Tour Relaxing in Southern Finland
A beautiful tour through southern Finland past Helsinki, the lake district and National Parks
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Your 13-day tour through Southern Finland in short
You start this special tour through Finland – the country with the happiest people in the world – with a comfortable, direct flight from Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, Brussels Airport or Düsseldorf International Airport (the choice is yours!) to the capital Helsinki. Your rental car is already waiting for you at Helsinki airport and in just under 2 hours you can drive leisurely to your first overnight stay in the student city of Turku, also the oldest city in Finland with a proud maritime past. You will stay here for 3 nights in the former prison, but you are as free as a bird to discover the beautiful archipelago around the city and the robust Medieval castle, the cathedral of Turku, the old town of Ngaatli and the many nice cafes and restaurants along the to visit the impressive Aura River. Via a beautiful drive through the vast Finnish forests and past countless lakes, you will then travel to Kuusa, a small town with a very beautiful location on Lake Vatian, in the middle of the Finnish lake district for a wonderful stay of 3 nights. Enjoy the relaxing surroundings here on a guided canoe trip or admire the 6,600-year-old rock paintings in Fennoscandia. Take a walk with a local guide through the Finnish forests and completely unwind during a relaxing evening in the traditional Finnish smoke sauna or jacuzzi of the relaxing Varjola Resort, based in Kuusa. Then enjoy your Riihi room and the extensive Spa facilities of the recently completed Kuru Resort on the vast Lake Saimaa for 3 nights, where you can enjoy kayaking, SUPing and spotting freshwater seals. You conclude this very special introduction to Finland with a 3-night stay in the ecological Haltia Lake Lodge located in the Nuuksio National Park and surrounded by countless hiking and cycling opportunities, just a half-hour drive from versatile Helsinki. At the end of your trip – reborn by the many wellbeing opportunities during this trip – you return your rental car and fly back home.
Naturally, you can adapt this amazing Finland trip to your own travel pace. Would you like to enjoy Finland longer? Please let us know, we will be happy to help you extend your trip at one or more accommodation addresses so that you can experience Finland even more intensely. It is even possible to combine your trip through Finland with Sweden and Norway!
Some highlights of this tour through Finland
- as a guest at small-scale, personally selected, high-quality accommodation addresses away from mass tourism
- extensive wellness & wellbeing options
- the Finnish archipelago: a series of tens of thousands of islands, salt marshes and mudflats
- the vast Lake District
- vibrant Helsinki
- travel at a leisurely pace so that you can experience southern Finland to the fullest
- enjoy long summer evenings and pleasant temperatures
- green forests, blue lakes and charming castle towns
- exuberant, freely accessible nature
- great hiking opportunities and plenty of excursion options
- the cleanest air in Europe
Your tour through Southern Finland on a map
Your tour through southern Finland from day to day
Day 1. On to Northern Norway!
From Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, Brussels Airport or Düsseldorf International Airport (the choice is yours), you fly to Oslo in just under two hours, where you transfer to your flight to Bodø. Your rental car is already waiting for you here. The location of the city is special, on a peninsula, with rugged mountain peaks and wide skies in the background. The Bodø area has the largest population of sea eagles in the world, earning the city the nickname “capital of sea eagles”. Thanks to its vibrant cultural life, Bodø will become the European Capital of Culture in 2024. While enjoying a drink, toast to a great holiday under the midnight sun. You will spend your first night in Northern Norway in the extremely comfortable Scandic Havet hotel, right on the water in the middle of the city.
Driving distance Bødo airport – hotel Scandic Havet: approx. 3 km
Days 2 to 5. Immerse yourself in Swedish Lapland
After your first delicious Scandinavian breakfast, you will set sail for one of the best places for hiking in Sweden, the area around the Abisko national park. The drive there is one of great beauty. In Norway you drive through a beautiful fjord landscape, including a crossing over a fjord. Then you drive steeply from sea level up to the border with neighboring Sweden. Along the way the landscape changes dramatically. Don’t forget to look back every now and then to enjoy the spectacular views of the fjord behind you. Arriving in the mountain village of Björkliden you will be treated to a magical view of Scandinavia’s largest mountain lake, Torneträsk. You will move into a luxurious room at the mountain hotel for the next 3 nights. From the complex you can not only gaze over the mountain lake Torneträsk, the hanging, U-shaped valley “Lapporten” (the gateway to Lapland) is also a real eye-catcher. There are numerous (day) walks to take. For example, you can go hiking in the nearby Absiko National Park to walk part of Sweden’s most famous hiking trail, “Kungsleden” (the King’s Trail). You can join a hike to the mighty Kärkevagge, one of the most mystical and beautiful places in the Swedish mountains. Kärkevagge, a small valley, is a unique area and is known for its beautiful rock formations that were formed by the last ice age. Be sure to take the hike over the wolf pass to the Låktatjåkko mountain station at an altitude of 1,228 metres. A real pearl in the mountain landscape, spectacularly situated between two mountain peaks. The short walk to the idyllic Silverfallet waterfall is definitely worth it today. A tip we would also like to give is to drive from Björkliden by train to Narvik, Norway. According to many, this route, full of tunnels, mountain passes and fantastic views, is one of the most beautiful train journeys in Europe. After exploring the Norwegian port town of Narvik for a few hours, take the train back to Björkliden. In the evening, indulge in local game and fish delicacies. It’s pure enjoyment 250 kilometers above the Arctic Circle!
Driving distance Bodø – Björkliden: approx. 435 km | 6:30 am drive
Days 5 to 8. The sensational Senja
You will say goodbye with nostalgia to the beautiful Swedish Lapland, which you will often think back to with pleasure. Take your time on your route today. You will want to stop many times to photograph all the beauty you see. If you want to get to know the Arctic animals, we advise you to stop en route at Polar Park for an encounter with wolves. lynx, arctic foxes, brown bears, moose and many more animals found in the Arctic regions. Your journey ends on the Norwegian Queen’s favorite island, Senja. You will notice why: Senja is magical, with mountains rising steeply from the sea and it has an enormous variety of landscapes. You will stay in a small harbor on the island, Mefjord. The small-scale resort has a 5-star location! Naturally, you have great views over the bay and the surrounding mountains. You will see and experience a lot on the island in the coming days. You will be a guest at Mefjord Brygge for the next three nights, the ideal base for all your adventures on Senja. The hike to the Segla mountain top is a “must” if you enjoy walking through the mountains. The peak rises majestically 639 meters above the sea. You will be rewarded with indescribable views over the Mejfjorden fjord. Also take the walk to the Husfjellet, which rises 635 meters above the sea and look out over the three fjords Bergsfjord, Steinfjord and Ersfjord. You can also climb to the top of Mount Sukkertoppen or walk through the Ånderdalen national park, which is a miniature of all Northern Norwegian biotopes. Or rent a bike and enjoy the panoramic views, waterfalls, fjords and small fishing villages. Go on a fishing excursion, a fjord sightseeing trip or go sea kayaking. The many waters along the coast are enchantingly beautiful. You can also drive the beautiful Senja National Tourist Road that winds along the coast. The route offers unforgettable views along the way. Tired from a whole day of adventure? It doesn’t matter, you can sit down in the restaurant in the evening and be surprised by the delicious local cuisine!
Driving distance Björkliden – Mefjordvær: approx. 270 km | approximately 3.45 hours drive
Days 8 to 10. The fantastic Vesterålen
You drive to the harbor of Gryllefjord where you take the approximately 1.30 hour ferry crossing to Andenes, located on the Vesterålen archipelago. The Vesterålen tempts you with a combination of hundreds of islands and islets, Caribbean-looking sea water, snow-white beaches, rugged high mountains, green hills, deeply carved valleys, narrow fjords, the midnight sun, fishing villages, unique flora and an unprecedentedly rich animal life. Just try not to fall in love with that! Use these four days to take beautiful walks through the high mountains or take part in organized activities such as a whale safari. The chance that you will see them is more than 98% because there are many whales (usually sperm whales) around Andenes. You will first receive an extensive tour of the whale museum and then you will go out to sea. When whales are spotted, the boat tries to get as close as possible and then you have to wait until the whale dives and the tail slowly disappears into the water. A seal safari or a puffin safari in the Bleiksøya Bird Reserve or at the Anda lighthouse are unique experiences. Hop into a sea kayak and paddle to deserted beaches. Cycling on the Vesterålen is also a fantastic experience, with any luck you may encounter a moose along the way. You will stay for two nights in a hotel in Andenes, which is partly built on stilts in the sea.
Driving distance Mefjordvær – Andenes: approx. 60 km | approx. 2.30 hours of travel (including ferry crossing)
Days 10 to 16. The unparalleled Lofoten
After you have packed the car again, travel to Melbu where you take the short ferry to the Lofoten. Keep your camera handy because you will see many panoramas or scenic places along the way. You will spend the next few nights on the Lofoten in luxurious rorbuer, former fishermen’s houses. For six days you can fully enjoy everything that makes the Lofoten so special and discover for yourself why this archipelago is considered by many to be the most beautiful archipelago in the world. You can discover the nature of the islands in many different ways. Drive around the winding roads where the fantastic views keep stopping you, walk through the ubiquitous nature on the many hiking trails and go out to sea by boat or kayak to really get a good look at the fascinating landscape. Take an excursion by RIB boat to the narrow fjord Trollfjorden and see many sea eagles. The picturesque villages and the high mountains behind them will leave an indelible impression on you. Visit the Viking museum or the sea aquarium and laze on one of the many deserted beaches. You will first spend three nights in the centrally located Svolvær, after which you will drive to the idyllically located Reine.
Driving distance Andenes – Svolvær: 185 km | 3 hours travel (including ferry crossing)
Driving distance Svolvær – Reine: approx. 120 km | 2 hours drive
Day 16. By sea to the most powerful maelstrom in the world
You say goodbye to Lofoten, you will often think back to this wonderful archipelago. You drive your rental car onto the ferry which takes you from Moskenes to Bodø in approximately 3.30 hours. Today visit Saltstraumen, the most powerful maelstrom in the world. The water is pressed at speeds of up to 50 km per hour through narrow passages with eddies of up to 20 meters in diameter! Can’t get enough of walking? There are many options in the Bodø area. There are no fewer than 30 peaks of more than 1,000 meters in the vicinity of the city. The hike to the mountain peak Steigtind (793 m), one of Bodø’s most characteristic mountains, rewards you with panoramic views in all directions. Close to town, and one of the locals’ favorite walks, is to the 366 m high Keiservarden mountain.
Driving distance Reine – Bodø: approx. 105 km | 3.30 hours of travel (including ferry crossing)
Day 17. End of your tour through Northern Norway and Swedish Lapland
For the last time on this trip you will wake up in the pure North. After you have gained your last impressions of Bodø, you will travel back to Bodø airport where you will return your rental car and check in for your return flight, via Oslo, to Amsterdam, Brussels or Düsseldorf. A journey full of special impressions has come to an end.
Your stay during this tour through southern Finland
At all accommodation addresses included in this tour, you can experience numerous excursions, take great walks and rent bicycles directly from your accommodation address or in the immediate vicinity. There are many attractions in the vicinity of your stay and you can enjoy a delicious dinner there. You can park your car for free at all accommodation addresses.
Of course, this trip can be adapted to your own travel pace and, if desired, you can stay longer at the various hotels, or combine this trip with other special places in Finland. Let us know your ideas, we are happy to help you with your personal travel wishes! You can also make this wonderful trip through beautiful Finland with more than two people. If necessary, please feel free to ask us for a quote without obligation.
Day 1 to 4 Boutique Hotel Kakola, Turku
A surprising stay in the archipelago of Western Finland
You will stay at a very special location for the first three nights; a completely renovated former prison, just outside the center of Turku. Kakola was once Finland’s largest and most dangerous prison, holding only male criminals, including only the most hardened criminals. However, the prison closed its doors in 2007 and eventually Hotel Kakola opened its doors in 2020 after a large-scale renovation.
Your hotel has an excellent restaurant and a wine bar and from June 2022 the completely new Riviera Summer terrace will open where you can order pizzas from the wood-fired oven.
Your spacious superior room has a double bed and a comfortable sitting area with television, coffee maker and kettle, safe, bathroom with shower, hairdryer and a separate toilet. You can make free use of bathrobes and bath slippers. WiFi is also offered free of charge
It is highly recommended to book a tour of the grounds of the former prison. This interesting tour lasts approximately 2 hours, including a walking tour of the various prison buildings and the most exciting escape routes used over the years. A photo exhibition is also part of the tour with stories about the daily life of the prisoners of Kakola.
Day 4 to 7 Varjola Resort, Kuusa
You will be a guest for three nights at the luxurious Varjola Resort, which is known for its unique location, extensive range of facilities, excellent service and personal atmosphere. The resort is located about 1.5 kilometers from the center of Kuusa and less than half an hour’s drive from the city of Jyväskylä. The resort is the perfect base to get to know the surrounding, beautiful nature of this part of Finland’s gigantic lake district. In and around the area you can enjoy various activities, such as canoeing, hiking, cycling, rafting and quad biking.
We have reserved a Riihi room for you, approximately 300 m from the main building. The rooms are housed in charming wooden houses, with a warm atmosphere that embraces you as soon as you enter. The cozy interior with carefully chosen details exudes a homely atmosphere and from your terrace you can enjoy the wooded surroundings in peace.
The large windows let in the soft Scandinavian light and offer beautiful views of the surrounding forests or the rippling water of the river.
Your room is equipped with a TV, coffee and tea making facilities and a bathroom with shower and toilet.
During your stay you can use the sauna and jacuzzi for two hours every day and for a fee it is also possible to book a private session in one of the seven saunas, including a traditional smoke sauna! A delicious breakfast is ready for you every morning. In July and August, Bistro Sylvi serves traditional Finnish dishes made from local ingredients every day.
The owners of the Resort, the Kallio family are the 5th generation to manage this place. Varjola used to be a farm dating back to the end of the 17th century and in the year 2001 the Kallio family switched to tourism. The main building is now called the Barn Restaurant and was renovated in 2000 from a cowshed to a restaurant. The summer bistro Sylvi is located in the old house of Varjola Farm and has been used as a bistro since 2013
Day 7 to 10 Kuru Resort, Rantasalmi
Pure luxury in Finland’s lake district
We are proud to include this special pearl in the Lake District in your tour. The small-scale Kuru Resort – your home for three nights – opened in 2021 – combines luxury and wilderness. The rhythm of nature can be felt inside and outside. Your extremely comfortable Lake Villa features, among other things, a large panoramic window that makes it feel as if nature is flowing into your Villa. This compound calms your mind and improves your well-being. The owner of the resort has deliberately chosen not to equip the villas with a television to further support your reset efforts. Although digital detox is an important part of the Kuru experience, WiFi is offered.
Enjoy your private sauna, the peace and each other in your villa. Your villa is approximately 34 m2 in size and includes a large double bed, a cozy wood-burning stove, a bathroom with bath, shower and toilet, an espresso machine, kettle, minibar, air conditioning, safe and terrace of approximately 20 m2 with a seat. Within walking distance of your villas is Lake Spa, where you can enjoy various beauty treatments and yoga sessions.
The main building ‘Kuru House’ houses the restaurant that is open for lunch and dinner. The seasonal menu is made with locally sourced and sourced ingredients. The Chef’s Menu is served with the finest wines or non-alcoholic drinks & mocktails. You can also visit ‘Kuru House’ all day long for a drink in the cozy Living. Everything is about relaxing and enjoying!
A wide range of experiences are offered including an excursion to spot the Saimaa ringed seal (a freshwater seal), a champagne cruise, various canoe trips, SUP excursions, watercraft safaris and golf.
Day 10 to 13 Haltia Lake Lodge, Espoo
Pure enjoyment on the south coast of Finland
You will spend the last three nights of your trip through fantastic Finland in the small-scale, inspiring Haltia Lake Lodge, located in the fairytale Nuuksio National Park. It is an ideal location to completely escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life and enjoy everything this special region has to offer.
On site you can participate in yoga sessions or a guided hike, rent fat bikes, canoeing, abseiling or simply enjoy the silence. An important principle of the lodge is that you can relax here and you will feel that as soon as you enter your room. Only ecological Finnish materials are used and your room radiates peace, warmth and the typical Finnish minimalist atmosphere. Use of the morning sauna and free WiFi are included during your stay, as well as an extensive breakfast with local products. Your room is equipped with a shower, toilet, hairdryer, mini fridge, tea and coffee making facilities, blackout curtains and a small terrace. Enjoy a late lunch or a snack in the Haltia Lounge & Bar or be culinary surprised in the adjacent Haltia Restaurant, which is part of the nature center of the Nuuksio National Park.
For an additional charge you can also spend the night in a glamping tent. These spacious modern tents of 18m2 are hidden in the woods and have 2 single beds, a dry toilet, mini fridge, air conditioning and a terrace. Shower facilities are located in the main building near the sauna complex.
Price overview and departure dates for this tour through southern Finland
The travel price includes:
- Return flight without transfers between Rotterdam/The Hague Airport and Rovaniemi Airport in Finnish Lapland including:
maximum 20 kg of checked baggage per person
maximum 10 kg of hand luggage per person
Airport tax - 14 days of modern rental car including:
unlimited kilometers
full insurance
pick up and drop off from your rental car at Rovaniemi airport
24/7 road assistance - 4 nights in a Fjelltop bungalow with private sauna at the Arctic Hilltop Boutique Hotel Iso Syöte in Syöte including:
accommodation on a lodging basis
rent bed linen & towels
final cleaning of your holiday home - 4 nights in a Saaga villa with private sauna in Kuusamo including:
accommodation on a lodging basis
rent bed linen & towels
final cleaning of your holiday home - 3 nights in a holiday home with private sauna at PAN Village Oulanka in Salla including:
accommodation on a lodging basis
rent bed linen & towels
final cleaning of your holiday home - 3 nights in a six-person holiday home with private sauna at Luxury Riverside Suites in Rovaniemi including:
accommodation on a lodging basis
rent bed linen & towels
final cleaning of your holiday home
With your booking you will receive extra from Trekking Trails Travels:
- Free comprehensive travel guide about Finland
- Free detailed road map of Finland
- Extensive travel information and personal tips from Trekking Trails Travels
Rates for this trip in Lapland
Daily departure in the period: April 15 to October 19, 2022
The rates listed below are per person for two travelers. Are you traveling alone or with more than two people or do you want to travel during a different period? Then we kindly request that you contact us for a quote without obligation.
| departure dates | travel price per person for two travelers |
|---|---|
| April 15 to October 19, 2022 | €2,865.00 |
Your flights to Helsinki, Finland
Your flights, without transfers, are operated by the airline Transavia. We have been able to agree fixed rates for these flights, so you will not be surprised by flight surcharges.
You fly in accordance with the following flight schedule:
Day 1. Rotterdam/The Hague Airport – Rovaniemi Airport departure 6.55am – arrival 12.35pm*
Day 15. Rovaniemi Airport – Rotterdam/The Hague Airport departure 1:20 PM – arrival 3:20 PM
It is one hour later in Lapland than ours and the times stated are local times.
* On day 1 of your trip you will make a stopover at Savonlinna Airport in southern Finland. You simply remain on the plane while other travelers board and disembark. On day 15 of your trip you will fly non-stop from Rovaniemi Airport to Rotterdam/The Hague Airport.
Would you rather fly from Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, Brussels Airport, Düsseldorf International Airport or on a different day than indicated under “Rates”? Then there are various options. You will then fly with the Finnish airline Finnair with a transfer at Helsinki Vantaa Airport between your desired airport (Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, Brussels Airport or Düsseldorf International Airport) and Rovaniemi Airport located on the Arctic Circle.
If you prefer flights from Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, Brussels Airport, Düsseldorf International Airport or a departure on another date stated under “Rates”, we kindly request that you contact us for consultation or indicate this on the reservation request. We will be happy to provide you with a no-obligation quote tailored to your travel wishes and at Finnair’s currently applicable flight rates.
Your rental car
Trekking Trails Travels stands for quality and has therefore been working with Sunny Cars for years. Sunny Cars has been successfully mediating in car rental with all well-known rental companies for over 25 years. More than 1 million satisfied customers preceded you. They offer a suitable car in more than 90 countries. From sedan or convertible to station or minivan. We have reserved an all-in rental car for you through Sunny Cars. All necessary insurances are included, so no additional costs on site, so 100% worry-free!
The stated travel price includes the following types of rental car:
- if you are traveling with two people, a Volkswagen Golf or equivalent
- if you are traveling with three people, a Peugeot 308 STW or equivalent
- if you are traveling with four people, a Skoda Octavia STW or equivalent
- if you are traveling with five people, a Peugeot Traveler Minivan or equivalent
- if you are traveling with six people, a Peugeot Traveler or equivalent
Would you rather travel in a different rental car category? Please let us know and we will be happy to provide you with a quote tailored to your wishes.
Your rental car includes:
- 7 or 14 days of modern car rental type Volkswagen Golf (or equivalent), including:
- Unlimited kilometers
- CDW insurance (damage to the rental car) with reimbursement of the deductible, also in the event of (attempted) theft of radio and navigation system
- TP insurance (theft) with reimbursement of the deductible
- Reimbursement for damage to glass, tires, bottom (incl. oil pan and clutch) and roof of the rental car. It is therefore not necessary to take out additional insurance locally for this
- Third party liability insurance in accordance with the legally applicable standard
- Additional third-party liability insurance of at least €7.5 million on top of local coverage
- Accident Insurance (PAI) with coverage of €20,000 per occupant of the rental car
- Reimbursement of towing costs and costs for loss or damage of the car key/papers
- Local taxes
- Airport taxes
- Reimbursement of file costs for claims handling
- 24/7 Dutch emergency telephone number
Your rental car does not include:
- Fuel (you will receive your rental car with a full tank of fuel and must return it with a full tank of fuel)
- Extras such as navigation system
- Additional driver
You can arrange and pay for extras such as the navigation system and extra driver on site
A driver of the rental car must have had a valid Dutch, Belgian or EU driving license for at least one year. The minimum age for driving a rental car is 19 years. The main driver of the rental car must have a valid credit card, which must be shown during pick-up.
Would you rather travel in a different rental car category? Please let us know and we will be happy to provide you with a quote tailored to your wishes
Your stay in Lapland during this trip
For your overnight stays in Lapland during this trip, we work together with personally selected, small-scale accommodation addresses. away from mass tourism. We selected these accommodation addresses ourselves, visited them and stayed there. So we speak from experience and know the owners personally. We only work with accommodation addresses that, like us, attach great importance to quality, hygiene and personal service. During this trip through Lapland you will stay on an accommodation basis. There are excellent restaurants and good supermarkets in the vicinity of your accommodation address.
Additional costs per reservation number
Consumer contribution Guarantee Fund VZR Garan t
An amount of €7.50 per traveler in consumer contribution to the VZR Garant Guarantee Fund is charged per booking.
A tour operator based in the Netherlands must be affiliated with a guarantee fund. A reassuring thought for you! A guarantee fund guarantees your travel price if an affiliated tour operator unexpectedly encounters financial insolvency. If necessary, the guarantee fund will take over the execution of your trip or refund your travel price. The best-known Guarantee Funds are the SGR, VZR Garant and GGTO. Since we are a specialized tour operator, we have chosen to join VZR Garant. Click here (the page opens in a new window) for more information about the VZR Garant guarantee fund.
Trekking Trails Travels does not charge booking and/or administration costs.
Reservation request for this tour through southern Finland
Reservation request for this summer holiday in Lapland How does your reservation request work? We ask you to fill in some information about yourself, any fellow traveler(s) and your wishes regarding this trip. We will then contact you as soon as possible to discuss your trip and travel costs with you. Only then, after your approval, will your trip be definitively booked. If you have any questions regarding your trip, insurance or excursions, for example, you can ask one of our employees in a personal conversation. NB: * The main booker is the contact person between Trekking Trails Travels and the travelers. * The surname and first name must match the passport of the main booker. The information you share with us will always be treated confidentially and only for the purpose of the intended reservation request.