Meeting Point and Time in Helsinki In front of the hotel’s entrance at: Radisson SAS Plaza at 8.15 am, Sokos Hotel Vaakuna 8.30, Cumulus Seurahuone 8.30, Holiday Inn City Center 8.40, Scandic Hotel Simonkenttä 8.50, and Sokos Hotel Presidentti at 9.00 am.

Day 1: Traces of the Past (L, D, coach, 270 km / 168 miles) Depart by coach for Porvoo, the second oldest town in Finland. The old part of the town is famous for its charming old warehouses, cobblestone lanes, handicraft shops and the medieval cathedral. Lunch will be enjoyed in the old Ruotsinpyhtaa ironworks village, dotted with red 18th-century workers’ dwellings. Next stop will be at Langinkoski rapids where you see the imperial fishing lodge that Czar Alexander III had built on the shore of the roaring rapids. Dinner and overnight at Rantasipi Hotel Valtionhotelli in lmatra or similar in the surroundings.

Day 2: Stunning Finnish Countryside (B, L, D, coach, 270 km / 168 miles) Drive through the beautiful Punkaharju esker ridge, an isthmus between two large lakes, and continue to Retretti Art Exhibition featuring classical and contemporary collections, housed partly in an underground cave. After lunch in Punkaharju you head to Savonlinna to pay a visit to Olavinlinna Castle, the venue of the annual Savonlinna Opera Festival. In the afternoon you visit the eastern orthodox monastery of Valamo in Heinävesi and have a cup of tee brewed in the traditional styie in a silver samovar, sweetened with raspberry jam and accompanied by old-Russian delicacies. Continue to Koli Hills, Finland’s best-known spot of natural beauty. From the highest hilltop there is a spectacular view over forests and lakes. Dinner and overnight at Sokos Hotel Koli in Lieksa.

Day 3: Karelian Heritage (B, L, D, coach, 330 km / 205 miles) Todays excursion will acquaint you with Karelian culture and traditions. On a visit to a local farmhouse you will experience the friendly hospitality that the Karelians are famous for. See fine examples of wooden architecture and visit exhibitions of local arts and craft, listen to music played on Kantele, the Finnish folk music instrument, and savour Karelian specialfts. Dinner and overnight at Sokos Hotel Koli in Lieksa.

Day 4: Art and Adventures (B, L, D, coach, 250 km / 155 miles) On the way to Kuhmo you will stop in Vuonislahti to see the studio and the little log chapel of sculptress Eva Ryynänen, who had a unique talent for making sculptures out of wood. In the Ruunaa wilderness close to the Finnish Russian border, you have a chance to shoot the rapids on a long wooden boat, steered by local fishermen. After lunch by a crackling fire, tour proceeds to Kalevala village, which offers a fascinating look at the old traditions of the Karelian people as they were in the 19th century, a period when the ancient poems of Finland’s national epic, the Kalevala, were collected. Dinner and overnight at Hotel Katevala in Kuhmo.

Day 5: Impressive Landscapes (B, L, D, coach 290 km / 180 miles) After guided tour of the village, continue northwards. You see the North-Karelian landscape of hills, lakes, and lush green meadows change to steep cliffs, streams, and wild forests. Lunch en route. In Kuusamo, stop to admire a natural sight of astounding beauty, Julma Ölkky, the deepest canyon lake in the area. Dinner and overnight at Spa Hotel Kuusamon Tropiikki in Kuusamo.

Day 6: Where Santa Claus is at Home (B, L, D, coach, 200 km / 124 miles) After breakfast you set off for an excursion to Lake Kitka. Sitting in a rowing boat or standing on the shore, you can watch local fishermen seine-fishing. If the catch is good, it will be prepared for lunch. On the way to Rovaniemi, you pay a visit to the coffee cup museum. See the key sights of Rovaniemi and visit Santa’s Workshop at the Arctic Circle, meeting the jolly old man in person, and taking part in a Lapp ceremony. Dinner and overnight at Hotel Rantasipi Pohjanhovi in Rovaniemi.