Country Life Land of Thousand Lakes

   
 
 

Country Life in the Land of a Thousand Lakes Tour

Finland Self Drive Tour

10 Days / 9 locations in Finland

The tour route passes through scenic countryside dotted with shimmering blue lakes, small towns with their quaint wooden quarters, and fascinating villages where you can stop off to discover genuine country life. You have the chance to sample a variety of accommodations at charming locations, each one having its own personal touch.

The self-drive tour offers you the freedom to discover the southwestern countryside and the Lakeland in an independent way. We have suggested some points of interest to give you ideas what to see and experience along the journey, but there are many more attractions worth a visit. The choice is yours. The lakes and forests offer great opportunities for lovely boat cruises and leisurely walks. Your accommodations will be booked in advance in the selected quality locations.

Itinerary

 
Day 1     Helsinki
Accommodation: Glo Hotel Art

Arrive Helsinki. Finland’s capital offers a wide variety of things to

experience ranging from an array of architectural gems, art, design and cultural offerings to great shopping facilities. Proximity to the sea and forest gives Helsinki its distinctive ambience. Overnight at Hotel Glo Art in a distinctive setting. The historic granite building is a fine example of the Finnish Art Nouveau or Jugend style. Refurbished into an up-to-date hotel, it offers a perfect blend of old world charm and every modern convenience

 
Day 2     Helsinki - Turku
Accommodation: Park Hotel
Meals: Breakfast

Helsinki – Turku, 175 km

To get the most out of the rural heritage landscapes in the stretch between the modern metropolis Helsinki and the historic town of Turku, leave the main roads and head for the quiet byways. This is where the King’s Road tourist route winds through fascinating small towns, charming villages and scenic countryside. The historic road, which once linked the Kingdom of Sweden with the Russian Empire, offers a wealth of cultural heritage sites worth a visit, including, the Mustio Manor, the Fiskars Ironworks and the ruins of the Raasepori Castle. As the oldest city and the former capital of Finland, Turku is home to the most remarkable medieval landmarks of the country

including the Castle and the Cathedral. Aboa Vetus Museum

shows the history of Turku and remains of early settlements. The

wooden workshop houses of the Luostarinmäki Handicrafts

Museum tell tales about the trades and city life of days gone by.

Overnight at Park Hotel in Turku, a small and cosy hotel with a

unique ambiance, each room having been decorated in its own

personal way. The hotel has a peaceful location by the side of an

idyllic park only a few minutes walk from the Market Square.

 
Day 3     Turku
Accommodation: Park Hotel
Meals: Breakfast

Day free to explore Turku.

 
Day 4     Turku - Urjala - Tampere
Accommodation: Sokos Hotel Tammer
Meals: Breakfast

Turku - Urjala – Tampere, 172 km

Head for Tampere, driving through green farming lands, and stop

in the Nuutajärvi Glass village. Finland’s oldest glassworks is

today a producer of world-renowned Finnish art glass. The Glass

Museum shows the history of glass and glassmaking in Finland,

and besides seeing glassblowers at work, visitors will also have

the opportunity to try glassblowing. Continue a leisurely drive to

Tampere. With an industrial heritage, Tampere has an array of

museums that show the culture of the working class such as

Amuri Museum of Workers’ Housing. Vapriikki museum centre is located in an old industrial complex by the Tammerkoski Rapids and Sara Hildén Art Museum houses a fine collection of modern art. Overnight at Sokos Hotel Tammer in the heart of Tampere. A legendary beauty of a hotel in a unique enviroment on the shores of the Tammerkoski rapids

 
Day 5     Tampere - Jyvaskyla
Accommodation: Yopuu Hotel
Meals: Breakfast

Tampere – Jyväskylä, 175 km

On the Tampere-Jyväskylä route it is worth making the detour to

Mänttä. Gösta Serlachius Museum of Fine Arts at Mänttä is home to an outstanding private art collection. The old wooden church at Petäjävesi with a history dating back over 250 years is a fine example of vernacular architectural tradition. Jyväskylä Region is renowned for buildings designed by the internationally acclaimed Alvar Aalto. Overnight at Hotel Yöpuu, a small and cosy hotel with a personal touch in the heart of Jyväskylä

 
Day 6     Jyvaskyla - Mikkeli
Accommodation: Tertti Manor
Meals: Breakfast

Jyväskylä – Mikkeli, 115 km

In Mikkeli the Kenkävero handicrafts center, earlier the largest

wooden vicarage in Finland, is well worth a visit. Overnight in the

charming atmosphere of Tertti Manor, a family-run farm and manor hotel with a beautiful main building that has been preserved the way it was in 1894. The fascinating gardens around the house invite for a leisurely stroll

 
Day 7     Mikkeli - Savonlinna - Punkaharju
Accommodation: Punkaharju State Hotel
Meals: Breakfast

Mikkeli – Punkaharju, 140 km

Head for Punkaharju, noted for its magnificent ridge area. The

medieval Castle in Savonlinna and the world’s largest wooden church in Kerimäki are places of interest near to Punkaharju.

Overnight at Punkaharju State Hotel, rich in traditions. The first

hotel for tourists in Finland, it today is an important sight

 
Day 8     Punkaharju - Lappeenranta
Accommodation: Scandic Hotel Patria
Meals: Breakfast

Punkaharju – Lappeenranta, 125 km

In the historical fortress area of Lappeenranta there are workshops of local artists and craftsmen. Wolkoff House museum from the 19th century portrays the life of a Russian trading family. The orthodox church bears witness to the eastern influences on the Karelian culture. Overnight at Scandic Hotel Patria.

 
Day 9     Lappeenranta - Helsinki
Accommodation: Solo Sokos Hotel Torni
Meals: Breakfast

From LappeLappeenranta – Helsinki, 220 km

From Lappeenranta it is possible to continue back to Helsinki via

Kotka, a town with maritime heritage, and visit the imperial fishing lodge built on the banks of the Langinkoski Rapids. Another option is to drive via Kouvola and then turn off to Jaala to visit the unique Verla Mill Museum and Village. Other points of interest along the journey include the old ironworks village in Ruotsinpyhtää dotted with red 18thcentury workers’ houses, and the idyllic old quarter of Porvoo with its narrow cobblestone lanes and handicrafts

boutiques. Overnight in Helsinki at Sokos Hotel Torni, a historically interesting hotel in the heart of the city.

 
Day 10     Helsinki
Meals: Breakfast

Services end after breakfast.

 
Price Includes
Daily Breakfast
Hotel Accommodation As in Itinerary With Daily Breakfast
Price Does Not Include
 Transfers
 Air Fare
 Rental Car
 Entrances Fees
VDA-FTB-1269
1.28.15.WP26