WELCOME TO FINLAND

Program 

Saturday, January 14

Arriving from Bangkok
08:05 Flight from Bangkok to Helsinki with AY142 BKK-HEL  8:05 15:35
15:35 Arrival at Helsinki Airport
Meet Visit Finland representative Ms Tarja Koivisto at Helsinki Airport arrival hall
Transfer by bus from Helsinki Airport to Radisson Blu Seaside Hotel
Check-in at Radisson Blu Seaside Hotel.  
18:00 Lobby call
Meet your Visit Finland host Tarja Koivisto and your Finnair host Mr Tamas Hanyi in the hotel lobby
A short walk together with your hosts to Restaurant Konstan Möljä nearby
18:15 Dinner at Restaurant Konstan Möljä.  
Konstan Möljä is a traditional Finnish restaurant with a maritime twist. We welcome you to experience our authentic Finnish cuisine and cozy atmosphere by the old docks!
20:00 OPTIONAL Sauna experience at Uusi Sauna. 
Uusi Sauna (The New Sauna) brings the classic neighborhood sauna into the 21st century. It is a combination of a public sauna with a terrace for cooling off, and a bar and bistro that seats over 100 guests inside. Not in the mood for a sauna? Come enjoy a great variety of drinks with hearty toasts and other delicious snacks in a friendly atmosphere! Uusi Sauna has separate wood pellet heated saunas for male and female visitors. The steam rooms have space for approximately 20 bathers at a time. The changing rooms are spacious with 54 lockers at the men’s department, and 40 at the women’s side.

Sunday, January 15

Arriving from Singapore
Flight from Singapore to Helsinki with AY132 SIN-HEL  22:30 (Jan 14) 06:10 (+1)
06:10 Arrival at Helsinki Airport
Meet your bus driver at arrival hall with a sign "MATKA 2023, Ms Chew, Finnair"
Transfer by bus from Helsinki Airport to Radisson Blu Seaside Hotel
Breakfast at Radisson Blu Seaside Hotel and meeting with rest of the group

09:00 Check-out
09:15 Transfer by bus to Helsinki West Harbour Terminal 2
09:45 Arrival at West Harbour Terminal 2
Meet your Tallink Silja host Ms Olga Vanbergen at the terminal
10:30 Helsinki-Tallinn cruise with Tallink Silja M/S My Star  
Completed in the end of 2022, MyStar, Tallink's newest and most innovative and technologically advanced shuttle ferry takes its inspiration from the Baltic Sea.
Sustainable materials and environmentally friendly solutions are implemented in the ship's interior design. MyStar is spacious, comfortable and forward-looking, the customer journey onboard has been designed to be even more seamless. Step onboard on the new bright star on the Baltic Sea!
12:30 Arrival in Tallinn 
Greetings from Visit Estonia!
Visit Estonia is delighted to greet you in Estonia - a small country that calls out to culture scouts, natural nomads, and flavour seekers! A place where attitudes merge a Nordic mindset with medieval mystery, where the fast food comes as fast as it grows and where fewer crowds lead you to deeper conversations!

Program in Estonia January 15 to 16

Monday, January 16

17:00 Transfer to ferry terminal
Meet your Eckerö Line host Mr Peep Siinmaa at the terminal
18:30 Departure from Tallinn to Helsinki with Eckerö Line M/S Finlandia.  
M/S Finlandia is the most popular passenger ferry on the Helsinki-Tallinn route and offers a unique, local experience of Finnish cruising tradition. M/S Finlandia is the only passenger ferry between Finland and Estonia, that sails under the Finnish flag – thus the name Finlandia and Finnish live music and Finnish seasonal food on board! With 2500 passenger capacity, Business Lounge, Tax Free shops and several bars and the grand Buffet Eckerö – we cater to individuals and groups, to passengers with and without a vehicle. MS Finlandia is in traffic all around the year.
21:00 Arrival in Helsinki.  
Awarded with ‘City of Design’ status by Unesco, Helsinki is a modern city that offers functional design, unique gastronomy and maritime appeal. The capital of Finland is filled with lively events all year round, but the peaceful archipelago and green forests are only a stone’s throw away and can be easily reached by the efficient public transportation system.
Transfer by bus from Helsinki West Harbour Terminal 2 to Radisson Blu Royal Hotel
Check-in at Radisson Blu Royal Hotel

Tuesday, January 17

Breakfast at the hotel
10:00 Lobby call
Meet your Myhelsinki guide Ms Rebecca Maaranto (tel.+ 358 41 505 8388) at the hotel lobby
Helsinki City Tour
The tour focuses on the fresh and surprising character of Helsinki. During the tour you will be introduced to the main attractions of Helsinki as well as to some of the hot spots of the local design scene and explore different types of urban phenomena and venues. You will also discover a few delicious secrets of Helsinki’s food culture. Explore and be inspired!
13:00 Lunch in Löyly  
Löyly, an urban oasis occupying a stretch of beautiful Helsinki waterfront, offers a warm welcome and many delights for locals and visitors alike. On a beautiful summer’s day, our terrace is the place to be, and our saunas are available daily.
14:30 Bus transfer to Teurastamo area
15:00 Visit to Helsinki Distilling Company
The Helsinki Distilling Company became operational in 2014 as the first distillery in Helsinki for over a century. The distillery is located in Teurastamo, the former abattoir and now the food culture heart of Helsinki. Here premium gin, whiskey and other spirits from the best local ingredients are hand-crafted with flair. Located in a 160-year old cellar in the heart of the Helsinki Gastro Culture, The Helsinki Whiskey Cellar is something truly unique.
16:30 Bus transfer back to the hotel
Free time
18:30 Lobby call, meet Ms Tarja Koivisto at the hotel lobby
A short walk to Original Sokos Hotel Presidentti
Meet your Sokos Hotels hosts Ms Anu Huusko and Ms Minna Hirvonen in the hotel lobby
19:00 Dinner at Carl Gustaf at Original Sokos Hotel Presidentti  

Wednesday, January 18

MATKA 2023 Workshop Day 

Breakfast at the hotel

Transfer by bus to Messukeskus, the bus collects buyers from following partner hotels, please note times are approx.
07:45 First stop at Hotel Kämp, Pohjoisesplanadi 29
07:55 Second stop at St George, Yrjönkatu 13
08:05 Next stop at Original Sokos Hotel Presidentti, Eteläinen Rautatiekatu 4
08:15 Last stop at Radisson Blu Royal, Runeberginkatu 4
08:30 Arrival at Messukeskus

Program of the MATKA 2023 Workshop Day

20:30/20:45 approx. Bus to all hotels after "Party like a Finn"

Thursday, January 19

MATKA 2023 Trade Day

Breakfast at the hotel
Check-out

Transfer by bus from the partner hotels to Messukeskus, please note times are approx.
08:15 First stop at St George, Yrjönkatu 13
08:25 Second stop at Hotelli Mestari, Fredrikinkatu 51-53
08:35 Next stop at Radisson Blu Royal, Runeberginkatu 2
08:40 Last stop at Original Sokos Hotel Presidentti, Eteläinen Rautatiekatu 4
09:00 Arrival at Messukeskus

MATKA 2023 Trade Day

Lunch (lunch coupons are given to you on Wednesday by your Visit Finland/Finnair host)

Departing to Bangkok:

13:30 Transfer by shuttle bus from Messukeskus to Helsinki Airport, please leave on time for the bus transfer
Arrival at Helsinki Airport
16:30 Flight from Helsinki to Bangkok AY145 HEL-BKK 16:30 09:05 (+1)

Departing to Singapore:

Welcome to Experience winter in Espoo!
Espoo is a part of the metropolitan area and second biggest city in Finland and it is easily accessible from Helsinki City Centre and Helsinki Airport by public transportation. Espoo is like Finland in miniature. In the south of the city, you can enjoy the delights of the coast and archipelago, cultural and other events and shopping. In North of Espoo, you can experience the countryside, lakes, manor houses, and the wilderness in Nuuksio National Park. As part of the Matka FAM-trip you will get a nice glimpse of what the national park area offers for visitors!

What to expect:

• Talk about sustainable tourism! Sustainability is important for travel operators in Espoo and the entire city. Espoo is an innovative actor within sustainable development. Espoo's travel operators have been pioneers of eco-friendly tourism. As a visitor, you can act in a sustainable and eco-friendly manner as well.
• A great day in Nuuksio - visiting interesting venues and memorable experiences

What to wear:

• We will be spending time outdoors as well (for example at the reindeer park) so it is good to wear good walking shoes which preferably are also waterproof.
• Warm and comfortable clothes, hats, gloves etc. are all suggested to make you feel comfortable during the visit

14:00 Meet your Visit Espoo host Mr. Miikka Valo, tel +358 43 824 6038 in front of Holiday Inn main entrance for the bus transfer.
Bus to Nuuksio
Familiarize yourself with Nuuksio by reading an article "how to find your happiness in Nuuksio" 
14:45 Arrival in Nuuksio National Park
Within easy reach of the Finnish capital you can escape into wild natural settings and enjoy typically Finnish scenery, with lovely lakes, green forests and rugged crags.
Visit to Nuuksio Reindeer Park
Experience a touch of northern magic in Finland's southernmost reindeer park in Nuuksio
16:00 Guided tour in Haltia, the Finnish Nature Centre
Finnish Nature Centre Haltia will give the visitor the feel of Finnish pristine nature and tourists can feel and experience most spectacular nature destinations under one roof. Through exhibitions and events, we take a stand on current issues such as climate change and the positive impact of nature on well-being.
17:00 Haltia Lake Lodge site inspection. 
At the heart of the Nuuksio National Park, Haltia Lake Lodge is the place to nest up in a nature boutique lodge and enjoy the good life, right next to the Finnish Nature Center Haltia. Hotel won the price of "Best Sustainable Hotel in Europe" in the recent Boutique Hotel Awards.
Dinner
19:30 Transfer to Helsinki Airport
Arrival at Helsinki Airport
23:40 Flight from Helsinki to Singapore AY131 HEL-SIN 23:40 18:15 (+1)

Thank you for visiting Finland!