If you are not a much travelled and experienced kayaker or canoeist,
choosing the right destination for your next vacation can be a tricky
thing to do. Perhaps you have visited a few web sites, gathered
information from well-known and reliable tour operators’ catalogues or
just asked a friend for advice. Nowadays, with the boom in canoeing and
kayaking, paddling trips are arranged to practically every corner of the
world. As you start to plan your vacation, first ask yourself what kind
of experiences you are looking for. Finland, like the rest of
Scandinavia, some northern states of the USA and Canada is a genuine
northern destination with boreal climate and northern nature. If you
choose to travel north, Finnish Lakeland has a few advantages we would
like you to consider:
- With its 4000 square kilometres of waterways the Finnish Saimaa
Lakeland is one of the largest chains of inland lakes in Europe Its
endless inland archipelagos makes Saimaa the ultimate vacation
destination for adventures on waves and waterways. You’ll find out that
the potential for routes is really limitless.
- In Lakeland we don’t like to mix hiking with paddling. The majority
of lakes are directly connected by water passages and the best lake
routes can be paddled completely without the rigours of portaging. The
sheltered bays and islands of a big lake like Saimaa offer a unique
alternative to a traditional lake and river routes. Light gear is not
crucial because you don’t have to transport it by land.
- Compared with many river routes lakes offer most stable paddling
conditions from early spring to late fall. Fluctuations of water level,
dams or other obstacles don’t bother the lake traveller. The difference
between Finland and Sweden is dramatic!
- Freedom to choose your equipment. Whether you enjoy canoe or kayak, we have the appropriate route for you.
- Unique Lakeland nature. Large protected areas of Lake Saimaa are
home to the most endangered seal species in the world, the Saimaa ringed
seal. They can be seen in the waters of Kolovesi and Linnansaari
National Parks.
- Right of Public Access gives everyone the chance to enjoy outdoor
pursuits and the freedom of the country’s vast forest and waterways with
very few restrictions. This also means that quota permits, official
entry points and dates, user fees and group size limits are truly
unknown even in Finnish protected areas.
- Closer than Canada, less crowded than Sweden. If you are looking
for a total northern wilderness experience, in a remote roadless region
with no permanent settlement perhaps you have to fly to Canada or
Alaska. In that case you have got to face the fact, that all wilderness
areas are not ‘friendly’ and they sometimes pose insurmountable
obstacles to the uninformed and novice visitor. If you are not ready for
that and choose a popular destination like Sweden with congested routes
and mart-like canoeing centres you’ll soon find out that all the
necessary ingredients of a genuine wilderness feeling are missing.
Finnish Lakeland is a place where you can leave the crowds in a friendly
way.
- The Finnish soul. Like an old-fashioned Sauna: A bit rough on the outside – inside heart of gold. Find out for yourself !