Five highlights in Finland
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Authentically traveling in the land of 1000 lakes
Stunning nature, happy people, saunas as far as the eye can see: Finland's reputation precedes the land of 1000 lakes. According to the motto “don’t just see, but also feel” you go on a tailor-made journey FairAwayto experience the magic of Finland. An unforgettable road trip by electric car to authentic highlights, hidden places and into the local culture of “Suomi”, which hits right in the heart.
It's not for nothing that Finland is nicknamed the "Land of 1000 Lakes" - in reality there are even more, a whopping 188.000! The clear water is calling, so we grab a canoe and glide over the mirror-smooth surface of Lake Saimaa. This calm. On the way we see mystical rock paintings of Astuvansalmi and keep an eye out for the Saimaa seal. In the following days we ride the SUP, squint lazily at the water from the jetty, jump into the cool water and stretch our noses into the sun on a boat tour. With the help of a local photographer, we search for clues and soon we look into the huge eyes of the Saimaa seal! As we take souvenir photos, ospreys circle around us.
2. Forays through the national parks
We explore the landscapes of the Finnish national parks not only on the water, but also on land. First we storm the Katajavuori peak in the Repovesi National Park, enjoy the view from there and fortify ourselves with a delicious picnic. The typical Finnish cinnamon rolls “Pulla” are a delight. We continue by bike on the Puumala Island Route, which takes us over islands, bridges and hills through the most beautiful landscapes of Lake Saimaa. Put on your hiking boots again to discover the untouched nature of the Koli National Park. A breathtaking view of Lake Pielinen. No wonder that the rugged rocks in otherwise flat Finland are a popular motif among artists. The vastness of nature is incredible and invites you to really relax. It is obvious that Finland consistently tops the rankings of the happiest countries in the world.
3. Local art & cuisine
Two components that no trip should be without: discovering local artists and their works and enjoying the local cuisine with all your senses.
At the Lörtsy cooking class we learn how to make the Finnish fried dumplings ourselves - of course we convince ourselves of their tastiness. Sample even more local delicacies in Kuopio's lively indoor market. We are also happy to cook ourselves in our cozy little huts.
Immerse yourself in art and culture: We visit the studio of sculptor Eva Ryynänen and her famous church Paateri in Vuonislahti, stop at the reopened Aalto2 Museum and spend the night in a charming old bookstore, which also includes a museum.
The anticipation of seeing bears in the wild is huge and gives us goosebumps - we set off for Hattuvaara, our local guide senses our nervousness and reassures us: the animals are peaceful as long as you leave them alone and are also rather shy of people. We continue hiking to the observation hut, and a short time later the first brown bear runs in front of our lens. From a respectful distance he looks at us with his brown beady eyes - we remain calm and enjoy this unique opportunity to see such a majestic animal up close. We spend the night in the forest, surrounded by silence and nature.
5. Off to the sauna!
Let's be honest: What would a vacation in Finland be without regular sauna visits? There are 5,4 million saunas for every 3,3 million inhabitants. True to the motto “travel like a local”, we make it a ritual to take a sauna every day. It's not just about relaxation: a visit to the sauna is more of a social happening. This is where friends and neighbors come together to chat, chat, toast and even do business. Talking in the sauna?! What is usually an absolute no-go at home, we love here. We will definitely miss this part of Finnish culture the most and are already making a note of our next spa visit at home - even if the happily chatting Finns around us are missing. We'll probably have to come back. It's best in winter when you go into the ice bath straight after the sauna!
You can take these and many other trips with FairAway and customize them individually.
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