Biking tour in northern Lake Saimaa district
Binking tour from villa to villa
treasures, summer cottages, small villages, locals, authentic Karelia with slow and silence travel themes. Ecological way of living is here the standard. The food is local and we use organic products!
Silence does not mean a total lack of sounds but a possibility to relax – alone or in a group.
This biking tour leads you from villa to villa through Karelian islands villages along soft and slightly hilly roads.
You will stay in holiday cottages in Rääkkylä and Kitee, in which a pleasant small town atmosphere exists side-by-side with an active countryside. The peaceful Finnish way of life is combined with modern services and beautiful natural surroundings. Rääkkylä is a community of islands, culture and enterprise that reflects the best traditional and modern aspects of the international world. Kitee is a small, naturally beautiful rural town, whose industrial traditions are best seen in Puhos. Karelian culture lives strong here.
Price: 2489,5 €/person
Group size: 2 (-4) persons
Accommodation: Cottage Anttila in Kitee, and Villa Raita in Rääkkylä holiday cottages are all situated on the shores of Lake Saimaa.
The price includes: accommodation in double rooms, full or self made board, sauna, self-guided individual tours (you’ll meet the guide in the accommodations), information and route maps of the tours, luggage transfer, group transfer from/to Joensuu railwaystation or airport (about 1,5 hour driving time from the first accommodation).
Period:
May - Septermber
OBS Families and small groups. possibilities, please ask!
Bikes: E-bikes including helmets and panniers. Biking along slightly hilly roads of Rääkkylä and Kitee, south of Joensuu.
Programme (Starting from Rääkkylä):
Day 1: Island-hopping in Karelia
Arrival at Joensuu railwaystation or Joensuu ariport at about 17 hours, transfer by car via Liperi to Villa Raita, about 1 hour driving time. Highlights: Arvinsalmi ferry and brigdes from island to island. In Villa Raita welcome & information, sauna and evening meal.
Day 2: Get to know the Saimaa Island life
Introducing the bikes and places to visit. Self-guided tour in the surroundings 25-40 km (Saaristo Trail). Options: swimming, rowing, canoeing, visit Village Hall.
Day 3: Day as an organic bee-keeper (Extra fee)
Guided honey bee safari at organic Luomumansikka farm. Self-guided nature experience: Nature trail in a private nature protection area in Apajalahti.
Day 4: Home of folk music Rääkkylä
The self-guided biking tour from cottage to cottage begins with another section of 40 km. Visit Rääkkylä (20 km), the home of Kihaus Folk festival and Värttinä folk band. Opportunity to visit a local handicrafts shop Onnenkauppa. Lunch at a cosy lakeside restaurant. Towards Tolosenmäki via Haapasalmi. Possibility to visit small Leikki-museum (old toys)(extra fee). or Karjalan Ruusu. Karelian "kyykkä" playground on the shore of Village.
The self-guided biking tour continues. After 24 km from Rääkkylä in Muljula, you can stop for a 4,7-km walk along a marked, beautiful forest and lakeside trail. Later you’ll have the opportunity to visit a village shop. At your accommodation, Anttila cottage, on the shore of Orivesi, you’ll enjoy sauna and evening meal.
Day 5: Canoeing and summer house gardening
Possibility to guided canoeing tour on a lake, duration about 2 hours (extra fee). You have a possibility to visit a summer house garden (extra fee). Sauna and dinner.
Day 6: The hometown of Nightwish
Self-guided tour to the centre of Kitee, getting to know the town, lunch in a restaurant. The Nightwish museum is for Kitee Tourist Information – and more: A Nightwish Story is an internationally unique exhibition on the story of Nightwish. (check the opening hours: https://nightwishstory.com/en/visit)
(https://nightwishstory.com) Biking distance about 20+21km. Along the way otional visit to an atelier and garden of two artists Tienkorva. Accommodation in the Anttila
Day 7: Visit to Vanha (old)Puhos. This beatiful old mill, and It was a centre of boat traffic and industry.
Sauna and farwell dinner.
Day 8: Time to say hei, hei! Transfer to airport/railwaystation
Villa Raita – authentic Finrelax Experience
Villa Raita is a modern 5-star villa, ideal for families or outdoor parties, on a private island in Saimaa lakeland; parking directly at the house, barrier-free access. Villa Raita holiday cottage, run by a family company, is one of only few Authentic FinRelax Experience locations.
Karelian-style holiday cottage in the midst of old trees that gives you space for thoughts, relaxation and reinvigoration. The high-grade facilities, the availability of individual services and the scenic surroundings are a guarantee for a luxurious holiday experience.
Nature trail with picnic place in a private nature reserve, routes for paddling and rowing with a guide or on your own (maps and safety instructions provided): water nature trail (4 km) and water orienteering trail (20 km ¨) with gps-cordinates and maps . Cycling routes on northern Saimaa Islands ideal for touring bikes.
Anttila – summerhouse of contemporary folk artist
The total floor space in the main building is 100 square metres.. Downstairs kitchen, living room and a bedroom. Upstairs 2 smaller bedrooms and a living room with beds for 2.
Additionally an outbuilding near the house that sleeps 3 . Total number of beds in Anttila: 9 . A beatyful Kota-otdoor grill hut.
The interior of the main building is of wood and slate stone.
Villa Raita – authentic Finrelax Experience
Villa Raita is a modern 5-star villa, ideal for families or outdoor parties, on a private island in Saimaa lakeland; parking directly at the house, barrier-free access. Villa Raita holiday cottage, run by a family company, is one of only few Authentic FinRelax Experience locations.
Karelian-style holiday cottage in the midst of old trees that gives you space for thoughts, relaxation and reinvigoration. The high-grade facilities, the availability of individual services and the scenic surroundings are a guarantee for a luxurious holiday experience.
Nature trail with picnic place in a private nature reserve, routes for paddling and rowing with a guide or on your own (maps and safety instructions provided): water nature trail (4 km) and water orienteering trail (20 km ¨) with gps-cordinates and maps . Cycling routes on northern Saimaa Islands ideal for touring bikes.
NEW gravel roads "Saimaa by Cycle" 2025-2026 Heinävesi-Liperi-Rääkkylä