Lakeland Culinary and Culture Tour

Program 

Flight tickets will be sent by email

Friday 3.6.2022

International flights to Helsinki
16:30 AY 369 to Kuopio
Meet your Visit Finland host Ms Suvi Pribilla (tel: +49 175 118 49 85) at the departure gate before boarding
17:30 Arrival at Kuopio airport
Meet your local hosts Teija Neuvonen (tel: +358 406268380) and Sari Hyttinen
Welcome to Northern Savo Lakeland!
Summer of Northern Savo invites you to dive into the nightless nights, warm sunny days and into unforgettable experiences. Welcome to a magical trip with us to enjoy the atmosphere of Savonia, good company, local food and rich culture!
Transfer by bus to Kuopio
18:30 Lake cruise on Kallavesi, departure from Kuopio harbor, cruise to Kuopion Saana
19:30 Kuopion Saana, introduction and dinner
Saana is a fell in Finnish Lapland. It is also a word in the Finnish Savo dialect and means sauna. However, Saana in the city of Kuopio is much more than a plain sauna. Saana has three of those as well, but they represent only a small part of the impressive range of services offered
Transfer to Original Sokos Hotel Puijonsarvi
Check-in 

Saturday 4.6.2022

Breakfast at the hotel, check-out
09:00 Kuopio Market Place and Market Hall
Kuopio was nominated the Capital of European Gastronomy 2020-2021
10:00 Orthodox Church Museum RIISA
RIISA – Orthodox Church Museum of Finland is a nationally and internationally significant specialty museum with eyes on the future and its roots in the Karelian Orthodox heritage and ancient Byzantine traditions
12:00 Lunch in Puijo tower and introduction of Puijo area
The famous Puijo tower, located on Puijo hill in Kuopio, amazes with its scenery time after time. The observation deck of the tower rises 224 meters above the surrounding lake Kallavesi and 306 meters above the sea level
14:00 Departure to Leppävirta
Your local host is Ms Leena Tervakorpi, Visit Karelia (tel: +358 40 614 7273)
15:00 Sport and Spa Hotel Vesileppis and Moomin Ice Cave
Moomin Ice Cave is built to the Vesileppis skiing arena, which is located 30 meters below the ground inside a mined stone cave. The exhibition includes Moomin ice sculptures and different winter activities, for example a snowslide and snow tube track
17:00 Transportation to Heinävesi
18:00 Valamo Monastery
Valamo Monastery is an active centre of the Orthodox religious life and culture in Finland. Located in the beautiful surroundings of Heinävesi, the monastery welcomes visitors throughout the year. The peaceful atmosphere of the monastery and close proximity to nature offer the hurried people in the busy world of today a rare opportunity to relax − far from the bustle and noise of everyday life
Welcome and check-in at the Monastery Hotel
18:30 A short guided walk
19:30 Whiskey tasting/wine tasting and dinner in restaurant Trapesa 

Sunday 5.6.2022

Breakfast at the hotel, check-out
09:30 Departure to Koli
Offering you the most beloved national landscape, Koli is an all-year travel destination. Koli is an arena for nature and culture events, a genuine North Karelian countryside village, home to a national park, and a gate to North Karelia, renowned for its food, nature, and happy people
11:30 Koli national park, walking tour on the top of Koli (wear comfortable shoes and windproof jacket according to the weather)
13:00-13:45 Break Sokos Hotel Koli site inspection
14:00 Lunch at GastroBar Kolin Ryynänen
15:00 Transportation to Bomba area
16:15 Arrival at Bomba; Bomba house and inspection of rooms in Karelian Village
17:00 Check-in at Break Sokos Hotel Bomba
Time for spa 
19:00 Departure to Valtimo village
19:45 Karelian dinner at Guesthouse Puukarin Pysäkki
Puukarin Pysäkki is a dream destination for those who appreciate locality, nature, unique food, and experiences. Rest in the soothing embrace of nature and enjoy pure North Karelian delicacies. Connect with nature and find your way back to your own unique path
22:00 Transportation back to the hotel

Monday 6.6.2022

Breakfast at the hotel
09:00 Kalevanhovi; Wild Nordic - outdoor activities
11:00 Check-out, transportation by bus
13:00 Arrival at Kuopio Airport
14:15 AY 366 to Helsinki
15:15 Arrival at Helsinki Airport
16:00 (-16:45) Departure by bus to Naantali and Turku
Check-in at Midnight Sun Event Hotels:  Naantali Spa & Hotel and  Solo Sokos Hotel Turun Seurahuone
19:00 - 21:30 Dinner served at the hotel

Midnight Sun Event Program in Turku and Naantali
 

Thursday 9.6.2022

Breakfast at the hotel
11:15 Check-out
11:30 Transfer by bus to Helsinki Airport
14:30 Check-in at Helsinki Airport
International flights home

Thank you for visiting Finland!