spot for everyone longing for a connection with nature in a spacious and relaxing setting.

16:45 Departure for Savonlinna

17:15 Arrival and check in to Original Sokos Hotel Seurahuone, Savonlinna, aparments

Original Sokos Hotel Seurahuone is located by Lake Saimaa, next to the market square and a stone’s throw away from Olavinlinna Castle. You can choose to stay in one of our newly refurbished hotel rooms or the suite-like spacious Seurahuone Apartments just a walking distance from the main hotel. Almost every room boasts an unforgettable view over Lake Saimaa.
            
18:00 Dinner cruise by M/S Elviira and meeting with the tourism companies of the area: Savonlinnan ristelyt, Saimaan laivamatkat and Blue Lake Cruises

Discover the beauty of lake cruises in and around Savonlinna. Savonlinna, the pearl of Lake Saimaa, invites you on an unforgettable cruise through unique archipelago landscapes and historical landmarks. The same entrepreneur, captain Piia Kinnunen provides also theme cruises, charter cruises and cruises to Punkaharju and Kuopio.

8:00 Breakfast 

9:00 Site inspection of the main hotel of Original Sokos Hotel Seurahuone 

10:00 Morning walk to the Olavinlinna castle

The origin of a thousand stories and the site of numerous battles, Olavinlinna Castle, built in 1475, is one of the best-known sights in Finland. It’s also the stage of Savonlinna Opera Festival, held in the castle first time already in 1912.

11:15 Departure for Lomamokkila B&B

Family run bed and breakfast. In Lomamokkila you can have a holiday in comfortable rooms and lakeside cottages. Enjoy delicious meals in the peaceful countryside.

11:30 Arrival and site inspection

Lunch  

13:00  Departure for Oravi village, on the way quick stop at Taipaleenniemi B&B 

Taipaleenniemi provides idyllic accommodation in the historical surroundings by Lake Saimaa. Only for guests over 18 years old. 

13:45 Arrival in Oravi and visit to Kanava Resort  and  SaimaaHoliday Oravi 

Kanava Resort is one of the newest resorts in Savonlinna region, located right between two national parks, Kolovesi and Linnansaari, in Oravi, Eastern Finland, about 40 km from the city of Savonlinna. The village of Oravi, located on the Saimaa, amidst stunning scenery, is a unique tourist destination all year round. SaimaaHoliday Oravi offers numerous opportunities for lake activities, whether in summer or winter. 

In the heart of the village, along the canal, you will find everything you need for a memorable stay: the village shop, Restaurant Ruukinranta, Oravi Apartments- apartment hotel, equipment rental, a shuttle service to Linnansaari and a variety of safari services.

16:00 Boat taxi via Linnansaari National Park to Nature Hotel & Spa Resort Järvisydän. Stop on the way in the main island of the national park. 

Linnansaari National Park, located in the heart of Lake Haukivesi - part of the greater Lake Saimaa - is Finnish lake nature at its best. With its hundreds of islands and wide open waters, the park is a paradise for water explorers. It’s also home to the endangered Saimaa ringed seal and the majestic osprey - both of which you might spot in their natural habitat. Linnansaari is perfect for day-trippers, campers, anglers, paddlers, and boaters alike. 
 
17:00 Arrival in Nature Hotel & Spa Resort Järvisydän 
Check-in, site inspection and dinner

Järvisydän invite you for a visit on the shores of Lake Saimaa, next to the Linnansaari National Park. Järvisydän offer a year-round experience with accommodation, dining, spa, and nature programs. In addition to the Experience Hotel, they offer comfortable accommodation in villas, Scenery Suites, Panorama Suites, Forest Suites, and Houseboats, and relaxation in the Lake Spa.The roots date back to 1658, so there are plenty of stories to tell our guests!

8:00 Breakfast

10:00 Departure for Puumala and Sahanlahti Resort 

10:00 Drive to Puumala 

11:15 Sahanlahti site inspection 

12.15 Lunch at Sahanlahti

13.15-14.15  Drive to Ristiina

14.30–16.30 Astuvansalmi Rock paintings with RIB Saimaa 

16.30–17.00 Drive to Mikkeli

17.00–18.00 Site inspection Sokos Hotel Vaakuna

18.00–18.30 Drive to Saimaanranta Resort, check in Hillside Villas

18.30–19.30 Site inspection Saimaanranta Resort (hotel rooms, Lakeside Villa, other facilities on the property)

19.30–21.00 Dinner in Saimaanranta Resort villa

Overnight Saimaanranta Resort

Breakfast in the villa

9:00 Morning departure to Repovesi (Lapinsalmi Parking Area)

10:30 Repovesi National Park - Guided canoe tour in the national park

12:00 Transfer to World Heritage Site Verla

12:30 Lunch in Verla at Patruunan Pytinki

13:30 drive to Helsinki Vantaa airport