The domed ceiling and art deco inlaid wood panelling in the Torni’s reception speaks of something special. Once Finland’s tallest building the Ateljee Bar at the top of the building’s tower has the best views of Helsinki as do the loos which have outside glass walls. The rooms take you back to twenties elegance with tile stoves, wood flooring, claw feet bathtubs, all mod cons and are furnished in either art deco style or national romantic style. Twin rooms come in Art Deco and Art Nouveau styles with private WC/shower, TV, mini bar, tea/coffee tray. Not quite up to the Seurahuone on the pillows front, none the less each bed has 3 sizes and a memory foam mattress that adapts to your body based on your body heat and weight. Unmissable from Mannerheimintie Street, the Torni couldn’t be better placed for a short stay. 1st Day UK – Finland (Turku) fly to Helsinki’s Vantaa airport, collect your hire car and drive to Turku. Check in at the Centro Hotel and get to know the city before perhaps having dinner by the Aurajoki, or a drink on one of the boats moored on the river.
2nd to 4th Days Turku & Naantalli The Turku Castle is a culturally historical attraction that is over 700 years old. The Castle has a museum, which demonstrates the history of the Turku region from prehistory to present day with its frequent exhibitions, events and furnished style rooms. The Turku Cathedral is the national shrine of Finland. Dedicated to the Virgin Mary and Finland’s first bishop St. Henrik, the church was inaugurated in 1300. The Cathedral Museum in the southern gallery takes the visitor back in times to the 14th century. Wäinö Aaltonen Museum of Art hosts a collection of sculptors’ own works in various media and the city’s own art collection with works of regional artists. Naantali is a huddle of narrow lanes, pastel coloured clapboard houses; terrace cafes alongside the water’s edge, and dominating the townscape is the copper clad spire on the medieval church from the Brigittine convent on which the town was founded. And the local news is spread every evening before Vespers not by Twitter but by the Trumputtaja, a sort of Finnish Town Crier.
5th Day Turku – Tampere [162km] Drive to Tampere and check in to the Solo Sokos Torni, a new hotel located in the heart of Tampere. Tampere is located on an isthmus between lakes Näsijärvi and Pyhäjärvi, in beautiful ridge scenery with the Tamerkoski rapids being a nationally recognized landscape. Why not end your day in one of the three restaurants at your hotel and after dinner enjoy a drink in the Moro Sky Bar on the hotel’s 25th floor, from where the views over the heart of Tampere are spectacular. 6th DayTampere – Lappeenranta [277km] Enjoy breakfast in your hotel before heading to the beautiful lakeside town of Lappeenranta. Depending on the route you choose you can stop off at Sibelius’ birth place in Hammenlinna Check in to Scandic Hotel Partia, which is near the famous harbour, Old Town Fortress and city centre. 7th Day Lappeenranta –Vyborg - Lappeenranta Lappeenranta together with the area’s magnificent nature on the shores of Lake Saimma has made the city a hub of lakeside tourism.
Cruise on MS Carelia to the medieval city of Vyborg is a Russian town of about 80 000 inhabitants situated only 40 km from Lappeenranta by the Gulf of Finland. Vyborg was part of Finland until 1944. At that time, it was the second largest Finnish town after Helsinki. The town boasted an international atmosphere, several nationalities and cultures. In the Second World War Finland lost Vyborg to the Soviet Union. 8th day Lappeenranta – Savonlinna [157km] Savonlinna is approximately a 2 hour drive from Lappeenranta and the perfect setting for a cultural break. Stay at the Hotel Seurahoune whilst in Savonlinna. 9th & 10th Days After breakfast start off your first day with a cruise on Lake Saimaa in a traditional Lakeland steamer with its characteristic high pipe funnel, mahogany woodwork and all round viewing decks. The lake, formed by glacial melting at the end of the Ice Age, is dotted with some 14,000 islands like lilies on a giant pond; splintered by isthmuses and home to the Saimaa Ringed Seal.
11th Day Savonlinna – Kuopio [159km] Next up on your trip is Kuopio, a city of outstanding natural beauty, dominated by Lake Kallavesi with its myriad of islands and Puijo Hill with its majestic forests. As part of the Finnish Lake District, Kuopio is surrounded by numerous lakes forming a labyrinthine area, which is characteristic of the Finnish Lakeland. Your hotel, the Rantasipi Atlas, is close by Lake Kallavesi. 12th Day Kuopio – Kajaani [170km] Drive to Kajaani, a picturesque town that lies on the Oulujoki River, southeast of Lake Oulujärvi. You will stay at Manor Hotel Karolineburg, which is located in Kajaani River, close to the centre of Kajaani. Built in 1836 the buildings have been successively restored since 1990. The areas main attractions are Kajaani Castle, Ämmäkoski Tar Boat Canal, and the only still-functioning tar boat channel in the world, originally constructed in the 1840s. The singular Kaukametsä Cultural and Congress Centre in the centre of Kajaani houses a congress and concert hall, a music institute and community college.
14th Day Kajaani – Kuusamo [247km] Your next destination Kuusamo is known for its natural beauty. Fells and forests reach as far as the eye can see a wilderness split by lakes, rivers and rapids. You will spend a night in the arms of Mother Nature in Oulanka National Park. Basecamp Oulanka is a lovely complex of wooden buildings providing comfortable and cosy accommodation in a stunning location overlooking the Juuma Lake and backing onto Oulanka National Park in remote, wonderful, unspoiled wilderness. 15th Day Kuusamo – Rovaniemi [193km] Drive from Kuusamo to Rovaniemi, an urban oasis amidst the Arctic wilderness, where culture, wild activities and fairy tales come together. You will stay in The Arctic Light Hotel, a brand new contemporary hotel situated in the heart of Rovaniemi. The 1950’s building and a former City Hall of Rovaniemi has been reconverted into a stylish hotel. This urban Arctic hideaway offers a unique combination of Lappish heritage and the ultimate in contemporary style.
Good places for watching the midnight sun close to the city centre during your stay include the Jätkänkynttilä and Ounasjoki bridges, the riverfront of Ounasjoki outside the Arktikum, and the top of Ounasvaara. The official home of Santa Claus, Christmas magic can be experienced every day of the year in the Santa Claus Village and Santa Park. And as the cultural capital of Lapland, Rovaniemi is home to various museums including Arktikum. 17th Day Rovaniemi to Helsinki After breakfast drive to the airport, drop off your car and fly down to Helsinki. Transfer to the city centre and the Hotel Torni. 18th & 19th Days Helsinki Helsinki is an eclectic mix of east and west set on a peninsula: a neo-classical gem with an art nouveau quarter laced with Alvar Aalto's spectacular modern architecture; smart pavement cafés on Esplanade; gourmet restaurants at less than London prices; concerts and ballet at Finlandia Hall and retail therapy for iconic design brands like Arabia and Iittala.
Overnight at Hotel Torni. 20th day Helsinki to UK Take breakfast in your hotel before transferring to the airport for your return flight to the UK. What’s included in your ScanAdventure: Return scheduled flight(s) from London Heathrow to Helsinki All passenger service charges and airport departure taxes Complimentary beverages & pre booked 16 days (16 x 24hrs) car rental Audi A3 Automatic including airport collection & drop off fees, unlimited mileage; theft protection & collision damage waiver insurances, all local mandatory taxes, Road Map & Insight Guide to Finland Zero 19 nights hotel accommodation as specified in itinerary Lodgings throughout in twin bedded rooms with private WC/Shower 19 Buffet breakfasts, 1 lunch & 1 dinner (the latter two on board the Carelia) Day cruise M/S Carelia Lappeenranta-Vyborg-Lappeenranta (13 hours /3 in Vyborg) Cruise on Lake Saimaa (1 ½ hours) Departure Dates & Prices: Daily June 1st to August 14th