Experiences by the Lake Saimaa

WEDNESDAY 30.8.2023

Flights from home destinations to Finland
Arrival in Helsinki/Joensuu
Accommodation at Helsinki Airport Hotel/Original Sokos Hotel Kimmel

WORKSHOP DAY, THURSDAY 31.8.2023

(Morning flight to Joensuu, transfer by bus to the hotel)
Breakfast at the hotel
09:00-12:00 Joensuu excursion
13:30 Lunch at Hotel Kimmel for buyers and suppliers
15:00-18:00 Workshop in the conference centre of Original Sokos Hotel Kimmel
19:00 Get together dinner at Hotel Kimmel

Friday 1.9.2023

Breakfast at the hotel
Check-out
08:30 Transportation by bus from Joensuu to Savonlinna
10:00 Short visit to Kerimäki church, the biggest wooden church in the world
The church of Kerimäki is the world’s largest Christian wooden church and has the most spacious interior in Finland. It is 45 meters long, 42 meters wide and 27 meters high. The height of the dome is 37 meters. There are altogether 1670 metres of pews and a seating capacity for over 3000 people.
11:00 Visit to Lomamokkila and Taipaleenniemi, site inspection and lunch
Lomamokkila provides an excellent setting for a holiday in Savonlinna in the heart of the Lake Saimaa area, with accommodation choices from high quality Bed&Breakfast rooms of high quality to peaceful and quiet lakeside cottages.
13:00 Visit to the marvellous town of Savonlinna and a guided tour in Olavinlinna Castle 
The age-old archipelago and castle city, Savonlinna, with its surrounding villages offers so much to see and experience all year round. There is plenty of culture, experiences and attractions to enjoy. 
The construction of Olavinlinna Castle began in 1475. The Danish-born founder of the castle, knight Erik Axelsson Tott, decided that a powerful fortification should be built to protect the strategically important Savonia region. The castle was to repel Russian attacks from the east and to guarantee the control of the Savonia region for the Swedish Crown. The history of Olavinlinna Castle is a mixture of power struggles between the east and the west, medieval arms clashing, cannons roaring and everyday chores inside the castle’s thick walls.
14:00 Visit to Sokos Hotel Seurahuone, lunch and possibility to see hotel rooms
16:00 Transportation by bus from Savonlinna to Rantasalmi
16:50 Arrival at Nature Hotel & Spa Resort Järvisydän, check-in, site inspection
A warm welcome to Nature Hotel & Spa Resort Järvisydän, where you will be pampered on the shores of Lake Saimaa. We at Järvisydän offer you a year-round experience with accommodation, dining, spa, and nature programs. In addition to the experience hotel, we offer comfortable accommodation in villas, Scenery Suites, and Houseboats, and relaxation in the new Lake Spa. Our roots date back to 1658, so there are plenty of stories to tell our guests!
18:30 Visit Lake spa
20:30 Dinner at Viinikellari Restaurant

Saturday 2.9.2023

08:00 Breakfast at Järvisydän
Activities at Järvisydän and check-out
12:00 Lunch at Järvisydän
13:00 Transportation by bus from Rantasalmi Puumala
14:15 Arrival at Sahanlahti Resort, check-in
At Sahanlahti, locality plays an important role in your enjoyment. Our chefs, waiters, cleaners and sauna heaters – everyone is with a big heart involved in making your visit at Sahanlahti a unique experience. Welcome to Sahanlahti!
Activities at Sahanlahti
19:00 Dinner in Sahanlahti

Sunday 3.9.2023

08:00 Breakfast at Sahanlahti
09:00 Check-out from Sahanlahti
09:20 Transportation by bus from Puumala to Anttola
10:00 Visit to Ollinmäki winery, winetasting and lunch
Ollinmäki winery, situated in the village of Anttola in Mikkeli municipality, combines a fully functional winery and a tourism company. We have built a wine cellar, souvenir and wine shop and a restaurant in an old palatial stone barn. Gardening had been practiced on the winery site since 1920s. Up until the middle of 1990s, the farm has been specializing in berry juices products. When the producers earned enough experience of juice making, the alcoholic beverages has been released. Later, Villanens family went to Europe for acquiring new knowledge and technologies of wine making. Nowadays, winery produces different kinds of wines, liquors and hard liquors. We’re always striving to expanding our products range. Our continuous and hard work had been approved by experts and our products has received various trophies.
12:00 Transportation by bus from Anttola towards Helsinki
14:30 Arrival at Helsinki-Vantaa Airport

Thank you for visiting Finland!