The Tale of Two Countries
Finland 11 home.days 10 packagedetails.nights Jun-2021/Oct-2021
EUR1660
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A Tale of Two Countries
If you are in search of an inspiring off-the-beaten-track city break that can give you all the culture, sightseeing, shopping, and local culinary extravaganza, the "Tale of Two Countries" trail, taking you across three staggeringly diverse cities in the countries of Finland and Estonia will tick all the boxes and then some more for you.
Finland, known as the Land of Midnight Sun, is a country written in blue and green - with a staggering number of over 188,000 lakes and 180,000 islands including the largest Lakeland district in the world, and the Finnish coast boasting the world's largest archipelago. This experiential journey will traverse through the vibrant Finnish archipelagoes, Finnish Lakeland - the largest lake district in Europe, and the charming medieval city of Tallinn, with all the ingredients you seek in a bespoke multi-country offbeat itinerary. Marvelous architecture, contemporary designs, island hopping, luxury Baltic Sea cruise, UNESCO heritage sites, maritime traditions, alluring natural landscapes, ski slopes, gastronomical stopovers, wine tasting in Monastery - this fantastic itinerary will have you explore the real reasons why Finland is titled the 'Happiest Country in the World', now the fourth time in a row. For culture and nature lovers alike, this itinerary is a fantastic blend of authentic local life, must-dos and hidden gems, without turning into a hectic hop-on-hop-off rush just ticking off destinations.
Highlights
- Guided tour in Helsinki visiting the major city attractions, the UNESCO World Heritage site "Suomenlinna Island Sea Fortress", Rock cathedral, Uspensky cathedral, contemporary art museum of Kiasma, Oodi city library, etc.
- Archipelago boat cruise in Helsinki enjoying the waterfront views of the city.
- Exploring the real heart of Finland - the Lakeland region, the largest lake district in Europe with thousands of pristine lakes and islands
- Explore the eclectic culinary heritage of the City of Kuopio, awarded the European Region of Gastronomy title, 2020-2021.
- Enjoy a leisurely boat cruise through Lake Kallavesi, the labyrinthine expanse dotted with lush green islands and rocky islets.
- Visit the old Russian Orthodox monastery in Valamo, relocated from the Russian Karelia during the winter war, and tasting session of Valamo's famous monastic liquors crafted by the monks inside the monastery walls.
- Visit the Tahko ski slopes, Finland's southernmost ski resort with a ski lift trip, a nature walk through the magnificent and rocky gorge of Mäkiautio, and lunch in the Panoramic restaurant up the slopes.
- Baltic Sea cruise from Finland to Estonia.
- Guided city walk and bus tour of Tallinn, Estonia's capital including its astonishingly well-preserved picturesque medieval Old Town, a UNESCO cultural heritage site, and other main city attractions such as gems such as the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Kadriorg Palace, Pirita Convent, Olympic village, etc.
- Experiencing Estonia's vibrant coastline on a ferry trip to Estonia's best-kept secrets - the Viking islands of Muhu and Saaremaa, including hidden gems such as the Kaali Meteorite Crater Field, Panga Cliff, and the Järve beach.
- Visiting the island of Kuressaare in Saaremaa, with a guided culture trip to the Episcopal Castle-Fortress, the best-preserved medieval castle in Estonia.
- Experiential local culinary experiences such as traditional Karelian Slavic cuisine, Estonian cuisine, and a unique dining opportunity in an old windmill restaurant, dating back to 1899, selected as one of the WHITE GUIDE TOP 100 Estonian restaurants.
Who is this for?
This is a fully-escorted premium leisurely trail specially tailored for older travelers or large multigenerational families, looking for a relaxed holiday with genuine Nordic and Baltic local experiences, the diverse landscape, culture and gastronomy. All the activities are attuned to mild-activity levels to especially suit 50+ travelers.
Tags
#Winetasting #Helsinki #Kuopio # Muhu # Saaremaa #Tallinn #Tahko #Valamo #Cruise #Guidedtour #Lakeland #UNESCO #All-inclusive #Monastery #Islandhopping #Craftbeertasting
packagedetails.ataglance
packagedetails.priceinc
Three nights accommodation in Helsinki.
Four nights accommodation in the city of Kuopio.
Three nights accommodation in Tallinn, Estonia.
Ten breakfasts.
One lunch in panoramic restaurant up the ski slopes in Tahko.
One traditional Slavic-style lunch in the Valamo Monastery.
One traditional Estonian lunch in Tallinn.
One lunch in Saaremaa, Estonia.
Picnic lunch on the Suomenlinna island with Finnish delicacies and berry sparkling wines.
Tasting session of monastic wines in the Valamo monastery.
Visit to local craft brewery RPS in Kuopio and tasting of their award-winning signature brews and Finnish specialty long drinks tasting.
Ferry trip to UNESCO heritage site Suomenlinna Sea Fortress island and guided tours of Suomenlinna Musuems and Submarine Vesikko
Guided city walk in Kuopio visiting major attractions such as Kuopio Market Hall, Kuopio harbour, Valkeisenlampi, Lutheran cathedral, etc.
Guided visit to Valamo Monastery, with roots to a 100-year-old-orthodox monastery located on the Valaam archipelago in Lake Ladoga, lying within the Republic of Karelia in the Russian Federation (7-8 hrs).
Helsinki premium city card for 48 hrs with Helsinki panorama city tour ride to city attractions such as Rock Cathedral, Uspenski Cathedral, Sibelius Monument, Kiasma, Oodi, etc. with unlimited public transportation.
Guided tour in Tallinn partly on foot and bus, exploring major attractions such as Old Town, Kadriorg Park, Song festival grounds, Pirita convent, Olympic village, Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Viewing platforms, St.Olaf's church, etc. (4 hrs).
Guided downtown walking tour exploring major city attractions such as Kuopio Market Square, Market Hall, Harbor, etc.
Guided trip to the biggest Estonian islands - Muhu and Saaremaa, also visiting local attractions such as Karja medieval church. Angla historical windmill park, Kaali meteorite crater, Muhu stronghold ruins. Muhu Katarina church, etc. (11 hrs).
Helsinki city pass (48 hrs) with entrances to all major city attractions such as Panoramic city bus tour, Rock Cathedral, Archipelago boat cruise, Kiasma, Oodi, etc. (included in the itinerary) and unlimited use of public transportation.
Entrance to the Kuressaarre castle, one of the best preserved medieval fortifications in Estonia.
Entrance to Parikkala Statue Park.
Luxury Baltic cruise from Helsinki to Tallinn.
Bothe male and female tour leaders providing personal support and assistance for the entire length of the trip.
All city transfers and private transportations (mentioned in the itinerary).
packagedetails.priceex
Anything not mentioned explicitly in Inclusions
Personal travel insurance.
Schengen visa costs.
International Flights.
packagedetails.addons
Outdoor spa ticket with sauna and jacuzzi serives, including the traditional smoke sauna at Kuopio Saana @18€ per person.
A full-board can be tailored separately (depending on dietary specifications) to include lunches and dinners on all days.
Pre-paid European simcard can be ordered during the course of the tour.
packagedetails.itinerary
Accommodation: Urban hotel
Helsinki - The Daughter of the Baltic
- Arrival at Finland's capital city, at Helsinki International airport, and private transfer to the downtown accommodation.
- Helsinki, fondly known as the 'Daughter of the Baltic', lying on a peninsula in the Gulf of Finland, is the most northerly of all the continental European capitals. Intricately entwined with the Baltic's bays, inlets, and islands, this archipelago island city with nearly 315 islands is laid out with boulevards and backstreets displaying stunning architecture, art-nouveau movements, and groundbreaking designs from pioneers such as Alvar Aalto, rightfully earning its title as one of the Sustainable Design Capitals of the World.
- Check-in to the accommodation.
- Use the rest of the day to relax and explore leisurely the fascinating, laid-back capital city.
Accommodation: Urban Hotel
Helsinki City Sights
- After a leisurely breakfast, you would use the Helsinki city hop-on-hop-off bus to get a feel of the city and discover the city highlights such as Esplanadi, Sibelius monument, etc.
- Visit the uniquely built Rock Church, situated in the heart of Helsinki, excavated directly into solid rock, with an ice-age crevice serving as the altarpiece, the urban art and culture museum of Amos Rex, Oodi Public library voted as the best in the world, etc.
- Evening canal cruise with a memorable experience and nice stories about Helsinki and Finland in the eastern Archipelago.
- Return to the accommodation.
Breakfast
Accommodation: Urban Hotel
Suomenlinna Sea Fortress
- After a leisurely breakfast, set off to the Market Square to set sail for a scenic ferry ride to the island fortress of Suomenlinna, a mid-18th century UNESCO World Heritage Site, followed by a brief excursion of the island. On the island, you will climb aboard the historic war relic, the Submarine Vesikko, one of the five used in the Finnish navy, which has witnessed the Winter War, Second World War, and the Continuation War.
- Enjoy a small picnic on the island enjoying traditional Finnish delicacies and berry sparkling wines.
- Return back to the mainland followed by a visit to Kiasma, a contemporary art museum of thought-provoking artworks with a unique architecture inspired by the natural light in Finland, which changes with changing seasons and times of the day.
- Visit the Sea Life Museum, exploring the fascinating underwater worlds, home to tropical to arctic sealife.
- Return to the accommodation.
Breakfast, Picnic lunch
Accommodation: Urban Hotel
Land of Thousand Lakes at Finnish Lakeland
- After breakfast and checkout.
- Set off to the Lakeland city of Kuopio, in North Savonia, awarded as the sixth cleanest city in Europe in terms of air quality and the European Region of Gastronomy capital 2020-21. Finland, though known as the "Land of Thousand Lakes", has over 188,000 lakes and around 180,000 islands, the majority of which located in Finnish Lakeland, the largest Lakeland district in Europe. Lakeland Savonia is a placid and staggeringly beautiful labyrinthine expanse of lakes, islands, rivers, and canals, interspersed with forests and ridges.
- En route, you will visit the mystical Sculpture park, an artistic carnival in Eastern Finland close to the Russian border. The surreal-looking park made by the quirky local artist Veijo Rönkkönen, with over 560 concrete statues in exotic yoga positions, animals and plants, alien creatures, grotesque figures, etc. was the artist's way to communicate with the outside world. He did not dare to venture out into the world but instead invited the world to come and see him.
- Check-in to your accommodation in Kuopio.
- You have the rest of the day at leisure.
Breakfast
Accommodation: Urban Hotel
Lakeland Cruise
- After the buffet breakfast, set off on a guided walking tour, visiting the major city attractions and hearing the Lakeland history and stories of Kuopio.
- Enjoy a Lakeland cruise, along the lake Kallavesi, navigating through the myriad of islands and lakes, enjoying a waterfront view of the city of Kuopio.
- Lunch break (Possibility to have lunch at the outdoor spa restaurant (optional)).
- In the afternoon, visit the award-winning local craft brewery RPS and enjoy a tasting of their signature brews and long drinks (both alcoholic and non-alcoholic options). Travelers also have the option to opt for the outdoor spa (for an extra price of 6€) instead of the brewery tour.
- Enjoy the evening at leisure exploring the night scene pub-restaurant culture of this gastronomical city (optional shopping trip to IKEA could be arranged).
Breakfast, Craft beer tasting
Accommodation: Urban Hotel
Valamo Orthodox Monastery
- After breakfast, you will set out for a guided tour to Lakeland Karelia to visit the Valamo Monastery, Heinävesi, where monks are following a communal life of spirituality deeply founded in the Ascetic tradition of the Orthodox Church. The Valamo Monastery was founded on the island of Valamo on Lake Ladoga in Russian Carelia by Saint Serge sometime between the 12th century and 14th centuries. Following World War II, part of the Valamo Monastery and the brotherhood migrated to the Papinniemi estate in Heinävesi.
- Enjoy a guided tour of the monastery which will highlight the history and strong handicraft and agricultural traditions of the Monastery which produces beeswax candles and more importantly monastic berry liquors from the inhouse gardens.
- Enjoy the signature Karelian-Slavic lunch at the monastery inhouse restaurant, The Trapesa, followed by a visit to one of the rarest distilleries in the world. The Valamo Monastery is the only monastery in the world distilling Single malt whiskey. Valamo’s unique liquors and berry-infused wines take you back through a journey of time to the era of the Russian Tsars and combine the centuries-old wisdom and artisanal skills of the monks and pure natural ingredients. You will also enjoy a tasting of some of the signature monastic wines.
- Return to the accommodation.
Breakfast, Lunch, Monastic wine tasting
Accommodation: Urban Hotel
Tahko Ski Resort
- After breakfast, set off for Finland's southernmost fully-fledged ski resorts at Tahko ski village, surrounded by the Lake Syväri with 100 islands.
- In Tahko, you will ride the Panorama scenic chairlift to the top and fall in love with the postcard landscape view that can be admired from the top of the slopes.
- On the top, you will enjoy a short guided nature walk on the specially built stairs and duckboards through the rocky gorge of Mäkiautio, a magnificent geological deposit, and Lakeland's rare hidden gems.
- Enjoy a scenic lunch on the Panorama slope restaurant on the top of Tahkovuori, offering the best views over the Tahko village and Lake Syväri along with the best food.
- Return to Kuopio.
Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Urban Hotel
Baltic Cruise
- Checkout and morning departure to Helsinki harbor.
- Board the luxury cruise ship to Tallinn - the capital of the Baltic state of Estonia. An ideal holiday destination combining the comforts of the modern world, versatile nightlife, and a rich cultural scene in the historic medieval setting, Tallinn is an exciting mix of old and new. The combat town is ideal for day explorations with the UNESCO heritage Old Town just a stone’s throw away from the city’s business center with modern towers, trendy neighborhoods, large shopping centers, and an alluring coastline dotted with promenades and sandy beaches.
- On arrival in Tallinn city, you will be transferred to the accommodation.
- You have the evening at leisure to explore the city which is a mecca for shopaholics and souvenir hunters.
Breakfast
Accommodation: Urban Hotel
Tallinn - The Baltic Pearl & UNESCO Heritage
- After a hearty breakfast at the accommodation, set off on a guided tour partly on foot and partly on the bus exploring the reasons why the Old Town of Tallinn is on the UNESCO list as the best-preserved old towns and Hanseatic centers in Europe.
- You will visit and hear the stories and history of the “must-see” highlights in Tallinn such as the Toompea hill and the Medieval City Walls, Viewing platforms, Tallinn Song Festival Grounds, Pirita Convent, Olympic Village, Town Hall Pharmacy, St Olaf's Church, etc followed by a scenic drive around Old Town, Tallinn City, and the colorful wooden districts in Kalamaja, Kadriorg, etc.
- Enjoy a traditional Estonian lunch.
- You have the evening at leisure for shopping explorations.
Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Urban Hotel
Islands of Windmills, Craters & Castles
- On a guided day excursion from Tallinn on a bus and ferry through juniper forests and picturesque romantic landscapes, you will explore Estonia's impressive coastline famous for its over 1500 large and small island clusters, and some of the best-kept secrets - the Islands of Muhu & Saaremaa.
- On the island of Muhu on the West Estonian archipelago and the third largest island, you will explore its paganistic and Viking past, and visit the medieval Lutheran church of St. Catherine's and make a stop at the medieval castle, Koluvere Castle, which was an arena for bloody battles in the Middle Ages.
- On Saaremaa, the largest island in Estonia and one of the 2020 Sustainable Top100 destinations in the world, you will visit the island capital, Kuressaare, Estonia's oldest spa town, which has probably earned the first place in the world in terms of spa density - there is one spa resort per ten inhabitants. You will also visit the island highlight, the Episcopal Castle of Kuressaare, one of the best-preserved castles in Europe, right by the Baltic seashore.
- Next, you will visit the Kaali Crater, Europe's first scientifically proven meteorite crater site, with nine prehistoric gigantic craters on the center of the island, formed over 7500 years ago.
- Indulge in a one-of-a-kind culinary experience of seasonal local flavors in the legendary Windmill restaurant of Saaremaa Veski, originally built in 1899. The Mill restaurant built over 5 floors offers first-class dining and is part of the prestigious White Guide TOP100 Estonian restaurants, now five times in a row.
- In the afternoon, you will visit the historic Angla windmill hill with island gantry and Dutch-style windmills, from the 19th century used for traditional bread making.
- Return to the mainland.
Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation:
Departure
- Breakfast and check-out
- Transfer to the airport and departure.
Breakfast
packagedetails.knowbefore
- Itinerary is flexible and could be customized as per interest and group-size of the travelers.
- The entire itinerary could be implemented with halal, vegetarian and Indian food requirements.
- This is a fully-escorted trip, led by tour leaders who handles multiple languages (English, Hindi, Malayalam). Other languages can be made available on demand.
- The price quoted is on B2C-basis. B2B prices are available on demand.
- We will be using public transportation wherever possible, to reduce the carbon footprint of the itinerary.
- We help with the Schengen Visa application and flight bookings if needed.
- We reserve the rights to make alterations to the program and/or to the itinerary.
packagedetails.acc
*The accommodations listed are four-star rated.
**The accommodation options are flexible and will be fixed only after confirming the group size, date of booking and availability.
***The given images should be used only as standard references.
