8 days and 7 nights
Brief Route Description
Come on an adventure to Lake Saimaa and spend a whole week kayaking or canoeing! On this trip, you’ll have plenty of time to experience the heart of Lake Saimaa in all its diversity. The Saimaa Geopark Canoeing Route takes you through various geological eras and periods of human history. The route includes both populated and wilderness sections.
We’ve put together plenty of tips for you on the following attractions along the route:
- 🌿 interesting nature sites
- 🏛️ cultural sites
- 🛶 services and other places to visit
During your kayaking/canoeing trip, you can also take short hikes to explore interesting natural and historical sites up close.
Route Length and Duration
📏 Total length: approx. 120 km
🛶 Daily distances: approx. 10–25 km
📅 Duration: 8 days / 7 nights
The daily distances are approximate. You can plan shorter or longer paddling days to suit your needs. Please note, however, that your reserved overnight stay in your own island cabin is on the last night of the trip. Therefore, it’s best to plan your route so that you arrive at the cabin on the correct day.
How much time should you set aside for the route?
We recommend setting aside at least eight days for the route.
It’s also easy to extend the route by adding interesting stops along the way.
Experienced paddlers who want to cover longer distances each day can complete the route in a shorter time.
⚠️ However, it’s important to take weather conditions into account. Especially when paddling in an open canoe, strong winds can make the trip challenging and necessitate extra rest days.
Would you like to spend more or less time on the route?
If you’d like to allocate more or less time for the route, please do not book it through our online store; instead, contact us directly:
info@saimaacanoeing.fi
Route Difficulty Level – 3
This route requires prior kayaking/canoeing and camping experience, including overnight trips. It requires the ability to paddle approximately 30 km in a single day when necessary. For those with less kayaking experience, we recommend a two-person kayak. For experienced kayakers, a single kayak is a good choice. We recommend an open canoe only if you have extensive experience paddling an open canoe in lake conditions and are able to assess paddling safety and route planning while taking current wind conditions into account.
Overnight Stays Along the Route
Unlike our other Saimaa Canoeing routes, on this route you’ll spend the night mainly in a tent at the public campgrounds we recommend—which are open to everyone and mostly free of charge.
There are also various lodging options along the route that you can use if you wish. However, you should primarily plan for tent camping on the route.
The last night in your own island cabin 🏡
On the final night of the route, you’ll get to spend time in a charming cabin on your own island. A small cabin and a sauna are an important part of Finnish culture and well-being—this is definitely worth experiencing!
Accommodation Before or After the Canoeing Trip
If you’d like, you can also book accommodation with us for your arrival and departure days at the route’s starting point, the Saimaa Canoeing base:
Route Map and Gear List
Here you’ll find a preliminary route map: Saimaa Geopark paddling route
We’ll send you a detailed route description, route map, and gear list after you make your reservation. By clicking on the route we’ve provided and the icons along it, you’ll find more information about each day’s journey and points of interest along the way.
Read more about Saimaa Geopark from here: SAIMAA GEOPARK
Come explore the secrets of the Saimaa Geopark 🛶🌿
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Funding for the development of this route was provided by Veejjakaja Leader through support for established business operations from the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development.
We thank you for your support in preserving the vitality of rural areas!
3 level
