Greatest issues to do in Lake Saimaa, Finland

Welcome to your final journey journey information for Lake Saimaa, Finland.

When you’re planning your Fiinish journey and searching for a rare pure escape, someplace you may bathe, swim and unwind beside clear contemporary waters, you’ve landed in the proper place.

This journey information will reveal all the things you have to find out about visiting Lake Saimaa, together with learn how to get there, the perfect locations to remain, and the highest actions you may’t miss.

I’ve simply returned from 4 days exploring this space of Jap Finland and I really feel SO replenished and impressed by the individuals and landscapes of Lake Saimaa. It’s actually a gem and I can not wait to share my suggestions with you!

Finland is a rustic famend for its gorgeous lakes and unspoiled wilderness and Lake Saimaa is an ideal instance of this. Spanning over 4,400 sq. kilometers, with over 14,000km of shoreline (the worlds longest lake shoreline), Lake Saimaa is Finland’s largest lake and the fourth largest in Europe.

Lake Saimaa is ideal for nature lovers, journey seekers, and anybody seeking to unwind in a serene setting (assume cabins on lakes and foraging within the woods for dinner vibes).

Whether or not you’ve heard of Lake Saimaa for its lakeside cabins, its unbelievable fishing or as a habitat for the uncommon Saimaa ringed seal, this information will be sure you have all of the juicy suggestions and journey info to plan your excellent journey.

Are you able to discover the perfect issues to do in Lake Saimaa?

The Greatest Option to Get To Lake Saimaa

Attending to Lake Saimaa is an journey, however contemplating you are feeling such as you’re in the midst of nowhere – it’s not that tough. It’s positively price it!

The closest main airport is Helsinki-Vantaa Airport, the place you may take a commuter practice to Tikkurila (a couple of minutes) after which change to Mikkeli (round 2 hours).

Alternatively, you may hire a automobile for the scenic 3-hour journey to the lake area. Another choice is to fly to Lappeenranta Airport, which is nearer and affords direct connections from a number of European cities.

The Greatest Locations To Keep In Lake Saimaa

For lodging, the Lake Saimaa area boasts a spread of choices from cosy lakeside cottages and trendy inns to distinctive houseboats and tenting websites. There’s a lot selection!

Staying in a lakeside cottage (domestically often known as a ‘mökki’) is extremely really useful for an genuine Finnish expertise, providing the right mix of consolation and immersion in nature. Elsanranta Villas and Kanava Resort are two top-notch choices (that I stayed in) offering luxurious stays with gorgeous lake views and trendy facilities.

Browse Lake Saimaa lodging right here.

One of the best time to go to Lake Saimaa

One of the best time to go to Lake Saimaa will depend on what you wish to do and expertise right here.

Summer season (June to August) is right for water actions, climbing, and having fun with the midnight solar (yep a lot time for actions!). For winter sports activities lovers, the snowy months of December to February provide alternatives for ice fishing, cross-country snowboarding, and experiencing the Northern Lights.

I visited in June and we had a mix of climate however delicate temperatures excellent for having fun with the outside in.

Discover Linnansaari Nationwide Park and spot the Saimaa ringed seal!

Linnansaari Nationwide Park is a must-visit for outside lovers and probably the greatest issues to do in Lake Saimaa in the event you love journey!

The park is a labyrinth of lots of of islands and affords glorious climbing trails, kayaking routes, and tenting spots. One factor you need to do is take a ship tour to identify the elusive Saimaa ringed seal, an endangered species distinctive to this area. Many firms are providing it, we did ours with Kanava Resort.

We noticed an impressive Ospray too, effectively our information did. They’re superb at recognizing the wildlife!

Keep at Landhaus Kekkola

Landhaus Kekkola is a pastel yellow colored, historic manor simply outdoors the town of Mikkeli (the right beginning location in the event you get the practice to Mikkeli from Helsinki!).

The property has Finnish-German hosts, Janne and Manuela, and their kids are actually a part of the expertise. You are feeling such as you’re arriving to their dwelling (you kinda are) and so they make you are feeling at dwelling straight away.

Keep right here welcomes you to benefit from the basic rural lakeside ambiance of their household environment, it’s a really zen expertise. There are additionally a choice of actions and horse stables on the grounds.

My favorite half? The lakeside sauna and personal lake for swimming. E-book right here.

Go to Olavinlinna Citadel

Olavinlinna Citadel is positioned within the city of Savonlinna and is certainly one of Finland’s most iconic landmarks. This medieval fortress, constructed within the fifteenth century, sits majestically on a rocky islet in Lake Saimaa. A brilliant lovely location certainly and an opportunity to cube into some historical past.

I like to recommend you’re taking a guided tour to find out about its fascinating historical past and revel in views from the towers.

Go on a canoeing or kayaking Journey

Canoeing on Lake Saimaa to benefit from the crystal-clear waters and numerous islands is without doubt one of the finest issues to do in Lake Saimaa.

There are quite a few rental providers and guided excursions obtainable, catering to all ability ranges. You received’t be caught for selection!

Paddle by means of slim straits, alongside forests and uncover hidden seashores. Getting on the water is the right benefit from the peace of the Finnish wilderness.

Strive the fish caught within the lake!

Through the winter months, many will drink from the lake due to how clear the water is.

This makes for a wholesome ecosystem and a few of the freshest catches on the market. Two of the preferred (and considerable) fish within the lake are Vendace and Pike.

Many of the eating places we ate at in Lake Saimaa featured these locally-caught fish on their menu!

Among the best issues to do in Lake Saimaa is to attempt the native delicacies!

Loosen up in a Conventional Finnish Sauna

No journey to Finland is full with out experiencing a conventional Finnish sauna. Critically.

Many lodging round Lake Saimaa provide non-public saunas so alternatives are positive to come up in your journey. Alternatively you may go to public saunas just like the distinctive floating sauna in Savonlinna.

After heating up, I at all times go for a refreshing dip within the lake – an invigorating custom cherished by locals and guests alike.

Hike the Punkaharju Ridge

The Punkaharju Ridge is a pure surprise and certainly one of Finland’s nationwide landscapes positioned slightly below 4 hours northeast of Helsinki. Punkaharju is a tranquil land of birch and spruce bushes, pristine waters and clear, crisp air – all the great issues in stay (is it a surprise Finland have been voted the happiest nation on the planet 7 years in a row?).

This slim strip of land lies between two lakes and affords scenic trails for climbing, strolling and biking. The views are mentioned to be outrageous!

The Harjureitti Path is a path you are able to do right here that’s 4 km lengthy and simply accessible for almost all of the route. The path will often elevate and provide gorgeous views of the Punkaharju nationwide panorama as a way to get totally different views on this surprise!

Expertise Ice Fishing in Winter

When you’re visiting throughout winter, ice fishing on Lake Saimaa is an expertise to not be missed. Native guides will give you the entire essential tools and experience that will help you catch fish by means of the thick ice. Fishing lover desires!

Ice fishing a novel and serene strategy to join with Finnish tradition and the pure fantastic thing about this frozen lake.

E-book a spa day at Järvisydän

On the shores of Lake Saimaa, adjoining to Linnansaari Nationwide Park, you’ll discover a wellness lovers paradise within the type of Järvisydän.

We took a ship taxi from Kanava Resort (30 minute boat or 1.5 hour drive) and spent the day bathing within the outdoors swimming pools, a number of saunas, rainforest bathe and steam rooms. I’ve to say, architecturally, its ones of essentially the most lovely spas I’ve ever been to.

They’ve weaved nature into each component with the vast majority of the spa and restaurant composed of wooden, stone and pure components.

Other than the spa facilities, the resort additionally supplies snug distinctive lodging in villas, Surroundings Suites, and houseboats so this can be a nice possibility for lodging!

The historical past of the resort dates again to 1658 and has been handed down by means of the generations so the employees have many a narrative to inform!

Attend the Savonlinna Opera Pageant

Held yearly in July, the Savonlinna Opera Pageant is a cultural spotlight within the Lake Saimaa area so in the event you’re planning your journey in the summertime – it is perhaps price including this to your itinerary!

The competition takes place within the historic Olavinlinna Citadel (the one on the island i discussed beforehand), providing a magical setting for world-class opera performances.

Kayaking at Pistohiekka Resort

Pistohiekka is definitely a part of the Saimaa UNESCO International Geopark and is without doubt one of the most interesting seashore resorts on the shores of Lake Saimaa.

The encircling nature is uniquely lovely, providing a large number of actions to get pleasure from for days and even weeks. You’ll be able to bask in climbing, kayaking, biking, fishing, or crusing. Nonetheless, there’s additionally nothing mistaken with merely stress-free on the seashore and taking within the gorgeous surroundings.

The resort contains two principal buildings (see image under taken from the restaurant) and ten cottages for lodging. The seashore restaurant, boasting a incredible lake view, is famend for its Finnish wooden structure and is a well-liked attraction in its personal proper. Opened in June 2022, the resort has already been featured in main worldwide structure and design magazines – it’s not laborious to see why!!!

Be aware: attempt certainly one of their Finnish cardamom buns!

E-book your keep right here.

Keep at Elsanranta Villas

For an opulent keep and a retreat from the sounds of the town, take into account Elsanranta Villas. These weren’t low cost however they had been INCREDIBLE. The eye to element was insane and I can think about coming right here for per week to simply completely change off in luxurious.

Every Elsanranta villa affords an unobstructed view of Lake Saimaa, permitting you to immerse your self in nature whereas stress-free within the villa, pool, or sauna.

The lounge space incorporates a luxurious double mattress a settee and all the small print to nourish your thoughts physique and soul. Theres a personal sauna within the toilet, a espresso machine with some unbelievable beans and… even a soda stream!!!

There was a B&O speaker to animate your keep and in addition a pair of binoculars on the desk once you arrive so you may preserve an eye fixed out for the uncommon Saimaa Ringed Seal.

The expansive deck is furnished with a seating space and a deluxe drop pool (pictured under), the place you may admire the starlit sky and, if lucky, witness the northern lights.

It was a real pleasure to remain right here – the sort of place you don’t wish to go away.

Have dinner or lunch at Koskivahti Restaurant

Only a 5-minute stroll from the villas talked about within the earlier spotlight is that this attractive little lakeside restaurant. Sahanlahti Resort eating is based on high-quality, contemporary, native merchandise and a dedication to moral and accountable farming and it was evident in each mouthful we loved.

The ability and dedication of these rising and making ready your meals are evident in each dish served up. The restaurant is a five-star D.O. Saimaa ‘We Assist’ institution, and Koskivahti has been voted as having essentially the most lovely terrace view in Finland.

Beneath you’ll see the contemporary fish dish of the day, the INSANE tomato salad and the view from the skin deck.

E-book a foraging expertise with Uhkua

Once you e-book a foraging expertise, Asta and Ilkka warmly welcome you to their charming lakeside farm Uhkua, the place you may expertise the agricultural lifetime of the Lake Saimaa area. They stay right here off the grid with no water and have created a easy however nourishing life utilising the forests and soils that encompass them.

Throughout a guided wild meals expertise, you get to style the best delicacies the area has to supply and we cooked ours up on the outside hearth.

Chef Ilkka Arvola, a pioneer of native delicacies, is a patron of Finland’s first designation of origin label, D.O. Saimaa and guides the expertise seamlessly, sharing knowledge generously that will help you join with the land round you.

This was probably the greatest issues to do in Lake Saimaa – 100%.

Loosen up at Kanava Resort

Kanava Resort affords an ideal mix of consolation and nature. Positioned proper by the water, the resort options cosy cabins, a restaurant with native delicacies, and varied outside actions that you could interact in. Time right here for friends is spent climbing, fishing, or just stress-free by the lake, and your evenings? Unwinding within the sauna in fact.

We stayed in one of many lake entrance cabins right here and the non-public saunas had been insane. Suppose floor-to-ceiling glass home windows with views throughout the lake.

My favorite half although, the way in which the beds are designed to face out to the forest and you may get up to the lake each morning. One among my favorite locations I’ve ever woken up, see under!

This resort is the place we booked our Ringed seal boat journey and the place we took the boat over to the spa!

The restaurant, although quaint and quiet – served surprisingly fantastic meals!

Have you ever been to Lake Saimaa in Finland?

What are the perfect issues to do in Lake Saimaa? Something you’d add to this Lake Saimaa bucket listing?

Love as at all times and pleased adventuring…