Sea Breeze and Local Flavours in Western Finland

The program below is bookable for summer-season. This program can be booked as such or altered to fit your group. Please feel free to request tailor-made arrangements for your group.

Day 1 – Arrival in Kokkola           

Arrival at Kokkola-Pietarsaari airport. Transfer to Kokkola, where we stay at Sokos Hotel Kaarle. Welcoming dinner at our hotel.

 

Day 2 – Day-Cruise to Tankar Island

After breakfast we have a short walking tour in Old town, Neristan, one of our country’s most extensively preserved historical area of wooden houses. The town plan is from the 1650s. The area of Neristan covers 12 blocks with hundreds of wooden houses and courtyard buildings. When walking in Neristan, you may compare the height of the stone foundations of the houses. The higher the foundation, the wealthier the owner of the house.

At 12 o’clock we start for a cruise to Tankar lighthouse island. The island of Tankar is situated in the outher archipelago of Öja 15 km northwest from Kokkola harbour. The island was a base for fishermen and seal hunters in the 16th century. In 1888 the pilotage service ordered an iron lighthouse tower and beacon equipment from Osbergs Helsinki workshop. The beacon is 27,5 m above ground level. The lighting element, which was manufactured in Henry Lepautes factory in Paris, was one of the most powerful of its time – its beam carried for 13 nautical miles. We enjoy a traditional finnish fish soup for lunch. We will be back in Kokkola harbour at 17 o clock.

Dinner at the hotel.

Day 3 – Short Hike and a Visit to an Arctic Museum      

After breakfast we have a short bus ride to our neighbouring town Pietarsaari. We visit Nanoq arctic museum. Nanoq is the first arctic museum in Finland. During his expeditions in Northern Greenland Pentti Kronqvist got the idea of building an arctic museum in his home town. After the visit in Nanoq we enjoy lunch in Fäboda café, which is situated in a beautiful place by the sea. From Fäboda café we have direct access to our nature hike in Fäboda forest. This is a very nice 8 km long forest trail and the hike will take 3 – 4 hours. After this nice hike we return by bus to our hotel in Kokkola. Dinner at summer restaurant Mustakari.

 

Day 4 – Kyrö Gin Distillery and Vaasa Archipelago

After breakfast we leave Kokkola and continue by bus to Isokyrö, where we visit Kyrö distillery. We have our own distillery tour and see how gin is made in Finland. Lunch in Waroon tupa in traditional Ostrobothian countyhouse. After lunch we continue by bus to Vaasa and we check in at Sokos Hotel Royal Vaasa. Change of clothes and we are ready for our afternoon tour to Unesco World Heritage Site Kvarken Archipelago. The Sommarö nature trail is located in the area of former Sommarö fort, in Södra Vallgrund.  The length of the shorter trail is 2,5 km. Dinner at our hotel.

Day 5 – Hiking in Helvetinjärvi National Park

After breakfast we leave Vaasa and continue by bus to Virrat, where we have lunch at traditional village, restaurant Mikontalo. From Virrat our tour continues to Helvetinjärvi national park, where we do the 4 km long ”East of Hell”-hike. The walking trail takes us through an ancient landscape with majestic cliffs and glimmering lakes, that have inspired many artists over the centuries. After this pleasent nature experience we continue by bus to Tampere, where we stay at Sokos Hotel Torni. Option to enjoy the hotel sauna.

Dinner at our hotel.

 

Day 6 – Getting to know Tampere

After breakfast we will visit the only Moomin-museum in the world. The Moomin-museum is an entirely different new artmuseum, that suits all ages of Moomin-fans and friends of art. The core of the collection consists of original illustrations of Tove Jansson for the 12 Moomin-books she wrote and illustrated between 1945 and 1977. After this museum-visit we have a tour by boat (20 min/way) to Viikinsaari, an oasis in the middle of Tampere. We walk the nature- and meditation trail (length 1,3 km). Information about the islands nature can be read in the information cards along the route. Lunch at summer restaurant Viikinsaari. After our tour to Viikinsaari we continue by bus to Helsinki, the capital of Finland. We stay at Sokos hotel Presidentti.

Dinner at the hotel.

Day 7 – Sightseeing in Helsinki      

After breakfast we have a sightseeing tour in Helsinki. We get a glance at the top attractions of Helsinki. After the sightseeing time to explore the city on Your own, do some shopping, or simply enjoy yourself!

Farewell dinner at our hotel.

 

Day 8 – Airport Transfer

Breakfast and transfer to the airport.

Package includes:

  • Bustransportation according to the program
  • Accommodation 3 nights in Kokkola at Sokos hotel Kaarle in double rooms
  • Cruise to Tankar incl. lunch
  • Guided visit to Nanoq arctic museum
  • Lunch at Fäboda cafe
  • Hiking tour in Fäboda
  • Distillery tour at Kyrö Distillery
  • Lunch at Waroon tupa
  • Accommodation 1 night at Sokos Hotel Royal Vaasa in double rooms
  • Lunch in Virrat at restaurant Mikontalo
  • Hiking tour in Helvetinjärvi national park
  • Accommodation 1 night in Tampere at Sokos hotel Torni in double rooms
  • Guided visit at Moomin museum
  • Boat tour to Viikinsaari and lunch
  • Accommodation 2 nights in Helsinki at Sokos hotel Presidentti in double rooms
  • Sightseeing tour in Helsinki
  • Half board (dinner and breakfast daily starting with dinner first day and ending with breakfast last day)

 

Extra for:

  • Single room
  • Other entrances and meals
  • Drinks/beverages during meals