Midnight Sun Tour

2009 Departures

Daily	June 1st to August 31st
Prices From	$968 per Person Double $677 Single Supplement

The tour includes a wealth of fine examples of Finnish wooden architecture and handicraft traditions. In summer, Finland offers almost 24 hours of daylight for a visitor to enjoy the attractions, places of natural beauty and the wide range of cultural festivals that are on offer.

The self-drive tour offers you the freedom to discover the southwestern countryside and the Lakeland in an independent way. We have suggested some points of interest to give you ideas of what to see and experience along the journey, but there are many more attractions worth a visit. The choice is yours. The lakes and forests offer great opportunities for lovely boat cruises and leisurely walks. Your accommodations will be booked in advance in the selected hotels of the Restel hotel chain.

Arrive Helsinki-Vantaa Airport. Overnight at Ramada Airport Hotel.

To get the most out of the rural heritage landscapes in the stretch between the modern metropolis of Helsinki and the historic town of Turku, leave the main roads and head for the quiet byways. This is where the King's Road tourist route winds through fascinating small towns, charming villages and scenic countryside. The historic road, which once linked the Kingdom of Sweden with the Russian Empire, offers a wealth of cultural heritage sites worth a visit, including the ruins of the Raasepori Castle, the Mustio Manor and Fiskars Ironworks. As the oldest city and the former capital of Finland, Turku is home to the most remarkable medieval landmarks of the country, including the Castle and the Cathedral. Aboa Vetus Museum shows the history of Turku and remains of early settlements. The wooden workshop houses of the Luostarinmäki Handicrafts Museum tell tales about the trades and city life of days gone by. Overnight at Ramada Hotel Turku.

A lovely drive through Naantali with its charming wooden houses. The coastal town of Rauma is home to the biggest complete area of old wooden buildings that has been preserved in the Nordic countries. Enjoy a walk in the old town, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and step inside a lace shop to see a demonstration of lace-making, a 200-year-old tradition in Rauma.

Overnight at Cumulus Hotel Rauma.

Finland's oldest inland town, Hameenlinna, boasts a 700-year-old brick castle, which is one of Finland's medieval fortifications. Other attractions include the birthplace and childhood home of the world-famous composer Jean Sibelius and the lovely Aulanko Park. Overnight at Rantasipi Aulanko Hotel, in spectacular setting near Hämeenlinna.

Take a leisurely walk to enjoy the magnificent Aulanko Park and climb up the old observation tower for stunning views of the Finnish forest and lake landscape at its most genuine.

Overnight at Rantasipi Aulanko Hotel.

Interesting places of visit on the Hameenlinna-Tampere route include the medieval stone church in Hattula, the Iittala Glass Museum and factory shop, and the Visavuori home museum in Valkeakoski. With an industrial heritage, Tampere has an array of museums that show the culture of the working class such as Amuri Museum of Worker's Housing. Vapriikki museum centre is located in an old industrial complex by the Tammerkoski Rapids and Sara Hilden's Art Museum houses a fine collection of modern art. Overnight at Cumulus Hotel Pinja in Tampere

On the Tampere-Jyvaskyla route it is worth making the detour to Mantta. Gosta Serlachius Museum of Fine Arts at Mantta is home to an outstanding private art collection. The old wooden church at Petajavesii with a history dating back over 250 years is a fine example of vernacular architectural tradition. Jyvaskyla Region is renowned for buildings designed by the internationally acclaimed Alvar Aalto. Overnight at Rantasipi Laajavuori in Jyvaskyla.

In Mikkeli the Kenkavero handicrafts center, earlier the largest wooden vicarage in Finland, is worth visiting for its beautiful architecture and gardens. Overnight at Cumulus Hotel Mikkeli.

The route from Mikkeli via Puumala and Imatra to Lappeenranta passes through some of the most spectacular lake scenery in Finland. In the historical fortress area of Lappeenranta there are workshops of local artists and craftsmen. Wolkoff House museum from the 19th century portrays the life of a Russian trading family. The orthodox church bears witness to the eastern influences on the Karelian culture. Overnight at Cumulus Hotel Lappeenranta.

From Lappeenranta it is possible to continue back to Helsinki via Kotka, a town with maritime heritage, and visit the imperial fishing lodge built on the banks of the Langinkoski Rapids. Another option is to drive via Kouvola and then turn off to Jaala to visit the unique Verla Mill Museum and Village. Other points of interest along the journey include the old ironworks village in Ruotsinpyhtaa dotted with red 18th-century worker's houses, and the idyllic old quarter of Porvoo with its narrow cobblestone lanes and handicraft boutiques.

Helsinki offers a wide variety of things to experience ranging from art, design and an array of architectural gems to great shopping facilities and cultural offerings. Proximity to the sea and forest gives Helsinki its distinctive ambience.

Overnight at Cumulus Hotel Kaisaniemi in Helsinki.

Arrangements end after breakfast.