Scenic Finland & North Cape  7 days/6 nights:
Helsinki - Imatra - Koli - Kuhmo -
Kuusamo - Rovaniemi
2008 Departure Dates and Prices
Jun 7, 21, 28, Jul 5, 12, 19, 26, Aug 2, 9, 16, 23 $2,599 per person double $512 single supplement 11 days/10 nights:
same as 7 days + North Cape Tour
2008 Departure Dates and Prices
June 7, 21, 28, July 5, 12, 19, 26, Aug 2, 9, 16 $4,250 per person double $785 single supplement
Day 1: Helsinki – Porvoo – Ruotsinpyhtää – Langinkoski - Imatra Depart Helsinki by coach for Porvoo, the second oldest town in Finland. The old part of town is famous for its charming old warehouses, cobblestone lanes, handicraft shops and the medieval cathedral. Lunch will be enjoyed in the old Ruotsinpythää iron works village, dotted with 18th century worker’s dwellings. Next stop will be at Langinkoski rapids, to see the imperial fishing lodge Czar Alexander III had built on the shore of the roaring rapids. Dinner and overnight at Hotel Valtionhotelli or similar.  Day 2: Imatra – Punkaharju – Savonlinna – Valamo – Koli Drive through the beautiful Punkaharju ridge, an isthmus between two large lakes, to the Retretti Art Exhibition, featuring classical as well as contemporary visual arts. After lunch in Punkaharju continue to Savonlinna, to visit Olavinlinna Castle, the venue of the annual Savonlinna Opera Festival. In the afternoon, visit the eastern orthodox monastery of Valamo in Heinävesi and have a cup of tea brewed in the traditional style in a silver samovar, sweetened with raspberry jam and accompanied by traditional Russian delicacies. Continue to Koli Hills, Finland’s best-known scenic overlook. From the highest hilltop there is a spectacular view of forests and lakes. Dinner and overnight at Hotel Koli or similar in Lieksa.
Day 3: Koli – Joensuu – Kiihtelysvaara – Tuupovaara – Ilomantsi – Koli Today’s excursion will acquaint you with Karelian culture and traditions. Visit a local farmhouse and experience the friendly hospitality that the Karelians are famous for. See fine examples of wooden architecture, and visit exhibitions of local arts and crafts. Listen to music played on the Kantele, the Finnish folk music instrument, and savour Karelian specialties, served for lunch in a typically decorated log house. Dinner and overnight at Hotel Koli or similar in Lieksa.
Day 4: Koli – Vuonislahti – Lieksa – Kuhmo On the way to Kuhmo, stop in Vuonislahti to see the studio home and little log chapel of Eva Ryynänen, a talented wood-sculptor. In the Ruunaa wilderness close to the Finnish-Russian border, you have a chance to shoot the rapids on a long wooden riverboat, steered by local fishermen, and to enjoy lunch by a crackling fire. Continue to Kalevala village. A tour of the village offers a fascinating look at the old traditions of the Karelian people as they were in the 19th century, a period when the ancient poems of Finland’s national epic, the Kalevala, were collected. Dinner and overnight at Hotel Kalevala in Kuhmo.
Day 5: Kuhmo - Kuusamo After a guided tour of the village, continue north. See the north-Karelian landscape of hills, lakes and lush green meadows change into the steep cliffs, streams, and wild forests of Kuusamo. Lunch enroute in Ämmänsaari. Stop to admire a national sight of astounding beauty, Julma Ölkky, the deepest canyon lake in the area. Dinner and overnight at Spa Hotel Kuusamon Tropiikki or similar in Kuusamo.
 Day 6: Kuusamo - Rovaniemi After breakfast, set off for an excursion to Lake Kitka. Sitting in a row-boat, or standing on the shore, you can watch local fishermen seine-fishing. If the catch is good, it will be prepared for lunch. On the way to Rovaniemi, pay a visit to the coffee cup museum. See the key sights of Rovaniemi and visit Santa’s Workshop at the Arctic Circle, meeting the jolly old man in person, and taking part in a Lapp ceremony. Dinner and overnight at Rantasipi Rohjanhovi Hotel in Rovaniemi .
Day 7: Rovaniemi - Särestö - Kittilä For guests on the 8-night Helsinki – Rovaniemi tour, this ends after breakfast at the hotel. Guests continuing on the North Cape Tour go on a sightseeing tour this morning, where you see works designed by Finland’s most famous architect Alvar Aalto. Crossing the magic line of the Arctic Circle is a great experience for any visitor. To make it truly exotic, take part in a Lapp initiation ceremony. You will also enjoy lunch in a Lapp tepee at the Arctic Circle. Continue north along the Ounasjoki River, and stop at the Art Gallery of Reidar Särestöniemi, the most notable Lapp artist who found his motifs in Lapland’s nature. His studio and home, a complex of log houses, represent traditional Lapp architecture. Dinner and overnight at Hotel Sirkantähti in Kittilä.
Day 8: Kittilä - Harriniva - Hetta - Kautokeino - Alta Properly equipped with rain gear and a life vest, set off from Harriniva onboard a pneumatic life boat on an exciting, yet comfortable and perfectly safe, one-hour journey through seven rapids. As you come ashore, nothing will taste better than steaming hot soup served around a glowing campfire. Continue north via Kautokeino, the largest Lapp cultural center in Norway. As you travel, notice the rolling hills of Finnish Lapland change into Norwegian tundra. Arrive at the Arctic Ocean and the fishing port of Alta. Dinner and overnight at Rica Hotel Alta or similar.
 Day 9: Alta - Honningsvåg - North Cape Alta is famous for its 5,000-6,000 year-old rock carvings, so prestigious that they have been included in the World Heritage list of UNESCO. During a visit to the Alta Museum, experience the world of an ancient Lapp depicted in the rock carvings. Continue to Honningsvåg, stopping for lunch on the way. Reach the North Cape in the evening. The Arctic Ocean opens up with its beautiful, endless scenery. Standing on Europe’s northernmost plateau, celebrate this unforgettable moment with sparkling wine and local caviar. Dinner and overnight at Rica Hotel Honningsvag or similar in Honningsvåg.
Day 10: Honningsvåg - Inari - Saariselkä Enjoy the last glimpses of the awesome northern landscapes as you head back south, driving along one of the most beautiful Norwegian fjords. Lunch will be en route in the little village of Karasjok. Back in Finland, visit an open- air Sami museum in Inari. Buildings and handicraft collected from different regions of Lapland give you a fascinating look into the life of the nomadic Samis or Lapps of yesterday. While visiting a local reindeer herder at his home, you will have the opportunity to see how a present day Lapp family lives and treasures the ancient traditions. Listen to joiku-singing, a chant in the Sami language, and hear the owner of the farm telling about reindeer breeding. Dinner and overnight at Hotel Riekonlinna in Saariselkä.
Day 11: Saariselkä – Tankavaara – Luosto – Rovaniemi – Helsinki The last stop in northern Lapland is the Tankavaara Gold Village. Relive the thrills of the Gold Rush that once attracted hundreds of men into the region in the hope of finding a gold nugget. Today you will also have the opportunity to try your luck panning for gold. Lunch will be enjoyed in Luosto on the way to Rovaniemi airport. Price includes:
6 nights Helsinki – Rovaniemi
- 6 nights accommodation in twin-bedded rooms with private facilities
- 6 buffet breakfasts, 6 lunches, 6 dinners
- Luggage assistance at all hotels
- Sightseeing, visits, excursions, and entrance fees according to itinerary
- Experienced, multilingual tour escort throughout
- Transportation by modern deluxe, private coach
- Service charges and taxes on included items
10 nights Helsinki - Rovaniemi with North Cape Tour Extension All the services mentioned above, plus
- 4 nights accommodation in twin-bedded rooms with private facilities
- 4 buffet breakfasts, 5 lunches, 4 dinners
Please note that The North Cape Tour (days 7 - 11) can be taken separately.
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