Frozen Saimaa offers an unique experience of tour skating on safe and well maintained routes. Take your pick from several different routes in Linnansaari National Park or the Finnish national landscape of Punkaharju. Stop for a fire side snack and a cup of something warm along the way and enjoy the stunning scenery and fresh air at your own pace. Learn more about the route options and holiday packages on offer below!
Lake Saimaa has one of the longest ice skating routes in Finland. It leads you through Linnansaari National Park and a gorgeous pine ridge area of Punkaharju. Saimaa is a unique area in many ways. For example it is the habitant area of endangered Saimaa ringed seal.
Saimaa Arctic Trail in Linnansaari National Park
Beautiful Saimaa Arctic Trail in Rantasalmi (from SaimaaHoliday Oravi, trough Linnansaari National Park to Spa&Hotel Resort Järvisydän). There are fire places along the route and a cafeteria on Linnansaari.
Routes: from 5 km ca. 20 km.
Distances:
Oravi – Linnansaari 5 km
Oravi – Pikkulappi 15 km
Oravi – Kaarnetsaari 18 km
Oravi – Järvisydän 19 km
Järvisydän – Kaarnetsaari 3 km
Järvisydän – Pikkulappi 4 km
Järvisydän – Linnansaari 14 km
Järvisydän – Oravi 19 km
Nordic skating tracks of Punkaharju
Fantastic skating track network offers one of the longest ice tracks in Finland and has suitable, short routes for families and beginners, but also long routes for experienced skaters. The track starts from the shore of Holiday Resort Harjun Portti and runs past the shores of Kruunupuisto. There starting point is 100m away from the restaurant and equipment rental. 15 km of skating tracks, consisting of 3 different routes.
Distances:
Track to Haataansaari with a nice campfire spot 7 km
Track to the southside of spahotel Kruunupuisto, to Siplahti bay 8 km
Track to Kaarnalahti 2 km
Special features: Waffle café along the skating route
Saimaa Arctic Trail and pancakes
The most beautiful ice trail in Finland, from Oravi through Linnansaari National Park to Rantasalmi, or vice versa. The total length of the prepared route is 20-40 km depending on the weather conditions. The route is open for skaters, kick sparks, skiers and walkers. There are fire places along the route and a cafeteria on Linnansaari (open during winter peak season).
Services
Linnansaari island: cafeteria (opening hours are announced in the journal), fire place, cooking shelter, outdoor toilet.
PikkuLappi island: fire place, outdoor toilet
There are resting places and maps along the route. The routes are prepared and our route masters measure the thickness of the ice. Available also guided trips.
Several route options
Oravi – Linnansaari 5 km
Oravi – Pikkulappi 15 km
Oravi – Järvisydän 18 km
Starting point Oravi: guided trips and additional info
Järvisydän – Kaarnetsaari 2,5 km
Järvisydän – Pikkulappi 4 km
Järvisydän – Linnansaari 13 km
Järvisydän – Oravi 18 km
Starting point Järvisydän: guided trips and additional info
Luxurious accomodation nearby Linnansaari National Park
Hotel & Spa Resort Järvisydän
Winter Weekend on Lake Saimaa 299 €
Welcome to enjoy the winter holiday and activities in the sceneries of Linnansaari National Park and relax in the historical atmosphere of our resort. The winter holiday includes 2 nights accommodation in a Suite of our hotel, 2 x entrance to the Lake Spa and one chosen winter activity.
Guided activities to choose:
- Winter day in Linnansaari National Park
- Tour skating trip to Linnansaari National Park
- Snow shoeing trip to the campfire
- Trip to the Kaarnetsaari island by a sleigh
Please choose your winter activity before hand. You will find the selection on the “booking” page, below the customer info form.
Our suites have a livingroom/small kitchen, bedroom and a sleeping gallery. There is a double bed in the bedroom and one single bed and a folding bed for one in the sleeping gallery. The sofa of the livingroom can be used also as an extra bed for two persons. In a bathroom we have a shower, jaguzzi and a toilet. Suites have also a second toilet, hallway and a balcony.
Price:
299 €/person/in a Suite room for 2 persons. You can also choose any weekday insted of the weekend.
SaimaaHoliday Oravi
Linnansaari Winter package from 89 €/person
Enjoy the winter activities and beautiful nature in Linnansaari National Parks Arctic trail. Saimaa Arctic Trail runs from Oravi, trough Linnansaari National Park to Järvisydän. From Oravi to Linnansaari ca. 5km as the total leght of the trail is ca. 20km. The route is open for skaters, kick sparks, skiers and walkers. There are fire places along the route and a cafeteria on Linnansaari (open during winter peak season). Check the cafe opening hours from the Journal. On Linnansaari island you can find marked snow shoe trails.
The Linnansaari Winter package includes:
- accommodation in Oravi Apartments dbl/ twin
- 2 x winter activity sets (tour skating set, kick spark set, snowshoeing set, cross country skiing set or winter fishing set)
- private sauna for 1h/ day
- breakfast basket
Prices for two persos:
from 178 €/ 1 night
from 323 €/ 2 night
Oravi Apartments is located in Oravi village, only ca. 100m from rental shop, cafe, shop and the tour skating/ winter hiking trail.
Waffle café along the route
For tour skating Punkaharju offers one of the longest track in Finland, up to 15 kilometers. The track has two different routes and suits for beginners just as more experienced skaters. Alternatively you can choose to explore the surroundings by kicksledge or snowshoes. You can stop to catch your breath and have a break at several spots along the route.
In Kruunupuisto our charming Inkeritalo Café by the lake is open during weeks 8-10 from Thursday to Sunday.
Services
In Punkaharju Snowshoeing Park you have eight magnificent and clearly marked snowshoe trails suitable for all ages and fitness levels. Also guided tours are available.
Several route options
Routes lenght:
Track to Haataansaari with a nice campfire spot 7 km
Track to the southside of spahotel Kruunupuisto, to Siplahti bay 8 km
Track to Kaarnalahti 2 km
Special features: Waffle café along the skating route
Transportation and additional info
The Saimaa area is conveniently located and has great transport connections, so your journey will be pleasant, whether you choose to come by air, rail or road.
By plane
Arriving to Helsinki-Vantaa Airport is easy and fast from any direction. Lake Saimaa area is located around 300 km from Helsinki. Coming to the region of Saimaa from Helsinki is easy by bus or train connection as well as with rental car. You can hop on a train directly from the Airport station. Ask more detailed information, as bus and train connections from the holiday resort.
By bus
Flexible bus connections are available daily, no matter in which direction you are travelling from.
See the timetables on Matkahuolto, Expressbus, Savonlinja and Onnibus.
