Helsinki & South Karelia Group Tour 2024

Visiting Helsinki Lappeenranta (South Karelia)

Helsinki & South Karelia Group Tour 2024

South Karelia is east of Helsinki and is an unspoilt lakeland region with Lappeenranta is a lovely resort to indulge in some off-the-beaten-track Finnish culture. This tour can be added to some of our Baltic group tour dates.

Tour Highlights

Helsinki & Finnish nature
Escorted group tour
Maximum 16 guests
Optional excursions
Select your departure date below
Add this tour to a Baltic tour?

Day 1 - Arrival to Helsinki

(Sunday)

Welcome to Helsinki! Optional transfer to your hotel, check-in, welcome meeting and meet your fellow travellers and tour leader.

Optional Transfer

EUR 90 for private car (1-3 persons
EUR 120 for private minivan (4-7 persons)

Day 2 - Helsinki

(Monday)

Helsinki is truly located at the crossroads of Western and Eastern culture. The sightseeing tour takes us around the harbours and the Senate Square with the Lutheran Cathedral, up central Mannerheim Street and by the Parliament Building, the Finlandia Hall, and the Sibelius Monument and for a visit at the famous Church-in-the-Rock. The afternoon offers an optional excursion to Suomenlinna Fortress, a cultural treasure which construction was started in the 18th century as a sea fortress. Located on an island, fortress is a unique attraction for visitors.

Optional Extras

3-hour excursion with water bus to the Suomenlinna Fortress: EUR 65.00 pp

Day 3 - Helsinki to Lappeenranta

(Tuesday)

In the morning we go to the railway station and depart with a train bound for Lappeenranta, where we arrive shortly after midday. Transfer to Hotel Scandic Patria**** or similar. Lappeenranta is beautifully set at the shores of Lake Saimaa and was an important Swedish fortress town in the 18th century. Nowadays it is an attractive and popular resort town. The afternoon walking tour of Lappeenranta takes us to the historical Old Town, the port area and Lappeenranta Fortress with its wooden and redbrick buildings, artisans' shops, museums, wooden Orthodox Mary the Virgin Church and cafes. Return to hotel and check-in.

Late afternoon we walk to the pier to embark on a spectacular evening cruise on Lake Saimaa and to the Saimaa Canal. The ship has a restaurant, where we can enjoy drinks and snacks or a full dinner while we are stunned by the views of the lake. After three hours we return to port and walk back to hotel.

Day 4 - Lappeenranta to Helsinki

(Wednesday)

The day offers the possibility to explore Lappeenranta resort town at leisure. The hotel is located between the Old Town and the port area and both are easily accessible on foot. Go shopping in the small boutiques of the Old Town, try Karelian cuisine, or enjoy the atmosphere and the views at the port. In the late afternoon transfer to the train station and departure by train back to Helsinki. Arrival in Helsinki early in the evening and transfer to Hotel Glo Art**** or similar, check in.

Day 5 - Helsinki

(Thursday)

Today is the end of the tour and depending on your flight times, you can explore more of Helsinki time allows. An optional transfer to the airport is available should you prefer. End of your tour.

Optional Transfer

EUR 90 for private car (1-3 persons)
EUR 120 for private minivan (4-7 persons)

TOUR PRICES

581 EUR per person = based on two people sharing a double/twin room
869 EUR per person = staying in a single room
Half board at hotels (4 x 3 course dinner with coffee/tea): EUR 215 pp

TOUR DATES

16th June - 20th June 2024
30th June - 4th July 2024
14th July - 18th July 2024
28th July - 1st August 2024
11th August - 15th August 2024
18th August - 22nd August 2024

This Helsinki & South Karelia tour can be added to several of our Baltic tours - please ask us for guidance.

TOUR INCLUDES

4 nights at centrally located 4 star hotels
4 x buffet breakfast
Welcome meeting with champagne-cocktail or juice
Personalised welcome package
Entrances to Church in The Rock in Helsinki, Lake Saimaa
Express train tickets Helsinki - Lappeenranta - Helsinki (economy class)
Service of English-speaking tour escort in Helsinki and local English-speaking guide in Lappeenranta
Service of 1st class motor coaches or 1st class minivans throughout the itinerary
Porterage at hotels

TOUR NOTES

Please note flights are NOT included in this package. If you wish to add flights to your booking please contact us, or you are welcome to book them yourself.
If required, we can book additional nights at the start or end of your tour, or arrange an add-on pre/post tour to any of our other destinations.
The tour is guaranteed (min 2 people) and the maximum group size is 16 people.
This tour is run by our local partners ViaHansa and called Helsinki & South Karelia.

Baltic States & Finland Private Tour

Our ‘Baltics and Finland’ holiday is, quite simply, one of the best holidays we have ever had! We wanted to learn more about these countries and came away with not only a deeper appreciation of their complex, individual histories, but also a better understanding of their hopes for the future. Being independent travellers, it felt strange to hand over the planning and organisation to a travel agent, but our 16-night holiday travelling approx. 2000km by car, train and ferry across 4 countries with 9 different hotels and 10 different drivers/guides went without a hitch. Not one delay or difficulty. Each hotel was charming, and conveniently located for sightseeing and eating. Our drivers and guides (often the same person!) were genuinely passionate about their country, willing to share personal experiences, giving us a deeper insight into life in a proudly independent country. Each was great company and we really enjoyed spending time with them. We wanted to learn about the past but came away excited about the future for each of these countries. Above all, we now no longer think of ‘the Baltics’, but rather of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia – each unique in its language, food and culture. A very big thank you to Baltic Holidays for your exceptional organisational skills in arranging this unique holiday for us. We cannot recommend you highly enough. Already, we are thinking ahead to next year and hope to be in touch soon.

Mr & Mrs Thomson, Tailor-made Baltic & Finland Private Tour, June 2023

The guides we had were exceptional!

The guides we had were exceptional! Kertu - told us so much about living in Communist times and brought the whole city to life. Inga, in Riga, really knows about architecture as she is working on her PH.D in that field. Thank you or someone for Ieva! We had a great time talking about nature, schools, etc. So, in all, everyone one was well or over-qualified to talk with us about cities, countries, communism, cooking and other stuff! Oh, I forgot Vickie, who took us to the Curonian Spit. What a fun, upbeat person! She brought a picnic lunch for us so we could sit and enjoy it on the hilltop above Nida, where the German writer's home is located.

Mr & Mrs Snyder, tailor-made Baltic private tour, June 2018

The trip to Moldova was unique and truly great in every sense, an unforgettable experience!

The trip to Moldova was unique and truly great in every sense, an unforgettable experience! We had a fantastic time and enjoyed every minute. The two guides, were not only exceptionally nice and forthcoming, they went an extra mile to give us the best possible experience. We would give them 5 out 5 stars! Accommodation and restaurants were excellent. The two highlights for us were the sturgeon farm in Transnistria and the wine tasting in Chisinau. We also ordered some wine now through the guide, who will send everything in the coming days. Thanks for your quick response and for organizing this trip. I will certainly contact you again before our next trip.

Mr Pernet, Moldova Tailor-made Private Tour, October 2021

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