Self-Drive Tour in Karelia and Finnish Lakeland
7 days / 6 nights | Lappeenranta – Kitee – Joensuu – Koli – Nurmes – Lieksa – Ilomantsi – Lappeenranta |
Valid: 1.6-30.9.2027
Minimum 2 travellers
Take the scenic road through Eastern Finland and discover the places that make Karelia feel like nowhere else. One day you are looking across Lake Pielinen from the hills of Koli; the next, you are sharing a home-cooked dinner at a family-run guesthouse or unwinding in a Finnish sauna. This seven-day journey brings together lakeside towns, Karelian food, local stories and memorable encounters, with the freedom to travel at your own pace.
We arrange your overnight stays and selected experiences along the route. You bring your curiosity and enjoy the drive.
Why you'll love this journey
- Stand above Lake Pielinen on a guided walk to Koli's most celebrated viewpoints.
- Stay in welcoming small hotels and guesthouses, including countryside accommodation with sauna evenings.
- Taste local flavours and discover Karelian traditions, art and music.
- Meet alpacas, explore historic villages and pause wherever the landscape invites you to linger.
Your journey, day by day
Day 1 – Arrive in Lappeenranta
Settle into Hotel Rakuuna and begin your holiday by Lake Saimaa. Wander through the historic Fortress area, enjoy the harbour atmosphere and choose how to spend your first afternoon. If the timing suits, drive to Imatra to see the famous rapids show; operating dates and times vary.
Overnight: Hotel Rakuuna, Lappeenranta.
Day 2 – Kitee and the Karelian countryside
Drive north to Kitee, where your included visit to Kitee Zoo offers a relaxed stop along the way. Music fans can also explore the town's Nightwish exhibition independently. In the evening, arrive at Maija's Old Village School for a countryside stay, dinner and sauna.
Overnight: B&B Maija's Old Village School. Included: breakfast, dinner and sauna.
Day 3 – Joensuu, the heart of North Karelia
Continue to Joensuu. Browse the artisan shops of Taitokortteli, stop at the market square or visit Botania's botanical garden. If available, a Karelian baking workshop is a lovely way to get closer to the region's food traditions. Spend the night at the centrally located Lietsu Boutique Aparthotel.
Overnight: Lietsu, Joensuu. Included: breakfast.
Day 4 – Koli's unforgettable views and a Karelian sauna evening
Drive to Koli National Park for a guided walk to the viewpoints of Ukko-Koli, Akka-Koli and Paha-Koli. Hear the stories behind the landscape and take time to admire Lake Pielinen from above. Then continue to Nurmes, where Bomba's Karelian architecture makes a rewarding stop before dinner and sauna at your guesthouse.
Overnight: Guesthouse Pihlajapuu or Laitalan Lomat, subject to availability. Included: breakfast, guided Koli walk, dinner and sauna.
Day 5 – Alpacas, sculpture and the shores of Lake Pielinen
Start with a visit to an alpaca farm near Nurmes. Continue through Lieksa, visiting its museum and the remarkable Paateri home and church of sculptor Eva Ryynänen. Your day ends at Herranniemi, where the view across Lake Pielinen towards Koli is a fitting backdrop for dinner and sauna.
Overnight: Herranniemi. Included: breakfast, alpaca farm visit, Lieksa Museum and Paateri admissions, dinner and sauna.
Day 6 – Karelian traditions in Ilomantsi
Travel to Ilomantsi and step into the region's storytelling heritage at Parppeinvaara Rune Singer's Village. Enjoy a Karelian lunch at Restaurant Parppeinpirtti before heading south to Lappeenranta. Settle in for your final night at Hotel Salpalinjan Hovi.
Overnight: Hotel Salpalinjan Hovi. Included: breakfast, Parppeinvaara admission and lunch.
Day 7 – Farewell to Lakeland
Enjoy breakfast before continuing your journey home, with seven days of Finnish landscapes and Karelian hospitality to remember.
What's included
- Six nights' accommodation in double rooms or the stated accommodation option, with breakfast each morning.
- Dinners and saunas on days 2, 4 and 5.
- A guided walk on the hills of Koli.
- Admission or visits to the alpaca farm, Lieksa Museum, Paateri Museum and Parppeinvaara Rune Singer's Village.
- Lunch at Restaurant Parppeinpirtti.
Other suggested stops and activities in the itinerary are optional. Transport, meals and admissions not listed above are not included in the stated package inclusions. You will need a car for this self-drive journey; ask us about the practical arrangements when enquiring.
Price: From €1,700 per adult and €690 per child aged 4–12, based on the currently displayed package price. Please enquire for an up-to-date quote and availability for your preferred dates. The tour can also start in Joensuu.
Ready to explore Karelia and Lakeland? Tell us your preferred travel dates and who is travelling, and we'll help you plan your journey.
- Travel insurance is highly recommended for overseas travel. A comprehensive plan should include coverage for trip interruption, delay and cancellation, medical expenses, emergency medical transportation, loss and damage to baggage.
- We reserve all the rights to change the order of the activities or the content of the program if necessary due to the weather or other conditions.
- The tour is not suitable for persons with reduced mobility.
- Not included in the price: Flights or train tickets.
