Join us on a tour of the Lake Saimaa region and experience the jewel of the Finnish Lakeland as it prepares for the new summer.

During this tour you will dine at the celebrated family owned Tertti Manor, recently listed as one of the National Geographic’s “Culinary Gems Worth a Trip”, take a cruise on the Lake Saimaa in the charming town of Savonlinna famous for its medieval fortress and the annual Savonlinna Opera Festival, dine in the beautiful Putkisalo manor house, relax in the exclusivity of Kuru Resort, and admire the scenery in the recently opened lakeside villas of Sahanlahti Resort.

On the ecoboat tour with wilderness guide Arto you might catch a glimpse of the rare Saimaa ringed seal and later try your hand at baking Karelian pies with Paula in her kitchen. You will also get to prepare your own bundle of fresh birch twigs and use it in a traditional smoke sauna. Experience a taster of the Lake Saimaa Midsummer with sauna, music, dancing and just a sprinkling of midsummer magic weaved in. All of this is, of course, accompanied by delicious food made with the highest quality local ingredients – after all, that is the reason Lake Saimaa was awarded the title of European Region of Gastronomy 2024. There really is no better time to visit.

Arrival to Helsinki-Vantaa airport
Meet your Visit Finland host Caroline Beaton-Moscatelli and Finnair host Anssi Partanen and the buss driver with Visit Lake Saimaa sign at the arrival hall of airport.

16.30 Transfer from Helsinki to Tertti Manor (ca 2,5 h)

19.00 Dinner and site inspection at Tertti Manor
Tertti Manor is an authentic family manor and an old farm. These days, you can enjoy the finest culinary delights that the area has to offer in the manor’s atmospheric milieu. Clean locally sourced ingredients of the season, self-sufficiency and beautiful premises are the key elements of Tertti. Here, you can take a full-service culinary journey in a historical setting.

21.00 Transfer from Tertti to Sahanlahti Resort (ca 1h)
Sahanlahti, one of the oldest sawmills in the Saimaa region, was built around a water-driven sawmill founded in 1765, which has since disappeared. Sawmilling was practised in the Sahanlahti landscape for almost 200 years. 
Today, Sahanlahti is a renowned and traditional tourist resort in a stunning location on the shores of Lake Saimaa in Puumala, less than an hour’s drive from Savonlinna, Mikkeli, and Imatra. This culturally and historically unique sawmill environment and its modern facilities create a wonderful setting for holidays and celebrations. 

21.45 Check-in at Elsanranta Villas, Sahanlahti Resort

Good night!

8.00 Breakfast at Koskivahti restaurant and site inspection Sahanlahti Resort

9.30 Transfer to Niinisaari (ca. 30 min)

10.00 Saimaa Ringed Seal Safari on Ecoboat with guide Arto
Join the happy finn captain Arto on a Seal safari by his unique electric Ecoboat. Experience the beauty of lake Saimaa and spot rare Saimaa Seal in Puumala, without worrying about eventually cold or rainy weather.

12.00 Lunch at Niinipuu Restaurant and site inspection at Okkola
At the Okkola holiday cottages on Niinisaari island in Puumala, you can spend a holiday surrounded by the ruggedly beautiful nature of Lake Saimaa and the peace of the wilderness – with the convenience of city life nearby. 17 rental cottages and villas offer everything you need to enjoy the perfect holiday.

13.30 Prepare a birch twig bunch with Aapo

14.30 Baking Karelian pies with Paula

16.30 Transfer to Sahanlahti Resort (ca. 30min)

18:00 Saimaa Midsummer Party
Make a traditional Midsummer flower wreath with Cecilia

19.00 Dinner

21.00 Live music and dancing

You can also try the traditional smoke sauna and take a dip in the Lake Saimaa

Good night!

8.30  Breakfast at Koskivahti

10.30 Check-out and transfer to Savonlinna (ca. 1h)

12.00 Lunch at Savonlinna castle
The origin of a thousand stories and the site of numerous battles, Olavinlinna Castle is one of the best-known sights in Finland.

13:00 Cruise to Putkisalo Manor
Welcome on board to relax, come and enjoy you stay in Savonlinna. Take a seat and let us show you the loveliest waterways of the beautiful summer city.

During the cruise you will hear from Mika Nevalainen, about Savonlinna OperaFestival and Tanja will tell you more about new Kotona Manor, which will be completed in 2025.

16.00 Arrival to Putkisalo Manor, site inspection 
At Putkisalo you can witness the authentic everyday life of a sheep farm’s daily life and the allure of an old manor. In our courtyard, you’ll be greeted by lovely lambs, spirited dogs, and charming horses.
The accommodation facilities have recently been renovated, so you can enjoy the historical atmosphere of the old house surrounded by all the modern comforts.

Manor dinner á la D.O. Saimaa chef Ilkka Arvola, the master of wild kitchen

19.00 Departure for Kuru Resort
Kuru is not just a holiday destination. Here, you unwind, rejuvenate from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, and enjoy a sense of well-being in magnificent surroundings.
Kuru is an oasis for adults in the Järvisydän Resort, where you can enjoy both the services of Järvisydän and the tranquility of Kuru surrounded by nature.

19.30 Check-in at Kuru Resort + site inspection

Time to relax in own villa or have a refreshing evening swim

Good night!

Breakfast at villa, check-out

6.00 Departure for Helsinki

10.30 Arrival in Helsinki-Vantaa airport

12.20 Flight to Rovaniemi

13.35 Arrival in Rovaniemi

Transfer to Rovaniemi

Lunch at Santa Claus Village and meeting Santa Claus

Check-in to your igloos

19.30 Dinner at igloo village restaurant

Overnight

Breakfast

9.15  Check-out & Gathering together at hotel lobby. Take your luggage to the bus.
Rovaniemi Minitour groups will be revealed & everyone joins his/her tour

10.00 – 14.00 Experience Rovaniemi in Summer
Lunch included

14.30 Arrival & Check-in to your hotels

17.00 – 20.00 Get-together evening event at Korundi House of Culture for both suppliers and buyers hosted by Visit Finland, Finnair and Visit Rovaniemi 

Breakfast

Workshop at Lappia House - short walk to Lappia House
 
09.30-10.00 Morning coffee 

10.00-12.30 Workshop meetings 

12.30-13.30 Buffet lunch 
  
13.30-17.00 Workshop meetings 

19.30 Dinner à la Lapland at Valdemari (Dress code: Marimekko T-shirt) - short walk to restaurant Valdemari

21.00 Party Like a Finn – midsummer celebration 

01.30 – Good nightless night! Short walk to hotel

Breakfast

Check-out

Flight to London
- 7.50 Transfer to the Rovaniemi Airport
- 9.20 Flight to Helsinki (RVN-HEL AY532 09:20-10:35)
- Flight from Helsinki to home

Flights to France, Italy and Spain:
- Free time
- 12.30 Transfer to the Rovaniemi airport
- 14.15 Flight to Helsinki (RVN-HEL AY534 14:15 15:30)
- Flights back to home from Helsinki