The country of the Thousand lakes and the Midnight sun welcomes you to an interesting cross-section tour. The route brings you through a changing scenery of flat landscapes, along numerous lakes, rivers and vast forests to Europe´s last wilderness areas with fells and wooded hills, free-flowing rapids and through the lake labyrinth of Saimaa, to the capital of Finland.

9 days / 8 nights Helsinki – Hämeenlinna – Seinäjoki – Oulu – Rovaniemi – Kuusamo – Nurmes – Imatra – Helsinki

Services included:
· 8 nights accommodation in a double room with bath or shower and WC incl. breakfast
· Transfers by modern coach
· Cruise Hämeenlinna – Visavuori (available on Tue - Sat)
· Ceremony of crossing the Arctic Circle incl. Certificate and coffee with sweet pastry
· Sightseeing tour in Helsinki

Day 1 Helsinki - Hämeenlinna 105 km
Arrival in Helsinki. Your bus will take you to Hämeenlinna, beautifully located by the lake Vanajavesi. The main attractions in Hämeenlinna are the 13th century castle and the Aulanko leisure centre with large forest park area. Also the house, in which the famous Finnish composer Jean Sibelius was born, is situated right in the heart of the town. Accommodation.

Day 2 Hämeenlinna - Seinäjoki 256 km
This morning you step on a Silver Line ship and enjoy a journey through a beautiful lake landscape to Visavuori, the studio-home of the sculptor Emil Wikström. The house was designed by Wikström himself and is now a very lively museum. There is also an exhibition pavilion for the work of Kari Suomalainen, one of the most famous Finnish cartoonists. You continue by bus to Tampere, the largest inland city in the Nordic countries, located in a beautiful environment and surrounded by nearly 200 lakes. The route takes you further to Seinäjoki for accommodation.

Day 3 Seinäjoki - Oulu 325 km
After breakfast your Finland route follows the coastline northwards to Oulu, a town that was an important depot for wood tar in the Middle Ages. Today Oulu is an active university city with a bustling pedestrian precinct where you may hear street musicians playing in summer as well as eager salesmen shouting their offers to passers-by. Oulu is also known as a science town. Oulu Technology Park and the University are often in the news because of their new inventions.

Day 4 Oulu - Rovaniemi 225 km
Today the journey continues towards Rovaniemi. We recommend a stop in Kemi, the northernmost centre of forest industry in Finland. The biggest sight of the city is the icebreaker Sampo which makes tourist cruises during winter and serves as restaurant in summer time.

The town of Rovaniemi is the administrative and commercial centre of all Lapland. Two major rivers meet there, the Kemijoki and Ounasjoki, and looming over the town is the 200 metre high Ounasvaara peak, a natural viewing platform and all-year playground for sports. The Arktikum House is one of the most important sights of the city. The building provides a vivid picture of life and nature in the Arctic Circle and also houses the Lapland Provincial Museum of Lapp culture and life. Accommodation in the city centre.

Day 5 Rovaniemi - Kuusamo 195 km
On the Arctic Circle is the Santa Claus´ workshop, with his own post office, receiving mail from all over the world and sending it off with Santa´s special stamp. You continue to a reindeer farm and participate a ceremonial crossing of the Arctic Circle. The initiation ceremony of crossing this magic line will be performed in the afternoon by reindeer herders in a kota - a Lapp tepee- or in a pine branch lean-to. Sitting around the campfire on reindeer skin covered benches you will listen to the tales of old Lapland and understand the old customs and superstitions while having a sip of the magic drink made of reindeer milk. As a proof of the crossing you will receive an Arctic Circle Certificate with your name on it.

After the ceremony the tour continues to Kuusamo. You pass the municipality of Posio, situated amid the southeast uplands of Lapland. On the way you may see some of the 10.000 reindeers of Kuusamo area. Kuusamo, your today´s destination, is located close to the Russian border. Kuusamo is one of Europe´s last wilderness areas with fells and wooded hills, free-flowing rapids, steep-sided canyons, tranquil waters of rivers and deep-green spruce forests. Accommodation in Ruka area.

Day 6 Kuusamo - Nurmes 350 km
You leave Kuusamo and drive to Finland´s easternmost region, Carelia. The rugged landscapes with the vast forests are even as fascinating as the culture of the region. The Carelians have a reputation of being warm and happy people who love songs. On the way you pass Kajaani and Suomussalmi and finally reach Nurmes, known as the town of birches.

The main attraction of the town is the Bomba house and the Carelian village around it. The buildings are built in the Carelian style of the 19th century and decorated with intricate carvings, which are also seen as a demonstration of the skills and prosperity of its owners. Accommodation in Bomba.

Day 7 Nurmes – Imatra 322 km
On your way to the south along the Russian border you can make a stop at the lively market place of Joensuu. The main attraction of the town Imatra are the rapids. During the summer the swirling waters are released for a stunning display accompanied by the music of Jean Sibelius several times per week. Imatra is also known for Imatra Big Band Festival which attracts tens of thousands of people every year to listen artists from all over the world. Accommodation in Imatra.

Day 8 Imatra - Helsinki 225 km
After breakfast you drive via Lappeenranta to Porvoo, the second oldest town in Finland, situated at the mouth of the River Porvoo. On a short walk in the picturesque old town with its narrow lanes and wooden houses you can visit one of the charming little cafeterias.

From Porvoo there is only a half an hour drive to Helsinki. Accommodation in the city centre.

Day 9 Departure from Helsinki
After breakfast you have time to enjoy Helsinki on your own. In the afternoon a local guide is waiting at the hotel to take you on a sightseeing tour of the city. The West and the East meet in Helsinki; the neoclassical Senate Square is the home of the Helsinki Cathedral, the University of Helsinki and the Government Palace. These were built in the 19th century when Finland was an autonomous part of tsarist Russia. The Uspensky Cathedral is the biggest Orthodox church in Scandinavia. Modern architecture is exemplified by buildings such as the Finnish National Opera, the Temppeliaukio church, built into solid rock, and the Finlandia Hall, congress and concert centre designed by the best known Finnish architect Alvar Aalto. The sightseeing tour ends at the airport. Näkemiin Suomi, Goodbye Finland!