8 DAYS / 7 NIGHTS
Clio Travel guided tours
person
Finland, on the northeastern edge of Europe, is a land of contrasts. The midnight sun you find in summer gives way to dark, endless days in winter. Finnish landscapes are mostly boundless expanses bathed in a muffled atmosphere and many, many lakes. Finland is not only the country of nature pushed to extremes, the capital, Helsinki, is very much alive with that vibrant atmosphere that characterizes its dynamic urban center of an eclectic city renowned for its quality of life.
Departure from Milan by escorted scheduled flight to Helsinki. Upon arrival transfer to the hotel and settle into the reserved rooms. Free time at leisure for an initial discovery of the city.
Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.
Breakfast at the hotel. In the morning, panoramic tour of the city: from the Art Museum to the Music Hall, the Oodi bookstore and the parliament. Free lunch during the visit. The first part of the tour ends at the market square where you will board a boat to reach the seaside fortress of Suomenlinna, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. After the visit return to the market square, free time at leisure. Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.
Breakfast at the hotel. Before departure in the direction of Porvoo free time for a walk along the Helsinki esplanada. Reaching Porvoo, guided tour of this small town that is more than 800 years old and of original beauty. Time at leisure for free lunch and to visit the old workshops in the village. In the afternoon, continue in the direction of Lappeenranta where the tour leader will take you aboard a small cruise ship to explore the lakes of South Karelia. Special dinner on board. Return to the hotel and overnight stay.
Breakfast at the hotel. Depart in the direction of Savonlinna; en route you will pass along the Punkaharju Nature Reserve, surrounded by magnificent lakes, and stop at Kerimaki Church, one of the largest wooden churches in the world. Free lunch. Upon reaching Savonlinna we will set out to discover Sant Olaf Castle (Olavinlinna in Finnish); after the discovery of this delightful castle we will continue in the direction of Joensuu. Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.
Breakfast at the hotel. Depart in the direction of Koli National Park. Here you will admire the most authentic nature of Finland with its landscapes that are typical of North Karelia: lakes and forests that are a green lung in the heart of Europe. Return to Joensuu and guided tour of the city. Free lunch and time at leisure for sightseeing: from the Museum of Arts to the North Karelia Museum or Taitokortteli, the artists' quarter. Dinner at the hotel and overnight stay.
Breakfast at the hotel. Departure in the direction of Kuopio. This small town, during the summer months, is home to major dance festivals as well as local wine productions. You will get to discover the beauty of this city in the company of the local guide. In the afternoon, after a free lunch, opportunity to experience a real Finnish sauna (optional, extra charge). For Finns, the sauna is something unique and is a daily family experience. Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.
Breakfast at the hotel. Depart for Lahti, a city famous for its modern wooden architecture. Upon arrival, guided tour of the city to discover the works of two great Finnish architects, Alvar Aalto and Eliel Saarinen. Free lunch. In the afternoon we continue in the direction of Helsinki. Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.
Breakfast at the hotel and transfer to the airport. Clearance of boarding formalities and departure for Italy
