LAKES AND FORESTS FINLAND
A SPELLBINDING MAGIC FRAMEWORK COUNTRY OF THE AURORAE BOREALES

Discovery

A travel in Finland is a travel in the middle of the country of the Lappish ones, where extend as far as the eye can see from the cottony landscapes strewn with pine forests giants and cold lakes. Between aurorae boreales and herds of reindeers, the travel in Finland, more particularly in Lapland, resurrects the phantasm of exploration of the Far North. After having made stay with Helsinki, capital of the country and astonishing mixture between modernity and opening on Nature, you will be able to leave on a tour of the interior of the country. With the program, rackets, snowmobile, husky, sauna, fishing season with the hole, led on ice…

Identity

When one thinks of Finland, one immediately visualizes images of Far North, where the snow-covered forests and the frozen lakes recover the territory. The image is not completely erroneous. Indeed, from its proximity with the North pole, the winter remains Master in several regions of the country. But according to the season that you choose and the region which you visit, you will not see the same landscapes nor the same colors. Midnight sun in summer to the immaculate snow of the winter, you will indeed have the possibility of observing many climatic differences. Located north of Europe, Finland shares its borders in the east with Russia, and, is separated from Sweden in the west by the Gulf of Bothnia which opens in the south on the Baltic Sea. 

To leave for Finland, it is above all to answer the call of nature. Apart from the big cities like Helsinki, the country seems not to be worked by the hand of the man, and it is with amazement that you will leave in hiking, rackets or in snowmobile, to discover the reindeers walking with complete freedom in the most wild areas of the country, inviting you to serenity. Even the cities seem to be touched by the natural grace this single country. Indeed, they are established at the edge of the lakes or right in the middle of the forests, in the middle of absolutely magic frameworks. Modern and open about the world, Finland also knew to develop an enthralling cultural heritage that the visitors discover with the wire of the walks in each area of the country.

Culture & Traditions

THE SAUNA

National veritable institution, the sauna makes party integral of the daily life of the inhabitants who appreciate it for his hygienic role and of wellness. Convivial place, it is the occasion for the Finns to find themselves and discuss quietly.Most courageous finish their meeting by the avantouinti, ritual which consists in leaving the completely naked sauna, to prick a head in a lake with ice-cold water.

FISHING SEASON

Covered on 10% with its territory by stretches of water abounding in fishes, Finland is the ideal country to fish. As nearly a third of the Finnish population, the fishing season is practised throughout the year, only the techniques of fishing season and the species of fish change from one season to another. Finnish water shelters approximately 60 fish species like poles, pikes, roaches where still pike perches.

THE AREA OF THE LAKES

Finland is the country with the 1000 lakes. Plunged in the middle of nature, you will relearn to appreciate this simplicity while leaving in search of fresh water seals. Between two walks in the canoe, you will be able to also discover the superb cities of the area, as the island-castle of Savonlinna which is one of the best examples. Not far, the town of Jyväskylä shelters one of the most important festivals of opera, as well as superb buildings designed by the architect Alvar Aalto. To slacken you, will know that the town of Kuopio, in edge of lake, shelters a very pleasant sauna with smoke.

 

AURORAE BOREALES

True natural phenomenon, the aurorae boreales are visible in Finnish Lapland more or less 200 nights a year with condition however that the sky is sufficiently released. Urho Kekkonen National Park, and particularly the region of Ivalo with its covered with snow landscapes, offer spots of observation of any beauty. Igloos of glass were even installed there to admire these wells of light while remaining lengthened.

 

 

Essential

-10° WINTER / 20° SUMMER
EURO
+1H
FINNISH
HELSINKI
THE FISH/THE REINDEER

Form your trip

The stages

HELSINKI

Capital of Finland, Helsinki is located at the edge of the Baltic Sea and is surrounded of almost 300 islands. Near to nature, the city preserved green spaces for a third of its surface, which allows the inhabitants and the travellers to breathe a little. The rest of the city is occupied by superb historic buildings, like by many bars and restaurants which make of Helsinki a particularly animated capital. This modern city will charm you by its colours pastel, like by its accessible inhabitants. Do not miss especially Kiasma, museum of contemporary art on five stages nor the Museum of Fine Arts, where one can admire the Finnish works the 18th century at the years 1960. The cathedral, the Finlandia Palace, the Sederholm House, the oldest stone building of the city, or the place of the Senate will charm the amateurs of History at the time of their visits.

THE AREA OF THE LAKES

Finland is also the country with the 1000 lakes. Your visit of the country will give the opportunity to you to discover the greatest lake area of all Europe and to as well admire the incredible landscapes which compose it as its regional cities with atypical architecture. Plunged in the middle of nature, you will relearn to appreciate this simplicity while leaving in search of fresh water seals. Between two walks in the canoe, you will be able to also discover the superb cities of the area, as the island-castle of Savonlinna which is one of the best examples. Not far, the town of Jyväskylä shelters one of the most important festivals of opera, as well as superb buildings designed by the architect Alvar Aalto. To slacken you, will know that the town of Kuopio, in edge of lake, shelters a very pleasant sauna with smoke.

INARI

Inari is the vastest commune of Finland with 700 inhabitants for more than 17 000 km2 of surface. Located at the extreme north of the country, it is at the borders of Norway and Russia. The city is especially known for its lake which attracts many visitors. Also called the pearl of Finnish Lapland, it is the third plus big lake of Finland. If you come in winter, will know that the lake is cold approximately six months in the year. It is the occasion to practise a little skating or to initiate themselves with the excursion on ice. The rest of time, it leaves with the free air 3000 islands and other small islands which make the charm of the site. One can practise there the fishing season, leisure very appreciated of the buildings. Will know that excursions on the lake are organized by the tourist office of the city, and that it is possible to bathe in summer, even if water never exceeds a temperature of 19°C.

NATIONAL PARKS

Protected, Lapland has very many national parks which bring happiness hikers of the whole world. In the middle of the called forests and round mountains “tunturi”, one discovers incredible landscapes in winter as in summer. The national park Urho Kekkonen, just beside the Russian border is not to be missed. He is called after a former Finnish president who was follower of the excursion. One can discover there, with the wire of the walks, an incredible fauna where the dashes and the foxes mix with the otters and the bears. The national park of Pallas-Yllästunturi also represents a passage impossible to circumvent in Finnish Lapland. Founded in 2005, it extends on more than 100,000 hectares, for the greatest joy of the walkers. Third larger national park of Finland, it also has ski slopes on the solid mass of Pallastunturi. Not far, the incredible throats of the nature reserve of Kevo also attract many visitors. Lastly, the park of Oulanka, located at the level of the Arctic Circle proposes 270 km2 of natural treasures. Located close to great ski resorts, the travellers will have the opportunity of making the course of the bear which crosses all the park. On 80 kilometers, one admires canyons and rivers there.

RAUMA

Rauma, founded in 1442, is a charming seaboard town where heritage mixes with modernity. Let you charm by the old city entirely built out of wood, and classified with the world heritage of UNESCO since 1991. Rauma is indeed one of the oldest port cities of Finland and constitutes a remarkable example of traditional Scandinavian architecture.

ISLANDS OF ALAND

The archipelago of Aland is located between Finland and Sweden and is composed of almost 6500 islands. Very isolated moreover from Finland, the archipelago has a culture which is clean for him, and will know that one rather speaks Swedish in this part of the country. The area is ideal to practise many sports like the bicycle or the diving. You will be able there to explore one of the most wild territories of the country, and to discover the charms of the regional capital, Mariehamn, and its incredible museums. The island of Kokar with the ruins of its medieval Franciscan monastery, or the castle of the 14th century of Kastelholm deserve a turning.