Culinary delights of Lake Saimaa, European Region of Gastronomy

Day by day itinerary

• Day 1 » Depart for Lake Saimaa

  Your trip begins by flying to Helsinki, where you’ll pick up your hire car and drive to your hotel just outside of Mikkeli in the Lake Saimaa region. This converted country manor, dating back to the 17th century, is surrounded by forests, farmland and gardens, and takes great pride in its status as one of the region’s most treasured gastronomic destinations.

  After settling into your homely accommodation, you’ll be introduced to the culinary traditions of South Savo with dinner at the award-winning on-site restaurant, which puts together fresh, flavoursome dishes using seasonal ingredients from the manor’s own vegetable and herb gardens, as well as quality produce from local suppliers. 

  Stay: Tertti Manor

  Meals: Dinner

• Day 2 » Finnish wine tasting & sapas

  After a leisurely breakfast, you’ll have some time to relax and perhaps take a stroll through the hotel’s gardens. Later on, it’s time for a truly unique experience: Finnish wine tasting at Ollinmäki winery. Since 1995, this winery has been producing wines made using berries harvested from the forests around Lake Saimaa, as well as ciders made with apples from their own orchard.

  You’ll get to taste three different wine varieties, each accompanied by a ‘sapas’ (Finnish tapas) dish that perfectly accentuates the flavours of the wine, while learning about the history of the winery and how their products are made. Tastebuds already inspired, you’ll then head back to the hotel for another delicious dinner. 

  Stay: Tertti Manor

  Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

• Day 3 » Tea & chocolate tasting en route to Savonlinna

  Today, you’ll head east into the heart of the Lake Saimaa region, making a stop at the Tea House of Wehmais for a delightful tea and chocolate tasting experience, in which you’ll get to enjoy three different types of tea paired with handmade truffles. Continue to Savonlinna, the oldest town in Eastern Finland, and undoubtedly one of the country’s prettiest, built across several islands surrounded by vast forests and the pristine waterways of Lake Saimaa.

  You’ll be staying at a modern hotel right next to the market square, ideally positioned for visiting the town’s historical attractions, bars and restaurants. The hotel’s rooftop restaurant, Muikkuterassi, is a standout choice, offering crispy fried vendace (a regional speciality) and superb views overlooking Lake Saimaa. 

  Stay: Original Sokos Seurahuone Hotel

  Meals: Breakfast

• Day 4 » Explore Savonlinna

  You have the whole day free to explore Savonlinna at leisure, perhaps starting with a stroll down Linnankatu, a cobbled street where you’ll find some of the town’s oldest timber buildings. At the eastern end of this street, you’ll reach the footbridge that leads to the island that houses Savonlinna’s most recognisable landmark – the medieval Olavinlinna Castle. Built in the 15th century when Finland was part of Sweden, it offers a fascinating insight into the region’s past, as you’ll learn on a guided tour.

  The nearby Savonlinna Museum on Riihisaari island is also worth checking out, along with the Gothic Revival-style Savonlinna Cathedral and the food stalls at Market Square, where you can try a traditional “lörtsy” pastry. If you fancy exploring further afield, kayaking, cycling and boat trips are all fantastic options. 

  Stay: Original Sokos Seurahuone Hotel

  Meals: Breakfast

• Day 5 » Wild food experience on Lake Saimaa

  The next stop of your trip is Sahanlahti Resort, set within a former 17th-century sawmill on the banks of Lake Saimaa, where you’ll spend the next two nights. In the late afternoon, head to Uhkua where you’ll be treated to a wild food experience on Lake Saimaa. A fishing boat will take you out to a small, tranquil island for a four-course dinner prepared on an open fire using the best seasonal ingredients from the surrounding nature, such as freshly caught fish and mushrooms and berries foraged from the forests.

  It’s a gorgeous setting in which to enjoy Saimaa’s finest produce while gazing out across the water. On the way there and back, you might even be fortunate enough to spot a rare Saimaa Ringed Seal, so keep your eyes peeled. 

  Stay: Sahanlahti Resort

  Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

• Day 6 » Karelian pastry workshop

  Today, you’ll learn the art of making a classic, much-loved delicacy of Eastern Finland in a Karelian pie workshop, following a tried and tested family recipe. Consisting of a thin rye crust stuffed with creamy rice and topped with buttered eggs, these savory pastries have been baked in this region since the 17th century, and make a deliciously satisfying breakfast, lunch, or hearty snack at any time of the day.

  Spend the afternoon at leisure back at Sahanlahti Resort, where you might fancy taking a dip in the lake, renting canoes or relaxing in the sauna. For dinner, you have a trio of restaurants to choose from, covering everything from freshly caught fish and meats cooked over an open fire to authentic, Neapolitan-style pizzas. 

  Stay: Sahanlahti Resort

  Meals: Breakfast

• Day 7 » Campfire lunch en route to Lappeenranta

  Heading south, enjoy lunch by a campfire en route to Lappeenranta, a laid-back city on the southern shore of Lake Saimaa. After checking into your boutique hotel, housed within a historic spa building, you’ll have the rest of the day free to explore. Following the nature and culture trail that loops through the Fortress of Lappeenranta is an ideal way to get a sense of the city’s history and enjoy wonderful views overlooking the pretty harbour area.

  Take a stroll along the waterfront, where you’ll find a cluster of restaurants and cafes, as well as an extraordinary collection of enormous and elaborately sculpted sandcastles. Be sure to check out the marketplace, too, where you can further expand your Karelian pastry knowledge by trying Lappeenranta’s speciality ‘atomi’ (ham or egg) and ‘vety’ (ham and egg) pies. 

  Stay: Hotel Lähde

  Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

• Day 8 » Return to UK

  Enjoy one last breakfast at the hotel before driving back to Helsinki for your flight home.
  

  Meals: Breakfast