Essential Finland Tour: Helsinki & the Finnish Lakeland | Yampu Tours

Custom Travel Experiences Since 1998

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Essential Finland Tour: Helsinki & the Finnish Lakeland

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PRIVATE/GROUP TOUR - 8 DAY SAMPLE ITINERARY

FROM £$ 8340

Private/Group Tour Highlights

  • See Helsinki's most significant and impressive landmarks such as the Senate Square and the Lutheran cathedral with a privately guided city tour.
  • Step back in time with a visit to Suomenlinna, an especially interesting example of European military architecture.
  • Witness Temppeliaukion Church, an impressive structure hewn directly into solid rock, making it one of the main attractions in Helsinki.
  • Embark on an exhilarating safari through Linnansaari National Park, sailing through the labyrinth of islands and a hike up to the Linnanvuori for beautiful views.
  • Take a look into traditional life of crofters and enjoy lunch with some coffee at the open fire, fish soup, organic ryebread, and drinks at the crofters' cottage.
  • Wrap up your tour with a 2-hours private sauna and outdoor hot tub soak in Punkaharju, surrounded by the beautiful nature of Lake Saimaa.
Interested in this tour?   Let us build you a customized quote based on your budget.

Tour Overview

When embarking on a journey to the happiest place on Earth, scenes of saunas and reindeer typically aren’t the first images to come to mind. Known as the happiest country in the world for over 3-years, Finland offers a unique insight into Scandinavia, which can be best experienced with the Essential Finland Tour: Helsinki & the Finnish Lakeland. 

Starting in Finland’s sustainable capital, a vibrant seaside city of beautiful islands and great green gardens, the tour takes travelers through Helsinki’s most famous sights, including the Temppeliaukion Church. Excavated directly into solid rock, the Temppeliaukio church is the perfect example of Finnish design and craftsmanship. Much like Temppeliaukio, a visit to the Suomenlinna Fortress will provide insight into the city’s historic architecture.

From Southern Finland, the tour continues north to the Finnish Lakeland, the largest lake district in Europe. Here, travelers will get a taste of Finland’s vast wilderness while exploring Linnansaari National Park with a safari cruise through the beautiful labyrinth of islands. After a day of exploration and getting to know the local crofters, the tour ends with a full day of relaxation while partaking in one of Finland’s most cherished traditions, steaming in the Sauna.

 

Inclusions
Price includes domestic and regional flights within the itinerary; all hotel accommodations including daily continental or buffet breakfast and daily city tax; all transfers between airports and hotels with assistance and baggage handling; guided tours in English including entrance fees.
Exclusions

International airfare (unless specifically included), airport departure taxes that must be paid on-site, gratuities, meals not mentioned, soft drinks and alcoholic beverages with meals, early / late check-out, room service, visa fees/services and other personal items or services not mentioned.

Best Time to Travel
JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN
JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

Best Good Consult

Package Price: From £$ 8340

Prices shown above are per person. Hotel categories do not adhere strictly to international ratings; Yampu has evaluated the hotels according to destination and availability. Prices include local airfare (where applicable), hotel accommodation including daily breakfast; all transfers with baggage handling, all guided tours in English and all entrance fees.

Please note that prices are subject to change based on availability and seasonality, especially during the holiday season from December 20th through January 5th each year. Please contact a Yampu Travel Specialist for more information on best times to travel.

Trip Type:

All our trips are operated on a private basis unless specified otherwise. This is only a sample itinerary; your Yampu Tour Consultant will personalize this trip for you according to your available dates, interests and type of hotels. This is your trip and we will work on making it perfect!

Tour Itinerary

Day
1

Overnight Flight to Finland

International flight to the capital of Finland, Helsinki.

International flight to the capital of Finland, Helsinki.

Day
2

Welcome to Helsinki!

At the appropriate time, you will be met at the airport and privately transferred to your hotel.

Helsinki delights travelers with its sea-facing landscape, diverse architecture, world-famous design, and Nordic cuisine. Finland's capital is compact enough to explore on foot, and many reputable hotels are in the center of the action.

At the appropriate time, you will be met at the airport and privately transferred to your hotel.

Helsinki delights travelers with its sea-facing landscape, diverse architecture, world-famous design, and Nordic cuisine. Finland's capital is compact enough to explore on foot, and many reputable hotels are in the center of the action.

Day
3

Helsinki Sightseeing Tour

This morning you will arrive in Helsinki around 10:00 am and will be met by your guide to begin your tour of the city.

Helsinki is one of Europe's most modern and culturally progressive cities, yet it remains in touch with an intriguing history stretching back over 450 years. On this tour, you'll see the city's most significant and impressive landmarks such as the Senate Square and the Lutheran cathedral, the elegant Uspenski Cathedral, the unique Temppeliaukio Rock Church, the Sibelius Monument and many more.

Then, you will visit the Temppeliaukion Church. Excavated directly into solid rock, the Temppeliaukio church is situated in the heart of Helsinki, at the end of Fredrikinkatu. Because of its special architecture, the church, completed in 1969, is one of the main attractions in Helsinki.

The tour then ends around 13:00 at the hotel. The rooms will be ready around 3 pm, leaving plenty of time to enjoy lunch in the area (not included). Your guide will have many suggestions of restaurants to choose from.
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Day
4

Private Suomenlinna Museum Tour

Suomenlinna is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Built in the second half of the 18th century on a group of islands located at the entrance of Helsinki's harbor, this fortress is an especially interesting example of European military architecture of the time.

Suomenlinna is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Built in the second half of the 18th century on a group of islands located at the entrance of Helsinki's harbor, this fortress is an especially interesting example of European military architecture of the time.

Day
5

Private Punkaharju Guided Walking Tour

A private guided walk to the beautiful ridge area around Hotel Punkaharju. The walk takes about 1.5 hours and is suitable for all ages. The experienced guides take you to an unforgettable journey to Finland's national landscape.

A private guided walk to the beautiful ridge area around Hotel Punkaharju. The walk takes about 1.5 hours and is suitable for all ages. The experienced guides take you to an unforgettable journey to Finland's national landscape.

Day
6

Private Linnansaari National Park Safari Tour

Sightseeing read more...

Sightseeing safari with an open boat / boats to the main island of Linnansaari National Park. The captain will drive you through the beautiful labyrinth of islands. We'll land to the main island and hike up to the Linnanvuori for beautiful views. Later we'll walk to the crofter's cottage, 600m from the boat. At the croft the guide will introduce you to the slash and burn sites and the traditional life of the crofters. Enjoy lunch with some coffee at the open fire, fish soup, organic ryebread, and drinks, all of which are included. ...read less

Day
7

Day of Leisure in Punkaharju

Today will be at your leisure to enjoy a 2-hours private sauna and outdoor hot tub soak. You can also have this day to explore Punkaharju on your own.

Today will be at your leisure to enjoy a 2-hours private sauna and outdoor hot tub soak. You can also have this day to explore Punkaharju on your own.

Day
8

International Flight Home

At the appropriate time, you will be met at your hotel and privately transferred to Helsinki airport (approx. 4 hours drive) for your flight home.

At the appropriate time, you will be met at your hotel and privately transferred to Helsinki airport (approx. 4 hours drive) for your flight home.

Helsinki, Finland

Punkaharju, Finland

Places You'll See

  • Helsinki, Finland

    Helsinki, the sustainable capital of Finland, is a vibrant seaside city of beautiful islands and great green urban areas. Helsinki marches to a wonderful and unique beat of its own with dynamic food, design, architecture – and sauna! – scenes. The rhythm of Helsinki is laid-back and the city is easily approachable, literally. The public transportation system is one of the best in the world and it is also easy to walk and bike everywhere. Travelers can venture out to the forest, enjoy a concert, flow to a festival, enjoy a Nordic dinner or try one of those iconic public saunas.

  • Punkaharju, Finland

    Punkaharju invites travelers to take a holiday in a unique national landscape with plenty of outdoor activities every season. In winter all you have to do is step outside to go ice skating or skiing. When the lakes are not frozen, make the most of the clear waters and let the beautiful nature fortify you. Spend an active holiday exploring the beautiful nature of Lake Saimaa or enjoy a relaxing stay in a traditional Finnish cottage, not forgetting the area’s top-rate cultural activities including the national forest museum, water park Kesämaa and Art manor Johanna Oras.

Hotel Options

4 Star Properties

Helsinki, Finland : St. George Helsinki

Punkaharju, Finland : Hotel Punkaharju

Testimonials

Sally I.

Traveled October 2017

All we could have hoped for

We are having a wonderful time and our guides, especially Luis, have been delightful. Hiking the trail together was fantastic, all we could have hoped for.

Traveled To

Winnie T

Traveled October 2019

Awesome Trip

The itinerary to South Africa was super and the arrangement was trouble free. Everything happened on time. The stay in the Safaris was awesome. Thanks to Karolina Guilcapi who made our trip so pleasant.

Traveled To

R

Traveled May, 2014

Everything you arranged was perfect to the last detail

Everything you arranged was perfect to the last detail. The hotels were all nice. My favorite was probably Remota, in Puerto Natales, Chile. Their food was excellent, tour guides and drivers are all professionals. I learned a lot.

Traveled To


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